Graduate Research Traineeship Program in Environmental Physical and Mathematical Science & Engineering: Environmental Hazard Mitigation

该提案寻求537,500美元，为期五年，用于支持圣母大学土木工程和地质科学系（CE/GEOS）的博士研究生。这些学生进行的研究将集中在减轻自然和人为环境危害的关键领域。CE/GEOS单位具有独特的定位，从多学科的角度来解决环境危害问题，因为它的教师是具有科学和工程学位的个人的综合组合。在这个多学科框架内，可以创造性地解决的关键问题包括垃圾填埋场的抗震设计技术以及相关的不确定性建模和风险评估，地表水和地下水系统中有毒化学品的数学建模，以及有害物质的生物降解。获得的支持将扩大高素质学生进行最先进研究的机会，以补充和扩展旨在确保卓越博士教育的部门活动。将特别强调从学术界代表性不足的群体中甄别、征聘和保留学生，并指定五项申请奖学金中的两项来支持这类学生。为了增加申请者的数量，我们与三所院校（Prairie View a&m University， Texas Southern University和St. Mary's College）结成了联盟，这三所院校的毕业生数量明显不足。该计划的结构将达到培养学生在环境危害缓解的各个方面担任教师和研究人员的领导职位的目标。

This proposal seeks $537,500 over five years to support Ph.D. graduate students in the Department of Civil Engineering and Geological Sciences (CE/GEOS) at the University of Notre Dame. Research performed by these students will concentrate on the critical area of mitigation of natural and human-made environmental hazards. The CE/GEOS unit is uniquely positioned to address environmental hazards from a multidisciplinary viewpoint because its faculty is an integrated mix of individuals with both science and engineering degrees. Among the critical problems that can be creatively attacked within this multidisciplinary framework are technology for the seismic design of landfills and the associated uncertainty modeling and risk assessment, mathematical modeling of toxic chemicals in surface water and groundwater systems, and biological degradation of hazardous materials. The support obtained will expand opportunities for highly qualified students to perform state-of- the-art research that complements and expands activities in the Department aimed at assuring excellence in Ph.D. education. Particular emphasis will be placed on identification, recruitment, and retention of students from groups underrepresented in academia, with two of the five requested scholarships being designated to support such students. To increase this applicant pool, alliances have been made with three institutions (Prairie View A&M University, Texas Southern University, and St. Mary's College) which graduate a significant number of underrepresented students. The program will be structured to achieve the goal of preparing students for leadership positions as teachers and researchers in the diverse aspects of environmental hazard mitigation.