phd engineering bcu

Civil & Environmental Engineering PhD

The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) at Berkeley is a place of intellectual vitality. This vitality is evident in its creative and forward-looking curricula and classroom teaching, its attentive academic mentoring, and the innovative research conducted by students and faculty.

CEE focuses on developing future leaders for the engineering profession, for academia, and for applying engineering methods in the broader societal context. CEE conducts cutting-edge research, defining what constitutes the evolving domain of civil and environmental engineering.

We offer both Master's (the Master of Science and the Master of Engineering ) and Doctoral degree programs. We support seven programs of study for the MS and the PhD, each of which has its own prerequisites for admission and degree requirements. CEE offers two programs of study for the MEng. CEE also offers three concurrent degree programs and two certificate programs.

Master of Engineering (MEng)

This professional degree emphasizes solving technical, sociological, environmental, and economic problems involved in the design, construction, and operation of engineering structures, processes, and equipment. Studies include courses in the engineering sciences necessary to the engineering interpretation of the latest scientific developments. Courses in design, operation, humanities, and economics provide a basis for the analysis and solution of problems in professional engineering.

Students in this degree program select either a concentration in Systems (Civil Systems) or Transportation Engineering (see above descriptions). There are options for either full-time or part-time enrollment.

CEEs MEng program is offered in conjunction with the Fung Institute for Engineering Leadership .

Master of Science (MS) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

These degrees emphasize the application of the natural sciences to the analysis and solution of engineering problems. Advanced courses in mathematics, chemistry, physics, and the life sciences are normally included in a program that incorporates the engineering systems approach for analysis of problems.

Students in these degree programs select one of the following seven concentrations:

1. Construction Systems: Construction is a large, vital, and exciting field now disrupted by deep technology like AI, robotics, embedded sensors and nano-materials. The industry is reshaping itself for example by increased use of modular and off-site production with radically new supply chains, virtualization and development of digital twins, and innovative management thinking such as Lean Construction.This program will educate you to lead tomorrows automation of the construction industry.

You will learn to leverage these disruptions to realize the next generation of adaptable, resilient, sustainable smart buildings and infrastructure. We teach construction systems as a computational and management science, integrating technology with applications for example to realize state-of-the-art structural and geotechnical designs, to launch you as a technologist, entrepreneur, researcher, academic, or management professional geared to drive construction industry transformation.

Our curriculum includes:

Construction viewed as a socio-technical system including its data science, optimization, and simulation aspects,

Construction viewed as a project-based production system including its organizational, financial, planning, control, legal, and contractual aspects,

Integration with structural and geotechnical design,

Technology including the use of robots, cloud computing, machine learning, sensing, scanning, and information modeling such as BIM and VDC,

Large-scale systems thinking including societal-scale mobility, energy flows, and urban forms,

The freedom to take courses in other disciplines.

Our graduates find a wide range of employment opportunities in private industry and in the public sector, for example in tech companies, consulting, design, building, transportation, and industrial construction firms, as well as in public- and private owner organizations, both domestically as well as internationally.

As we are located in the San Francisco Bay Area the center of major local, national, and international construction activity our Program is strongly interlinked with industry. Our class projects and research leverage the ability to go observe as well as study specific local and international projects. We draw on examples from residential-, commercial building-, industrial-, and heavy/civil construction throughout our curriculum. We also invite industry practitioners to present guest lectures describing industry challenges and solutions.

2. Energy, Civil Infrastructure and Climate: Energy, climate, and infrastructure systems are closely tied together, and these connections manifest in many forms. Our society cannot function without energy and infrastructure systems. Energy systems with the lowest possible greenhouse gas footprint are a key to mitigating climate change. Civil infrastructure systems are a backbone of society, and they are also major users of energy that needs to be reduced for a more sustainable development.

The objective of the Energy, Civil Infrastructure and Climate (ECIC) Program is to educate a cadre of professionals who will be able to analyze from engineering, environmental, economic, and management perspectives complex problems such as energy efficiency of buildings, environmentally informed design of transportation systems, embodied energy of construction materials, electricity from renewable sources, and biofuels, and address such overarching societal problems as mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions and adaptation of infrastructure to a changing climate. ECIC also promotes research at the intersection of energy, infrastructure and climate science.

