faculty awards

Professor receives Fulbright award to study combined natural hazards in Chile

sugl6437 — Fri, 15 May 2026 16:36:18 +0000

Professor receives Fulbright award to study combined natural hazards in Chile sugl6437 Fri, 05/15/2026 - 10:36

Susan Glairon

Shideh Dashti, a professor of geotechnical engineering and geomechanics, has received a Fulbright award to study combined seismic and rainfall-related geohazards at the Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile (PUC).

As part of the prestigious U.S. State Department program, Dashti will spend four months at PUC developing tools and curriculum to help engineers better understand and prepare for overlapping rainfall and earthquake geohazards.

Chile faces multiple natural hazards—including drought, floods, wildfires and earthquakes—that increasingly occur concurrently or sequentially.

“Chile offers unique access to case histories of combined geohazards that could support our research and modeling efforts, along with advanced building codes and outstanding expertise in the field of hazards engineering,” said Dashti, who studies compound climatic-seismic geohazards.

The project aims to help shift infrastructure design and engineering education from focusing on single hazards to addressing the compound impacts of hazards on critical infrastructure.

Rainfall simulation box designed for ��Ƶ 400 g-ton centrifuge facility at the Center for Infrastructure, Energy and Space Testing (CIEST) to simulate how combined rainfall and earthquake loading affect scaled slopes and embankments.

“The effects of compound geohazards have been understudied, partly due to the lack of well-documented field data and partly lack of related physical model studies,” she said. “They are currently not included in the training of future hazards engineers and professionals or in our codes and standards. My goal is to collect and analyze well-documented case histories in Chile that support a fundamental study of these effects.”

Perfect storm

Simultaneous seismic and rainfall-related hazards can destabilize hillsides, weaken soil and increase the risk of infrastructure failure, Dashti said. For instance, intense rainfall followed by even a minor earthquake can trigger significant landslides, while rain-saturated soil may lose strength during earthquake shaking and undergo liquefaction, behaving more like a liquid and damaging roads, buildings and other critical infrastructure.

“The aging physical infrastructure, such as the earthen slopes and embankments that support critical transportation, water, telecommunication and power lifelines in Chile and the U.S. is not ready for increasingly likely concurrent or sequential extreme events, amplifying risk imposed on our communities” she said.

Dashti was also a principal investigator and steering committee member of the National Science Foundation-funded Geotechnical Extreme Events Reconnaissance (GEER), which coordinates geotechnical data collection and field investigations following major international disasters.

In Chile she will work with colleagues to collect multi-hazard case histories, while sharing findings and best practices through lectures, seminars and workshops with Chile’s practicing geotechnical engineers.

After the four-month Fulbright Fellowship in Chile, she will use centrifuge and computational modeling inspired by the collected case histories to study how combined rainfall and earthquake hazards affect slopes and earthen infrastructure using ��Ƶ unique experimental and computational resources. The models will help interpret real-world case studies, evaluate current engineering tools and identify conditions where existing single-hazard design approaches may be unsafe.

The research will also help determine how different rainfall conditions change earthquake risks and will support the development of preliminary engineering guidelines tailored to Chile’s hazards, geology and infrastructure vulnerabilities.

Shideh Dashti, a professor of geotechnical engineering and geomechanics, has received a Fulbright award to study the combined impacts of seismic and rainfall-related geohazards at the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (PUC). The project seeks to advance infrastructure design and engineering education by shifting the focus from single-hazard approaches to addressing the compound effects these hazards pose to critical infrastructure.

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Distinguished Professor Karl Linden recognized as exceptional mentor

sugl6437 — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 11:16:58 +0000

Distinguished Professor Karl Linden recognized as exceptional mentor sugl6437 Mon, 03/30/2026 - 05:16

Distinguished Professor Karl Linden is one of 22 faculty being recognized with this year’s Exceptional Graduate Faculty Mentor Award. The Exceptional Graduate Faculty Mentor Award recognizes the work that faculty mentors do to improve the graduate student experience.

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Professor Gregor Henze awarded ASHRAE Fellow status

sugl6437 — Fri, 20 Feb 2026 17:17:17 +0000

Professor Gregor Henze awarded ASHRAE Fellow status sugl6437 Fri, 02/20/2026 - 10:17

Susan Glairon

Professor Gregor Henze was recently awarded Fellow status by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE).

ASHRAE Fellow is a membership grade that recognizes individuals who have achieved distinction and made substantial contributions to Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration (HVAC&R) and the built environment. Contributions may include leadership and impact in education, research, engineering design and consulting, publications, presentations and mentoring.

