A Message from the Chair

Dear Friends of Civil and Environmental Engineering,

As the Fall 2025 semester concludes, we look back on how CEE has flourished in its various areas of involvement, from offering new courses and expanding research, to maintaining regional rankings and establishing new programs.

Our most recent initiative, the Corporate Partnership Program, encourages working professionals to upskill their talents by enrolling in master’s degree and graduate certificate programs at a discounted tuition rate. We are very excited to see how this inspires those who desire to continue their studies but need extra support.

I am also proud to share that our programs have continued to earn high rankings. In its 2025 ratings, College Factual placed CEE’s bachelor of science in civil engineering as #1 in the state and #3 in the country; it ranked NJIT as #12 for both civil engineering graduate degree schools and master’s degree schools. The American Society for Engineering Education placed NJIT at #6 nationally for the number of civil engineering bachelor degrees awarded per institution, in a report covering data from 2024.

We are fortunate to celebrate these accomplishments on a national scale, but to also have three professors and one student recognized within NJIT at the second annual Nexus of Excellence Awards. These community members exemplify what it means to have an impact on students as well as local communities with the extraordinary work they have done as leaders in and outside of the classroom.

Furthermore, CEE’s alumni have contributed back to the university tremendously, earning them awards at NJIT’s Celebration this year. In addition, we have had an incredible fiscal year in research, with $12.342 million in faculty-led external research expenditures in 2025.

Students have continued to thrive and work hard to earn scholarships, attend conferences, manage extracurriculars, and excel in their studies and research endeavors. CEE is privileged to have such a dedicated community of scholars, as students as well as faculty, continually contribute to the advancement of the department.

Thank you for your endless support for the department. We wish you a wonderful holiday season and all the best in the new year!

Sincerely,

Taha F. Marhaba, Ph.D., P.E., F.ASCE

Distinguished Professor and Chair

973-596-2444

973-596-5790 (fax)

marhaba@njit.edu

NJIT's Civil Engineering Program Ranked #8 Nationwide - by College Factual ®

Newsletter Contents

In the News
Department Highlights
Department Research
Student Spotlight
Faculty Highlights
Alumni Highlights
Extracurriculars
Events
Recent Publications
Recent Grant Awards
Our Advisory Board
Newsletter Credits
Special Thanks

Opportunities for Students

We collect information on various opportunities for students and alumni, such as internships, co-ops, scholarships, and other job postings. Feel free to contact us at cee@njit.edu with any potential new openings!

Learn More!

Nefferty Santiago's Journey from NJIT to Top 50 Women Leaders of New York City

Nefferty Santiago '95, M.S. '99 still remembers her first days at NJIT as part of the Educational Opportunity Program's EOP’s eight-week academic bootcamp, which introduced her to the rigors of academic life. The civil engineering alum built up from her small-town roots to become the engineer and leader she is today at a Fortune 500 company. Read more.

Teen Innovators Gather at NJIT to Share Ideas, Network At ‘Entrepreneurathon’

The National Young Leaders Association, in collaboration with the NJIT, recently hosted the inaugural 2025 Entrepreneurathon – a full-day event aimed at empowering the next generation of high school entrepreneurs. Speakers included CEE alumnus Nicholas DeNichilo '73, M.S. '78, the former president and CEO of Mott MacDonald North America. Read more.

CEE Alum joins ISU Department of Technology Faculty

The Illinois State University’s Department of Technology welcomed a new faculty member for the fall 2025 semester. Xi Hu, Ph.D. ‘25 will be part of the university’s construction management program. Hu pursued an M.S. in project management at ISU from 2018 to 2020 and is now back to teach students and lead innovative projects. Read more.

Civil engineering student earns $6,000 scholarship from ATSG to attend NJIT

Alexander Heins, first-year civil engineering student, was awarded the Hete Family Scholarship by the Air Transport Services Group, Inc. to pursue his degree at NJIT. Hailing from his hometown of Mira Costa, California, he plays for NJIT’s volleyball team as a middle blocker. Read more.

NJIT's Second Annual Nexus of Excellence Awards

On October 8, NJIT hosted its annual Nexus of Excellence Awards celebration, a tradition that unites several long-standing ceremonies into a single event highlighting exceptional contributions to the university community. Of the 27 awardees, four individuals represented the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.

Yasser Jezzini

Civil Engineering Ph.D. Graduate

Excellence in Instruction by Teaching Assistants

As a Ph.D. candidate at NJIT, Yasser Jezzini was very involved in activities within the department. He was the instructor for soil mechanics laboratory courses for over six semesters and a teaching assistant for various other courses, consistently earning strong student evaluations. He also mentored undergraduate researchers, helping them develop their research skills and co-author publications.

“Teaching has been one of the most meaningful parts of my experience at NJIT, and knowing that my efforts made a real difference in the classroom made the recognition truly special,” Jezzini said.

Going the extra mile to make genuine connections with students was one of his primary objectives in the classroom alongside educating others. “I always aimed to meet students where they were, support them through challenges, and create an atmosphere where they felt valued, capable, and motivated to learn,” he added. “My goal was not only to teach the material, but to inspire students to believe in their potential and take ownership of their progress.”