3. Engineering and Project Management: The Engineering and Project Management (E&PM) Program educates professionals to become leaders in managing projects and companies in Architecture-Engineering-Construction (AEC) and in other industries. E&PM graduates find a wide range of employment opportunities in private industry and in the public sector, for example in engneering consulting-, building-, transportation-, and industrial construction firms, as well as in public- and private owner organizations, both domestically as well as internationally.

As infrastructure systems become more complex, tomorrow's industry leaders must add innovative management thinking to a solid foundation in design and construction. The E&PM Program is uniquely specialized in teaching and researching such new management concepts as Lean Construction, Cost and Schedule Forensics, and Sustainability Engineering. Our teaching and research emphasizes new concepts, technologies, developments, and techniques applicable to both domestic and international project and corporate management. The Program emphasizes the interrelationships of all life-cycle components: planning, design, manufacturing, construction, operation, maintenance, and re-purposing/decommissioning.

As we are located in the San Francisco Bay Area-the center of major local, national, and international project management and construction activity-our Program is strongly interlinked with industry. Our class projects and research leverage the ability to go observe as well as study specific local and international projects. We draw on examples from commercial building-, industrial-, and heavy/civil construction throughout our curriculum. We also invite industry practitioners to present guest lectures describing industry challenges and solutions.

4. Environmental Engineering: Management of environmental resources to protect human health and the systems that support life is one of the biggest challenges facing modern society. In recognition of the interdisciplinary nature of these challenges, Berkeley's Environmental Engineering Program provides you with the education needed to address current and future environmental issues. Graduate coursework and research is focused in three Areas of Emphasis :

• Air Quality Engineering (AQE)
• Environmental Fluid Mechanics and Hydrology (EFMH)
• Water Quality Engineering (WQE)

You are encouraged to develop a broad set of problem-solving skills through courses and research in related fields such as:

• Berkeley Atmospheric Sciences Center
• Earth and Planetary Sciences
• Energy & Resources Group
• Environmental Science, Policy & Management
• Integrative Biology
• Mechanical Engineering
• Plant & Microbial Biology
• School of Public Health

5. GeoSystems : The GeoSystems Program encompasses a broad area of teaching and research in geotechnical and geological engineering, environmental geotechnics, and applied geophysics. The focus is on the evaluation of engineering properties of geologic materials and on providing engineering solutions for dealing with geologic environment and processes, and natural hazards.

To this end we pursue studies of the mechanical behavior of soil and rock masses, laboratory and field characterization of material properties, development and application of geophysical techniques for site and subsurface characterization, development of advanced analysis methods, and evaluation of static and dynamic (seismic) performance of soil deposits, earth structures, and underground space.

The GeoSystems graduate program has a long tradition of excellence and its graduates are leaders in the industry and academia. The strength and breadth of Berkeley's GeoSystems is enhanced by close ties with faculty in other areas of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences. Close interaction of the faculty with consulting companies and practitioners also provides opportunity for exposure to the state-of-the-art practice through invited lectures and site visits to ongoing engineering projects in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Due to the broad interdisciplinary nature of the field we welcome students with a wide range of backgrounds in Engineering and Earth Sciences.

6. Structural Engineering, Mechanics, and Materials: CEE's Structural Engineering, Mechanics, and Materials (SEMM) Program has an international reputation for excellence. Many of the fundamental developments underlying the state-of-the-art in structural engineering, mechanics, and materials were pioneered by SEMM faculty and students. This tradition of excellence continues today through vigorous programs of basic and applied research, and careful attention to instruction.

The active involvement of SEMM faculty in the forefront of research projects and in the solution of challenging real world engineering problems results in an instructional program that is up-to-date and relevant. SEMM offers excellent opportunities for study and research leading to advanced degrees in the areas of structural analysis and design, mechanics of structures and solids, and materials in structures and construction.

The curriculum provides a strong basis for advanced professional practice, research, or teaching. Programs of study can be tailored easily to fit individual needs and interests, whether broad-based and multidisciplinary, or narrowly focused and highly technical. Graduates from the SEMM Program have gone on to become world leaders in private practice, government service, education, and research.

7. Systems (Civil Systems): The focus of the Systems Engineering Program (Systems) is understanding complex large-scale systems and developing tools for their design and operation. Such systems encompass built elements in the broad sense (infrastructures transportation, structures, etc.), societal systems (social networks, populations enterprises), and natural systems (land water, air). These systems are at the core of Civil and Environmental Engineering of the 21st Century.

