Ryan Johnson, Assistant Professor of Civil & Environmental Engineering (CvEEN) at the University of Utah, has co-authored a new study published in Environmental Modelling & Software. Titled “Quantifying regional variability of machine-learning-based snow water equivalent estimates across the Western United States,” the research explores how machine learning models can enhance the estimation of snow water equivalent (SWE) across diverse regions in the Western U.S.—a critical factor for water resource management in snow-dependent areas.

This publication marks a milestone in what has been a standout first year for Dr. Johnson as a faculty member at the U. Not only is he a proud Ph.D. graduate of the Civil & Environmental Engineering program, he was also recognized by students as this year’s CvEEN Student-Choice Professor of the Year—a reflection of his excellence in both research and teaching.

Dr. Johnson’s work focuses on integrating artificial intelligence and machine learning into hydrological modeling to advance operational water resource management, particularly in the face of climate variability and change. His latest study provides key insights into improving predictive models to better support water supply forecasting.

📰 Read the full article on ScienceDirect: A post-processing machine learning framework for bias-correcting National Water Model outputs by accounting for dominant streamflow drivers.

Hung-Po Cheng didn’t just come to the University of Utah to earn an engineering Ph.D.—he came to create a real-world impact by making the roads we travel every day just a little safer. With a passion for data-driven safety solutions and a vision for smarter cities, Hung-Po is using artificial intelligence to improve traffic safety.

“I chose the University of Utah for its outstanding transportation engineering program and its emphasis on cutting-edge AI research,” he says. “It’s exciting to work on projects that bring together real-world transportation challenges and innovative technology.”

Under the mentorship of Associate Professor Xiaoyue Cathy Liu, Hung-Po is leading research that uses knowledge graphs and large language models (LLMs) to predict high-risk traffic accident hotspots. His goal? To develop tools that help cities prevent crashes before they happen—saving lives through smarter planning and decision-making.

Hung-Po’s work recently earned him a $2,000 Student Mini-Project Award from the Center for Smart Transportation (CST). This award supports student-led research and publications, empowering scholars like Hung-Po to take charge of their projects and publish as first authors. The funding will help advance a publication titled "Enhancing Traffic Safety Analysis through Knowledge Graphs and LLM Integration."

This project aligns with CST’s Focus Area 4: Smart Cities, Big Data & Innovative Technologies to Improve Transportation System Efficiency, and will be submitted to the Journal of Transport Geography.

Hung-Po’s research interests include:

• AI-driven frameworks to predict and mitigate high-risk traffic accident hotspots
• Multimodal AI pipelines using vision-language models (VLMs) for deeper transportation safety insights

With the CST award and the support of the University of Utah, Hung-Po is setting a new standard for how artificial intelligence can be applied in transportation engineering—making the roads we travel every day just a little safer.

Few names are as synonymous with engineering and leadership excellence in Utah as Ron Reaveley. On April 22, 2025, the University of Utah’s Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering and the Structural Engineers Association of Utah (SEAU) proudly co-hosted the inaugural event of our Distinguished Structural Engineering Lecture Series. This special evening featured Ron Reaveley, Founder of Reaveley Engineers, one of Utah’s most influential structural engineering firms.

In his talk, "A 60 Year Perspective on Advancements in Earthquake Design in Utah," Ron shared insights from a career defined by engineering intuition, business acumen, and industry leadership. With decades of experience and a reputation for recognizing quality design at a glance, Ron offered a powerful reflection on how validation processes can drive innovation forward in structural and geotechnical engineering.

Ron founded Reaveley Engineers at the age of 30, bringing nearly eight years of experience and a strong vision for what engineering practice could be in Utah. His brother, Larry Reaveley, a long-time faculty member and former Chair of the Civil & Environmental Engineering (CvEEN) department at the University of Utah, also played a pivotal role in shaping the company’s legacy. Larry was known for identifying exceptional talent and creating a “pipeline” of skilled engineers from the U to Reaveley Engineers—strengthening ties between academia and practice.

The event drew a strong turnout of professionals, faculty, and students, reflecting the deep respect the structural engineering community has for Ron’s contributions and the Reaveley legacy.

It was an honor to host Ron Reaveley for this first installment of a new series focused on bridging academia and industry.

Joe Davies, center, at the 2025 NCAA Championships hosted by Dartmouth College.

Dr. Pomeroy with the ASCE Student Chapter in Phoenix, AZ.

We’re excited to announce that Dr. Vince Wang will be returning to the University of Utah as an Assistant Professor of Nuclear Engineering starting August 2025. With an impressive track record spanning both academia and nuclear industry, Dr. Wang brings invaluable expertise to our growing program.

Dr. Wang previously worked at Radiant, a cutting-edge microreactor company in the nuclear startup space, where he applied his deep knowledge of particle transport simulation to the Kaleidos microreactor design and innovation. Before that, he was part of our own research staff at the University of Utah and now returns to support the continued expansion of the UNEP program, University of Utah TRIGA Reactor (UUTR) research initiatives, and nuclear engineering education across Utah. His return strengthens our commitment to expand our nuclear science and engineering research, education, and industry applications.

Now Recruiting Graduate Students!
Dr. Wang is actively looking for passionate and talented graduate students to join his research group. His work spans a range of high-impact areas, including:

• Advanced reactor core analysis
• TRIGA reactor neutron radiography system
• Accelerator-driven systems (ADS)
• Particle transport simulation methods
• Radiation shielding design and optimization
• Reactor depletion and decay analysis

This is a unique opportunity to work at the frontier of nuclear innovation and research under a mentor with both deep technical knowledge and real-world industry insight.

📩  Interested students should submit the following to Dr. Wang at vince.wang@utah.edu:

1. CV or Resume
2. Short bio outlining education and research interests
3. Academic transcript
4. Sample publication (if available)

Whether you’re passionate about advanced reactors, shielding, simulation, or experimental systems, this is your chance to be part of something impactful.

Welcome back to the U, Dr. Wang! Let’s shape the future of nuclear power together!