Eight faculty members from the College of Engineering and Applied Science have received CAREER Awards from the National Science Foundation in 2023. The total continues an impressive trend with the college, which had 12 in 2021 and six in 2022, said Dean Keith Molenaar.

"The University of Colorado Boulder has a research culture and infrastructure that provides new faculty with the opportunity to flourish," said Molenaar. "These seven faculty members are truly extraordinary, and I am elated with the well-deserved recognitions they are receiving. I look forward to seeing the impact of their work and supporting their growth as leaders in our community."

As of 2023, the College of Engineering and Applied Science has received over 100 NSF CAREER Awards. These awards — the most prestigious support of early-career faculty the NSF offers — provide approximately $500,000 over five years for those “who have the potential to serve as academic role models in research and education and to lead advances in the mission of their department or organization.”

Past CAREER winners from the college come from all six departments and a represent a wide range of research disciplines. Over the last five years, the college has achieved 74% growth in external research funding while also launching internally funded research teams that are advancing knowledge in the areas of resilient and sustainable infrastructure; engineering education and AI-augmented learning; autonomous systems; multi-functional materials; hypersonic vehicles; and quantum engineering.

Here’s a look at the projects from the winners in our college this year: