eConnections


February 2021

Message from the Head

Rao Govindaraju

If 2020 has taught me anything, it is that in order for us to progress, we all must work together to achieve our goals.

For the past ten months, the entire world has had to make tremendous adjustments in how we live, how we work, and even how we think. It has been a trying year, to say the least. We have struggled, we have been frustrated and afraid, and many of us have lost someone dear to us.

However, we never gave up. We adjusted, we came together, and we never lost focus of what must be done. And, within a short amount of time, Purdue University and the Lyles School of Civil Engineering developed a plan to ensure our commitments to education and research would not be thwarted.

We then took what we learned in the spring and summer and reopened campus this fall. It was certainly a challenge — and required all students, faculty, and staff to work together to make it happen — but, we continued to work together and adjust as necessary. And, I am proud to say, we successfully completed the semester and saw 40 graduate and 47 undergraduate students earn their degrees in December.

Now, we have begun a new year — and a new semester — and I am filled with a renewed sense of optimism. And, with the addition of our Online Master's Program this year, I am excited to welcome our newest graduate students.

Obviously, the changing of the year does not magically erase the continuing challenges that await us. But, thanks to the incredible efforts of researchers around the world to develop a vaccine, 2021 has me looking forward to what the future holds. And, with the experiences of the fall semester, we will build on what we learned and aim to provide an even greater educational experience for our students.

This, of course, means we must continue to stay focused on the challenges ahead and work together. It is only through our collective determination and steadfast work that we have reached this point — and these qualities will be needed if we are to see this pandemic through to the end.

Knowing our incredible students, faculty, staff, and friends, I am very confident we will do just that.

All the best,

Rao S. Govindaraju
Bowen Engineering Head of Civil Engineering
and Christopher B. and Susan S. Burke Professor of Civil Engineering

In loving memory of Delon Hampton

It is with great sadness that we share the news of Delon Hampton's passing. Delon was an incredible alumnus for whom our building, the Delon and Elizabeth Hampton Hall of Civil Engineering, is named.

You can read more about his inspiring life here: http://bit.ly/hampton-passing

Lyles School of Civil Engineering undergraduate program ranked #3 in the nation

The Lyles School of Civil Engineering has — once again — been recognized as a top five civil engineering undergraduate program in the United States.

U.S. News & World Report released its national rankings of undergraduate programs for 2021 with Purdue Civil Engineering ranked #3 in the nation. The rankings are computed from the responses to a survey sent to deans, heads, and selected senior faculty.

Purdue Civil Engineering has been consistently ranked in the top 10 by U.S. News & World Report for over a decade. This is also the third year in a row the school has been ranked in the top 5.

"I am tremendously proud of what our students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends have accomplished over the years — and I am delighted to see that their efforts and achievements continue to be recognized by our peers," said Rao S. Govindaraju, Bowen Engineering Head of Civil Engineering and Christopher B. and Susan S. Burke Professor of Civil Engineering.

Overall, Purdue University's College of Engineering undergraduate program was ranked ninth in the nation.

For more information about Purdue Engineering's 2021 undergraduate rankings, visit https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/rankings/engineering-doctorate-civil

A full listing of the Purdue Engineering national rankings can be viewed at http://bit.ly/COE-rankings

Online Master's in Civil Engineering ranked #2 in the nation

The Lyles School of Civil Engineering's Online Master's Program has been recognized as #2 in the nation.

U.S. News & World Report has released its national rankings of Best Online Graduate Programs for 2021 with Purdue Civil Engineering ranked #2 overall. The rankings are based on engagement, faculty credentials and training, expert opinion, services and technologies, and student excellence.

Purdue Civil Engineering's Online Master's Program joins the school's graduate and undergraduate programs as top 10 programs in the nation by USNWR rankings. The on-campus graduate program is ranked #6 and the undergraduate program is ranked #3.

"Our Online Master's Program is our newest addition to the School's offerings and is strongly supported by our world-renowned faculty," said Rao S. Govindaraju, Bowen Engineering Head of Civil Engineering and Christopher B. and Susan S. Burke Professor of Civil Engineering. "This program has been years in the making to ensure our online learners get the best education possible."