Jezzini also brought his own field experience as a project engineer to his classroom, bridging the gap between lab work and real-world applications that students would see as they progressed in their careers: “It is deeply fulfilling to know that my teaching and mentorship have helped students grasp complex topics, strengthen their problem-solving skills, and gain confidence in applying knowledge to real-world challenges.”

He is grateful to the CEE department, faculty, and students for their trust, support, and encouragement.

Oladoyin Kolawole

Assistant Professor

Excellence in Graduate Instruction

As the director of the Geomechanics for Geo-Engineering & Sustainability Lab, Oladoyin Kolawole has worked with countless undergraduate and graduate students. He has mentored and trained graduate-student scholars, encouraged undergraduate students' participation in research, and reenergized CEE's geotechnical engineering program. Most of all, he has been a dependable source for support and knowledge — what students need to thrive in their academic journeys.

Kolawole has a distinct method of instruction that leads his students to grasp what he teaches them. “The hands-on training I incorporate into my courses helps students connect theory with practice, especially through clear and visual-based interpretation of complex concepts and the real-world engineering term projects I introduced,” he explained. He has also developed industry-focused short courses for practicing engineers in the New York metro area, establishing NJIT’s impact and connection beyond the classroom.

It’s rewarding to Kolawole to be part of the students’ paths as they weave through complex problems and try to solve them with guidance from him. “Seeing them grow into exceptional engineers and researchers, often through mentorship and practical training, is deeply fulfilling and reinforces the importance of our role as educators,” he said. “I’m most proud of the opportunity to positively influence students’ academic and professional journeys.”

He is grateful to be part of a university that values and celebrates educational impact: “I am happy to contribute to NJIT’s mission and to work alongside colleagues who are equally dedicated to student success.”

Michel Boufadel

Distinguished Professor

Excellence and Impact in Community Engagement

For Michel Boufadel, community outreach embedded in professional and academic endeavors is second nature. As the director of the Center for Natural Resources (CNR), he has worked with various groups of people, from the hyperlocal Newark community to residents from several areas in the state of New Jersey.

Achieving this award was quite an honor for Boufadel; it highlights the culmination of his efforts to lead the CNR team in many distinct initiatives. One such project is the recent Newark Tree Canopy Initiative, which has built on previous projects and transformed Newark’s urban landscape by improving air quality and creating a healthier environment for local communities. For this project and others, CNR has helped address urgent needs in mitigating floods, pollution, and urban heat.

Boufadel is a firm believer that researchers need to work with communities in order to pursue fundamental and impactful research. He acknowledges that any form of recognition for this type of work enhances visibility for the various communities involved and beyond, so this presents a valuable moment for not just Boufadel, but also CNR and the populations that have been supported through his lead and research efforts.

Boufadel says this award shows his commitment to NJIT’s mission of innovation and the advancement of knowledge through high-impact research. “I am thankful for the support I received from the CEE department over the years,” he commented. “The department's visibility and impact has been on the rise for quite some time, and I am glad to be part of CEE.”

Matthew Adams

Associate Professor

Constance A. Murray Diversity Award

Serving as the co-director of NJIT’s Materials and Structures Laboratory, Adams is also the head of the structural group at CEE. When he’s not teaching courses, researching cement and concrete-based materials, or advising students in their experiments, he’s working behind the scenes to help the university voice support and understanding for all communities in an effort to improve learning and student outcomes.

The Constance A. Murray Diversity Award, dedicated to the memory of Constance A. Murray, who served as NJIT’s Dean of Student Services from 1978 until her death in 1994, is presented to individuals or groups within NJIT who have compiled a significant and sustained record of achievement in fostering diversity within the university community. Adams has done exactly that — having conversations at workshops about upholding acceptance for all community members and ensuring that the message is conveyed across the university.

“As an openly queer and gay member of NJIT's faculty, I've been in the minority since I joined; there are not many of us here. Discussions about gender and sexuality are often not considered germane to the types of work done at a polytechnic university. This is a misconception though; identity and the intersection of our personal identities with our professional identities impact how safe and comfortable we feel,” he explained. “When you don't feel like your whole self is accepted, when you feel like you need to hide a piece of who you are, you focus on that instead of the task at hand. Ultimately, this can harm student learning.”

While his research on cement and concrete-based materials is a constant source of pride and joy, his work to “support student learning and engagement is likely the most directly impactful work at NJIT,” Adams added. “The focus here is on your hard work, while respecting all the barriers we have all overcome to get here.”

NJIT and T&M Ink Upskilling Agreement, Showcase New Model for Industry and Academic Partnership

Amid growing demand for licensed engineers and new infrastructure investment, NJIT is partnering with industry to make graduate education more accessible for working professionals — offering firms a way to upskill their engineers while expanding the state’s talent pipeline.

Corporate- and public-sector companies will receive a 20% discount on tuition rates when they enroll cohorts of five or more, with options to customize the curriculum per their business needs. T&M Associates, a national engineering firm based in Middletown, New Jersey, is the first to sign a memorandum of understanding for the unique opportunity.

“Education today is very holistic. It's not just on the backs of faculty — we need industry partnerships to educate students better. The fact that T&M is sending their engineers here, there's a whole host of benefits that can come from it,” NJIT President Teik C. Lim said. “They are professional engineers. They will be rubbing shoulders with our traditional students here on campus; they can learn from each other, and that's part of the education that we offer. This holistic education makes them a better professional once they graduate.”

“Our partnership with T&M could be a model for how we and other universities scale up graduate education,” Lim added.

T&M chairman Gary Dahms shared his company’s enthusiasm for the opportunity at NJIT. “I think this is going to enhance our staff, and this is an opportunity for our staff to continue their education and career progression with a great partner at NJIT. We already have in place a tuition reimbursement program at T&M. This opens doors even further, because it gives more value to the potential students or employees who want to take advantage.”

With more than 450 professionals across offices in the Mid-Atlantic and beyond, T&M has built a reputation for combining technical excellence with workforce growth. The company invests heavily in employee development, from tuition reimbursement to leadership training, which made the NJIT partnership a logical extension of its commitment to advancing both people and projects.

The model is already gaining traction. Colliers Engineering & Design has also signed an agreement with NJIT. The firm, headquartered in Holmdel, New Jersey, operates more than 80 offices and includes more than 3,000 professionals under its umbrella. Richard Maser, executive chairman, echoed the need for acceleration served by academic and industry initiatives.

“This partnership between Colliers Engineering & Design and NJIT represents the kind of collaboration our industry needs; one that bridges education and practice,” said Maser. “By investing in workforce development through this program, we’re not only supporting our employees’ growth but also helping to cultivate the next generation of engineering leaders.”

Bridging Education and Industry Needs

For industry, programs like this address a growing workforce challenge — the need to continually refresh technical expertise amid rapid advances in materials, infrastructure systems, sustainability and digital design. By providing affordable access to advanced education, companies can upskill engineers who are already familiar with their culture and projects, reducing turnover while building the in-house capacity needed to pursue larger, more complex work.

For firms such as T&M, this model also tightens the feedback loop between academia and practice. Faculty gain insight into emerging industry needs, while participating engineers bring back new methods and technologies that improve project quality and efficiency. In effect, it becomes a two-way exchange that strengthens both the company’s competitiveness and the region’s engineering talent pipeline.

The partnership won’t just increase the number of professional, licensed engineers — it improves the quality of engineering, too. Taha Marhaba, distinguished professor and chair of the civil and environmental engineering department, said partnerships with firms such as T&M Associates are designed “to bridge that gap between academic innovation and professional practice.” He noted that many engineers in the field are seeking ways to stay current with emerging tools and frameworks shaping civil and environmental engineering — “from sustainable design and resilient infrastructure to data-driven modeling and AI-enhanced analysis.”

Through courses such as “Resilient Systems Planning and Design and Virtual Design and Construction,” participants gain hands-on exposure to federal and professional standards for floodproofing and resilience planning, as well as digital modeling, photogrammetry and 4D simulation tools. “This type of collaboration keeps professionals ahead of the curve,” Marhaba said, “allowing them to immediately apply new concepts and techniques to ongoing projects while ensuring that what we teach remains directly relevant to what engineers are tackling in the field today.”

Master’s degrees in civil engineering and transportation are both available on campus and online. Master’s in critical infrastructure systems and environmental engineering are available on campus. Certificate-level programs are available for fields such as climate change resilience, construction management, geotechnical engineering, hydrology and more.

For any corporations who would like to participate in the tuition discount program, please contact Taha Marhaba at marhaba@njit.edu. More information is available on our website.

Integrating Computational Modeling and AI to Predict UHPC Bridge Performance

Concrete is the backbone of modern transportation systems, but its long-term performance depends on environmental conditions. In regions like New Jersey, harsh winters, freeze-thaw cycles, and the use of deicing salts accelerate deterioration in bridge decks. Chloride from these salts can penetrate concrete, corrode reinforcing steel, and significantly shorten the service life of bridges, which leads to costly repairs and interruptions to daily travel.

To address these challenges, researchers at NJIT’s Materials and Structures Lab (MatSLab) are evaluating advanced materials that can strengthen and protect bridge infrastructure. One promising solution is ultra high-performance concrete (UHPC), a dense and highly durable cementitious composite. When used as a thin overlay, UHPC can dramatically reduce chloride penetration, limit moisture ingress, and slow climate-driven deterioration. Although UHPC is more expensive than conventional concrete, its use as an overlay can extend service life by decades and reduce life-cycle maintenance costs.

This project builds on work initiated in 2019 by former MatSLab graduate researchers Jin Fan and Seyed Masoud Shirkhorshidi, under the guidance of CEE Associate Professors Matthew J. Bandelt and Matthew P. Adams. Their combined experimental and computational studies established a strong foundation for understanding how UHPC enhances durability.

In August 2025, the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDoT) awarded a new grant to advance this research and develop a predictive decision-support tool for bridge-deck performance. Civil engineering Ph.D. candidate Sami Ullah and postdoctoral researcher Subhashree Panda, Ph.D., supervised by Bandelt and Adams, are now expanding the project by incorporating a comprehensive computational modeling approach.

The team is currently developing integrated structural and multiphysics models using DIANA and COMSOL Multiphysics. These models simulate cracking, chloride diffusion, corrosion initiation and propagation, and the resulting structural deterioration over a service period of 70 to 100 years. By comparing conventional concrete decks with those enhanced by UHPC overlays, the researchers aim to predict long-term performance and quantify the potential benefits in durability, cost savings, and reduced environmental impact.

