University of Miami College of Engineering faculty members Luis Ruiz Pestana and Yang Wang have each received prestigious National Science Foundation CAREER Awards, a top honor recognizing early-career researchers with the potential to lead in both innovation and education. Their research advances critical areas like clean technology and infrastructure resilience while also aligning with the college's mission to address real-world challenges.
Studying air pollution and public health
The award proposals required activities that will help build a firm foundation for a lifetime of leadership in integrating education and research. Wang, an assistant professor in the Department of Chemical, Environmental and Materials Engineering, submitted “Quantifying the Emission and Health Impacts of Aerosols Generated from Southeast U.S. Wetland Biomass Burning.” His $550,000 award will go a long way toward enacting high-priority research for the College.
“This NSF CAREER award directly supports our mission of advancing interdisciplinary research in clean technology and health technology, two key pillars of the college’s strategic vision,” Wang said.
“It also enhances experiential learning opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students, fosters collaboration with community partners such as the Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science, and strengthens our research impact through our Center for Aerosol Science and Technology.”
Wang’s research focuses on emission characterization of wetland biomass burning, as well as understanding how aerosols, from combustion systems to atmospheric sources, impact air quality, climate and human health. His work supports the College’s growing role as a leader in climate resilience, environmental health, and technological innovation.
He hopes his work will advance knowledge in these areas, foster collaborations within the University and strengthen the University’s bond with the local community, expanding its research impact in the Southeast United States.
Over several months, he conceptualized and refined research problems, worked closely with mentors, and gathered preliminary data. After receiving valuable feedback from colleagues and NSF reviewer comments, he was able to craft a compelling narrative and clarify his longer-term research plans.
Advancing infrastructure materials
Ruiz Pestana, assistant professor in the Department of Civil and Architectural Engineering and the Dr. Reza and Georgianna Khatib Endowed Chair, submitted “Nanoconfinement and Interfacial Effects on Deleterious Expansive Reactions in Concrete.” He hopes to use his $650,500 award to explore research questions that cross disciplinary boundaries.
“Serving as an academic role model shows students both what’s possible and what’s expected. It helps set standards for rigor, curiosity, and ethical responsibility. For many students, seeing someone who bridges disciplines and shares parts of their experience can be transformative,” Ruiz Pestana said.
“It’s not just about delivering content. It’s about shaping how the next generation approaches complex problems by connecting ideas across scales and disparate fields. As someone who connects disciplines, works across scales and integrates theory with real-world challenges, I aim to offer that example.”
Ruiz Pestana’s work supports the University’s broader commitment to resilience, which he personally exemplified by receiving the CAREER award on his second attempt. His refined proposal better connected molecular-scale modeling with its practical implications at the macroscale. He also developed outreach partnerships with the Frost Museum, the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers and the portal nanoHUB.
His proposal included an educational component that aims to modernize the civil engineering curriculum by addressing gaps in fundamental materials science to equip future students with the skills needed to tackle modern challenges in infrastructure resilience.
The talent, drive and collaborative spirit of the College of Engineering’s students and faculty give Ruiz Pestana and Wang every reason to be optimistic for their future work.
“For my own work, I’m excited to help build a stronger foundation in the College for computational materials science. I see great potential for the University to lead in this area, especially as national priorities increasingly focus on strengthening infrastructure, advancing energy technologies and ensuring long-term technological competitiveness through science-based innovation,” Ruiz Pestana said.
For Wang, the future lies in teaching students how to solve problems in the constantly evolving engineering landscape.
“The next generation of engineers are expected to solve future problems that extend beyond current textbooks. They need to be equipped with cutting-edge technology and scientific methods to address imminent and future challenges. Serving as an academic role model means faculty should be at the forefront of technological innovation, continuously engaging students in research through classroom teaching and mentorship,” Wang said.
The two winners this year add to a growing group of College of Engineering faculty members who have received early career awards from the National Science Foundation, the U.S. Air Force, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Past recipients include Courtney Dumont in biomedical engineering; Landolf Rhode-Barbarigos and Ali Ghahremaninezhad in civil and architectural engineering; Jie Xu in electrical and computer engineering; Ramin Moghaddass in industrial engineering; and Chao Luo, Fateme Rezaei, and Jiayu Li in chemical, environmental, and materials engineering. Nurcin Celik in industrial engineering was recognized with the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE).
