CU Boulder Engineering

From the slopes of an erupting volcano to a mission bound for Venus, University of Colorado Boulder researchers are helping advance the search for life beyond Earth.

Aerospace engineering graduate Dhruva Ananth (AeroEngr MS’26) and the Robust Autonomous Airborne Vehicle - Endurant and Nimble (RAAVEN) aircraft system drone team recently tested a Venus-bound atmospheric instrument near Hawaiʻi’s Mt. Kīlauea. By collecting real-time data from volcanic plumes, an Earth-based analog for Venus’s harsh atmosphere, they are helping validate technology for a future mission to the planet.

An impressive example of innovation and space exploration.

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CU Boulder tests Venus-bound device in the shadow of an erupting volcano Dhruva Ananth (AeroEngr MS’26) stares across a field of black rocks at an epic force of nature. Hawaiʻi’s Mt. Kilauea is erupting, throwing massive amounts of

🚀 Celebrating Innovation at University of Colorado Boulder Engineering!

Congratulations to Alessandro Roncone, PI and Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer Science, and Virginia Ferguson, Co-PI and Professor of Mechanical Engineering, on being selected for the $250,000 Medtronic Innovation Challenge award! This exciting project will be supported through the university’s new master research agreement with Medtronic.

We’re also proud to recognize two additional mechanical engineering teams led by Jianliang Xiao and Mark Borden, who were named finalists for this competitive award.

👏 This achievement highlights the strength of interdisciplinary collaboration and the impactful research happening across CU Engineering.

Congratulations to University of Colorado Boulder Alumni Ben Rains (ChemEng ’19), named the 2026 Outstanding Alumni Mentor of the Year!

Through the Alumni Student Mentor Program, Ben has helped students navigate career decisions, graduate school applications, and life after graduation. His dedication, encouragement, and guidance have made a lasting impact on CU Engineering students.

Thank you, Ben, for giving back and inspiring future leaders!

https://cuboulder.engineering/43IfkHI

Four University of Colorado Boulder engineering students competed in a national healthcare design challenge, designing a fictional cancer center for an underserved community in Houston, Texas.

Working alongside students in architecture, nursing and construction management, the teams developed human-centered healthcare solutions during an intensive 48-hour competition at the 2026 American Society for Health Care Engineering event in the Planning, Design & Construction Student Challenge.

Congratulations to Parker Cardozo and his team for taking first place and to all the students who represented CU Boulder.

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Engineering students compete in national hospital design competition Four CU Boulder architectural engineering students participated in a national healthcare design competition typically geared toward graduate students,

The new Undergraduate Flight Simulation Studio at the University of Colorado Boulder gives aerospace students hands-on experience designing, testing, and flying virtual aircraft using advanced simulators and VR technology, all without leaving campus.

Built with support from aerospace engineer and CU Boulder advocate Richard F. Schaden, the lab allows students to explore aircraft dynamics, test new designs and gain real-time engineering feedback in an immersive environment.

From classroom concepts to virtual skies, this facility is helping shape the next generation of aerospace engineers.

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New flight simulator lab for engineering education Jackson Clark pushes to full throttle, pulls back on the yoke, and eases into the right rudder pedal as he soars through the sky on a clear day – all without

Congratulations to Shideh Dashti, professor of geotechnical engineering and geomechanics at the University of Colorado Boulder, on receiving a prestigious Fulbright award to study combined earthquake and rainfall-related hazards in Chile.

Her research will help engineers better understand how overlapping natural hazards impact critical infrastructure, from landslides and flooding to earthquake-induced soil failure and support the development of safer, more resilient communities.

Through collaboration with Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, this work will advance both engineering research and education focused on the growing risks posed by compound natural disasters.

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Professor receives Fulbright award to study combined natural hazards in Chile Shideh Dashti, a professor of geotechnical engineering and geomechanics, has received a Fulbright award to study the combined impacts of seismic and

Arianna McCarty’s work spans tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, immunology and computational biology, all driven by one goal: improving patient care through research.

This spring, the University of Colorado Boulder chemical and biological engineering graduate earned recognition as the Outstanding Graduate of the College of Engineering and Applied Science while also receiving some of the nation’s most prestigious academic honors, including the following:
✨ NSF Graduate Research Fellowship
✨ Churchill Scholarship
✨ Goldwater Scholarship
✨ Astronaut Scholarship

Next stop: the University of Cambridge, where she’ll continue advancing groundbreaking biomedical research before pursuing her PhD.

Congratulations, Arianna!

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On her own terms—Arianna McCarty brings excellence to everything she does, from everyday tasks to her highest pursuits In 2021, Arianna McCarty was a high school junior taking calculus 3 and planning a future in medicine. When the pandemic hit, she turned an unexpected setback

Congratulations to the 27 University of Colorado Boulder engineering students awarded the prestigious National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP).

Their research spans from quantum computing and robotics to biomedical engineering, aerospace systems, wildfire prediction and sustainable energy technologies, tackling some of today’s biggest scientific and engineering challenges.

CU Boulder ranked:
🏆 #14 among all U.S. universities
🏆 #8 among public institutions
for NSF GRFP recipients in 2026.

This recognition reflects the incredible talent, innovation and interdisciplinary research happening across CU Engineering. Excited to see the impact these researchers will make in the years ahead.

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27 CU Boulder engineering students earn prestigious National Science Foundation fellowships The National Science Foundation has bestowed 27 Graduate Research Fellowship Program awards to University of Colorado Boulder engineering students...

Celebrating an exceptional honor in aerospace engineering!

We’re proud to share that Daniel Scheeres, University of Colorado Boulder Distinguished Professor and A. Richard Seebass Endowed Chair in the Ann and H.J. Smead Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences, has been named one of just three AIAA - The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Honorary Fellows for 2026.

This prestigious recognition highlights his major contributions to aerospace astrodynamics research and education, along with a career defined by leadership, innovation and lasting impact in the field.

Please join us in congratulating Professor Scheeres on this remarkable achievement!

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Engineering Buffs Hike: After‑Work Boulder Meetup

Join fellow University of Colorado Boulder engineering alumni for an evening hike at Chautauqua Park. Connect with fellow Buffs while taking in Boulder’s iconic views on a relaxed, all‑levels 1.6‑mile trail.

📅 June 3, 2026
⏰ 5:30–7 p.m.
📍 Chautauqua Park, Boulder

https://cuboulder.engineering/43iwmMt

Spots are limited, register early and we’ll see you on the trail! 🦬