Once the simulations are completed and the dataset is generated, the team will develop an AI-based decision-making tool especially designed for NJDoT and industry professionals. Users will be able to input project-specific details, such as geometry, UHPC overlay thickness, material properties, environmental and exposure conditions, and instantly receive service-life predictions without needing to run complex simulations.

The decision-support tool is expected to be completed and available by August 2026, offering a practical, data-driven resource for improving the resilience and sustainability of transportation infrastructure.

Deep Residual Network–Based Detection of Train Acoustic Signals for Railway Crossing Safety

Advancing Railway Safety through AI-Driven Acoustic Intelligence

Highway–rail grade crossings remain among the most dangerous interfaces in modern transportation networks, where the convergence of trains, vehicles, and pedestrians creates persistent safety risks. According to data from the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), over two thousand vehicle–train collisions occur annually in the United States, resulting in hundreds of fatalities and injuries. Despite decades of progress in engineering design and public education, these incidents highlight a continuing challenge—ensuring timely and reliable warnings for all road users. Existing safety monitoring systems rely heavily on visual sensors such as cameras or LiDAR, which can perform well under ideal conditions but often fail during night-time operation, heavy rain, fog, snow, or occlusion by vehicles and infrastructure. These vulnerabilities have prompted researchers to explore complementary sensing modalities that are more resilient to environmental factors.

To address these limitations, Ph.D. student Chenglue Huang, supervised by NJIT Assistant Professor Yun Bai, is developing an AI-driven acoustic detection framework for real-time railway-crossing safety in collaboration with the Center for Advanced Infrastructure and Transportation (CAIT) at Rutgers University. The system leverages the distinct sound signatures of train horns and warning bells to recognize approaching trains, even when visibility is low. Unlike vision-based systems that depend on line of sight, acoustic sensing captures sound waves that can travel around obstacles and in all directions, offering a broader and earlier detection capability.

The project introduces a deep learning model based on a lightweight Residual Network (ResNet-18) optimized for train acoustic signal detection. Field recordings collected at multiple grade crossings throughout the Greater Boston area were used to train the model, capturing diverse acoustic environments including dense traffic, human speech, construction activity, and varying meteorological conditions. These recordings were converted into log–mel spectrograms, which visually represent sound energy over time and frequency. The ResNet model automatically learns spectral-temporal patterns that differentiate true train warnings from background noise. To further enhance robustness, the system incorporates SpecAugment-based data augmentation, attention modules, and temporal smoothing mechanisms, enabling high precision even under complex and noisy urban soundscapes.

Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed framework achieves an F1 score of approximately 96%, with precision of 95.3% and recall of 96.7% on unseen test sites. The model maintains sub-0.4-second latency on embedded processors, supporting real-time deployment at railway crossings. This allows the detector to run directly on existing control units as a low-cost edge-AI solution, providing redundancy and situational awareness when cameras or communication systems fail. Under identical testing conditions, a rule-based spectral-thresholding method achieved a precision of 87.5% and recall of 88.6%, while a conventional CNN classifier without residual connections reached an F1 score of 91.8%. In contrast, the proposed ResNet-18 architecture achieved an F1 of 96.1%, representing a 4–8% absolute improvement over existing baselines. These results confirm that residual learning substantially enhances both detection accuracy and robustness under complex acoustic environments.

Overall processing pipeline of the proposed acoustic detection framework

Real-time operation interface of the proposed acoustic detection system

How Water Chemistry Shapes Coagulation:

Mapping Ferric Hydrolysis and Speciation Pathways to Improve Drinking Water Treatment

Coagulation is the process whereby suspended and dissolved matter is removed from surface water supplies. It is the most widely used process in drinking water treatment, enabling utilities to remove turbidity, natural organic matter, and other particles before the steps of filtration and disinfection. It is a complex process which can be influenced by multiple factors such as ionic strength, pH, and concentrations of trivalent metal ions and other negatively and positively charged ions. Predicting the coagulation performance is tricky; it is often observed that the coagulation performance is not the same if the source of water is changed. Even if operators use the same conditions of pH and ferric coagulant dosage and match other operational parameters, it is difficult to match the coagulation performance. That is why every utility needs to do the actual coagulation experiment before any operational changes.

Water chemistry, including the presence of common inorganic anions, is a major reason behind these performance variations. These common anions include, but are not limited to, chloride, sulfate, and nitrate, which alter the hydrolysis and polymerization pathways, changing the charge of species and impacting coagulant precipitation and charge neutralization.

Afaq Ahmad, a CEE Ph.D. candidate, is working with Assistant Professor William Pennock to understand and improve the ferric coagulation process. His research focuses on the initial stages of ferric hydrolysis and polymerization and how that is influenced by the presence of common anions like chloride, sulfate, and nitrate.

His goal is to bridge the knowledge gap between initial stages of ferric water chemistry and measurable treatment performance by using reactive force field simulations and density functional theory to determine the probable hydrolysis/polymerization structures and pathways. He has fabricated a pilot-scale coagulation testing system equipped with online meters for the measurement of UV254 (humic acid) and turbidity.

