Carnegie Mellon’s David A. Dzombak and José M.F. Moura Receive Highest Faculty Honor as University Professors

June 18, 2010

Contact: Chriss Swaney
Carnegie Mellon University
412.268.5776

PITTSBURGH-Carnegie Mellon University engineering professors David A. Dzombak and José M.F. Moura have been awarded the prestigious distinction of University Professor, the highest academic accolade CMU faculty members can attain.

           
"Both Professors David Dzombak and José Moura are outstanding researchers and particularly dynamic with our students as they work to help our graduates hone the problem-solving skills so essential to achieving success in today's competitive global economy," said Mark S. Kamlet, Carnegie Mellon executive vice president and provost. "We applaud their designation as University Professors, and we look forward to their ongoing innovative academic leadership."

           
Dzombak's research and teaching focuses on water quality engineering, environmental remediation and energy-water nexus issues. He has received numerous professional honors and accolades. He was elected to the National Academy of Engineering in 2008 and was named a fellow of the American Society of Civil Engineers in 2002. He is a recipient of the Excellence in Review Award from Environmental Science and Technology, the Professional Research Award from the Pennsylvania Water Environment Association, the Jack Edward McKee Medal from the Water Environment Federation, the Aldo Leopold Leadership Program Fellowship from the David and Lucille Packard Foundation, the Walter L. Huber Civil Engineering Research Prize from the American Society of Civil Engineers, the Harrison Prescott Eddy Medal from the Water Environment Federation and a National Science Foundation Presidential Young Investigator Award.

           
"I am humbled by my election as a University Professor, and I'm honored to join this distinguished group of colleagues," said Dzombak, the Walter J. Blenko Sr. Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Carnegie Mellon and faculty director of the Steinbrenner Institute for Environmental Education and Research.

           
Dzombak earned a Ph.D. in civil and environmental engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and his bachelor's and master's degrees in civil and environmental engineering from Carnegie Mellon. He also holds a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, Pa. 

           
Moura's research interests are in statistical signal and image processing. He is an IEEE fellow, an AAAS fellow and a corresponding member of the Academia das Cie`ncias of Portugal. He is a recipient of the 2000 IEEE Third Millennium Medal for outstanding achievements and contributions, the 2003 IEEE Signal Processing Meritorious Service Award, the 2006 IBM Faculty Award, the 2007 CIT Outstanding Research Award and the 2008 Philip L. Dowd Fellowship Award for Contributions to Engineering Education. In 2008-2009, he was president of the 15,000-member IEEE Signal Processing Society.

           
Moura, director of the Carnegie Mellon|Portugal program and a professor of electrical and computer engineering, said he was both honored and humbled by the University Professor designation.

"I am extremely pleased with this honor as I continue to work with my students and colleagues to pursue innovative research projects. I will also continue my international education efforts with Portugal colleagues and push the educational envelope for Carnegie Mellon globally," Moura said.   

           
Moura holds a doctor's degree in electrical engineering and computer science, and electrical engineering degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the Instituto Superior Tecnico in Portugal.