Purdue University's Online Master's in Engineering Program was ranked #3 in the nation by USNWR. For more information about Purdue’s 2021 rankings, visit:

https://www.purdue.edu/newsroom/releases/2021/Q1/purdues-online-engineering-graduate-programs-again-rank-in-the-top-3-nationally.html

Innovation in Sensors Could Speed Up Construction

Purdue Civil Engineers developed sensors that could safely speed up construction timelines by determining concrete strength directly onsite in real time. This new technology was recently tested at Purdue University's Gateway building under construction. Read the full story HERE.

Upcoming Events

  • February 26: Distinguished Engineering Alumni Celebration
  • April 28: Purdue Day of Giving
  • May 15: Undergraduate commencements
  • May 16: Master’s and PhD commencements
  • July 11-16: The Lyles School of Civil Engineering and Purdue’s Summer College for High School Students are excited to announce a new summer course for college credit: Developing Infrastructure for Tomorrow: An Introduction to Civil Engineering. In this weeklong one-credit residential course, high school students will explore the multifaceted field of civil engineering and learn how to identify the needs of tomorrow’s communities. Additional info: https://www.purdue.edu/summer-high-school/enrollment-options/fun.php

Get Connected!

The Lyles School of Civil Engineering has several ways for you to stay up-to-date with our activities and accomplishments. One of the best ways is to subscribe to our social media channels.

We have active Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram accounts. Join us, interact, and share!

More than $1.4 Million Given on Purdue Day of Giving!

We have an amazing Purdue Day of Giving update! In total, the Lyles School of Civil Engineering received over $1.4 million! Again, we cannot express how thankful we are for everyone's incredible support. We truly and deeply appreciate it.

The next Purdue Day of Giving celebration is on April 28. We hope you'll join us again for another incredible event!

How to Build a Home on the Moon

Shirley Dyke, Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Civil Engineering, talked with the Wall Street Journal about a lunar habitat she's developing that will help residents prepare for life in a hostile environment — in space and even on our own planet. Follow the link HERE to read the full story.

Electrifying Times in Transportation

Purdue Civil Engineering researchers aim to create innovative wireless and plug-in charging and infrastructure technology that brings power to where vehicles drive and park — eliminating range and charging as barriers for electrifying all vehicle classes, from passenger cars to heavy-duty trucks. Electric vehicle users will no longer have to worry about when, where or how to charge, and will become less expensive to buy and operate than their fossil-fuel counterparts.

Read more HERE.

Why I Love Being a Civil Engineer

Why do YOU love being a civil engineer? Send us a fun, job-related picture and brief description that shows why you love working as a civil engineer. Our favorite entries will be featured in the next edition of eConnections. Send your photos and a brief description to Civil Engineering Marketing and Communications Director Drew Stone at stone91@purdue.edu.

Our undergrads recently gave their answers to some of our most frequently asked questions that we get from prospective students. You can watch the video series on our YouTube channel, or access the playlist directly by clicking HERE.

You can earn a Purdue University MSCE degree online. Go to http://bit.ly/ce-masters-online to learn more.

