CU Boulder Engineering

10/03/2026

Engineering a future with cleaner, safer water.💧

For University of Colorado Boulder third-year environmental engineering PhD student Melanie Gamboa, a passion for clean water started with experiences visiting family in Costa Rica. Today, she's helping advance sustainable solutions that can improve access to safe drinking water for communities around the world. 🌎

In Dr. Karl Linden's lab, Melanie researches how UV light and other wavelengths can be used to develop innovative, sustainable water treatment technologies that protect public health and strengthen water security.

From personal inspiration to global impact, Melanie is using engineering to help create a healthier, more sustainable future.

https://cuboulder.engineering/3TwmvS4

I am originally from New Jersey. Although I did not grow up around mountains, I always knew I loved being outdoors and learning about the environment. From an

09/29/2026

Managing big data in complex systems. ⚡

University of Colorado Boulder second-year Robotics PhD student Izzy Collins is researching ways to reduce communication demands in large-scale distributed systems, with applications ranging from robotics to power grids that span entire countries.

Working in Dr. Emily Jensen’s controls lab, Izzy is exploring how systems can perform effectively without every component needing complete information from every other part, an approach that could improve efficiency, reliability and scalability.

Inspired by her experiences growing up in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, Izzy combines her backgrounds in physics and electrical engineering to tackle challenges at the intersection of robotics, infrastructure and resilient power systems.

Read more about Izzy's research and journey at CU Boulder:

https://cuboulder.engineering/3V9ZEfq

Growing up in New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, I was very aware of the importance of public infrastructure such as the levees, power grid, and

09/28/2026

CU Engineering Homecoming Tailgate returns Saturday, Oct. 3! 🏈💛🖤

Homecoming is more than a return to Boulder. It's a chance to reconnect with the people, experiences and memories that helped shape your journey.

Join fellow alumni, students, faculty and friends as we celebrate the CU Engineering community before the game. A special thank you to alumni-owned Ratio Beerworks (Jason zumBrunnen, ChemEngr'97) and La Randonnée Wines (Kevin Green, ChemEngr'96) for helping make this tradition possible.

CU vs. Texas Tech
Tailgate: 2:30 – 5 p.m. | Kickoff: 5:30 p.m.

We can't wait to welcome you back. See you at Homecoming!

🔗 cuboulder.engineering/4xkUwmh

09/24/2026

A new $10 million gift from the Mortenson family will help the Mortenson Center in Global Engineering & Resilience continue and expand its work alongside communities globally—improving access to safe water, reliable infrastructure and sustainability resources.

The gift builds on a longstanding family commitment to CU Boulder and the Mortenson Center by funding two new professorships and adding flexible resources to the center’s endowment.

Thank you to Alice Mortenson, the Mortenson Family Foundation and Mortenson Construction for your philanthropy to propel CU Boulder forward!

More ↓
https://bit.ly/47em9Tb

09/21/2026

A bridge does more than connect two sides of a river. 🤝

New research led by Evan Thomas, professor in CU Engineering's Mortenson Center in Global Engineering & Resilience, found that pedestrian bridges in rural Rwanda can transform communities, improving household income, agricultural activity, school attendance and access to health care. 🏠🪴 ✏️🍎🩺

The study is the world's first randomized controlled trial of civil engineering infrastructure and includes one of the largest data sets ever collected on poverty indicators. The findings provide evidence that thoughtfully designed infrastructure can expand opportunity and improve quality of life.

By combining engineering, data and community impact, this work demonstrates how engineering solutions can help address global challenges and create meaningful change.

https://cuboulder.engineering/4xpxnPo

New research led by Professor Evan Thomas found that pedestrian bridges in rural Rwanda improved household income, agricultural activity, school attendance and

09/17/2026

09/16/2026

🚀 What does it take to explore the most distant planets in our solar system?

University of Colorado Boulder Aerospace PhD student and Smead Scholar Cate Leszcz is using computational fluid dynamics and some of the world's most powerful supercomputers to better understand the challenging atmospheric conditions of the solar system's ice giants.

Her research investigates the extreme heating spacecraft can experience during hypersonic atmospheric entry, generating insights that could help guide heat-shield design for future missions to planets such as Uranus and Neptune.

By advancing our understanding of these distant worlds, Cate's work is helping pave the way for the next generation of planetary exploration.

https://cuboulder.engineering/3T8YsrY

09/15/2026

From conducting research in Antarctica to studying how extreme weather affects the electric grid, University of Colorado Boulder senior Nainika Gupta is using environmental engineering to address some of society's most pressing challenges.

Her research spans climate, water, energy and infrastructure, from studying Antarctic ice sheets and firn aquifers to examining how severe weather impacts power outages and grid resilience.

For Nainika, engineering is about more than solving technical problems. It's about understanding how environmental change affects people and communities and creating solutions that help build a more resilient future.

https://cuboulder.engineering/4Ah3kwc

09/14/2026

What happens when engineering students combine technical expertise, entrepreneurial spirit and a real industry challenge?

Sami Yohannes and Caleb Woldemichael, current University of Colorado Boulder engineering students, turned a common pain point in the engineering and construction industry into an AI-powered startup. Through their company, YW Holdings, they developed a tool that helps streamline the time-intensive RFP process, allowing firms to automate workflows and focus more on engineering innovation.

Their journey highlights the power of mentorship, hands-on learning and taking initiative. With support from alumnus Marco Campos and insights gained through industry collaboration, they built a solution designed by engineers, for engineers.

Just as inspiring, they are paying it forward by mentoring future STEM students and committing a portion of their company's revenue to expand educational opportunities in Eritrea and Ethiopia.

cuboulder.engineering/4itHCi4

Sami Yohannes and Caleb Woldemichael turned an industry challenge into an AI startup, developing a tool that helps engineering and construction firms streamline

09/01/2026

What does the future of aerospace innovation look like?

Join us for the next installment of our Leading with Impact series on Sept. 16 in Denver, featuring University of Colorado Boulder engineering alumni who are helping shape the future of aerospace and space exploration.

Moderated by John Evans, chair of the Ann and H.J. Smead Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences, this engaging discussion will explore emerging technologies, groundbreaking research collaborations, and the opportunities and challenges driving the next era of discovery.

Connect with alumni, faculty, industry leaders and the broader community while learning how CU Engineering is advancing innovation with impact, from Earth to space.

📅 Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2026
📍 The Jacquard Hotel, Denver
🕡 Panel begins at 6:30 p.m. MT

RSVP 🔗 https://cuboulder.engineering/3SEz79i

The “Leading with Impact" event series brings together experts and industry leaders affiliated with the College of Engineering & Applied Science to explore the