"Receiving this honor offers me the satisfying realization that the architectural engineering community, both academia and practice, recognize my contributions to the improvement of the built environment as well as the education of the next generation practitioners in the field," Henze said.

Henze is widely recognized for advancing simulation tools and techniques that improve energy efficiency, comfort and grid responsiveness in buildings and urban energy systems. His research portfolio includes more than 200 peer-reviewed publications and spans topics such as advanced building control, data science for energy and buildings, energy flexibility and novel district heating and cooling networks.

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Karl Linden recognized as Distinguished Professor at campus ceremony

sugl6437 — Mon, 09 Feb 2026 11:39:49 +0000

Karl Linden recognized as Distinguished Professor at campus ceremony sugl6437 Mon, 02/09/2026 - 04:39

Susan Glairon

Karl Linden, chair of ��Ƶ Department of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering and the Mortenson Professor in Sustainable Development, has been named a Distinguished Professor, the highest faculty honor awarded on the CU system’s four campuses. The recognition was presented to Linden and five others by Chancellor Justin Schwartz at the University of Colorado Board of Regents meeting on Feb. 6.

“When I came to ��Ƶ 20 years ago, I was attracted by the collaborative spirit, focus on environmental sustainability and the amazing students this university was able to attract,” Linden said. “The colleagues I have been able to work with, the support from administrators and the creative and aspirational students that I have been able to mentor, have all enabled my successes. Being named a Distinguished Professor is a direct result of the incredible people I have been able to work with in Colorado.”

CU Distinguished Professors are tenured faculty members who demonstrate exemplary performance in research or creative work; a record of excellence in promoting learning and student attainment of knowledge and skills; and outstanding service to the profession, the university and its affiliates. Including this year’s seven honorees, only 160 Distinguished Professors have been named since the title’s establishment in 1977.

Advancing the field

Linden’s career has focused on innovative ways to improve water quality and water treatment. He’s known as an expert in ultraviolet light disinfection systems, now used by many municipal water systems.

He currently serves on the World Health Organization (WHO) Water Quality Technical Advisory Group. As a faculty member, he has taught hundreds of students in water and wastewater treatment, water and sanitation in developing communities, and graduate courses in water reuse and advanced treatment. He has authored more than 260 technical papers and has been honored with many high profile awards, too numerous to mention them all.

In 2023, Linden was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the International UV Association (IUVA) World Congress, hosted in Dubai. During the event, the IUVA president called upon those who have worked with Linden, been his student or read his papers to stand.

"It was one of the sweetest moments of my career," Linden said at the time. “Almost the whole room was standing. It was overwhelming and humbling."

Most recently, he received the American Water Works Association’s 2025 A.P. Black Research Award, which honors outstanding contributions to water science and supply, and appeared on the cover of the organization’s journal.

Linden has also been recognized as an elected Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) “for distinguished contributions to the field of water treatment engineering, particularly for using ultraviolet light for pathogen disinfection and abatement of organic contaminants in water reuse.” During a Fulbright fellowship, he researched solutions to water pollution in rural and First Nations communities in Nova Scotia, focusing on the water quality challenges faced by those living in remote areas, including those without reliable access to safe running water or conventional sanitation.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Linden and his researchers identified a specific wavelength of ultraviolet light that is effective at killing the virus and is safe for use in public places like concert halls and airports.

In 2020, he won the Borchardt-Glysson Water Treatment Innovation Prize and was named the Clarke Prize Laureate for outstanding achievement in water science and technology. In 2014, he was named the Water Reuse Foundation Person of the Year.

Early inspiration and education

Linden grew up in New York City. After being exposed to the environmental sciences in middle school, he decided to pursue a degree through Cornell University’s environmental engineering program in the College of Agriculture and Biological Engineering. While there, he learned how to drive a tractor and spread manure, which he said was “quite unique for a New York City kid.”

Linden left Cornell midway, not seeing the connection between his math and physics classes and his desire to protect the environment. Several years later, a serendipitous reading of a New York Times article about a Cornell professor, Bill Jewell, who purified water by growing plants in a constructed wetland, brought him back to Cornell. Inspired by Jewell’s class in biological waste management and a research position in his lab, Linden went on to work for one of the lab’s spinoff companies before pursuing a master’s degree and a PhD on UV disinfection at the University of California Davis. Before coming to Colorado, he was a professor at University of North Carolina Charlotte and Duke University.