The understanding of how such systems work requires knowledge about the constitutive laws that govern them, such as traffic flow, fluid mechanics, structural mechanics, and smart networks. It also requires an understanding of the theoretical paradigms that are used to model, control and optimize such systems. These include the theories of computation, control theory, optimization, behavioral economics, sensor networks, statistics, and signal processing.

In response to these challenges, the Systems Program provides courses that cover both field knowledge and technical/theoretical tools. This is reflected in the curriculum. We offer masters and doctoral degree programs providing the key skills, e.g., technological, mathematical, or social scientific, as well as the knowledge for a broad range of engineering domains. Our graduates lead the next generation of research, start-ups, industrial corporations, and public-sector organizations.

8. Transportation Engineering: Graduate studyin transportation at the University of California, Berkeley prepares you for a professional, teaching, and research career. Emphasis is on the acquisition of advanced knowledge concerning planning, design, operations, maintenance, rehabilitation, performance, and evaluation of transportation systems, including their economic and public policy aspects. The program stresses development of analytic, problem-solving, design, and management skills suitable for public and private sector professional work.

Transportation Engineering faculty with diverse backgrounds and research interests, including emeriti professors, teach transportation courses. In addition, faculty from City and Regional Planning , Economics , Industrial Engineering and Operations Research , Business Administration , Political Science , and other departments offer courses related to transportation.

Students also have the opportunity to work and interact with research staff at the Institute of Transportation Studies .

Students in the PhD program have the option of pursuing a designated emphasis (DE) to supplement their study.

Concurrent Degrees

The concurrent degree program is a formal arrangement of two existing, but separate, master's degree programs, which result in the students earning two masters degrees. CEE offers the following concurrent degree programs:

• Program in Structural Engineering and Architecture (MArch/MS)
• Program in Transportation Engineering and City and Regional Planning (MCP/MS)
• Any CEE graduate program and Public Policy (MPP/MS)

For further information regarding these programs, please see the department's website .

Certificates

Certificate in Engineering and Business for Sustainability: The Engineering and Business for Sustainability (EBS) Certificate Program trains UC Berkeley graduate students to understand the complexity and urgency of their role in engineering, business, and environmental management, and to work across boundaries to achieve sustainable solutions to pressing societal problems. This program allows students to tap into multidisciplinary educational resources from the College of Engineering , Haas School of Business , Energy and Resources Group , Goldman School of Public Policy , College of Natural Resources , and the School of Public Health , to learn how to have a lasting beneficial impact on the global environment. This program is open to all Berkeley graduate students who meet the EBS Certificate course requirements. For further information regarding this program, see the department's website .

Certificate in Intelligent Transportation Systems: Jointly sponsored by CEE, the Department of Electrical Engineering & Computer Science and Mechanical Engineering, this program is designed to assist students in studying ITS in a systematic and focused way. Faculty advisers help students design a personalized study program to meet their goals. For more information regarding this program, see the department's website .

Designated Emphasis

Berkeley Ph.D. students are eligible to pursue a Designated Emphasis as part of their doctoral studies. Common Designated Emphases for CEE doctoral students include:

• Computational and Data Science and Engineering
• Global Metropolitan Studies
• Development Engineering

A designated emphasis is a specialization, such as a new method of inquiry or an important field of application, which is relevant to two or more existing doctoral degree programs. You are required to complete the academic work in the area of specialization and all the requirements of the doctoral program. You must be admitted to the DE before taking the qualifying examination. A complete list of Designated Emphases is here .

Contact Info

[email protected]

760 Davis Hall

Berkeley, CA 94720

At a Glance

Department(s)

Civil & Environmental Engineering

Admit Term(s)

Application Deadline

December 11, 2023

Degree Type(s)

Doctoral / PhD

Degree Awarded

GRE Requirements

• WILDCAT WEB

Degree Programs

• Academic Catalog
• Accreditations and Affiliations
• Accreditations and Certifications
• B-CU Colleges
• Faculty Senate

College of Arts and Humanities

The College of Arts and Humanities is a beacon of African American and Diasporan culture and education to the University and the world.  Majors and minors in the College are many and varied, inspiring and engaging—from performing arts to public relations.

