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!