  • Chris Burke (BSCE '77, MSCE '79, PhD '83, HDR 2010) has been elected to the National Academy of Engineering, among the highest professional distinctions accorded to an engineer.
  • Hani Mahmassani (MSCE '78) has been elected to the National Academy of Engineering, among the highest professional distinctions accorded to an engineer.
  • The White County Commission plans to rename the bridge that spans the Tippecanoe River near the Norway Dam on North Francis Street after Donald W. Ward (BSCE '58), who designed and worked on the structure in the early 1970s.
  • Dean A. Browning (BS '71, MS '74) has been recognized by the American Concrete Institute (ACI) as Honorary Member, ACI's highest honor. Dean is recognized for his long and outstanding service to ACI and his leadership at the Charles Pankow Foundation.
  • Phillip L. Melville (MSCE '46) and Thomas L. Paez (PhD '73) have been honored by the University of New Mexico School of Engineering as recipients of the 2020 Distinguished Alumni Award.
  • Milo E. Riverso (MSCE '82, Ph.D. '84), Ph.D., P.E., CCM, president and chief executive officer of STV, has been named chairman of the Design Professionals Coalition (DPC), a national organization consisting of senior executives from the leading design and engineering firms across the United States. Riverso's three-year term was effective beginning in August, 2020.
  • Daniel J. Schuller (BSCE '91, MSCE '93, Ph.D. '99), Executive Vice President and CFO of Essential Utilities Inc., has been named one of the Philadelphia Business Journal’s CFOs of the Year for 2020.
  • Jarvis Jointer (BSCE 2004) will co-chair a newly formed engineering admissions task force to address the challenge of providing a Purdue Engineering education to a larger number of African Americans and other underrepresented groups.

Thanks for keeping us up to date with your contact information, life events, and career news. Send your updates to: Kathy Heath at heathk@purdue.edu.

  • Ph.D. candidate Theodora Konstantinou has been awarded the 2019-2020 Greater Indianapolis Women's Transportation Seminar (WTS) Chapter Helene M. Overly Memorial Scholarship. The scholarship recognizes an outstanding graduate female in the transportation industry and academia.
  • Abdullah J. Nafakh has received the annual University Transportation Centers (UTC) Program's Outstanding Student of the Year Award. The award was given by the U.S. Department of Transportation's University Transportation Centers Program and the Council of University Transportation Centers (CUTC).
  • Congratulations to our CE student athletes: Alec Fleming (cross country), Kyle Griffith (cross country), Lexi Marks (soccer), and Alex Maxwell (football) on being named 2020 Academic All-Big Ten Honorees!
  • Congratulations to CE undergrad Joanna McCormack! The photo of her and her sisters overlooking the rural town of Guatape, Colombia took 1st place in the Purdue Global Engineering Programs and Partnerships Photo Contest.
  • A paper co-authored by Prof. Venkatesh Merwade and grad students Zhu Liu and Keighobad Jafarzadegan has been named a Journal of Flood Risk Management Highly Commended Paper by the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management.
  • CE master's student Isaiah Mwamba has been awarded a fellowship by the Dwight David Eisenhower Transportation Fellowship Program (DDETFP) for the 2020-2021 academic year. The DDETFP is administered by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Universities and Grants Program and awards competitive fellowships to students in transportation-related disciplines.
  • Congratulations to the Purdue Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) Traffic Bowl Team on winning the 2020 ITE Virtual Collegiate Traffic Bowl Grand Championship! The traffic bowl is an annual competition among ITE student chapter teams, and uses transportation planning and engineering topics for the clues, questions and answers. The members of this year's winning team are Sarah Adsit, Jairaj Desai, Justin Mahlberg, and Rahul Sakhare. The team was advised by Darcy Bullock, Lyles Family Professor of Civil Engineering and Director of the Joint Transportation Research Program.
  • CE master's student Sarah Adsit has been awarded a fellowship by the Dwight David Eisenhower Transportation Fellowship Program (DDETFP) for the 2020-2021 academic year. The DDETFP is administered by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Universities and Grants Program and awards competitive fellowships to students in transportation-related disciplines.
  • CE master's student Arianna Rambaram has been awarded a fellowship by the Dwight David Eisenhower Transportation Fellowship Program (DDETFP) for the 2020-2021 academic year. The DDETFP is administered by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Universities and Grants Program and awards competitive fellowships to students in transportation-related disciplines.
  • PhD student Eirini Christoforidou has been awarded a Geosynthetic Institute (GSI) fellowship for the academic year 2020-2021 for her research proposal "Improved understanding of load- and displacement-transfer mechanisms between geocell and fill in flexible pavements."
  • Lyles School PhD candidate Mohammadhasan (Movey) Sasar was recently awarded the 2020 Clay Minerals Society Student Research Grant. He will be studying the interaction of clay minerals with anionic polymers under fast-occurring flocculation.