• School of Performing Arts and Communication
• School of Education
• School of Liberal Arts
• School of Religion

College of Business and Entrepreneurship

In the College of Business and Entrepreneurship , you develop into a strong business professional – with a holistic combination of business knowledge, value-creating skills, professional development and ethics. You’ll have what it takes to stand out with employers and succeed in the business world.

• Business Administration
• Information Systems Management

College of Sciences, Engineering and Mathematics

The College of Sciences, Engineering and Mathematics is a place of discovery-discovering the latest developments in your field of choice, and discovering outstanding career options. Each area of study is a community in which individual talents, backgrounds and perspectives are recognized and appreciated. Students graduate prepared for hands-on leadership in their fields or for advanced study.

• School of Science, Engineering and Mathematics

College of Nursing & Health Sciences

The College of Nursing and Health Sciences is dedicated to achieving wellness in diverse communities through education, community engagement, research, and professional preparation.  Collaborative efforts among the units housed under the CoNHS umbrella will assist in the elimination of health disparities, while promoting health equity among local, regional and global communities.

• School of Nursing
• School of Health Sciences

Skip to Content

PhD students earn major NSF graduate research fellowships

Three Electrical, Computer and Energy Engineering graduate students have received 2024 National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowships for their promising quantum and metameterial antennas research.  

This year, the NSF awarded 27 students from CU Boulder , including 18 from the College of Engineering and Applied Science with the 2024 graduate research fellowship, a prestigious award recognizing students in a wide variety of STEM disciplines, exploring some of the most pressing issues of our time. 

Each recipient will receive three years of financial support, including an annual stipend of $37,000, as well as professional development and research opportunities.

Aliza Siddiqui

Advisor: Joshua Combes Lab: Combes Group

Bio: Siddiqui is a first-year PhD student with a research concentration in Quantum Engineering and Architecture. She graduated from Louisiana State University, home of the Tigers, with a degree in computer science.

My proposal involves creating a new benchmarking/testing framework for the next generation of error-corrected quantum computers. Given the noise of physical qubits, recent work has suggested combining the state of several physical qubits to create a logical qubit. I will collaborate with Dr. Josh Combes and Sandia National Labs for my PhD. Through this work, the quantum community will have a tool-kit that will help us determine how well a quantum computer performs, diagnose what and where the issues are and create solutions to realize full-scale, error-corrected quantum systems. 

Dylan Meyer

Advisor: Scott Diddams Lab: Frequency Comb & Quantum Metrology Lab

Bio: Meyer is a first-year PhD student in the FCQM group. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Alabama in Electrical Engineering.

My research proposal is the development of highly stable and robust millimeter wave time and frequency (T&F) transfer, supporting T&F transfer between atomic clocks. T&F transfer is used to create clock networks that are essential for positioning and navigation, such as GPS and essential infrastructure like the Internet and power grid. These technologies support up to $1 billion dollars of trade and financial transactions a day. In addition, these clock networks are capable of fundamental science experiments capable of probing new and exciting questions related to physics and geodesy.

Advisors:  Cody Scarborough and Robert MacCurdy Lab Groups:  EMRG and MAClab

Bio:  Pham received their Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Electrical & Computer Engineering from the University of Oklahoma, where he conducted research on RF filters. After graduating, he worked for 3 years in industry as an RF engineer developing radar systems. He will begin his PhD this fall 2024. 

My research proposal is on the application of multi-material additive manufacturing techniques for metamaterial antennas. Metamaterial antennas are capable of more sophisticated capabilities and unique form-factors compared to conventional antennas. By leveraging multi-material additive manufacturing, there are more degrees-of-freedom for the shape and composition of the metamaterials. This research would enhance the design flexibility and capabilities of next-generation antennas to meet the growing performance demands of future wireless systems.