Pilot-scale coagulation performance testing setup

Jar tester with filtration setup

Innovative Data-Driven Framework for Geotechnical Hazard Mapping

Accurate mapping of soil pollutants and geotechnical hazards is essential for construction, civil infrastructure, and municipal safety; yet traditional mapping methods remain costly and time-consuming. Existing techniques often rely on expert operators, complex equipment, and multiple site visits, which limit accessibility and scalability and incur high costs. To address these challenges, researchers at CEE developed a novel data-driven mapping framework.

In this new system, non-expert users can perform soil mapping by using sensor-driven equipment to collect data in the ground. The system measures key soil parameters under different environmental conditions with varying levels of pollutants. This innovation improves data collection accuracy while lowering operational costs and human error, providing a scalable solution for both research and field use.

Further, this automated framework enables efficient, real-time identification of contaminated zones, unstable soils, and other subsurface irregularities in the geotechnical and soil engineering field. The research was funded through an NJIT Seed Grant Collaborative Early Research Translation and is led by CEE’s Assistant Professor Oladoyin Kolawole and Ph.D. student Ayodeji Aderibigbe in collaboration with other researchers at NJIT. Beyond research applications, the project has significant market potential in the geohazard instrumentation and detection industry, offering a scalable path toward safer infrastructure development and environmental monitoring.

Building Bridges One ASCE Ambassador at a Time

As Jordan Rich enters her third term as event coordinator for NJIT’s chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), she has flourished with a connection to ASCE National like never before. This past summer, she saw an opportunity that was right up her alley — a chance to bridge the gap between National and the student chapter, while also educating others about and promoting membership in the organization to which she has dedicated most of her time. After applying for the position, she was officially selected to be an ASCE student ambassador for the following year.

According to the ambassador handbook, Rich’s priorities are to represent, lead, promote, and connect.

Represent ASCE on NJIT’s campus
Lead solutions to any challenges the chapter may have
Promote ASCE membership to students
Connect the NJIT chapter to National as well as fellow student chapters

Through social media posts and presentations with the chapter, Rich has been able to engage even more students with the chapter. Additional perks of being an ambassador include receiving ASCE merchandise to give out to current and future members as well as distributing giveaways to attract extra engagement.

While the student chapter has already shown to have strong involvement from the NJIT community prior to this year, having Rich as an ambassador has boosted the organization’s success in reaching more people: “Being in this role helps the executive board know what is going on with ASCE and gives us a good connection with National and smaller sections around us.”

Collaboration with other student chapters has been a highlight for Rich; while focusing on NJIT’s chapter growth, she’s grateful to have the chance to help out other universities as well. “The direct connection with other students from other chapters all over the country helps give ideas and increase engagement amongst the ASCE general body here at NJIT,” she added.

Rich feels extremely honored to have been selected for this opportunity. “The members of NJIT-ASCE have come to me with questions about National,” she commented, “and I feel I have become more approachable in terms of anything related to ASCE — both National and our student chapter — since being an ambassador.”

In the handbook for ambassadors, ASCE National wrote, “With your help, we hope to open a door of communication between ASCE headquarters and your campus. Together, we will grow and retain our membership of committed and innovative civil engineers.” For NJIT, Rich is actively building a stronger link, as civil engineers do.

NJIT's 2025 Moles Scholarship Awardees

The Moles is a renowned organization of contractors and engineers specializing in heavy civil construction. Each year, The Moles awards scholarships to junior-year students in civil engineering and construction-related studies. Professor Andrew Ciancia is a member of the organization and the nominator and recommender for 2025’s winning NJIT students: Pola Szwaczka and Jelani Blow. The awardees had to go through an extensive application process that included an interview with a Moles member, Pablo Lemus. They are invited to the awards ceremony that includes networking opportunities with industry professionals, professors, and students.

Pola Szwaczka

Currently in her fourth year at NJIT, Pola Szwaczka has already served as a project engineer directing two construction projects, where she ensured timely and on-budget completion. This experience has affirmed her passion for civil engineering, and being awarded the Moles Scholarship was an incredible lift for her.

Her coursework has been a crucial factor in being able to reach where she is at the start of her career as a civil engineer. “I am most proud of successfully undertaking a demanding engineering curriculum with significant professional responsibilities, including managing real construction projects with substantial budgets,” she said. “This combination has allowed me to apply classroom knowledge directly to the field, develop strong project management skills, and contribute meaningfully to the industry while still a student.”

For Szwaczka, the award acknowledges the long hours spent balancing coursework, internships, and leadership roles, and motivates her to continue striving for excellence in the field.

“As a first-generation American, I was unbelievably proud to show my parents that their sacrifices for myself and my sister were worthwhile,” Szwaczka added. “I would like to express my gratitude to my professors in the CEE department, supervisors at Phoenix Medical Construction, parents, and significant other. Their encouragement has been essential to my growth and success.”

Jelani Blow

Being an active member of the Steel Bridge Team for the past few years has been the highlight of Jelani Blow’s time at NJIT. While working on the bridge fabrication and managing the team’s robust social media presence, he enjoys seeing how the design comes to life each year through the efforts of fellow students in the NJIT chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers.

