Earth and Environmental Engineering

• Assistant Professor of Earth and Environmental Engineering, Columbia University, 2020-
• Postdoctoral Associate, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2018-2019

• Early Career Best Paper Award - Energy, Natural Resources, and the Environment (ENRE) Section, Informs, 2023
• Outstanding Young Investigator Award - Energy Systems Division, IISE, 2023
• CAREER Award, National Science Foundation, 2022

• PhD, Electrical Engineering, University of Washington Seattle
• MS, Electrical Engineering, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich
• BS, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Shanghai Jiaotong University

• Professor of Professional Practice, Earth and Environmental Engineering, Columbia University in the City of New York, 2012–Present
• Research Vice President, BASF Catalysts (formerly Engelhard), 2008-2012 (retired)
• Research Fellow, Engelhard (now BASF), 1990-2008
• Section Head, Engelhard, 1976-1995
• Research Chemist, Corning Glass Works, 1968-1976 

• American Institute of Chemical Engineers
• American Chemical Society 

• Distinguished Faculty Teaching Award, Columbia University in the City of New York, 2016
• Ciapetta Lectureship Award sponsored by the North American Catalysis Society, 2008
• Catalysis and Reaction Engineering Practice Award from the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, 2005
• International Precious Metal Institute (IPMI) Award for Outstanding Contributions in the field of precious metal catalysis, 2001
• Cross Canada Lectureship Award sponsored by the Canadian Catalysis Society, 1998  
• Co-author of three textbooks on environmental and industrial catalysis

• PhD: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 1968
• BS: Manhattan College 1964 

• Associate Professor, Department of Earth and Environmental Engineering, Columbia University, 2024 –
• La Von Duddleson Krumb Assistant Professor of Earth and Environmental Engineering, Columbia University, 2020 – 2024
• Adjunct Associate Research Scientist, Department of Earth and Environmental Engineering, Columbia University, 2014 – 2015
• Postdoctoral Research Fellow, SCELSE (Singapore Centre on Environmental Life Sciences Engineering), NTU, Singapore, 2014 – 2015
• Assistant Manager, National Environment Agency, Singapore, 2004 – 2008

• American Chemical Society (ACS)
• Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors (AEESP)
• North American Membrane Society (NAMS)
• American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE)
• Frontiers of Engineering, National Academy of Engineering (FOE, NAE)
• International Water Association (IWA)
• International Desalination Association (IDA)

• ACS ES&T Engineering Best Papers of 2022 (Research Articles), 2023
• Young Talent Award, Frontiers of Environmental Science & Engineering, 2022
• Emerging Investigator, Environmental Science: Water Research & Technology, 2021
• James J. Morgan Early Career Award: Honorable Mention, Environmental Science & Technology, 2020
• Arab-American Frontiers Fellowship, The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, 2019
• Outstanding Doctoral Dissertation Award, CH2M Hill/AEESP, 2015
   

• PhD, Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Yale University
• MS, Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Yale University
• BE, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Nanyang Technological University (Singapore)

• Society of Columbia Graduates' Great Teacher Award in Columbia College for the 2022/2023
• Fellow of the American Geophysical Union (AGU)  2022
• Columbia Engineering Alumni Association's Distinguished Faculty Teaching Award 2020
• SEAS Alumni Teaching Award 2004
• SEAS Kim Award 2004
• DEES Outstanding Teaching Award 1998 & 2002
• Marshall Scholar 1985

• Professor, DEES/APAM Columbia University, 2008
• Associate Professor, DEES/APAM, Columbia University, 2000-2008
• Storke-Doherty Lecturer, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Columbia University, 1997-1999

Columbia University, New York, NY:

• APAM Department Chair (July 2012 - June 2018)
• Professor of Materials Science and Engineering (2004 - Present)
• Adjunct Professor (1985 - 2004)

International Business Machines Corporation, Yorktown Heights, NY:

• Research Consultant (2004 - 2017)
• Research Staff Member (1987 - 2004)

• PhD, Materials Sci. & Engineering, Northwestern University
• BSci., Metallurgical Engineering, Middle East Technical University

• Fellow, American Physical Society
• Member ASM, TMS-AIME, ACA, APS, Sigma Xi, IEEE, ICDD

