Southern Illinois University Carbondale became an R1 public research university in 2025 according to Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. R1 research institutions, known as "Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity", is the highest tier of research universities in US. There are only 187 universities in this category. It is classified based on spending on research and doctorate production. In addition, Southern Illinois University is classified as one of the Opportunity colleges and universities by the Carnegie foundation. Southern Illinois University Carbondale is one of only 21 universities with both R1 and opportunity designation under Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. Our college has been an integral part of the effort of our entire campus for achieving the R1 status by growing sponsored research and expanding PhD programs in the college. Our annual new external research funds have grown in the past five years. We developed and launched two new PhD programs: one in mechanical engineering and another in civil and environmental engineering. With the two new PhD programs, our college has now six PhD programs in engineering, computing and mathematics. The expanded offerings of PhD program support sustaining the R1 status of our campus.
We have been making solid progress toward our strategic goals in the strategic plan of college. Our focus is still on student success. Six-year graduation rate of our undergraduate students increased to 65.2% in 2025 from 51.3% in 2021. The first-year retention rate also increased 3.06% annually in Fall 2025. PhD enrollment of our college increased to 118 in Fall 2025 from 108 in 2024.
The College of Engineering, Computing, Technology, and Mathematics at Southern Illinois University Carbondale welcomed nine new tenure track/tenured faculty members in Fall 2025. Dr. Jeremy Alm joined our college as new director of School of Mathematical and Statistical sciences. School of Computing hired four new tenure-track assistant professors, School of Mechanical, Aerospace, and materials Engineering hired a new tenure-track assistant professor, School of Electrical, computer, and biomedical engineering hired a new tenure-track assistant professor, and School of Applied Engineering and Technology hired two new tenure-track assistant professors.
I invite you to read stories of student success, academic programs, faculty achievements, and other developments at the College of Engineering, Computing, Technology, and Mathematics at Southern Illinois University.
Xiaoqing “Frank” Liu Dean of College of Engineering, Computing, Technology, and Mathematics Southern Illinois University Carbondale
What's New in the College
Outreach
Examples of two projects created by participants during the camp.
STEAM Camp – School of ECBE organized a STEAM Camp for ~60 middle school students (6th, 7th, and 8th grades) lead by Dr. Chao Lu, funded by ISBE. The STEAM for All Summer Camp at Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s College of Engineering, Computing, Technology, and Mathematics offered middle school students from Southern Illinois an engaging, no-cost opportunity to explore science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM). The one-week, fully supervised program required no prior STEAM experience and was held in two sessions in June 2025. Participants came from various local school districts, reflecting the region’s diverse communities.
New Academic Programs
The SIU College of Engineering, Computing, Technology, and Mathematics (ECTM) has launched new degree programs to address societal needs. Introducing these programs marks an exciting chapter of growth for the college and demonstrates ECTM’s commitment to serving the community and developing the next-generation workforce.
A new Bachelor of Science program in Environmental Engineering
School of Civil, Environmental, and Infrastructure Engineering has launched a new BS in Environmental Engineering. This program will focus on addressing global environmental challenges and developing sustainable solutions. Students can enroll in the program from Fall 2026.
A new Ph.D. program in Civil and Environmental Engineering
A new Ph.D. program in Civil and Environmental Engineering has been launched from Spring 2026. The new PhD program will prepare students for top notch research and other professional roles in a rapidly evolving civil and environmental engineering field. The Ph.D. program is strengthened by the School’s state-of-the-art laboratories and computer facilities including specialized research labs for civil engineering materials (concrete, steel, timber, and asphalt), geotechnical testing (such as cyclic triaxial, resilient modulus, and SWCC device), fluid mechanics, and environmental engineering, to name a few.
Dr. Tsuchin Chu (left) and Dr. James Mathias (right)
Dr. Tsuchin Chu and Dr. James Mathias received MxV Rail award ($100,000) focusing on full rail section inspection using Nondestructive Evaluation technique.
