Celebrating faculty: Michael McGuire

Michael McGuire, professor of civil and environmental engineering and department head

What is the focus of your research?

My research at Lafayette College is focused on sustainable geotechnical infrastructure. The three main ways I pursue this focus are to: 1) improve the design of walls, slopes, and embankments; 2) improve the characterization and representation of soil properties in geotechnical analyses; and 3) develop novel methods to apply remote sensing and other tools to assess conditions in the field. I seek research that is relevant and impactful to engineering practice.

How do students benefit from your scholarship and research?

Students directly participating in my research as EXCEL scholars or through honor thesis work benefit by being meaningfully involved in the research process, as co-authors on publications and through in-depth interactions with practitioners, academics, and leaders of commercial and public organizations. Students taking my courses indirectly benefit from my research since it informs my teaching and provides a reservoir of firsthand stories and practical examples.

What will you be teaching in the fall?

ES 101: Intro to Engineering Design (module theme is trail design) and CE 474: Professional Issues for Civil Engineers.

Read more about faculty members newly named full professors.