Degrees

Bachelor of Civil Engineering, MSc in Civil Engineering, PhD in Civil Engineering (University of Minnesota)

Research interests

I have broad interests in mechanics, especially in plasticity and soil mechanics.  A major focal point of my work over the coming years is to advance the understanding of how soils are moved and shaped through interaction with objects and machinery. I am increasingly interested in construction robotics and computerisation/automation in architecture, engineering, and construction.

Teaching Interests

I enjoy teaching introductory and advanced courses in geomechanics, solid mechanics, and numerical methods.  My long-term educational ambition is to attract, excite, and educate future civil engineers through inclusive outreach and education. Demand for civil engineers is enormous but presently unmet due to a perceived lack of innovation and challenges attracting new talent. My teaching goals integrate with my research on Soil-Machine Interaction, taking essentials steps toward exploring the interface between geotechnical and mechanical engineering and expanding the reach of civil engineering into areas such as construction automation. I have many years of experience teaching a wide variety of courses for undergraduates and postgraduates, as well as three years of teaching experience at the high school level through my involvement with the 4H Center for Youth Development at the University of Minnesota (in collaboration with the Circle of Life School on the White Earth Indian Reservation).

Awards and prizes

Bright Spark Lecture, International Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, IS-Cambridge (2022) CAREER Award, US National Science Foundation (2019) Arthur Casagrande Award, American Society of Civil Engineers (2019) Alumnae of Northwestern University Award for Curriculum Development (2019) Associated Student Government Faculty and Administrator Honor Roll, Northwestern University (2018) Best Paper Award, 6th International Young Geotechnical Engineers’ Conference, Seoul, Korea (2017) Searle Fellow, Searle Center for Advancing Learning and Teaching, Northwestern University (2017) Discovery Early Career Researcher Award, Australian Research Council (2016) Excellent Paper Award, International Association for Computer Methods and Advances in Geomechanics (2014) New Faces of Civil Engineering Honoree, American Society of Civil Engineers (2014) Nominee, Newcastle University Postgraduate Students Association Supervisor of the Year (2013) International Research Fellowship, US National Science Foundation (offered; not accepted) (2010) Neville G. W. Cook Award for Innovative Research in Geomechanics, University of Minnesota (2010) Simon and Claire Benson Award for Outstanding Undergraduate Achievement, University of Minnesota (2005)

Publications

Google Scholar:  https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=DTu7ll8AAAAJ

Other interests

Music (listening and playing), Hands-on Engineering (Woodworking, Metalworking, and other crafts), Storytelling, and Outdoor Activities