Archives: Monthly Archives: March 2025

Sajan Shakya & Israt Jahan Win First Round in UConn Engineering Graduate Poster Competition

Image of a large indoor space filled with poster boards arranged in rows, each displaying research projects. Groups of people are scattered throughout the room, engaging in discussions and presenting their research. Some individuals are standing next to their posters, speaking with attendees, while others walk around or listen to presentations. In the background, additional attendees are visible, adding to the busy and academic atmosphere of the event.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Image of Sajan Shakya standing in front of his research poster, which is titled “Flexure Behavior of Concrete-Filled FRP Tubes Considering Fiber Orientation Effect.” He is holding a certificate that reads “Civil Engineering First Place Award” from the UConn College of Engineering’s 11th Annual Graduate Poster Competition. He is wearing a black jacket over a white sweater and has green beaded necklaces around his neck. His research poster behind him displays various diagrams, graphs, and textual explanations detailing his study’s methodology and findings.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Israt Jahan receiving an award at the UConn College of Engineering Graduate Poster Competition. She is standing in front of JC Zhao, the Dean of College of Engineering, who is handing her a certificate. To her right, another faculty member holds a microphone, appearing to be announcing the award. Two additional faculty members stand beside them, dressed in professional attire.

The School of Civil & Environmental Engineering (SoCEE) is proud to celebrate Sajan Shakya (Civil Engineering) and Israt Jahan (Environmental Engineering) for their outstanding achievements at the 11th Annual UConn College of Engineering Poster Competition, held on March 7, 2025.

With over 105 graduate students from across UConn Engineering competing, Sajan and Israt stood out as First Round Winners in their respective departments. The competition challenged participants to present their research in just three minutes, followed by a faculty Q&A. Each department’s winner advanced to the final round to compete for the top three spots across the College of Engineering.

Sajan’s research, Flexure Behavior of Concrete-Filled FRP Tubes Considering Fiber Orientation Effect, explores how fiber orientation impacts the structural performance of concrete-filled FRP tubes (CFFTs), commonly used in bridge columns. His study, using a finite element model in OpenSees, found that a ±55° fiber architecture outperforms ±45° in strength, ductility, and energy dissipation due to nonlinear transverse and shear stress interactions. His work advances our understanding of material confinement and structural behavior.

Israt’s research, Uncertainty Quantification of Storm Gust Predictions in the Northeast USA with an Evidential Neural Network, presents an AI-based modeling framework to quantify uncertainty in wind gust forecasts. Using data from 61 extratropical storms (2017-2021), her model enhances risk assessment and response planning for extreme weather events. Learn more about her research group at Atmospheric and Air Quality Modeling Group.

These achievements reflect the innovative and impactful research happening within SoCEE. This competition not only recognizes academic excellence but also provides an opportunity for students to hone their communication skills and connect with faculty and peers.

We congratulate Sajan Shakya and Israt Jahan on this well-earned recognition and look forward to seeing how their research continues to advance the fields of civil and environmental engineering.

Click here to read about it in the Daily Campus!

Manish Roy & Alexander Agrios Named 2025 Commencement Marshals

engineering undergraduates, throwing their caps in the air inside of gampel stadium during commencement.

The School of Civil & Environmental Engineering (SoCEE) is proud to announce that Dr. Manish Roy and Dr. Alexander Agrios have been selected by the senior class to serve as the 2025 Civil Engineering and Environmental Engineering Commencement Marshals.

This honor recognizes their exceptional dedication to students, contributions to engineering education, and commitment to mentorship. Dr. Roy has served as the Civil Engineering Commencement Marshal in 2022, 2023, and 2024, a testament to his ongoing impact on the student experience. Reflecting on this role, Dr. Roy shared:

"As a faculty member, it gives me immense joy to witness the academic journey of our students throughout their four years at UConn. That joy will amplify when I stand in the receiving line and shake hands with all of them one last time before they fly out of our nest. And, yes, it's truly an honor to be selected by the students to be their Commencement Marshal!"

Dr. Agrios, who is serving as Commencement Marshal for the first time this year, echoed similar sentiments:

"I always attend Commencement because it’s important to me to be there for the students in this big moment. My favorite part is always the receiving line—to look each of them in the eye, congratulate them, shake their hand, get an occasional hug. It’s awesome."

As Commencement Marshals, Dr. Roy and Dr. Agrios will play an integral role in leading the Class of 2025 during the graduation ceremony, reflecting their outstanding leadership and dedication to student success.

Congratulations to Dr. Manish Roy and Dr. Alexander Agrios on this well-earned recognition, and thank you for your continued contributions to the School of Civil & Environmental Engineering!

Click here for more details about 2025 commencement.

SoCEE Student Named 2025 Lifesavers Traffic Safety Scholar

Oluwaseun Olufowobi, a student in UConn’s Civil and Environmental Engineering program, has been named a 2025 Lifesavers Traffic Safety Scholar (TSS) and will attend the Lifesavers Conference on Roadway Safety in Long Beach, California, from March 9-11.

The Lifesavers Traffic Safety Scholars Program is a highly competitive initiative that selects a small group of undergraduate and graduate students across the U.S. to participate in the nation’s largest gathering of traffic safety professionals. Scholars engage with cutting-edge research and strategies in traffic safety while networking with leading experts in engineering, public health, law enforcement, policy, and technology.

Oluwaseun and their fellow Scholars will begin the conference with a TSS Reception and Expert Panel Discussion on March 8, where they will hear from professionals shaping the future of roadway safety. Over the following days, they will attend plenary sessions and workshops covering topics such as distracted and impaired driving, vehicle technology, pedestrian and bicycle safety, and roadway design.

This is a prestigious honor, and we congratulate Oluwaseun on this achievement and their dedication to advancing roadway safety!

Learn more about the Lifesavers Traffic Safety Scholars Program here: www.lifesaversconference.org

See the press release (left) for more details.

Neuroinclusive Teaching Summer Institute for STEM Faculty

Creating an inclusive STEM classroom goes beyond accommodations — it requires recognizing the strengths neurodivergent students bring to problem-solving, innovation, and collaboration. By fostering an environment where all students feel they belong, we help drive the next generation of STEM advancements.

The Neuroinclusive Teaching Summer Institute for STEM Faculty at UConn Civil and Environmental Engineering offers faculty the opportunity to learn research-backed strategies for fostering neuroinclusive teaching practices. Faculty will leave with concrete approaches to making STEM education more inclusive and supporting students in ways that enhance both learning and innovation.

Start your neuroinclusive teaching journey at UConn Civil and Environmental Engineering's Neuroinclusive Teaching Summer Institute for STEM faculty on May 19-20!

Learn more and register here: https://neurodiversity.engineering.uconn.edu/neuroinclusive-teaching-institutes/