Related Articles

ECEE students earn college undergraduate awards 2024

Innovation unveiled: ECEE students to showcase design projects

Zoya Popovic elected to the National Academy of Inventors

Apply   Visit   Give

Departments

• Ann and H.J. Smead Aerospace Engineering Sciences
• Chemical & Biological Engineering
• Civil, Environmental & Architectural Engineering
• Computer Science
• Electrical, Computer & Energy Engineering
• Paul M. Rady Mechanical Engineering
• Applied Mathematics
• Biomedical Engineering
• Creative Technology & Design
• Engineering Education
• Engineering Management
• Engineering Physics
• Environmental Engineering
• Integrated Design Engineering
• Materials Science & Engineering

Affiliates & Partners

• ATLAS Institute
• BOLD Center
• Colorado Mesa University
• Colorado Space Grant Consortium
• Discovery Learning
• Engineering Honors
• Engineering Leadership
• Entrepreneurship
• Herbst Program for Engineering, Ethics & Society
• Integrated Teaching and Learning
• Global Engineering
• Mortenson Center for Global Engineering
• National Center for Women & Information Technology
• Western Colorado University

An official website of the United States government

Here's how you know

Official websites use .gov A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS. A lock ( Lock Locked padlock ) or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

NSF's New Mentoring Requirements for Graduate Students

About this event.

The  Council of Graduate Schools , with support from NSF ( Award # 2413980 ), is hosting a virtual workshop to help principal investigators respond to NSF's new graduate student mentoring plan and graduate student/postdoctoral individual development plan requirements. These requirements, described in the  Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (NSF 24-1) , will be in effect for all NSF proposals submitted on or after May 20, 2024. The workshop will include presentations and panel discussions featuring NSF leadership, graduate deans, and senior research administrators.  Additional details on speakers and registration are available at  https://cgsnet.org/webinar/workshop-nsfs-new-mentoring-requirements-for-graduate-students

Related programs

Organization.

• Washington State University
• Go to wsu twitter
• Go to wsu facebook
• Go to wsu linkedin

Second chances: Graduate student receives NSF research fellowship

Sonja Sargent Sparks started life over again in her thirties, and her renewal has led to success as the recipient of a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship.

The highly competitive fellowship award, one of 2,000 given nationwide, will provide three years of financial support for Sargent Sparks, a PhD student in the School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering.

Sargent Sparks was living in Tacoma when she decided to enroll in Bates Technical College to learn about 3D printing and CAD modeling. Although she had little math background, she soon became interested in engineering and decided to pursue a mechanical engineering degree, eventually transferring to and then graduating from WSU.

“I chose WSU Pullman because I heard that it was a positive and collaborative atmosphere, and that has since proven to be true,” she said. “Additionally, I had heard about research opportunities in Pullman and wanted to try out research. It turns out — I really enjoy research, so I decided to stay and pursue my PhD in mechanical engineering under my advisor, Dr. Kaiyan Qiu.”

Qiu, Berry Assistant Professor in the School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, is working to design, fabricate, test, and optimize a flexible 3D-printed biomimetic sharkskin. The researchers hope that the materials they develop will reduce drag in the water with possible applications in underwater vehicles, robots, and swimsuits.

Studied since the 1980s, shark skins are covered with thousands of small, tooth-like structures called denticles that reduce drag, save energy, and allow sharks to swim quickly and efficiently. Because of their tightly packed arrangement, the denticles also serve to fight off microbial infections.

In trying to develop an artificial sharkskin with similar properties, the researchers are working to understand the optimal arrangement, size, spacing, thickness, and height for the imitation denticles. The researchers are using both experimental and simulation methods to try to optimize a biomimetic sharkskin.

“Our final goal is to optimize the biomimetic surface and reduce the drag for different underwater applications,” said Qiu.

As she is continuing her studies as a graduate student and now as the recipient of a prestigious fellowship, Sargent Sparks is grateful for second chances.

“I am profoundly honored to receive this prestigious award. It symbolizes not just a personal achievement, but a testament to the path that brought me here,” she said. “Without the investment and encouragement of those who believed in me every step of the way, I wouldn’t stand where I am today. I am deeply grateful for this and excited to continue with this journey.”

In addition to Sargent Sparks, WSU alumnus Gunnar Sly also received one of the NSF fellowships for his studies at Penn State University.

Extension tackles climate awareness

Recent news.

Regents approve new degree programs, discuss faculty listening sessions

WSU President Kirk Schulz to retire in June 2025

New clinic improves access to timely care for children with autism spectrum disorder

Mellon Foundation awards $1.5 million grant to WSU’s Mukurtu platform

Mary garcia receives excellence in online teaching award.

WSU institutes new wildfire smoke policy for employees

College of Engineering

April 22, 2024

900+ Spartan Engineering students to graduate this weekend

Alumna rachel hutter, head of disney studios operations, to give engineering keynote address.

