NDSU civil and environmental engineering undergraduate researcher Mohammed “Moe” Mohammed will present his research at the Council on Undergraduate Research’s (CUR) Posters on the Hill 2021. From the hundreds of applications, only sixty student presenters were selected to participate in this year’s event.

Posters on the Hill provides the opportunity for members of Congress and their staff to interact directly with undergraduate researchers and their mentors. The event will be held virtually this year on April 27-28, 2021.

Mohammed’s research presentation, entitled “Evaluation of the Strength of Overconsolidated Soils,” looks at conditions when soils are under significantly high pressures leading to landslides and soil shears. His research looks at how different mixes of soil samples behave and analyzes their strength in relation to the pressures applied to them. He discusses how the strength of soil plays a significant role in the design and construction of man-made applications such as earth retaining walls, abutments of bridges, and embankments.

Mohammed notes that his research may have an impact on the civil engineering discipline by giving parameters that will help designers reduce the possibility of catastrophes in the design and construction of civil infrastructure.

NDSU assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering Beena Ajmera is Mohammed’s research mentor. As a councilor for the engineering division of CUR and the engineering division’s representative on the national CUR oversight committee, Beena knew that Mohammed would be a good fit for the Posters on the Hill Event and supported him in his application.

She commented, “I believe that [Mohammed] will make an excellent participant at the Council on Undergraduate Research Posters on the Hill event…I have no doubt that Mohammed will prepare a strong presentation that will exemplify the impressive work that he has completed to date and highlight the importance of undergraduate research at the federal level.”

The Council on Undergraduate Research was founded in 1978 and is an organization of individual, institutional, and affiliate members from around the world. CUR members share a focus on providing high-quality and collaborative undergraduate research, scholarly, and creative activity opportunities for faculty and students. CUR believes that faculty members enhance their teaching and contribution to society by remaining active in research and by involving undergraduates in research, and that students engaged in undergraduate research succeed in their studies and professional advancement.