We are thrilled to announce that Suvechha Dhakal, M.S. student of the Geo-CARE Lab at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, has been selected as one of the recipients of the 2025 At-Large Scholarship awarded by the Deep Foundations Institute (DFI) Educational Trust.

Suvechha earned this honor through the DFI Educational Trust General Scholarship Fund, which is generously supported by donations and fundraisers from DFI members committed to advancing the deep foundations industry.

This recognition highlights Suvechha‘s outstanding dedication, academic excellence, and passion for geotechnical engineering research.

Please join us in celebrating and #congratulating Suvechha on this well-deserved achievement!

On the occasion of SIU Day, the Geo-CARE Lab at the School of Civil, Environmental and Infrastructure Engineering, SIU Carbondale welcomed high school students for an interactive, hands-on session exploring cutting-edge 3D_printing applications in civil engineering. The students learned how locally available #soil can be utilized to 3D print housing structures capable of withstanding low temperatures — a concept that connects directly to futuristic 3D-printed lunar habitats envisioned under Project #Olympus, targeted for realization by 2040.

Our M.S. student Suvechha Dhakal led the demonstration, guiding visitors through the process and making the experience both educational and engaging. We extend our appreciation to our dedicated team — Subin Rimal, Mukul Bhattarai, Bijay Nepal, and Sazzad — for coordinating and ensuring the success of the workshop.

At the Geo-CARE Lab, we remain committed to inspiring young minds and promoting engineering and innovation for a sustainable and innovative future.

We are pleased to announce that Subin Rimal, an M.S. student in the Geo-CARE Lab at the School of Civil, Environmental and Infrastructure Engineering, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, has successfully completed his internship with the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), Bureau of Bridges and Structures. During his internship, Subin gained hands-on experience in structural foundation design and geotechnical detailing, contributing to key infrastructure projects across Illinois. Working alongside IDOT engineers, he applied geotechnical principles to bridge foundation design and strengthened his understanding of transportation infrastructure systems. We congratulate Subin Rimal on this significant professional milestone and look forward to his continued success in advancing geotechnical engineering applications.

We are pleased to share that Suvechha Dhakal, an M.S. student from the GeoCARE Lab at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, successfully completed her summer internship with the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT). Over the summer, Suvechha contributed to major transportation projects, including a highway realignment in Wamego and a roundabout project in Manhattan. Her work involved assisting with site inspections, field and material testing, and construction documentation.This internship provided her with valuable field experience in transportation and geotechnical engineering. The GeoCARE Lab congratulates Suvechha on her successful and impactful summer with KDOT.

Today we wrapped up the final class of CE 421: Foundation Design Southern Illinois University, Carbondale. We were fortunate to host Mr. Greg Terri , P.E., from KELLER, who delivered an expert lecture and generously shared insights from his 25+ years of industry experience.
Greg showcased exciting real-world projects, helping our students connect classroom learning with field applications. It was truly rewarding to see their enthusiasm as they recognized how the concepts they’ve studied come to life in practice.
Thank you, Greg, for inspiring the next generation of civil engineers!

Today, the CE 320 Soil Mechanics class came together for a heartwarming Thanksgiving Pizza Party! 🎉🍕

Students, TAs, and faculty members from the Geotechnical Engineering program gathered to enjoy delicious pizza, great conversations, and a much-needed break from the semester’s busy schedule. This festive gathering fostered camaraderie and celebrated the hard work and dedication of everyone involved in the course.

The event was filled with laughter, shared stories, and gratitude for our vibrant academic community. Events like these highlight the importance of connection and collaboration within our school.

Happy Thanksgiving! 🦃🍂

We are excited to welcome Suvechha Dhakal and Subin Rimal as the first batch of students to join our research group at Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, as they begin their MS journey in Geotechnical Engineering. To celebrate Terzaghi’s birthday—the father of Soil Mechanics—we enjoyed a memorable welcome dinner, fostering strong team connections.

Together, we are committed to advancing research in sustainable and resilient infrastructure, tackling the critical challenges posed by climate change.