His involvement with the team is just one aspect of how NJIT has helped him thrive in the field; Ciancia’s connection to the Moles allowed Blow to discover this scholarship opportunity, and it was an incredible moment when he learned that he was one of the awardees: “I was overjoyed, knowing that my efforts had been recognized by such an influential organization and that they were willing to help fund my education.”

Blow was also grateful to have attended the awards ceremony for the scholarship. Connecting with members of The Moles, employers, and other professionals was a moment that he appreciated greatly, especially since the organization specializes in heavy construction — a field in which Blow has strong interest.

He thanks Ciancia for bringing the opportunity to light: “I would encourage other civil engineering students to excel in all of their courses so they, too, can be recognized for their work and interest!”

UCA Awards Carol Mgiba with Cutting Edge Scholarship for Conference

From November 3-5, geotechnical engineering Ph.D. candidate Carol Mgiba attended the 2025 Cutting Edge Conference after being awarded with a scholarship by the Underground Construction Association Young Members (UCAYM) division of the Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration.

Her work focuses on mitigating ground collapse in underground excavations — a critical challenge in tunneling and mining. By improving safety, reducing costs, and increasing efficiency, this research supports industries that are essential for building a self-sustained society. She aims to produce high-impact work by addressing fundamental problems that affect the performance and success of underground projects. “Receiving this award reinforces my belief that my research has the potential to influence the underground construction industry by promoting sustainability and resilience in underground infrastructure,” she said.

During the conference, she attended various sessions with insightful takeaways:

The future of underground construction lies at the intersection of industry and academia; collaboration is no longer optional, it’s essential.
Digitalization and automation are transforming how we design, monitor, and construct tunnels, making projects safer and more efficient.
Sustainability and resilience are now central to underground design — from flood mitigation tunnels to repurposed mines for hydropower and energy storage.
Fundamental geomechanics remains critical for developing tools that support geo-engineering, sustainability, and resilience in underground construction.

Mgiba also learned about specific ongoing and past projects such as the Harris County SMART project for flood-risk management using underground tunnels in Texas; a predictive model for rock-mass behavior developed in São Paulo, Brazil; and the Hampton Roads Bridge–Tunnel expansion in Virginia.

This scholarship has further propelled her research journey in understanding rock behavior — a core discussion in underground excavation. “The award also serves as a meaningful recognition of women contributing to a historically male-dominated industry,” Mgiba added. “Through this experience, I have had the opportunity to connect with other women doing remarkable work in tunneling, expanding my network and strengthening my sense of community within the profession.”

She is grateful for the mentorship that her advisor, Assistant Professor Oladoyin Kolawole, has provided, along with the recognition from UCAYM for the importance of her work.

CEE Distinguished Professor Contributes to BBC News about PFAS

In a BBC News article, Distinguished Professor Jay Meegoda points out a critical issue with new technologies designed to destroy PFAS. While promising, Meegoda warns that these innovations may create harmful degradation byproducts, such as highly corrosive hydrogen fluoride vapor. Read more in depth on BBC News.

CEE Associate Professor Awarded Top Prize for NJIT’s Innovation Day 2025

At NJIT’s Fall 2025 Innovation Day, Associate Professor Arjun Venkatesan, co-founder of the company, PFASolve, Inc., and Charmi Chande, the company’s CEO, were awarded the top prize for his patent-pending PFAS detection and destruction technology. Their $100,000 Technology Innovation Translation Acceleration-Advance Seed Grant Award will go towards advancing the technology toward pilot-scale readiness and commercialization. Venkatesan speaks about reaching this milestone.

Q: What is the problem you are trying to solve using this technology?

A: This approach is a cost-effective and easily scalable process to destroy per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) at ambient conditions — at room temperature and pressure.

Q: How did you come up this technology?

A: We were exploring chemical reactions that can lead to the destruction of PFAS. Chemical destruction is easier and practical to implement and uses less energy, hence cost effective. After several trials, we found that sodium metal was capable of breaking down the carbon-fluorine bonds in PFAS. We identified the ideal solvents in which we could react PFAS with sodium metal, and this process is now patent-pending.

Q: How does it work?

A: PFAS containing waste — for example, aqueous film-forming foams — reacts with a solution containing sodium metal. Complete destruction occurs within a minute, and PFAS are converted into innocuous fluorine ions.

We are using the same approach in detecting total PFAS in environmental samples. There are more than 15,000 PFAS compounds. By using this chemistry, we are converting all PFAS into fluoride ions, which can then be easily detected. So, we are in the process of developing a total PFAS testing kit (called PFAScan) — a prototype will be developed using this award.

Q: What are some challenges you’ve had to address?

A: Sodium metal is highly reactive and cannot efficiently degrade PFAS in the presence of water. Hence, we had to optimize the reactions using different organic solvents to enable this reaction.

Q: What does your team structure look like to execute this innovation?

A: I am a scientific co-founder of PFASolve, Inc and Charmi Chande is the CEO. She helps with the market analysis, in finding ideal partnerships with industry and early adopters of the technology, so that we build a system that is commercially viable.

