Patricia J. Culligan

In 1994, Culligan started as an assistant professor in MIT's Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. In 2003, she joined the faculty of Columbia University's Department of Civil Engineering and Engineering Mechanics, first as an associate professor, then promoted to full professor in 2005. At Columbia, Culligan served as Vice Dean for Academic Affairs for the Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science, was the inaugural associate director of Columbia University's Data Science Institute, and also served as the Chair of the Department of Civil Engineering and Engineering Mechanics. Culligan was also a faculty member of Columbia University's Earth Institute.^[10] In January 2020, Culligan was appointed dean of Notre Dame College of Engineering, the first woman to hold this role.^[11] She joined the University of Notre Dame in August 2020, where she is also a Professor of Civil Engineering.^[12]

Culligan has published more than 180 papers in refereed journals and conferences, as well as multiple books, book-chapters and other technical articles.^[13] She is a Fellow of the American Society of Civil Engineers,^[14] and is a Fellow of the UK-based Institution of Civil Engineers. She is a Chartered Engineer (C.Eng) with the UK Engineering Council. In 2021, she was awarded the H. Bolton Seed Medal for expanding the boundaries of geo-environmental and sustainability engineering.^[15] In 2024 she was honored as an ASCE Distinguished Member for her contributions to geoenvironmental and sustainability engineering through research that advances sustainable solutions to water, energy, and environmental management.^[6] She has been featured as a GeoLegend. Columbia University established the Patricia J. Culligan Academic Achievement Award in recognition of her contributions to data science education.^[16]

Culligan’s initial work involved geotechnical centrifuge modeling and she developed many of the scaling laws used for geotechnical centrifuge modeling of contaminant transport in soils.^[17] Culligan’s more recent work focuses on issues of urban sustainability including the role of green infrastructure in supporting urban sustainability and climate adaptation, as well as challenges associated with building energy usage.^[18]

Culligan served on the National Academies Nuclear and Radiation Studies Board from 2008 to 2013.^[19] From 2011 to 2014 she also served on the board of Governors of the ASCE’s Geo-Institute.^[20] From 2014 to 2016 she chaired the National Academies Standing Committee on Geological and Geotechnical Engineering.^[6] Culligan has been appointed to seven National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine (NASEM) study committees.^[10] From 2017 to 2019, she chaired a congressionally mandated NASEM committee charged with conducting an Independent Assessment of Science and Technology for the Department of Energy’s Defense Environmental Cleanup.^[9]

In 2024, She was named a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) or her contributions to geo-environmental engineering, focusing on sustainable urban infrastructure, water management, and energy systems.^[21]

Culligan has given the following named lectures in her field: Norma Slepecky Memorial Lecturer, Syracuse University (2014); 15th G.A. Leonards Lecturer, Purdue University (2017); Ardaman-Wisa Lecture, University of Florida (2020); 23rd Sowers Lecturer, Georgia Institute of Technology (2021); 18th Arthur Casagrande Memorial Lecturer, Boston Society of Civil Engineers Section (2022); Stanley D. Wilson Memorial Lecturer, Shannon Wilson and the University of Washington (2023).^[22]

• Patricia J. Culligan publications indexed by Google Scholar
• Culligan at Notre Dame College of Engineering