• Hanawalt Award for rigorous physical modeling of the scattering processes from nanocrystalline materials, International Centre for Diffraction Data, 2019
• Jenkins Lifetime Achievement Award, International Centre for Diffraction Data, 2015
• Blackall Machine Tool and Gage Award, American Society of Mechanical Engineers, 2006
• Two IBM Outstanding Technical Achievement Awards for research and development of computer and packaging structures
• IBM Research Division Award for research on diffusion barriers and 11 IBM Invention Plateaus for filed patents
• Adjunct Faculty Award for Excellence in Teaching, Columbia University, 1993

• Director of Quadracci Sustainable Engineering Lab, Columbia University, 2007-
• Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Columbia University, 2001-
• Department Chair of Mechanical Engineering, Columbia University, 2002-2005
• Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Columbia University, 1993-2000
• Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Columbia University, 1986-1992
• Postdoctoral Associate of Gas Turbine Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1985-1986
• Visiting Assistant Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Cornell University, 1984

• American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Council of Engineers for the Energy Transition (CEET)
• An independent advisory council to the U.N. Secretary General
• ASHRAE
• AAAS

•  Distinguished Faculty Teaching Award, Columbia, 1996
• Great Teacher Award 1997, Society of Columbia Graduates, 1997
• McMullen Fellowship, Cornell University
• Silver Medal in Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology                
• Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award, Indian Institute of Technology, 1984
• Tuition Scholarship, ASEE

• Ph.D.,Mechanical Engineering, Cornell University
• B. Tech., Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology

• Director, National Science Foundation Science and Technology Center (STC) Learning the Earth with Artificial intelligence and Physics (LEAP), Columbia University, 2021-
• Maurice Ewing and J. Lamar Worzel Professor of Geophysics, Columbia University, 2021-
• Full Professor, Columbia University, 2021-
• Faculty member, Earth Institute, Columbia University (by nomination), 2018-
• Faculty member, Data Institute, Columbia University (by nomination), 2018-
• Tenured Associate Professor, Earth and Environmental Engineering, Columbia University, 2017-
• Associate Professor, Earth and Environmental Engineering, Columbia University, 2016-2017
• Junior faculty, Earth Institute, Columbia University (by nomination), 2013-2017         
• Assistant Professor, Earth and Environmental Engineering, Columbia University, 2011-2016

• American Geophysical Union

• Great Teacher Award, Society of Columbia Graduates, 2021
• First place in INFORMS Junior Faculty Interest Group (JFIG) Paper Competition, 2020
• NSF CAREER Award, 2020
• Forbes 30 under 30 in science, 2016
• IBM Faculty Award, 2016
   

• PhD, Operations Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• BS, Operations Research and Engineering, Cornell University

• American Ceramic Society
• American Chemical Society
• ASM International
• Association for Iron & Steel Technology (AIST)
• Materials Research Society
• The Minerals, Metals, Materials Society (TMS)
• American Physical Society
• Society of Women Engineers
• International Committee of Diffraction Data

• Fellow of American Physical Society, 2018
• Avanessians Diversity Award, 2012
• BASF Catalysis Research Award, 2008-2011
• American Ceramic Society Fellow, 2008
• Advance Fellow: National Science Foundation/Univ. of Washington, 2004
• Tan Chin Tuan Fellow, 2004
• Guggenheim Fellow, 2003
• IBM Faculty Award, 1998
• Outstanding Woman Scientist Award, 1997
• Presidential Faculty Fellow from the White House and the National Science Foundation, 1993
• Very Important Parent: Luther Lee Emerson School in Demarest, NJ, 1992
• DuPont Faculty Award, 1991, 1992
• Sigma Xi, 1982
• Tau Beta Pi, 1979
• Columbia Univ. SEAS Francis B.F. Rhodes Prize 1980

• Professor of materials science and engineering in the Department of Applied Physics and Mathematics, Columbia Engineering, 2002 –
• Co-chair of the Solid State Program, Columbia Engineering, 2001 –2005
• Executive committee member and outreach director, Materials Research Science & Engineering Center, 1998-2009
• Associate professor of applied physics and applied mathematics, Columbia Engineering, 1998 – 2000
• Co-chair of Materials Science and Engineering Program and Committee, Columbia Engineering, till 1999
• Associate professor of chemical engineering and materials, 1993 – 1998
• Associate professor of metallurgy and materiais, 1990 – 1993
• Visiting professor of materials, as Tan Fellow, Nanyang Technological Univ. (Singapore), 2004
• Visiting professor of materials science and engineering, as National Science Foundation 2004 Advanced Fellow, University of Washington.
• Visiting professor of physics, Guggenheim Fellow, University of California San Diego, 2004
• Visiting scientist, IBM Watson Research Lab, 1999
• Visiting scientist, Bitter Magnet Lab, 1993 – 1996
• Member of technical staff, Superconductors, and Surface Modifications to solve the last-mile-problem, Bell-Labs & Bellcore, Murray Hill, NJ, 1985-1990