Q&A with Áine M. O’Dwyer ‘07, M.S. ‘08

Áine O’Dwyer, P.E., is the Principal and CEO of Enovate Consulting, an engineering and construction management firm. Enovate, established in 2017, specializes in public and private sector construction and project management as well as engineering services. Hailing from Ireland, she is a two-time NJIT graduate with a bachelor's in 2007 and a master’s in 2008, both in civil engineering. She sits on the CEE Industrial Advisory Board (IAB) and the Albert Dorman Honors College Board of Visitors at NJIT. O'Dwyer also is part of the State Board of Directors with the American Council of Engineering Companies as a metropolitan representative and the New York board of the Professional Women in Construction organization.

Q: You came to NJIT for your bachelor's on a scholarship to play basketball. What inspired you to continue with your master's here as well?

A: The university had so much to offer academically, and I had such a great undergrad experience. It was an easy decision for me to continue my M.S. program here. Having access to the B.S./M.S. program was also a huge bonus and allowed me to get a head start on my master’s degree.

Q: Were you in touch with CEE/NJIT between graduation and joining the IAB?

A: I’d always found the IAB a great resource when it came to looking for talent for any company I have worked with. Whether it was at career fairs or reaching out directly to the IAB, they have always been so helpful in guiding the process. This maintained the connection until I ultimately became more involved and joined the IAB.

Q: Since establishing Enovate, what have you carried from your time with CEE?

A: There certainly were various skills I’ve carried. Whether it’s teamwork, being open to different perspectives, working hard, being able to multi-task — these are all things that were very present for me from my time at CEE.

Q: What was your reaction when you found out you were honored with the University Award for Entrepreneurial Leadership during Celebration?

A: Funnily enough, when I got the original email about this I was convinced it was a spam or phishing email, so I ignored the email, fully convinced that it couldn’t be true. So, I guess surprise and shock was my first reaction, followed by being extremely grateful to the university.

Q: How does this award contribute to your future professional goals?

A: Growth and continued expansion for my company remain my top priority. The relationships that I have built at the university, both internally and professionals I have met here, have continually allowed me to achieve these goals.

Q: What is your proudest accomplishment outside of NJIT?

A: Outside the university, my proudest moment has been building a successful business from the ground up. It required resilience, adaptability, and the willingness to grow through setbacks. Creating something sustainable — something that provides value to customers and supports the people who work with me — has been incredibly rewarding. That journey taught me more about leadership, discipline, and problem-solving than anything else.

Q: What advice do you have for students?

A: Learn as much as you can from those around you. Be willing to say yes to assignments and tasks, even if you’re not sure where they will take you. Be open to opportunity. It comes from the least expected areas, and if you’re not open to it, opportunity will pass you by.

NJIT's 2025 'Celebration' Honors Leaders in Business, Engineering, and Community

NJIT’s Celebration is a festive evening of dinner, dancing, and awards that draws hundreds of alumni, business leaders, and friends in support of student scholarships. It honors individuals and organizations whose achievements exemplify leadership, innovation and service of great benefit to New Jersey and the nation. “Celebration continues to be one of NJIT’s most meaningful traditions, because it both supports scholarships for our students and recognizes leaders and artners who embody the values of innovation, resilience and service that define this university,” said NJIT President Teik C. Lim.

The evening recognized four outstanding honorees — Áine M. O’Dwyer ’07H, M.S. ‘08, Wei Wang ’95, Robert Medina ’75, and Terminal Construction Corporation — whose leadership and professional achievements represent NJIT’s enduring impact on industry and community. CEE is proud to have O’Dwyer, Wang, and Medina as alumni of our programs.

Áine M. O’Dwyer ’07H, M.S. '08

Principal and CEO of Enovate

University Award for Entrepreneurial Leadership

Áine O’Dwyer founded Enovate Consulting in 2017 and has since led the firm in delivering major engineering and construction management projects, including the New Hudson Tunnel, George Washington Bridge and Brooklyn Bridge, John F. Kennedy International Airport Redevelopment and Newark Liberty International Airport Terminal. Before launching Enovate, she advanced f1om field engineer to vice president at a global inf2astructure development firm, overseeing engineering on national and multi-billion-dollar international projects. A licensed Professional Engineer in 16 states, she has earned recognition for leadership and company culture. An NJIT alumna and former Division I athlete, O’Dwyer remains closely tied to the university and professional organizations while staying active in her community and personal pursuits.

Wei Wang, Ph.D. ’95

Founder, president, and CEO of UrbanTech Consulting Engineering

Edward F. Weston Medal for Professional Achievement

Wei Wang brings more than three decades of experience in structural and construction engineering, with expertise spanning complex bridges, major infrastructure and transit systems. As founder of UrbanTech, he has become a nationally recognized leader in accelerated bridge construction and innovative project delivery, managing some of the field’s most technically demanding projects. Wang earned a doctorate from NJIT, and remains active with the university through advisory roles and student mentorship, reflecting his strong commitment to education and the profession. Wang’s leadership continues to shape infrastructure development while advancing emerging technologies that drive the future of civil engineering.

