Graduate Programs

CU Engineering builds on sustainability leadership with new MS in sustainable engineering

Caroline Harrah — Mon, 22 Sep 2025 17:36:05 +0000

CU Engineering builds on sustainability leadership with new MS in sustainable engineering Caroline Harrah Mon, 09/22/2025 - 11:36

Caroline Harrah

The ��ɫ��Ƶ’s College of Engineering & Applied Science is building on its leadership in sustainability research and education with the launch of a new Master of Science in Sustainable Engineering.

Guided by the principle of sustainability “by design,” the program integrates a systems-level approach with advanced engineering in the context of ecological integrity, economic viability and human well-being, preparing graduates to tackle the world’s most urgent challenges with durable, real-world solutions.

From extreme weather to systems strained by growing demand to aging infrastructure, communities worldwide face mounting challenges in engineering systems that are resilient, efficient and human-centered. Meeting these needs requires engineers who can balance technical rigor with an understanding of economics, policy and the human and environmental trade-offs that shape decision-making.

Yet the shortage of professionals with this breadth of expertise has slowed progress at the very moment when industries and communities are seeking sustainable pathways forward.

“Our world is at a tipping point where sustainable engineering is essential to ensure resilient energy and water systems, infrastructure and materials for the future,” said Karl Linden, chair of the Department of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering. “��ɫ��Ƶ brings together world-class faculty, cutting-edge research and Boulder’s culture of innovation to prepare students not just to respond to this demand but to lead the global transition to a more sustainable future.”

��ɫ��Ƶ’s Master of Science in Sustainable Engineering features an integrated curriculum that brings together expertise from ��ɫ��Ƶ’s College of Engineering and Applied Science, the College of Arts and Sciences and the Leeds School of Business. Alongside engineering coursework, students participate in classes on business strategy, policy, management and data storytelling, a unique interdisciplinary approach among engineering programs.

This combination equips graduates with the ability not only to design sustainable technologies but also to evaluate their economic viability, navigate regulatory frameworks and communicate solutions in ways that influence decision-makers. A capstone project with industry or government partners ensures that students leave with hands-on experience applying these skills to real-world challenges.

The program’s interdisciplinary approach is anchored in ��ɫ��Ƶ’s world-class research across core pillars of sustainable engineering that students will experience.

Graduates of the program will be prepared for careers that span energy, infrastructure, manufacturing, water and sustainable materials. Possible roles range from power systems and energy storage engineers to sustainability managers, environmental process engineers and green product designers.

Equipped with both deep technical expertise and the interdisciplinary skills to lead complex projects, they will be ready to lead organizations and communities through the urgent global transition to a sustainable future.

The program is now accepting applications for fall 2026!

Learn more about the program and admissions requirements:

MS in Sustainable Engineering

Sustainable Engineering Faculty & Research

In resilience, faculty members including Abbie B. Liel (infrastructure and housing resilience, structural systems under hazard loading), Shideh Dashti (multi-hazard risk, transportation/slope and embankment resilience), Srikanth S. C. Madabhushi (soil-structure interaction, liquefaction, dynamic loading via centrifuge modeling), Amy Javernick-Will (post-disaster shelter & reconstruction, organizational risk management) and Evan Thomas (resilience in water, sanitation, and environmental systems under disaster and global health contexts) are advancing earthquake-resistant infrastructure, disaster recovery and new methods to assess and strengthen critical systems.
In sustainable materials, researchers such as Mija H. Hubler (microstructure-designed concrete, engineered living building materials, fracture mechanics, durability), Wil V. Srubar III (carbon-storing / biologically augmented concretes, low-carbon alternative materials) and Cristina Torres-Machi (recycled pavement materials, full-depth reclamation, decision and optimization models for sustainable road and pavement rehabilitation) are pushing forward innovations that reduce environmental impact and enable circular economies.
Faculty leading sustainability analysis, such as Torres-Machi (life-cycle cost analysis, optimization, data-driven decision making for pavement and infrastructure asset management) and Sherri Cook (life cycle assessment/costing, resource recovery, and decision-frameworks under uncertainty for water, sanitation, and civil systems), are bringing forward new models that integrate long-term cost, carbon, environmental and social metrics into evaluations of infrastructure and service systems.
In power systems, faculty members such as Kyri Baker (smart grids, optimization of renewable integration, building-to-grid systems, algorithms for large-scale grid stability and real-time controls) are optimizing the integration of renewable energy sources and grid stability using advanced computational tools.
In sustainable building design, ��ɫ��Ƶ teams including Gregor P. Henze (advanced controls, model predictive and reinforcement learning control of HVAC and mixed-mode systems, and integration of building operations with the grid), Moncef Krarti (optimal retrofit and envelope design with glazing, insulation, dynamic façades, and controls for HVAC and lighting, as well as renewable energy integration) and John Z. Zhai (indoor environmental quality, passive and hybrid ventilation, thermal storage, and innovative building envelope and sustainable systems) are pioneering energy-efficient HVAC systems, building automation, and holistic building approaches that minimize resource use while promoting human well-being.
In sustainability education, ��ɫ��Ƶ faculty such as Jay Arehart ( life-cycle assessment and sustainability analysis) are preparing future engineers to integrate sustainability principles into infrastructure, materials and system design. Through curriculum innovation and applied coursework, students gain hands-on experience with the tools and methods needed to address pressing environmental and societal challenges.

