CEE doctoral student awarded Environmental Defense Fund's Climate Corps Fellowship

Published: Mar 28, 2024 2:00 PM

By Dustin Duncan

Daniel Yahya is taking the next step in achieving net-zero emission building by 2045, including a 50% reduction by 2032.

Yahya, a third-year doctoral student in civil and environmental engineering, was awarded the Environmental Defense Fund's Climate Corps Fellowship. This innovative program cultivates the next generation of sustainability professionals. 

Yahya’s research, which combines engineering and computer vision techniques to enhance building and community resilience against natural and climatological hazards, secured him a spot in the fellowship from a competitive pool of more than 1,200 applicants.

“In this fellowship, I will assist companies in the construction materials industry in evaluating their greenhouse gas emissions and devising strategies for emission reduction. This effort aims to mitigate emissions and address the pressing challenges of climate change in the United States,” Yahya said. Over the summer, I will work with Cornerstone Building Brands, North America’s largest manufacturer of exterior building solutions, to identify opportunities for reducing greenhouse gas emissions across their supply and value chain.”

In 2023, Yahya also received a fellowship from the University of New Hampshire Sustainability Institute, where he worked with Worthen Industries — a leader in manufacturing high-quality materials for various industries, including construction — to assess the climate impacts of their products.

 “I am profoundly honored to receive this fellowship,” Yahya said. “I wish to express my gratitude to my advisor, David Roueche (associate professor in civil and environmental engineering), my research colleagues — Brandon Rittelmeyer, Jordan Nakayama and Prethesha Alagusundaramoorthy — and the entire Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering for their support. I am eager to collaborate with the Environmental Defense Fund and help companies assess their full climate impacts in the United States.”

Media Contact: Dustin Duncan, dzd0065@auburn.edu, 334-844-2326
Man standing outside for photo

Daniel Yahya, a third-year doctoral student in civil and environmental engineering, was awarded the Environmental Defense Fund's Climate Corps Fellowship. This innovative program cultivates the next generation of sustainability professionals.

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