Faculty members, industry partners, staff students and their friends and family learned more about graduate students’ research that matters, asked questions and viewed posters presenting their results at the 16th Annual School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment Graduate Research Symposium and reception held from noon to 2 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 27, 2026, in the the Mary Jo and Paul C. Helmick Atrium in the Paul C. Helmick Center on the Tempe campus of Arizona State University.
A student presents his research findings to a judge at the School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment Graduate Research Symposium on Feb. 28, 2025. Photographer: Lisa Irish/ASU
This event is sponsored by the Friends of Civil and Environmental Engineering and organized by the Advising Team at SSEBE.
Each year, about 50 students share their research findings at the Graduate Research Symposium, says Melanie Duran, who serves as the graduate academic success advisor coordinator for the school.
Faculty members and Friends of Civil and Environmental Engineering members serve as judges to recognize the best graduate research posters. Ten students receive cash awards ranging from $50 to $200 that are applied to their student accounts.
The Graduate Research Symposium provides an opportunity for students to refine their communication skills, showcase their research and build professional networks, says Ram Pendyala, director of the School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment and a Fulton Schools professor of civil, environmental and sustainable engineering.
“Presenting their work to faculty members and industry professionals allows students to receive constructive feedback that can strengthen their research, while engaging with fellow students fosters collaboration and the exchange of ideas,” Pendyala says.
The symposium also connects students with potential employers and industry leaders who may be looking for emerging talent.
“Many students have found that these interactions open doors to opportunities while building a sense of community,” says Narayanan Neithalath, Fulton Professor of Structural Materials and graduate programs chair in the School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment. “It’s a valuable experience that prepares them for success beyond graduate school.”
Students say the symposium boosts their confidence to present complex research to diverse audiences, while faculty members say it helps them discover new research directions and identify potential collaborations
“The symposium is a reminder of our school’s commitment to advancing knowledge that addresses real-world challenges,” Neithalath says. “The graduate students’ research presented at the symposium will shape the future of sustainable engineering and the built environment, and it’s inspiring to see our students leading the way.”
2026 Award Winners
First Place
Xinyu Chen
Second Place
Masih Beheshti
Kalani Rajamanthri
Third Place
McKenzie Amanda Steele
Joshua Quinn
Yan Ji Tian
Honorable Mention
Can Atakan Ozturk
Mobina Taghaddosi
MD Akram Hossain
Kshitij Dahal
Click on image to view photos from the SSEBE Graduate Research Symposium 2026