• ScD, Materials Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• BS, Metallurgy and Materials Science, Columbia Unversity

• Vice Dean for Research, School of Engineering and Applied Science, 2024 – present, Columbia University.
• Santiago and Robertina Calatrava Family Professor of Civil Engineering and Engineering Mechanics, 2007 – present, Columbia University.
• Interim Chair of Earth and Environmental Engineering, July 2023 – December 2023, Columbia University.
• Professor of Earth and Environmental Engineering, 2022 – present, Columbia University.
• Department Chair of Civil Engineering and Engineering Mechanics, 2013 – 2019, Columbia University.
• Professor of Civil Engineering and Engineering Mechanics, 2002 – 2007, Columbia University. Associate
• Professor (with tenure) of Civil Engineering and Engineering Mechanics, January 2002 – June 2002, Columbia University.
• Associate Professor (with tenure) of Civil Engineering, 1997 – 2001, Princeton University.
• Assistant Professor of Civil Engineering, 1991 – 1997, Princeton University.
• Research Associate, 1988 – 1991, Princeton University.
• Post-Doctoral Research Scientist, June 1987 – January 1988, Columbia University.

• Distinguished Research Award, International Association for Structural Safety and Reliability, 2025.
• Alfred M. Freudenthal Medal, American Society of Civil Engineers, 2024.
• American Society of Civil Engineers, Distinguished Member, 2023.
• Engineering Mechanics Institute of the American Society of Civil Engineers, Fellow, 2014.
• Society of Columbia Graduates Great Teacher Award, Columbia University, 2011.
• Columbia University’s Presidential Award for Outstanding Teaching, 2009.
• Columbia University’s Engineering School Alumni Association Distinguished Faculty Teaching Award, 2003.
• Princeton University's E-Council Lifetime Achievement Award for Excellence in Teaching, 2001.
• American Society of Civil Engineers Walter Huber Civil Engineering Research Prize, 1998.
• International Association for Structural Safety and Reliability Junior Research Prize, 1997.
• Princeton University's President's Award for Distinguished Teaching, 1995.
• National Science Foundation Young Investigator Award, 1992.

• PhD, 1987, Civil Engineering, Columbia University.
• MS, 1984, Civil Engineering, Columbia University.
• Diploma, 1982, Civil Engineering, National Technical University of Athens.

• American Society of Civil Engineers
• International Association for Structural Safety and Reliability

• Dean of Engineering and Sciences Tecnológico de Monterrey, Mexico, July 2023 - Present
• Executive Director Center for Buildings, Infrastructure and Public Space, Columbia University, September 2018 – Present
• Edwin Howard Armstrong Professor, Department of Civil Engineering and Engineering Mechanics Columbia University, September 2012 – Present
• Professor, Department of Computer Science Columbia University, July 2009 – Present
• Professor, Department of Earth and Environmental Engineering Columbia University, July 2009 – Present
• Visiting Professor, Nankai University, China, September 2017 – present
• Visiting Professor Tsinghua University, China, July 2013 – present
• Visiting Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, Cambridge University, UK, March 2014
• Visiting Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, Manchester University, UK, March 2014
• Visiting Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, Salford University, UK, March 2014
• Guest Professor, Guizhou Institute of Technology, China, July 2013
• Visiting Professor, UIUC, July 2009 – July 2012
• Professor, Department of Civil Engineering and Engineering Mechanics, of Earth and Environmental Engineering, of Computer Science, Columbia University, July 2009–September 2012
• Dean of the School of Engineering and Applied Science, Columbia University, July 2009 – July 2012
• Morris A. and Alma Schapiro Professor of Engineering, Columbia University July 2009 – July 2012
• Edward William and Jane Marr Gutgsell Endowed Professor, UIUC, January 2008 - July 2009
• Associate Provost, UIUC, January 2008 - July 2009
• Faculty Affiliate, Beckman/UIUC, January 2008 - July 2009
• Center Affiliate, NCSA/UIUC, August 2006 - July 2009
• Professor, UIUC, August 2006 - July 2009
• Senior Associate Dean, UIUC, January 2007 - May 2007
• Associate Provost Fellow, UIUC, August 2006 -December 2007
• Visiting Professor, Loughborough University, July 2006 - July 2007
• Visiting Professor, EPFL, July 2006
• W. E. O’Neil Faculty Scholar, UIUC, June 2003 - January 2008
• Associate Professor, UIUC, June 2003 - August 2006
• Visiting Associate Professor, UIUC, August 2002 - June 2003
• Visitor, University of Sydney, August 1999
• Associate Professor, MIT, July 1999 - June 2003
• IESL Co-Director, MIT, September 1996 - June 2003
• Gilbert W. Winslow Career Development Chair, MIT, September 1996-Sept. 1998
• Assistant Professor, MIT, July 1995 - July 1999
• Postdoctoral Associate, MIT(Central Artery), September 1994 - June 1995

