Departmental News

In the recently released 2026 U.S. News & World Report Best Graduate School rankings, our Civil Engineering graduate program has leaped to #75 in the nation. This impressive 16-spot rise from last year is a testament to the high-impact research, innovative spirit, and dedication of our faculty and graduate students. From sustainable infrastructure to advanced transportation systems to microplastics in the environment to […]

Ph.D. student Roshit Raj Paudel earned second place in the National GeoPoster Competition at Geo-Congress 2026, held March 9-12 in Salt Lake City, Utah. Geo-Congress is the ASCE Geo-Institute’s annual conference and a premier national gathering for the geotechnical engineering community. Roshit was recognized for his poster, “Beyond Rainfall Intensity and Duration: Toward a Predictive […]

Behind our successful graduate program is a leader who balances the complex rules of university administration and student-centered mentorship. On January 30, the UNC Charlotte Graduate School announced that Dr. Olya Keen, Associate Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, is the latest recipient of the Thomas L. Reynolds Leadership Award. The award, […]

Have you ever stepped into the main office of our department—maybe to grab a staple, ask a question, or chat with our wonderful staff? If so, you’ve likely noticed the large, vibrant painting that greets you at the entrance. That striking piece was created by one of our own students, Allie Grice, as part of […]

Dr. Aivars Vilguts is an Assistant Professor in Structural Engineering. He received his B.S. and M.S. degrees in Civil and Structural Engineering from Riga Technical University in Latvia. In 2021, he earned his Ph.D. from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, focusing on high-rise timber building research. After completing his Ph.D., he returned to […]

Dr. David Harkey, an alum of the UNC Charlotte Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, will be giving the prestigious Thomas B. Deen Lectureship at the TRB Annual Meeting. Link to TRB Site with more information.

María Guimaraes is an Assistant Teaching Professor in the structures group at UNC Charlotte. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Construction Engineering from the Universidad Nacional del Nordeste in Argentina, a Master’s in Civil Engineering from the University of Newcastle in the UK, and a Ph.D. in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the Georgia Institute […]

Dr. Carlos A. Gonzalez-Calderon is an Assistant Professor of Transportation Engineering. He earned his B.S. in Civil Engineering (2004) and an M.S. in Transportation Engineering (2007) from the National University of Colombia, an M.E. (2010) and a Ph.D. (2014) in Transportation Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), and a Master of Public Health (M.P.H.) from University […]

Dr. Kelsey Pieper is an assistant professor in Environmental and Water Resources Engineering. Her research focuses on understanding the barriers communities face in accessing safe drinking water in the United States, especially those served by unregulated private wells and municipal systems that do not always meet drinking water standards. She explores how and why contamination […]

A UNC Charlotte Professional Development Program Please make plans to join us October 21 & 22, 2025. Our annual seminar will feature presentations by industry, government, and academic experts in airport design, construction, operation, and maintenance. The UNC Charlotte’s Civil and Environmental Engineering Department and The Charlotte Aviation Innovation and Research (AIR) Institute, have partnered […]