National Science Foundation Recognizes Civil Engineering Professor

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Brady Cox, assistant professor of civil engineering, has received a Faculty Early Career Development Award, also known as a CAREER award, from the National Science Foundation for his work on non-intrusive subsurface imaging using seismic surface wave methods (SWM). These tests are used to determine the layering and engineering properties of soil under a building site, and they provide information necessary for designing structures to resist earthquake damage.

Cox’s research focuses on making these methods more reliable. In his abstract, Cox explains that, “An ever increasing number of researchers and practitioners are using SWMs without understanding how acquisition parameters such as spatial sampling interval, array aperture, source proximity, and signal-to-noise ratio influence the uncertainty of their results… It is likely that no other non-standardized test is used in geotechnical engineering more widely than SWMs.” The aim of his research is to quantify the uncertainty involved in these methods and create standards for them, which will hopefully lead to more accurate data and better building practices.

The CAREER award is one of the NSF’s highest honors for young faculty members. It recognizes and supports junior faculty who are most likely to become the academic leaders of the 21st century. Recipients are selected based on high-quality research and the integration of that research with education initiatives in the context of the university’s mission.

Cox will use the award of $421,600 over five years to provide new opportunities for graduate and undergraduate students at the University of Arkansas. Students who work with Cox will have an opportunity to study surface wave testing at the Politecnico di Turino in Italy. “This project opens up a unique chance for our institutions, professors and students to participate in international exchange of education, ideas and culture through undergraduate researchers,” said Cox, who plans to work with the College of Engineering’s Engineering Career Awareness Program to target students who are underrepresented in the field of engineering.

“We are honored and excited that Brady has received the recognition he so richly deserves,” said Kevin Hall, head of the civil engineering deparment. “ He is certainly one of the most dynamic researchers in the country right now, and we are fortunate to have him here at Arkansas.  This project reaches well beyond the University and will have positive impacts on the engineering profession and K-12 education across the U.S.”

A native of Utah, Brady Cox came to the University of Arkansas in 2006 after receiving his doctorate at the University of Texas.