Spyros Tragoudas received multiple NSF awards ($110,000, $122,000) as part of the Center for Intelligent, Distributed, Embedded, Applications, and Systems (IDEAS).
Faculty and Staff Awards
We are proud to recognize and celebrate the recipients of the Faculty and Staff Achievement Awards across our schools. Congratulations to this year’s awardees!
University-level Scholar Excellence Award
Dr. Tsuchin Chu, Professor in the School of Mechanical, Aerospace and Materials Engineering, is the 2025 winner of the Scholar Excellence Award. Left: Dean Xiaoqing Liu, Right: Chancellor Austin Lane.
Dr. Tsuchin Chu is the recipient of the 2025 University Scholar Excellence Award, the highest honor bestowed by SIU to recognize outstanding faculty achievment in research, teaching, scholarship, and creative activities. This prestigious recognition not only highlights Dr. Chu’s exceptional contributions to his field but also brings great honor to our College, thus showcasing the caliber of faculty excellence we are proud to support.
College-level Faculty and Staff Awards
Cherry-Hill Undergraduate Teaching Award
Ning Yang, School of Computing
Rising Star Faculty Award
Chao Lu, School of Electrical, Computer, and Biomedical Engineering
Blaudow Faculty Award for Student Leadership
Belle Woodward, School of Computing
Dean Thomas B. Jefferson Outstanding Staff Award
John Brajkovich
School-level Outstanding Teaching Awards
CEIE- Dr. Debarshi Sen
ECBE- Dr. Iraklis Anagnostopoulos
MAME- Dr. Bin Dong
MSS- Ms. Kathirave Giritharan
AET- Dr. Karumbaiah Chappanda
SoC- Dr. Rana Salameh
New Tenured/Tenure-Track Faculty
Jeremy Alm, Director, School of Mathematics and Statistical Sciences
Md. Zahidul Islam, Assistant Professor, School of Electrical, Computer, and Biomedical Engineering
Md Amzad Hossain, Assistant Professor, School of Mechanical, Aerospace, and Materials Engineering
Alvi Ataur Khalil, Assistant Professor, School of Computing
Khaled Mohammed Saifuddin, Assistant Professor, School of Computing
Sayed Chhattan Shah, Assistant Professor, School of Computing
Chuxiong Wu, Assistant Professor, School of Computing
Mozammel Mia, Assistant Professor, School of Applied Engineering and Technology
Ahmad AbuElrub, Assistant Professor, School of Applied Engineering and Technology
Student Highlights
Honors Day Awards winners
Dean Kenneth E. Tempelmeyer Outstanding Senior Award- Colin Berry
David Eddingfield Memorial Scholarship- Ella Lind
Herman J. Stover Award- Maya Robinson
Highest Junior or Senior Female GPA Award (Computing and Mathematics)- Shreya Bhandari
Graduating Senior Award (Computing and Mathematics)- Andrew Barnes
SIU’s Civil Engineering students received the top ranking overall in the American Society of Civil Engineers/Utility Engineering & Surveying Institute (ASCE/UESI) Surveying Competition during the Mid-America ASCE Student Symposium, April 3-5, co-hosted by the University of Nebraska, Lincoln and the University of Nebraska, Omaha. Seventeen universities across Kansas, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska and South Dakota participated in the event. SIU Today article here.
SIU engineering students Curtis Shuman and Cameron Schwartzberg, left and right, look over the soybean plant-inspecting robot they designed and built for their senior project under the guidance of Dr. Chao Lu. SIU Today article here.
Taminul Islam, a graduate student in the School of Computing, placed third in the Falling Walls Lab Illinois competition. Falling Walls Lab is a pitch competition that brings together students and early-career professionals engaged in interdisciplinary research for a three-minute pitching challenge, where participants present innovative solutions to some of the most pressing real-world problems of our time. https://iin.uillinois.edu/about-us/news/anthony-wong-wins-falling-walls-lab-illinois/