• American Society of Civil Engineering (ASCE)
• National Academy of Construction
• Chartered Institute of Building
• Academia de Ciencias de la República Dominicana
• Colegio Dominicano de Ingenieros, Arquitectos y Agrimensores (CODIA)

• American Society of Civil Engineers President's Medal, 2024
• Distinguished Member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, 2023
• Fellow of the American Society of Civil Engineers, 2020
• American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Peurifoy Construction Research Award, 2018
• High-End Foreign Expert Program – Short Term, Beijing State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs (Awarded but not Undertaken), 2018
• Thousand Talents Program – Short Term from Tianjin Municipal Bureau of Foreign Experts Affairs (Awarded but not Undertaken), 2018
• Member of the U.S. National Academy of Construction, 2016
• Member of the Academy of Sciences of the Dominican Republic, 2016
• CIOB (Chartered Institute of Buildings) International Outstanding Achievement Awards: Business Management, 2016
• ASCE Journal of Management in Engineering Best Peer Reviewed Paper Award, 2015
• ASCE Journal of Computing in Civil Engineering Best Journal Paper Award, 2014
• ASCE Construction Management Award, 2014
• High-End Foreign Expert Program – Short Term, Beijing State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs; 2014 Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Building, 2014
• ASCE James R. Croes Medal, 2013
• International Conference in Construction Engineering and Project Management Best Paper Award, 2013
• ASCE International Conference on Computing in Civil Engineering Best Paper award, 2012
• ASCE Visualization, Information Modeling, and Simulation (VIMS) Committee; Best Conference Paper Award, 2012
• ASCE Construction Research Congress; First-Place Best Poster Award, 2012
• ASCE Journal of Construction Engineering and Management Best Journal Paper Award, 2011
• FIATECH Celebration of Engineering & Technology Innovation Award Outstanding Researcher Category, 2011
• ICCEPM-2011, Sydney, Australia Excellent Paper Award, 2011
• Construction Industry Institute's Annual Conference; Best Poster Award by Ph.D. Student, 2010
• 6th International Conference on Innovation in AEC, State College, PA; Best Student Paper Award for Ph.D. Student, 2010
• Morris A. and Alma Schapiro Professorship, 2009
• ASCE Computing in Civil Engineering Award, 2008
• Edward William and Jane Marr Gutgsell Endowed Professor, 2008
• Member, National Academies Committee on Advancing the Productivity and Competitiveness of the U.S. Construction Industry, 2008
• Walter L. Huber Civil Engineering Research, 2007
• Dean's Distinguished Lecture, Rice University, 2004
• Plenary Speaker, National Academies Convocation on Facilitation Interdisciplinary Research, 2004
• Caterpillar Lecture, University of Iowa (distinguished), 2003
• Keynote Speaker, ASCE 2003 Convention, Information Technology in Civil Engineering Conference, 2003
• Plenary Speaker, National Academy of Engineering Frontiers of Engineering Symposium, 2003
• W. E. O'Neil Faculty Scholar, 2003-2007
• White House PECASE Award, 1999-2003
• NSF CAREER Award, 1999-2003
• Cordell W. Hull New Initiatives in Engineering Education Award, 1998-1999
• Marion and Jasper Whiting Foundation Fellowship, 1997-1998
• James H. Ferry Fund Award, 1997-1998
• Gilbert W. Winslow Career Development Chair, 1996-1998
• ASCE Journal of Computing in Civil Engineering Best Paper Award, 1995

• ScD Civil Engineering Systems MIT 1994
• SM Civil Engineering MIT 1991
• Post-Graduate Civil Engineering (Magna Cum Laude) UNPHU 1988
• BS Civil Engineering (Magna Cum Laude) UNPHU 1987