Ph.D. Student Aagya Dahal Receives SEI Futures Fund Student Scholarship Web Page | School of Civil and Environmental Engineering

Ph.D. Student Aagya Dahal Receives SEI Futures Fund Student Scholarship

Aagya Dahal, a Ph.D. student here in the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, has been selected to receive a Structural Engineering Institute (SEI) Futures Fund Student Scholarship to attend Structures Congress 2026, which will be held in Boston from April 29 to May 1, 2026.

The scholarship provides complimentary student registration to the conference along with partial travel support, giving Dahal the opportunity to participate in one of the field’s leading professional gatherings and connect with structural engineers from across the country.

Aagya presenting at the SEI ETS conference scholarship event. — *Aagya presenting the previous SEI ETS conference scholarship.*

Dahal’s doctoral research focuses on the development of more sustainable ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC). Her work examines how supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) can be more effectively dispersed in polycarboxylate ether (PCE) based systems and evaluates their behavior through sedimentation testing, optical microscopy, and particle size analysis. She is also involved in a pyrrhotite-bearing concrete project, conducting detailed microstructural and phase analysis to better understand deterioration mechanisms in affected foundations.

In addition to her research, Dahal is a member of ASCE/SEI and recently joined the SE 2050 Commitment Program Committee, where she hopes to contribute to resources that support lower-carbon structural design.

“Being selected for the SEI Student Scholarship to attend Structures Congress 2026 is an incredible honor,” said Dahal. “It not only recognizes my efforts in sustainable UHPC research, but also gives me the opportunity to learn from and connect with leading structural engineers who are shaping the future of our profession.”

*Group photo from a previous SEI conference event.*

The award highlights both Dahal’s research contributions and her growing engagement with the structural engineering profession. By supporting student participation in Structures Congress, the scholarship helps emerging researchers and practitioners build connections, gain exposure to new ideas, and contribute to conversations shaping the future of the discipline.

Dahal is advised by School Director Kay Wille and conducts her research as part of UConn’s ongoing efforts to advance durable, innovative, and more sustainable construction materials.