How engineers are reimagining street safety for communities of all kinds Traffic crashes remain one of the leading causes of injury and death across communities of all sizes—from dense urban corridors to rural and tribal lands. A central challenge in transportation safety is the inability to anticipate risks before they become deadly. Strengthening that foresight […]

Solving the Transportation Problem for Microreactors with Digital Twin Microreactors are quickly shifting from sci-fi-adjacent prototypes to one of the most promising tools in America’s clean-energy toolkit. Roughly the size of a shipping container, these next-gen nuclear systems can deliver reliable power to remote communities, military bases, disaster zones, or industrial sites—without the massive infrastructure […]

The One-U Responsible Artificial Intelligence Initiative (One-U RAI) at the Scientific Computing and Imaging Institute (SCI) has selected a new cohort of faculty fellows — including Dr. Ryan Johnson from our Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering (CvEEN). Johnson was recognized under the “Environment” thematic area for his work combining AI, hydroinformatics, and sustainability in […]

Malekloo Successfully Defends Dissertation and Begins Career in Intelligent Transportation Systems The Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering is proud to announce that Arman Malekloo successfully defended his Ph.D. dissertation on November 11th, 2025, under the mentorship of Professor Cathy Liu. Arman has already begun the next chapter of his career at Narwhal Group, where […]

Dr. Michael Darter Returns to the U for Seminar & Recognition Event The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering was honored to welcome Dr. Michael Darter back to campus on November 12 for a special seminar and recognition ceremony celebrating his selection as the 2024 CvEEN Distinguished Alumni Award recipient. Dr. Darter’s seminar—“An Inspiring Career […]

We are pleased to announce Brandon Squire has been awarded the Civil & Environmental Engineering Distinguished Alumni Award. With more than three decades of experience in the construction industry, Brandon Squire has built a career grounded in field expertise, strategic growth, and industry-wide leadership. Since becoming President of Ralph L. Wadsworth Construction Company in 2016, […]

Dr. Shahrzad Roshankhah receives NSF CAREER Award to decode the science of rock slope failures Rock slope failures may seem like remote geologic events, but their impacts are anything but isolated — threatening lives, damaging infrastructure, and disrupting entire economies. Understanding what causes these catastrophic events is a challenge at the heart of geotechnical engineering, […]

$1.5M Odometry Lab Positions Utah as a Leader in Safer, Smarter Rail Systems The University of Utah is taking a leading role in advancing smart mobility and rail safety with the launch of a new $1.5 million Odometry Lab, funded by the Utah Legislature in 2025. Led by CvEEN faculty Drs. Cathy Liu, Xuan (Peter) […]

Dr. Romero inspires future engineers to design with both durability and the environment in mind—ensuring that every mile of progress leaves a lighter footprint. For more than two decades, Dr. Pedro Romero has been a cornerstone of the Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering (CvEEN). Known for his approachable teaching style and his passion for […]

Leaders from academia, industry, and government gather to chart the future of AI in infrastructure and civil systems Civil engineers, researchers, and industry leaders from across the country gathered at the University of Utah on September 19, 2025, for the ASCE Center for Technical Advancement (CTA) AI Task Force Workshop. Chaired by Dr. Guohui Zhang […]