The Grainger College of Engineering
Illinois Center for Transportation

CEE students amped up for fresh start

11/1/2019 Emily Jankauski

The fall semester for University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign students often means a fresh start. Before this hardworking crew ramps up for finals, let’s check in with a few civil and environmental engineering students, who put on their hard hats every day at Illinois Center for Transportation.

The highlight of UIUC doctoral students Qingqing Cao, left, and Xiuyu Liu’s summer break was getting married in front of family and friends in their hometown in China.
The highlight of UIUC doctoral students Qingqing Cao, left, and Xiuyu Liu’s summer break was getting married in front of family and friends in their hometown in China.

Qingqing Cao and Xiuyu Liu, doctoral students

Q: What was the most exciting part of your summer break?

A: “Qingqing and I went back to China and held a wedding ceremony in our hometown,” Liu said. “Marriage is a significant milestone in the life of a couple. For us, marriage means acceptance, trust and responsibility.”

Q: What are you most looking forward to with being back at UIUC?

A: “I cannot wait to take the classes,” Cao said. “It is great to learn something new and get to know some new friends.”

Q: What’s at the top of your list to accomplish this semester?

A: “I expect to have more accomplishment(s) in research in the following semester,” Liu said. “I am also expecting to implement (a trip to) Canada during winter break.”

 

UIUC doctoral student Yi Li poses for a photo aboard a boat on Lake Lucerne in Switzerland earlier this summer.
UIUC doctoral student Yi Li poses for a photo aboard a boat on Lake Lucerne in Switzerland earlier this summer.

Yi Li, doctoral student

Q: What was your favorite part of summer vacation?

A: “I traveled to several European countries, including the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Switzerland and Italy,” Li said.

Q: What was the highlight of your trip?

A: “I was really touched by the Winged Victory of Samothrace in the Louvre Museum, the Lake Lucerne (Switzerland) and pizza in Florence (Italy),” she said. “This travel makes me (want to) learn more about the history, art, culture and beauty of Europe.”

Q: What are you striving to accomplish this semester?

A: “I hope to explore this university and enjoy (my) remaining time here,” Li said. “Also, I want to improve my writing skills in the next semester.” “I may write papers and seek help from my colleagues and professor,” she added. “I always learn a lot from them!”

 

UIUC master’s student Aravind Ramakrishnan says picking up badminton over the summer taught him a new way to look at his ongoing research efforts.
UIUC master’s student Aravind Ramakrishnan says picking up badminton over the summer taught him a new way to look at his ongoing research efforts.

Aravind Ramakrishnan, master’s student

Q: What was your summer highlight?

A: “I started playing badminton regularly,” Ramakrishnan said. “I used to play badminton previously but at that time, there was no regularity.” “In the summer, I made a promise to myself that I (would) give another chance to play the game, and this time with more effort,” Ramakrishnan added.

Q: What did you learn from the experience?

A: “Once I started playing regularly, I started to appreciate and enjoy the game thoroughly,” he said. “(This) made me realize that consistency is key.” “It also made me realize that perseverance can totally change (one’s) outlook,” Ramakrishnan added. “I started directing the same consistency in my research, and I felt the change in my perspective. I was able to understand and solve the problems in a better and efficient way.”

Q: What are some of the larger projects you hope to accomplish this semester?

A: “I am currently working (on) the truck platooning project,” Ramakrishnan said. “I hope to complete my part within the next semester, and I am excited about the outcome of the project as it will have a lot of impact on autonomous transportation.”

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UIUC CEE students were all smiles posing for a photo during their fall retreat at Allerton Park and Retreat Center in Monticello, Ill. earlier in October.
UIUC CEE students were all smiles posing for a photo during their fall retreat at Allerton Park and Retreat Center in Monticello, Ill. earlier in October.

Student retreat

ICT’s CEE students ushered in the semester with a weekend retreat at Allerton Park and Retreat Center in Monticello, Illinois, earlier in October. The graduate students toured the 1,500-acre park donated to UIUC in 1946 by Robert Allerton, who was an artist and philanthropist. The bonding time sparked a weekend full of memories and preparedness for a busy semester.

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What an exciting summer break and start of the fall semester for those hardworking CEE students! We wish them all the best of luck.