CapstoneEngineerMagazineFall2026 - Flipbook - Page 7
Deb holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from
the Indian Institute of Technology and master’s and doctoral
degrees in engineering mechanics from UA. He has received
numerous awards and honors throughout his career, including
the World Academy of Science Award in Engineering Sciences
and the Infosys Prize. Deb is also a fellow of the Association for
Computing Machinery, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics
Engineers and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.
Dr. Gabriel Katul
Dr. Gabriel Katul assumed his role as an Endowed Shelby
Distinguished Professor in the department of civil, construction
and environmental engineering in fall 2026. His research
focuses on micro-meteorology and near-surface hydrology with
emphasis on heat, momentum, carbon dioxide, water vapor,
ozone and particulate matter, including aerosols, pollen and
seeds. Katul also studies water transport in the soil-plantatmosphere system and its effect on several hydrological,
ecological, atmospheric and climate change-related problems.
Beyond the opportunity to address pressing challenges in the
昀椀eld as part of one of the fastest-rising engineering programs
in the country, Katul is drawn to UA’s unique investment in
water science.
The U.S. Geological Survey’s Hydrologic Instrumentation
Facility, the National Water Center, the Cooperative Institute
for Research to Operations in Hydrology and the Alabama Water
Institute all reside on the UA campus, just a short drive from the
Bankhead National Forest — now a Department of Energy site
dedicated to studying biosphere-atmosphere exchanges.
“The Shelby Endowment provides something increasingly
valuable and rare in modern research — the ability to think
ambitiously and work freely across disciplines,” Katul said.
Katul is focused on expanding collaborations among engineers,
ecologists, hydrologists and data scientists to better understand
how water moves in natural and engineered settings; how
nature manages large variability; how ecosystems transport
water ef昀椀ciently; and how hydraulic systems ameliorate
cavitation spread in trees.
The Shelby Endowment encourages faculty to focus on
grand challenges. Among those Katul is most excited to address
are energy security, water security, food security and human
health.
He views complexity science as a common thread uniting
these challenges, noting that decisions about them involve
balancing priorities across vastly different locations and
timelines. His research examines how natural systems respond
to increasing hydrometeorological variability and extreme
events to help inform more resilient management strategies.
Katul earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from
the American University of Beirut, a master’s degree in water
resources engineering from Oregon State University, and a
doctorate in civil and environmental engineering from UC Davis.
He was elected to the National Academy of Engineering for his
contributions in ecohydrology and 昀氀uid mechanics.
Dr. Alice Smith
Dr. Alice Smith joined the College as an Endowed Shelby
Distinguished Professor in the departments of mechanical
engineering and computer science in spring 2026. Smith is a
National Academy of Engineering member and was named in
the top 2% of scienti昀椀c researchers based on publishing impact
by Stanford University. She is a fellow of multiple leading
professional societies and is a four-time Fulbright Scholar.
Her work focuses on the analysis, modeling and optimization
of complex systems with emphasis on computation inspired by
natural systems integrated with traditional operations research
and statistical approaches.
“The Shelby Endowment is truly transformational,” Smith
said. “A group of senior and mid-career top scholars in STEM
are being assembled, and it is exciting to be part of this
group. The resources of the endowment will allow my efforts
in education, research and service to be more impactful.”
Smith is excited to provide useful expertise and work alongside
the UA teams that address large-scale issues. Her work on
arti昀椀cial intelligence and its applications to complex systems,
including advanced manufacturing, is directly applicable to the
nation’s economic health. Beyond her research work, Smith is
eager to mentor students and collaborate across disciplines.
“I love teaching and being in the classroom. My courses
generally appeal to and bene昀椀t a wide range of technical and
scienti昀椀c students, so I expect to help encourage a culture of
interdisciplinary study. These are priorities of this next phase
of my career,” Smith said.
Smith earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from
Rice University, a Master of Business Administration from Saint
Louis University, and a doctorate in engineering management
and systems engineering from Missouri University of Science
and Technology.
“The University of Alabama is the 昀氀agship institution of
the UA System. Having lived in the state since 1999, I have
witnessed the growth of UA and have been impressed with its
progressiveness in continuous improvement in education and
in scholarship,” Smith said. “In particular, the administrative
leadership’s commitment to signi昀椀cantly advance STEM 昀椀elds
at the institution was an important factor in my decision to
join UA.”
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