Xianming Shi has been tapped to lead the Civil and Architectural Engineering department at the University of Miami College of Engineering. He comes to Miami from Washington State University-Pullman where he served as the Civil and Environmental Engineering chair.
Known for his contributions to developing carbon-neutral and carbon-negative concretes, one of Shi’s notable projects includes the surface treatment of biochar products to enable greater dosage being used in concrete. By incorporating engineered biochar, a type of charcoal made from organic waste, the mixture sequesters carbon dioxide while maintaining strength comparable to traditional concrete. Biochar has the potential to replace carbon-intensive materials like cement.
“Biochar is becoming very popular in the community of carbon capture, storage, and utilization. But researchers have been only playing around with one to three percent of biochar in place of cement, which makes only a small dent on the footprint of concrete,” explains Shi. “My research has demonstrated that it's possible to push the envelope from three to up to thirty percent.”
Shi’s innovation not only reduces carbon emissions but is also cost-effective, making it an impactful solution for sustainable construction practices.
“As department chair, my priority is to understand the current landscape and seek out new opportunities," said Shi. “Miami is booming and there’s a very apparent need for infrastructure decarbonization. My sights are set on establishing collaborative teams and ideally, a research center where we can leverage the expertise from across the College of Engineering.”
Advancing energy efficiency and coastal resilience in Miami
Shi will play an instrumental role in the College’s clean tech initiative which includes work on sustainability and resilience while also addressing exploding energy costs. He plans to establish a new line of research focused on improving the energy efficiency and affordability of housing through innovative building envelope technologies and retrofitting methods. As a chemist, he aims to incorporate materials science innovations, such as phase change materials and nanotechnology, into building materials.
Shi also plans to build upon current College of Engineering efforts to develop resilient infrastructure solutions for coastal communities. He is the founding editor-in-chief of a Springer Nature Journal, Journal of Infrastructure Preservation and Resilience.
"Xianming Shi's appointment as the new chair of Civil and Architectural Engineering marks a significant milestone for us,” said Pratim Biswas, dean of the College of Engineering. “His extensive background in polymer chemistry and his visionary approach to expanding research into sustainable infrastructure will undoubtedly propel the College of Engineering to new heights. Miami, with its unique environmental challenges and urban landscape, is the perfect place for Shi to pioneer these innovative projects.”
Shi also holds various patents, including one for a new type of clinker-free cementitious binder that is made from coal fly ash and another for an environmentally friendly anti-icing liquid formulation incorporating “green chemicals” derived from fruit waste.
His robust academic background in chemistry and engineering includes a Ph.D. in Polymer Chemistry from the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing, an M.S. in Applied Chemistry from Tianjin University and a B.S. in Corrosion and Protection from the Beijing Institute of Chemical Technology. Expanding on his expertise in engineering management, he acquired a second M.S. in Industrial and Management Engineering from Montana State University.