Michigan State University will host advanced degree and undergraduate commencement ceremonies for more than 900 College of Engineering graduates this weekend.

Both ceremonies are expected to be approximately two hours. There are no admission tickets required.

College of Engineering Dean Leo Kempel said he’s confident all graduates will be able to tackle the challenges that lie ahead.

“I cannot wait to see the incredible accomplishments our graduates will achieve in the years to come,” Kempel said. “My advice is to embrace every career opportunity, continue to learn and grow, and never lose sight of the impact you can make as Spartan Engineers."

Kempel will offer both the welcome and closing remarks at undergraduate graduation.  Amanda Idema, assistant dean for Undergraduate Student Affairs, serves as commencement coordinator.

Ceremony dates, times

Engineering will host graduation services for 805 undergraduates on Sunday, April 28, at 3:30 p.m. in the Breslin Center.

Ashlin Riggs, a computation data science senior, has been named the student commencement speaker.

Charles Dunn, a senior in chemical engineering, will sing the Star-Spangled Banner.

Adwait Paliwal, a computer science senior, will deliver the remarks at convocation.

The Advanced Degree Commencement for master’s degree graduates is Friday, April 26, at 9 a.m. in MSU's Breslin Center. There will be 56 master's candidates from the College of Engineering.

The Advanced Degree Commencement for Ph.D. graduates is Friday, April 26, at 3 p.m. in MSU's Breslin Center.  There will 78 Ph.D. candidates from the college.

Safety protocols, parking, concessions

For the safety of attendees, no bags or purses will be allowed in Breslin Center during commencement ceremonies. Cameras and camcorders are permitted, but cases are prohibited.

No food or beverages — including bottled water — will be allowed, and this applies to graduates, guests, and faculty. Breslin Center will offer a limited concessions menu during the ceremonies.

Related links:

• MSU Commencement website
• More than 9,500 Spartans to graduate this spring
• Dantonio, influential leaders to address spring graduates

Additional prohibited items: noisemakers, selfie sticks, pets, signs and weapons of any kind. MSU is a smoke-free campus, including all outdoor and indoor spaces.

Metal detectors will screen all attendees at Breslin Center, so please plan accordingly.

Parking at the Breslin Center is limited, so the public is encouraged to use the free shuttle service.

Distinguished Alumni keynote address

Rachel S. Hutter will offer the undergraduate keynote address as the 2024 Claud R. Erickson Distinguished Alumni Award Recipient. Hutter will receive the College of Engineering’s top honor at the

Engineering Alumni Awards banquet on Saturday, April 27.

Hutter is head of studio operations for Walt Disney Studios and is a licensed professional engineer and certified safety professional. 

Hutter joined Disney in 1997 and was part of the team that built and  opened Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

As head of Disney studio operations, Hutter’s responsibilities include planning and tracking content for Marvel, Lucasfilm, Disney Live-Action, Disney Animation, Pixar, 20th Century Studios and Searchlight Pictures.

Hutter graduated from Michigan State University in 1993 with a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering and had a concentration in theater.

Programs available online, via mail

There are no printed commencement programs on-site at any ceremony location. However, attendees will be able to access the programs by scanning QR codes with their mobile device.

To order a program and have it mailed to you, visit the MSU commencement website. Programs will be mailed after the ceremonies.

Written by Eric Lacy, [email protected]. See more at the Engineering Media and Public Relations page.

Class of 2024: Aliya Kaplan named outstanding graduate in materials science and engineering

• Florence Gonsalves

22 Apr 2024

• Share on Facebook
• Share on Twitter
• Copy address link to clipboard

Name: Aliya Kaplan

College: College of Engineering

Major : Materials Science and Engineering, minor in math

Hometown:  Vienna, VA 

Plans after graduation: Pursue a Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering at either Northwestern University or M.I.T.

Favorite Hokie Memory: "I started here during COVID so it was hard to meet people, but my favorite experience is joining the Galipatia living learning community. I met my boyfriend there and even though COVID had everything shut down, we did a lot of exploration on campus. It was so quiet at that time and just nice to absorb the beauty here."

What faculty say: "Aliya is the first-rate embodiment of a Hokie and she will be a brilliant representative of Virginia Tech wherever she goes in her professional journey. Outside of her accolades, what I am most proud of is her growth - not just as a student, but as person who can overcome the hardest challenges, who can rise from failures, and who can remain positive in stressful environments. She has shown a most unassuming humility and an open-mindedness that characterizes our University’s Principles of Community," said Christine Burgoyne, assistant professor of practice in materials science and engineering.

