VICKSBURG, Miss. - Four researchers in two laboratories at ERDC were recently awarded the 2024 Department of Defense (DoD) Science, Mathematics, and Research for Transformation (SMART) Scholar & Mentor of the Year Awards. The recipients are scholar Dr. Andrew Groeneveld and mentor Dr. Michael “Wes” Trim, both with the Geotechnical and Structures Laboratory (GSL), and scholar Dr. Andrew Jin and mentor Dr. Igor Linkov, both with the Environmental Laboratory (EL).
This merit-based awards recognize both the outstanding leadership of the scholar and the valuable guidance provided by the mentor throughout the SMART scholar’s journey – from the pursuit of their SMART-supported degree, through the duration of their DoD service commitment, and finally, to becoming a seasoned DoD science and technology professional post-service commitment.
Jin and Linkov were recognized in the Phase 2 – Service Commitment category.
Jin, a research environmental engineer, received his doctorate degree in civil engineering and master’s degree in applied data science from the University of Southern California and a bachelor’s degree in environmental engineering science from the University of California, Berkeley. He recently received SMART SEED grant funding for network analyses to support decision-making during emergency response scenarios.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Jin was involved in the ERDC support of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Region 1 emergency response, where he developed numerous policy dashboards and analyses to inform policymakers of ongoing socioeconomic conditions caused by various policy implementations.
Linkov, a senior scientific technical manager, has made significant contributions to risk and decision science for the U.S. government's efforts in emergency and crisis management. His leadership in developing predictive models and decision-support tools has been critical in improving emergency response efforts.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, he led a team that provided essential data analysis and predictive modeling to support the White House, FEMA and other agencies, which assisted in policymaking and resource allocation.
Winning this award is evidence of Jin and Linkov’s longstanding mentor/mentee relationship that began years ago. Both expressed pride in their recognition while appreciating their journey as a team.
“I was honored to get this award and even happier seeing Dr. Linkov was recognized for his mentorship,” said Jin. “At every point in my career, Dr. Linkov has selflessly given his time and energy to give me feedback on my work and push me to be a better researcher. During COVID, he fostered my confidence by letting me work on fast-paced projects with critical teams. Those skills that he fostered have made me more confident as an independent researcher. His guidance and mentorship are big reasons for my success.”
Groeneveld and Trim were recognized in the Phase 3 – Established Leader category.
Trim has helped guide Groeneveld in his professional journey, which stands as a testament to both the core mission of the SMART program and to ERDC’s training and development ethos.
“I was impressed by Andy and all the honor goes to him for his hard work,” said Wes.
Groeneveld has emerged as a recognized subject-matter expert in civil engineering and computational modeling. His dissertation at Penn State University on “Variational Multiscale Methods for Stabilized Enforcement of Constraints” showcased his ability to solve complex computational problems that have direct applications in the stability and reliability of critical infrastructure.
“It is an honor, and it’s humbling,” said Groeneveld. “The program is a huge asset.”
His research on constraint enforcement methodologies has enabled more robust computational simulations in the structural analysis of defense systems, which continues to influence DoD strategies for maintaining the operational readiness of vital assets.
For both teams, receiving this award is a major accomplishment and highlights the dedication of ERDC’s SMART scholars and mentors as they continue to discover, develop and deliver innovative solutions to the toughest challenges facing the nation and the Warfighter.