Past Spotlights on Civil and Environmental Engineering
2023
Student highlight
Name: Bridget Moynihan
Degree: PhD in Civil and Environmental Engineering
Faculty lab: Professor Babak Moaveni and Professor of the Practice Eric Hines
Hometown: St. Paul, MN
Why Tufts?
As an undergrad at Tufts, I appreciated the emphasis on a broad education as an engineer and having the freedom to explore various areas of study. I also loved the close-knit nature of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. Students here are great at working together so that everyone succeeds; it hasn't been a competitive environment in my experience. For my graduate studies, the Offshore Wind Energy Engineering program was the number one draw. Like undergrad, the core of my studies is in structural engineering, but I'm also encouraged to explore different areas of the field, broaden my knowledge, and collaborate with other students, which is one of the best parts.
Favorite thing about living in the Medford/Somerville and Boston area?
Tufts is well located to provide a smaller community and neighborhood feel while being extremely close to Boston. I live between Tufts and downtown, and I have the best of both worlds.
Any advice you’d give to prospective students or new graduate students?
If you are interested in grad school, definitely get involved in research as an undergrad! That's how I found my way to where I am now, and research experience is really what made me realize that grad school was the right choice for me. Also, don't hesitate to reach out to other students or professors for anything you need! The department is small, and everyone is very willing to help others or give advice. If you're considering a graduate program at Tufts, talking to professors and especially current students will give you great insight into what it would be like here.
Faculty highlight
Name: Professor Babak Moaveni and Professor of the Practice Eric Hines, Kentaro Tsutsumi Faculty Fellow
Research interests: Offshore wind energy, structural design, earthquake engineering, probabilistic system identification of structures, signal processing, Bayesian inference, model updating, structural dynamics.
About Professor Moaveni:
Babak Moaveni is a professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Tufts School of Engineering. His main research interests include Bayesian inference and inverse problems, structural health monitoring, system and damage identification of civil structures, structural dynamics, earthquake engineering, uncertainty quantification, and verification and validation of computational models.
About Professor Hines:
Eric Hines directs the offshore wind energy engineering graduate program at Tufts University, where he is a professor of the practice in structural engineering and the Kentaro Tsutsumi Faculty Fellow. He is the president of Hines & Partners, LLC, a consulting firm specializing in offshore wind energy, structural design, and engineering creativity. He has over 20 years of experience engineering innovative infrastructure.
2022
Student highlight
Name: Deniz Ranjpour
Degree: Ph.D. in Civil and Environmental Engineering
Faculty lab: Research Professor Jack Germaine
Hometown: Tehran, Iran
Why Tufts?
It’s a big enough institution to have everything you need, yet small enough to feel homey.
Favorite thing about living in the Medford/Somerville and Boston area?
I live in Cambridge and I love the diversity. I’ve met people from all walks of life, from scientists to business people and artists, and from more than 40 countries.
Any advice you’d give to prospective students or new graduate students?
Invest in a good winter coat and a bike, you’re going to need them both!
Faculty highlight
Name: Research Professor Jack Germaine
Research interests: Geotechnical, laboratory testing, automation, soil behavior, physical properties, mechanical properties, and material science.
About Professor Germaine:
Jack Germaine is a research professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Tufts School of Engineering. He is a leader in experimental methods in geotechnical analysis. In recent years, Germaine has worked on small-strain nonlinearity of normally consolidated clay and has explored factors affecting the initial stiffness of cohesive soils.