Meet the self-described "last-minute" engineer

Aliya Kaplan grew up loving art, calculus, and working with her hands, so how did she find herself involved with polymers, ceramics, and electron microscopy as the Department of Materials Science and Engineering's outstanding 2024 graduate?

“The field of Materials Science and Engineering forms a connection between creativity, out-of-the-box thinking, and a fundamental understanding of math and science," Kaplan said. "I also really enjoy working with my hands; it’s mindful. That’s what I appreciate about engineering, and all the thought that goes into research—it’s that creative process where there’s a connection for me.”

Kaplan started at Virginia Tech in 2020 and made a last minute decision to study engineering over her favorite high school subjects: art and math. Although she didn't pursue art directly, she didn't totally leave it behind either. 

"I study electron microscopy, which I view as the photography of science. I get to image nano-scale, gorgeous pictures of microstructures, and form an understanding of how these microstructures form through the processes used to make the materials. In other words, it connects my love of art and math,” Kaplan said. 

While engineering was a departure from her anticipated path, she attributes her positive experience to joining a living learning community her freshman year. Being part of Galipatia set her up socially, but also provided necessary exposure to the different paths available in engineering.

“I made the right decision to participate in the Galipatia LLC because the mentorship I had through the program helped me through my freshman year. My mentor had other students so I was able to meet other people, which otherwise would’ve been hard because of COVID,” she said. “Not only did I meet one of my closest friends there, but it got me to interact with different facets of engineering and all the degree possibilities. I came to this major last minute so the living learning community encouraged my fascination with engineering and is a big part of the reason I pursued Materials Science and Engineering.” 

Finding the photography of science

Kaplan researches how materials behave in extreme environments. Specifically, she works to develop aligned porosity in ultra-high-temperature ceramics for applications in moderating heat in hypersonic aircraft where the temperatures reach above 3000 °C. These materials are suitable for the insulation packages, combustor, and leading edges of hypersonic aircraft. She says many areas of engineering are held back by necessary materials advancements and so there are many avenues for her research to take.

“In pursuing graduate school, I am interested in continuing to study materials at nanometer length scales through advanced microscopy techniques. Using computational techniques jointly with microscopy instruments, we can actually relate the way materials grow to their properties. It is the fundamental scientific studies that can produce the most significant scientific impact," she said.

After graduation, Kaplan will be pursuing a Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering at either M.I.T. or Northwestern University. This challenging next step of her education is one that her experience at Virginia Tech prepared her for. She attributes her success to the hands-on, experiential learning opportunities that she took advantage of during her four years. Some of her many accomplishments, accolades, and awards include:

• Presenting at the 2024 American Ceramic Society's International Conference and Expo on Advanced Ceramics and Composities, an honor usually reserved for a graduate student
• Winning the National Undergraduate Speaking Competition at the Materials Science and Technology Conference in 2022
• Receiving a 2022-2023 Virginia Space Grant Consortium Fellowship
• Participating in a 10-week independent research program in partnership with the University of Notthinghm in 2021
• Receiving the John G. Dillard Travel Award and the Louis H. and Diane E. Sharpe Undergraduate Scholarship
• Serving as social media representative for the Society of Plastic Engineers
• Publishing a paper co-authored with faculty in the journal Cellulose

Kaplan said, “I’ve done something every summer since starting at VT, mostly research related. After freshman year I did an international research program for students which was one of my first research experiences. I also did an internship at a local company called NanoSonic where I did R&D work which was very cool—interns were handed our own project and they were like go. And we did," Kaplan said.

She also highlighted the importance of mentorship, especially when it came to securing internships, scholarships, and conference opportunities.

“It was important that I got in as early as I did with Dr. Michael Bortner’s group. He was a great mentor to me and really supportive. I got a few scholarships through the Macromolecules Innovation Institute, and a travel grant to my first conference where I gave my first oral presentation. It was terrifying and I don’t think I met another undergraduate while I was there, but everything I’ve done research and internship-wise has helped along the road to my Ph.D.”

When she isn’t in the lab, Kaplan stays in touch with her art roots through knitting, and participating in the crocheting club. She also just got a puppy, a new addition that takes up a lot of her time lately. As Aliya prepares to advance her degree in Materials Science and Engineering, she reflects on what makes being a Hokie special. 