Robert “Bob” Medina ’75

Principal of Medina 43 Business Strategies LLC

Albert Dorman ’45, ’99 HON Medal for Lifetime Achievement

Bob Medina built a distinguished career in civil engineering and business leadership, beginning as a design and project engineer before founding Medina Consultants in 1989. He grew the firm into one of the nation’s largest Hispanic-owned engineering companies, later expanding through acquisitions and ultimately merging with TY Lin International, wh2re he served as senior vice president before retiring in 2014. Over the years, Medina has earned numerous awards recognizing his entrepreneurial success and leadership in the Hispanic business community. An NJIT alumnus and dedicated civic contributor, he continues to serve on nonprofit and chamber boards while leading his consulting practice.

Student Organization Spotlight: Professional Women in Construction

NJIT's Professional Women in Construction (PWC) is proud to be the first-ever student chapter of PWC in the state and country. The chapter is dedicated to advancing women in architecture, construction, and engineering by bridging the gap between academic learning and professional practice. Through mentorship, skill-building workshops, and networking events, the executive board empowers its members to gain confidence, develop industry knowledge, and grow as future leaders.

During the fall semester, the organization hosted a number of events for members to take part in. One such event was a panel titled, “Why PWC,” which featured professionals sharing career experiences, their advice, roles, and journeys in industry. The Fall 2025 speakers included Denise Davis from NJIT’s Campus Planning and Design, Swarupa Samant from DIGroup Architecture, Julia Howard from Gilbane, Christine Collazo from A/Z Corporation, and Liza Pope from HC Constructors, Inc. The chapter ensures that panelists offer a variety of viewpoints from different sectors of the construction industry.

Other activities included workshops for portfolio or resume reviews, 3-D printing, laser cutting, blueprint reading, and more; site tours of areas such as NJIT’s Oak Hall reconstruction, NJPAC, and a construction site in Carteret, NJ with Structure Tone; and networking events.

As the chapter is in its third year, one of its future goals is to have members attend conferences in other states. “Being the first and only student chapter, we hope to set an example for others by hosting workshops outside of NJIT and giving students more real-world learning experiences,” the executive board shared.

“As one of the founding members, I’m proud to see how much our chapter has grown and how it continues to empower women in construction, architecture, and engineering by giving them the confidence, knowledge, and support to find their place in the industry,” said Vinali Patel, fifth-year architecture student and chapter president for this year. She is joined by Juanita Sarmiento as vice president, Jenna Roberts as marketing director, Allison Herrera as secretary, Sofia Velez as treasurer, Amy Castillo as head of membership development, and Lea Mecheril as event coordinator.

To stay connected with the organization, find it on LinkedIn at @pwcnjit2025, on Instagram at @pwcnjitchapter, or through email at pwcnjit@gmail.com.

NJIT-AREMA Attends Conference

Within the first year of its establishment, the NJIT chapter of the American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association (AREMA) attended the parent organization's 2025 annual conference, held on September 14-17 in Indianapolis, Indiana. The civil engineering students included Enzo Suarez, Meglena Mileva, Keith Lakeman, Marwa Shehata, Lino Piazzi, Giovanni Olaya, and Lena Carmen.

Members connected wth industry professionals and fellow students, while also attending workshops and presentations about topics such as structures, passenger and transit, communications and signals, electrical properties of railway track, and highway rail grade crossing projects. Moreover, the trip included a site tour and visit to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum.

The chapter was especially grateful to have met AREMA’s president, William S. Riehl, III, at the conference; the students learned about leadership and what the rail industry has to offer on a deeper level.

CEE Holiday Gathering 2025

Thursday, December 11

The CEE Department hosted its annual holiday gathering, bringing together students, faculty, staff, alumni, and more from the NJIT community. There was a friendly ugly sweater contest among students and faculty/staff, unleashing the creativity within community members.

David Good 3D Printed Bridge Competition: High School Division

Friday, March 20, 2026

The 2026 David Good 3D Printed Bridge Competition inspires the next generation of engineers, with the High School Division contest taking place on Friday, March 20. This exciting event created and hosted by CEE emphasizes the application of 3D printing technology in engineering, bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application.

Teams must submit their information packets by December 19. Visit our website for more information and important deadlines.

The competition aims to cultivate skills in teamwork, organization, and analytical thinking as students tackle a problem statement, develop a workable solution, and bring their designs to life through 3D printing. Participants will showcase their creativity and technical skills, with teams encouraged to incorporate diverse talents in structural design, computer technology, and aesthetic considerations.

This event not only provides students with the opportunity to engage hands-on with engineering principles but also prepares them for future challenges in designing safe and durable structures. By participating in the competition, students will gain invaluable experience that will aid their growth and development in the field of engineering.

Save the Date

Industry and NJIT Connection: An Infrastructure Forum

Wednesday, April 22, 2026

Location: NJIT Campus Center, Ballroom A/B | Time: 8:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

The NJIT Infrastructure Forum will bring together the NJIT community with a diverse array of external stakeholders from across various infrastructure industries and government agencies.

The event will help to foster collaboration between academia and industry and serve as a platform for addressing challenges and envisioning long-term solutions for infrastructure concerns. Speakers and attendees will include government representatives, industry professionals and leaders, academics, innovators and entrepreneurs, and community leaders and change-makers.

A Digital Twin Platform for Real-Time Intersection Traffic Monitoring, Performance Evaluation, and Calibration

Abolfazl Afshari, Joyoung Lee, Dejan Besenski

Infrastructures