Research Initiation: How AI Integration Shapes Undergraduate Students' Civil Engineering Professional Formation from Classroom to Career

NSF Award Search · 01002627DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT · $200,000 · view on nsf.gov ↗

Abstract

Research Initiation: How AI Integration Shapes Undergraduate Students' Civil Engineering Professional Formation from Classroom to Career This project will examine how undergraduate civil engineering students develop as future professional engineers in an era when artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly changing what it means for people to do engineering work. Civil engineers, like other types of engineers, need to understand and use AI-related tools and knowledge in areas including data analysis, modeling, optimization, design, construction monitoring, and infrastructure decision-making. Most undergraduate civil engineering programs are still considering how to best integrate AI into coursework to support students' technical learning and their identity shift from being a student to being a working engineering professional. This project will study how AI-integrated civil engineering coursework influences students’ professional identity, career adaptability, and perceived employability. The findings should help engineering instructors and academic programs better understand how to incorporate emerging AI technologies into courses to better prepare their graduates for AI-driven workplaces, a current national need. The project will further serve the national interest by supporting the preparation of civil engineers specifically who are technically capable, adaptable, and ready to contribute to the nation’s infrastructure development, economic competitiveness, and public welfar

Key facts

NSF award ID
2605448
Awardee
Regents of the University of Idaho (ID)
SAM.gov UEI
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PI
Ruimin Feng
Primary program
01002627DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT
All programs
AI-Supported Learning, AI Education/Workforce Develop, EDUCATION RESEARCH, ENGINEERING EDUCATION, EXP PROG TO STIM COMP RES
Estimated total
$200,000
Funds obligated
$200,000
Transaction type
Standard Grant
Period
07/01/2026 → 06/30/2028