The School of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences (SCEEES) recently hosted the 2025 Student Research Showcase on October 31, 2025, bringing together student researchers and faculty to celebrate the innovative research that defines the degree programs within SCEEES.
Held in the Watt Family Innovation Center, the inaugural year’s showcase featured 30 student research posters, representing the breadth of inquiry across SCEEES disciplines including Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Biosystems Engineering, Geology, and Hydrogeology. Of these, 24 projects were presented by graduate students and 6 by undergraduates, each highlighting original research, emerging technologies, and solutions to complex global infrastructure and environmental challenges.
Beyond serving as a platform for research dissemination, the showcase also provided students with an invaluable opportunity to refine their presentation skills and strengthen their ability to communicate complex research effectively. The event built upon poster development and communication workshops within the departments; helping students translate technical research into compelling visual and verbal presentations for a broader audience.
Six faculty judges, three from the Glenn Department of Civil Engineering and three from the Department of Environmental Engineering and Earth Science, evaluated the posters based on clarity, innovation, and impact. Each poster was scored by a faculty member from each department to reflect the School’s interdisciplinary approach. Their expertise ensured a well-rounded assessment of the work presented, reinforcing the School’s commitment to interdisciplinary excellence.
The top-scoring posters were recognized for their outstanding quality and contribution to advancing research in their respective fields.
Top Graduate Poster Awards:
- Seyed Moein “Moein” Mousavi Takami, “Bacteria-Based Self-Healing Mechanism for Enhancing Interlayer Bond Strength in 3D-Printed Concrete.”
- Adam Biehl, “Setting Behavior of Portland-Limestone Cement Pastes Containing Next-Generation Supplementary Cementitious Materials.”
- Kensley Dantzler, “Sustainable Use of Pond Fines as an Agglomerated Material in Portland Cement Mixtures and Masonry.”
Top Undergraduate Poster Awards:
- Joseph Dixon, “Geologic Mapping of Cretaceous and Tertiary Volcanic and Hypabyssal Rocks at Highland Lakes, California.”
- Wynter Seppala, “A Proposed Model to Assess Hydrodynamic Forcing by Boat-Generated Wakes and Potential Impact to Erosion of Estuarine Shorelines.”
- Charles “Pearson” Midgley, “Active Tracer Shows Promise in Solving Geothermal Short Circuit Problem.”
SCEEES extends appreciation to the judges for their time and expertise in supporting this important interdisciplinary event:
Judging Panel:
- Glenn Department of Civil Engineering
- CJ Bolding, Ph.D., Lecturer
- Nigel Kaye, Ph.D., Professor
- Pam Murray-Tuite, Professor
- Department of Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences
- Adam Hawkins, Ph.D., Assistant Professor
- Nicole Martinez Ph.D., Professor
- Kelly Lazar, Ph.D., Associate Professor
The Student Research Showcase exemplifies Clemson’s Elevate strategic priorities by fostering experiential learning, advancing research with impact, and strengthening connections between disciplines. Events like this continue to highlight the strength and collaboration that define SCEEES—where innovation in infrastructure, environment, and earth sciences comes together to shape a more resilient and sustainable future.