“My favorite thing about VT is the mentorship. I had my very first faculty connection with Dr. David Gray who was my freshman year foundations professor, and the reason I ended up in MSE. I have my mentors Professor Christine Burgoine and my current advisor, Dr. Carolina Tallon, to thank for their huge influence on my education and providing me every opportunity possible for research and community engagement.”

She also had some advice for her freshman year self:

“I was really anxious my first year in engineering, so I would tell myself to just make learning my focus and keep taking every opportunity that comes my way - trust that by focusing on learning I will find people that will support my path and everything will work out," Kaplan said. 

Chelsea Seeber

540-231-2108

• Class of 2024
• College of Engineering
• Materials Science and Engineering
• News directly from around campus

Related Content

BME Seminar Series: Beyond the PhD: Paving Your Path to Success

Event Date Thu, May 9, 2024 @ 9:00am - 10:00am

Event Category

PhD in Biomedical Engineering

Program sites.

• Biomedical Engineering

Degree Details

PhD in Biomedical Engineering (BME) students obtain advanced education and research training while working with our world-renowned faculty. Students can enter the program directly after completing a bachelors degree, and earn a masters degree along the way. Students can also enter the program after completing a masters degree.

Degree Type

Applications & Deadlines

• Any inquiries related to application status and/or receipt of supplemental application materials should be directed to the Graduate Programs Office at  [email protected]  or 617-353-9760.
• For additional information, please contact Christen Bailey ( [email protected] ).

Post-BS PhD in Biomedical Engineering

Students coming straight from a BS degree to our PhD program must take the specified courses listed below along with research credits to meet the 64 credit minimum total for graduation.

• BE 605:  Molecular Bioengineering
• BE 606:  Quantitative Physiology for Engineers
• BE 790:  Biomedical Engineering Seminar
• BE 791:  BME PhD Laboratory Rotation System
• BE 792:  Literature Review
• BE 801 and BE 802:  Teaching Practicum I and II
• Math course selected from approved list
• Three BE graduate-level electives
• Two graduate-level technical electives
• Research credits (minimum of 12)

Post-MS PhD in Biomedical Engineering

Students coming straight from a MS degree to our PhD program must take the specified courses listed below along with research credits to meet the 32 credit minimum total for graduation.

• Two graduate-level technical electives (at least one BE)
• Research credits (minimum of 4)

Fees and funding

Postgraduate research can be funded in a number of ways. It might be that there's a funded project that's already related to your interests, or you may be eligible for a government doctoral loan. Below are the funded opportunities on offer and links to more information about loans and funding.

Doctoral research fees View our doctoral research fees for new and continuing students.

Doctoral Loan

A Postgraduate Doctoral Loan can help with course fees and living costs while you study a postgraduate doctoral course, such as a PhD.

If you are considering applying for a Doctoral Loan to fund your studies, you will need a specific course code from the university in order to process your application. Please let us know by completing this form . Please complete the form at least a month and a half before the start of your programme to ensure your loan is processed in good time. Completing the form at a later stage might result in delays in its approval and the loan reaching your bank account later than you expected.

If you apply for a Doctoral Loan, you will still be regarded as self-funding’ (see section below) This is because, (unlike an undergraduate loan which is paid directly to the University), Doctoral loans are paid directly to the student.

Find out more and apply

PhD Studentships

PhD studentships are PhD funding opportunities supported by the University and/or organisations, where your research will be actively used in overcoming real-world problems.

Open opportunities

Self-funding students

This information is for doctoral students who are responsible for paying their own fees.

Self-funding students must remain aware of their payment responsibilities at enrolment, and throughout the year - depending on the payment option you select - details of which can be found in the tuition fee policy here .

Student contract

Midlands4Cities funding

Midlands4Cities offer prestigious, fully funded Arts and Humanities PhD scholarships provided by the Arts and Humanities Research Council.

More on Midlands4Cities

Receive updates about our funded opportunities

Recent searches

We won't record your recent searches as you have opted out of functional cookies. You can change this on our Manage Privacy page should you wish to.

Popular searches

• Scholarships
• Postgraduate Guide
• Student Finance
• Student Support

Suggested searches

• Life in Birmingham
• Graduate Scholarship