1. CAE Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering
Dr. Antonio Nanni, Chair
CAE features a large and diverse number of REU opportunities in funded and unfunded current projects.
Based on students’ interest, the ideal approach is direct contact with the faculty. The graduate brochure, among others, lists the areas of interest of all CAE faculty members (visit:
The next slides offer a sample of possible projects in:
a) Sustainable and resilient building systems and materials
b) Environmental Engineering

2. Sustainable Building Systems Laboratory
(Dr. Zuo)
Smart, Sustainable and Connected Cities
(Funded by National Science Foundation)
Resilient Coast Cities
(Funded by National Science Foundation)
Energy Efficient Cooling for Data Centers
(Funded by US Department of Energy)
Building Energy Rating Analysis
(Funded by ASHRAE)
Website:

3. Computer-Aided Structural Engineering (Dr. Rhode-Barbarigos)
Form-finding and analysis
Identifying equilibrium shapes and analyzing structural behaviors
Structurally integrated adaptive structures
Integrating shape changes in the structural behavior
Structural design and optimization
Identifying feasible solutions using computing algorithms
Generate equilibrium forms
Analyze their structural behavior
Design, construct and test

4. Nanotechnology in Materials/Structures (Dr. Ghahremaninezhad)
Multifunctional nanostructured composite energy storage-structural material systems
High performance nanoparticle
composites in infrastructures
Ballistic fracture and high speed imaging

5. Composite Technologies for Infrastructure Resilience and Sustainability (Dr. Claure and Dr. De Caso)
Re-discover engineering hands on: Material behavior and characterization; strengthen and repaired concrete; long term performance evaluation; apply test standards, design guidelines and code development.

6. Environmental Nanotechnology
(Dr. Joo)
Nano-metal oxides: nano-products
Nano-food
Bioaccumulation and gut functional changes
Environmental dynamics of nano-products in heterogeneous systems
In-vivo and in-vitro studies
In collaboration with Chemistry Dept. & EPA
Nano-toxicology & potential public health impact of nanoparticles
Impact of nano-metal oxides on the ocean environment
In collaboration with
UM Medical School & EPA
NSF CAREER

7. Environmental Engineering
Water-Resources and
Environmental Engineering
(Dr. Chin)
Study of the relationship between land use and water quality
Delineation of protection zones around water-supply sources
Design of low-impact stormwater management systems
Mathematical modeling of water-resources and environmental systems

8. Environmental: Net-Zero Water
(Dr. Englehardt)
National Science Foundation research:
Complete municipal water recycling
University Village residence hall
Savings of 56% of hot water energy
Real-time risk detection technology
Recover 90% of wastewater nutrients as fertilizer

9. Environmental: Water Quality
(Dr. Solo-Gabriele)
Fate of aerial spray of insecticide (Naled)
Fate of wood treatment preservatives
Cuba infrastructure student competition.
Water quality perceptions in Cuba.