Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering welcomes two new faculty
Meet Assistant Professors Laura Sunberg and Zhi Li—and learn why we’re thrilled to have these talented scholars on our team!
What were you doing prior to joining the Department of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering?
I was a Dean’s Postdoctoral Fellow at the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability, working on projects that blended hydrology, AI and satellite data.
What are your main research interests or focus areas?
My research focuses on how to reduce the impacts of floods on people’s lives. I do this by combining physical science and AI, using remote sensing and finding better ways to communicate flood risks so that warnings are not just timely but also usable and useful.
What drew you to CU Boulder?
CEAE has such a rich history in hydrology and water science. I knew this would be a place where I could both learn from and collaborate with people who share my passion for water-related challenges.
How does your work connect to real-world problems or applications?
Everything I work on has a real-world angle. For example, I’m trying to improve flood forecasts so people get earlier warnings and know exactly where to go if they need to evacuate. I’m also building a framework to measure flood impacts beyond just direct damage—things like effects on ecosystems, agriculture and local economies.
Are there any specific projects or collaborations you’re excited to start here?
Yes! Right now I’m building aÌýFlood Foundation Model—basically an AI-based flood prediction model that can work anywhere in the world, not just in the place it was trained. I’m also creating a Large Language Model-powered, agent-based system for better flood warnings. Instead of vague, top-down alerts, I want communities to get clear, actionable information:ÌýwhoÌýshould move,Ìýwhen ²¹²Ô»åÌýwhereÌýthey can go.
What’s something you’re passionate about outside of work?
I enjoy hiking (Boulder is a great place!) and catching up with new technologies, particularly AI.
What were you doing prior to joining the Department of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering?
I was a postdoc at CU Boulder's Institute of Alpine and Arctic Research.
What are your main research interests or focus areas?
My research is in the field of environmental fluid mechanics, specifically the transport of particles such as microplastics and firebrands (smoldering embers or flaming debris carried over distances) in environmental flows.
What drew you to CU Boulder?
Many things! I am passionate about the goals of civil, environmental and architectural engineering to improve civil infrastructure and the environment. I am especially passionate about pursuing these missions through both teaching and research at a large public university like CU. I am excited about the range of expertise in the CEAE Department at CU Boulder specifically in water-related and environmental topics and beyond, and for all of the opportunities to collaborate with and learn from people. I am impressed and inspired by the passion and dedication of all of the faculty, students and staff I have interacted with, and I look forward to joining them in learning and pursuing a better world.
How does your work connect to real-world problems or applications?
My work thus far has explored how microplastics move around in coastal areas, which is important to understanding the impacts microplastics have and to potentially mitigating the damage that they cause. My research has also explored firebrand transport, which is important to predicting and mitigating wildfire spread. I look forward to researching the transport of other particles of societal and environmental importance in the future, e.g., larvae, seeds, oil droplets, volcanic ash and the list goes on.
What’s something you’re passionate about outside of work?
Outside of work, I am passionate about community. I am from a small farming town where everyone looks out for everyone, and I am always trying to find/build that kind of community in each new place I go. I'm also passionate about nature—whether it's hiking, walking, or simply taking it all in—animals, especially training dogs and horses, and stories of all kinds, from 19th-century Scottish author George MacDonald to modern Disney films.