The world needs engineers to help lead the transition to a sustainable future. CU Engineering is answering that call with the new Master of Science in Sustainable Engineering, preparing graduates to design resilient systems that balance ecological integrity, economic viability and human well-being.

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Robotics in action: CU Engineering demonstrates interdisciplinary research at showcase

Anonymous — Thu, 24 Oct 2024 21:33:11 +0000

Robotics in action: CU Engineering demonstrates interdisciplinary research at showcase Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 10/24/2024 - 15:33

Caroline Harrah

Standing-room-only event was part of ��ɫ��Ƶ’s annual Research & Innovation Week held Oct. 14-18

The College of Engineering & Applied Science welcomed a packed audience to its Robotics Showcase on Oct. 17. The standing-room-only event, part of ��ɫ��Ƶ’s annual Research & Innovation Week, drew students, faculty and robotics enthusiasts, including middle and high school students and the general public, eager to explore the latest advancements in research shaping the future of the field.

The event emphasized the interdisciplinary nature of CU’s robotics research, showcasing collaborations across electrical, computer and energy engineering; mechanical engineering; aerospace engineering sciences; and computer science to tackle complex societal challenges.

Attendees were treated to demonstrations of bio-inspired robots (Kaushik Jayaram and Nicole Xu), autonomous drone systems (Nisar Ahmed), robots with human-like dexterity (Nikolaus Correll), and robot skin technology (Alessandro Roncone), as well as Boston Dynamics’ Spot. The demos highlighted technologies poised to transform fields such as search and rescue, deep-sea exploration and industrial maintenance in challenging environments, while improving human-robot capabilities and interactions.

In addition to the research on display, CU Engineering introduced its new graduate degrees in robotics— two master’s programs (Master of Science in Robotics thesis option and Master of Science in Robotics nonthesis option) and a PhD in Robotics—launched in 2023. These programs offer students immersive, hands-on research opportunities that engage them with the technologies featured at the showcase, preparing them to lead in the evolving robotics landscape.

CU Engineering’s Research Support Office extends its thanks to all the participants who made the event a success. For more details, check out media coverage by the Boulder Daily Camera in the article “Take Humans Out of Dangerous Equations: ��ɫ��Ƶ Showcases its Progress in Robots” and Denver7’s “��ɫ��Ƶ Hosts Robotics Showcase to Celebrate Research & Innovation Week,” which spotlight ��ɫ��Ƶ’s leadership in robotics research and innovation.

Showcase Highlights

The Robotics Showcase featured a range of innovative research that exemplifies ��ɫ��Ƶ’s interdisciplinary collaboration and commitment to addressing real-world problems. Highlights included:

Shape-Morphing Insect-Scale Robots
Kaushik Jayaram (ME, Robotics)
Hari Hari Prasad presented insect-scale robots capable of changing shape to adapt to their environment. These shape-shifting systems demonstrate agility and adaptability, essential for real-world applications in challenging environments.
Human-Centered Autonomy for Dynamic sUAS Target Search Operations
Nisar Ahmed (AERO, Robotics)
Hunter Ray demonstrated advances in autonomous drone systems that enhance collaboration with human operators. These drones are designed for search and rescue missions, leveraging real-time data from operators to improve decision-making.
Open World Manipulation
Nikolaus Correll (CS, Robotics)
William Xie demonstrated robots with human-like dexterity, integrating sensors, actuators, and communication capabilities into composite materials to create robots that mimic the functionality of muscles, skin, and bones.
Bioinspired and Biohybrid Robotics
Nicole Xu (ME, Robotics)
Yunxing Su demonstrated research on aquatic robots for environmental monitoring. These robots combine natural and engineered designs to create energy-efficient, maneuverable systems for tracking climate change.
Robot Skin and Dynamic Human-Robot Interaction
Alessandro Roncone (CS, Robotics)
Dusty Woods, Caleb Escobedo and Claire Lohrmann demonstrated robot skin technology that enhances human-robot interactions. These modular sensor units, placed on robot manipulators, enable robots to safely and intuitively respond to external contact.
NSF IUCRC Center for Aerial Autonomy, Mobility, and Sensing (CAAMS)
Zachary Sunberg (AERO, Robotics)
Sunberg’s lab demonstrated autonomous drones in wilderness search and rescue operations. By integrating human operators into the decision-making process, these drones improve the efficiency and safety of missions in remote environments.

CU Engineering welcomed a packed audience to its Robotics Showcase on Oct. 17. The event, part of ��ɫ��Ƶ’s annual Research & Innovation Week, drew students, faculty and robotics enthusiasts, including middle and high school students and the general public, eager to explore the latest advancements in research shaping the future of the field.

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