“I think a lot about the people and places that have influenced my career and set me up for success and greatly honor my past mentors,” Linden said. “The greatest testament to my successes is not how many publications or projects I have been a part of but the extent to which I have enabled the success of others–my colleagues and students–and to set them up to do great things for protecting public health and the environment. “

Karl Linden was presented with the CU system’s highest faculty honor, Distinguished Professor, on Feb. 6. A pioneer in ultraviolet water treatment and a dedicated educator and mentor, he has advanced both water quality innovation and student success.

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Evan Thomas wins International Water Association Career Award for Global Water Impact

Susan Glairon — Mon, 15 Dec 2025 22:59:40 +0000

Evan Thomas wins International Water Association Career Award for Global Water Impact Susan Glairon Mon, 12/15/2025 - 15:59

Professor Evan Thomas, director of the Mortenson Center in Global Engineering & Resilience, received a major career honor from the International Water Association for his work that has reshaped how safe drinking water is delivered in some of the world’s most vulnerable regions.

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Boulder Rotary presents peace award to Bernard Amadei

Susan Glairon — Fri, 03 Oct 2025 21:03:51 +0000

Boulder Rotary presents peace award to Bernard Amadei Susan Glairon Fri, 10/03/2025 - 15:03

Bernard Amadei, founder of Engineers Without Borders USA and former CEAE professor, has been honored with the 2025 Jim Swaeby Peace Award for his global humanitarian work. The award, presented by the Boulder Rotary Club, recognizes individuals who make outstanding contributions to peace.

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Faster, cleaner, better: revolutionary water treatment

Susan Glairon — Thu, 17 Jul 2025 20:23:05 +0000

Faster, cleaner, better: revolutionary water treatment Susan Glairon Thu, 07/17/2025 - 14:23

Jeff Zehnder

Anthony Straub is developing ultra-thin nanoscale membranes to transform water purification on Earth and in space. His work has earned a prestigious NSF CAREER Award, a five-year, $550,000 grant to advance the research.

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Wil Srubar named American Ceramic Society fellow

Susan Glairon — Thu, 03 Jul 2025 20:55:34 +0000

Wil Srubar named American Ceramic Society fellow Susan Glairon Thu, 07/03/2025 - 14:55

Susan Glairon

Professor Wil Srubar has been named a fellow of The American Ceramic Society (ACerS), one of the highest honors for researchers in cement chemistry. Fellows of the American Ceramics Society are recognized for their contributions to the ceramics, cements and materials science community.

“Being named a Fellow of the American Ceramics Society is incredibly humbling,” Srubar said. “I’m honored to be included among such an accomplished group of peers who have advanced the field through research, innovation and service.”

Srubar is the principal director of the Living Materials Laboratory, where an interdisciplinary team develops nature-inspired concrete alternatives that can be produced without fossil fuels or significant carbon emissions.

He recently served as the conference chair for the 15th Advances in Cement-Based Materials, held June 11-13 at the University of Colorado Boulder. Srubar also previously held several ACerS leadership roles, including cements division chair, chair-elect and secretary.

He will be recognized on Sept. 29 at the ACerS Honors and Awards Banquet during the society’s 127th annual meeting to be held in Columbus, Ohio.

“I’m grateful to the mentors, collaborators and students who’ve shaped my journey and made this recognition possible,” Srubar said.

Professor Wil Srubar is the principal director of the Living Materials Laboratory, where an interdisciplinary team develops nature-inspired concrete alternatives that can be produced without fossil fuels or significant carbon emissions.

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Two department projects funded by the Climate Innovation Collaboratory

Susan Glairon — Mon, 21 Apr 2025 17:18:11 +0000

Two department projects funded by the Climate Innovation Collaboratory Susan Glairon Mon, 04/21/2025 - 11:18

Two department projects funded by the Climate Innovation Collaboratory, an ongoing alliance between Deloitte Consulting LLP and ��Ƶ, will develop tools to reduce carbon: one for optimizing data center energy storage, led by Associate Professor Kyri Baker, and one for evaluating local materials in cement, led by Associate Professor Mija Hubler.

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Shideh Dashti named 2025 EERI Distinguished Lecturer

Susan Glairon — Tue, 04 Feb 2025 18:02:26 +0000

Shideh Dashti named 2025 EERI Distinguished Lecturer Susan Glairon Tue, 02/04/2025 - 11:02

Associate Professor Shideh Dashti received the 2025 EERI Distinguished Lecture Award for her groundbreaking work in geotechnical earthquake engineering.

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