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From vision to victory: Civil Engineering students sweep UNM poster competition

April 15, 2025

Three graduate students from the Gerald May Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering (CCEE) took home top honors at The University of New Mexico’s Graduate Poster Showcase on Feb. 27— sweeping first, second, and third place in a competitive field of over sixty participants.

The success was no accident.

“On day one of the Spring 2025 semester, I invited students in our Graduate Seminar to aim to win that competition,” said CCEE Professor Ricardo González-Pinzón. “We held three sessions about the dos and don’ts of poster creation and delivery, including sessions where we practiced together on multiple turns. All the students had a great attitude, participated actively, and grew through the process. The 1-2-3 is proof that we can always dream big and deliver!”

The journey was intense and transformative for Hamideh Shojaeian, who works in the Advanced Sustainable Construction (ASC) Lab led by Assistant Professor Maryam Hojati. Juggling a demanding dual Master’s program in Civil Engineering and Architecture, she initially doubted whether she could take on more. “Yet, driven by curiosity and ambition, I applied without hesitation,” Shojaeian said.

Her research on sustainable 3D printing with local New Mexican soil earned her a finalist spot and, ultimately, first place. “The Graduate Seminar course proved to be a lifeline. Dedicated sessions on poster improvement provided invaluable tips, which I eagerly incorporated into my work. I learned to believe in myself, even when the challenge feels overwhelming.” Shojaeian’s first place was followed by Sam Coulter, a master’s student working on water resources engineering projects with Professor González-Pinzón and new Assistant Professor Gerhard Shoener.

Adrianna Fragozo, who works in the Rural and Urban Transportation Advancements to Healthier Communities (RUTA-HC) Lab led by Assistant Professor Lisa Losada-Rojas, brought experience from UNM’s Lobo Bites three-minute thesis competition to win third place but found the poster format to be a refreshing shift.

“It allows for multiple three-minute presentations and the opportunity to create a deeper engagement with the public,” she said. “Unlike a single-shot talk, the poster session is a dynamic process of trial and error, where you adapt your message to each listener’s background and interest level.”

These insights were sharpened during the department’s seminar practice sessions, where students exchanged feedback and revised their delivery.

“Some people were more interested in the ‘how,’ while others focused on the ‘so what’ or the ‘why,’” Fragozo said. “We realized how easy it is to over-explain and how important it is to identify the key message for each interaction.”

More than just a competition, the showcase was a platform for growth, communication, and community. “It was enlightening to witness the diversity of excellent research happening at UNM,” she added.

With dedication, collaboration, and guided preparation, the students turned a classroom goal into a podium sweep, leaving the competition inspired to aim even higher.