Annual Cochrane Fellowship Luncheon Celebrates Academic Excellence and Research Innovation
Photo by David Deeter/Northeastern University
The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering hosted the annual Cochrane Fellowship luncheon to celebrate and discuss the impactful research which is supported by the Cochrane Fellowship Fund.
The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, including University Distinguished Professor, CDM Smith Professor, and CEE Chair Jerome Hajjar and faculty, and in collaboration with the development and alumni relations team, hosted the annual Cochrane Fellowship luncheon on May 20, 2024. This yearly event brings together past and current recipients of the Cochrane Fellowship, providing a unique opportunity for fellowship donors and recipients to engage in meaningful dialogue about their work and academic pursuits.
“The ongoing generosity of Jack Cochrane to provide this leadership gift in the department has had such an impact on our program. His vision and commitment have created a cohort of PhD students in the Cochrane Fellowship Program who are conducting a broad scope of outstanding research in environmental engineering that will produce key results for society for years to come.”Dr. Jerome Hajjar, Civil and Environmental Engineering Department Chair
About the Cochrane Fellowship Fund
The Cochrane Fellowship Fund, established in 2017 by John J. Cochrane, Professor Emeritus and former Department Chair of the Northeastern University Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, offers invaluable support to doctoral students. This fellowship enables students specializing in environmental engineering or science to delve into cutting-edge research and education at Northeastern. It provides full funding for the first academic year, allowing recipients to focus on their research and coursework while progressing towards their PhD under the guidance of their faculty advisors.
John J. Cochrane, who graduated from Northeastern in 1960 with a BS in Civil Engineering, earned his MS and PhD from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He returned to Northeastern in 1965 as a faculty member and contributed significantly to the College of Engineering for 30 years, serving as department chair from 1977 to 1980, and retiring as professor emeritus in 2000. As a licensed professional engineer, Cochrane consulted on numerous environmental engineering projects in the Northeast. His active involvement in professional societies, including the Boston Society of Civil Engineers, the New England Water Environment Association, and the New England Waterworks Association, has been exemplary. Cochrane is also remembered for his enthusiasm for skiing and sailboat racing, hobbies he continues to enjoy today.
The luncheon serves not only as a testament to his enduring legacy but also as a celebration of the bright future of environmental engineering research and education at Northeastern.
2023 Cochrane Fellowship Cohort: Melanie Marino and Amanda Thomas
Melanie Marino
Melanie Marino, a 2023 graduate of Walla Walla University, holds a BS in Civil Engineering with a focus on global humanitarian engineering. During her undergraduate studies, she played an active role in Engineers Without Borders, serving as a project manager for a water supply initiative in Tanzania. Her commitment to environmental sustainability and public service led her to pursue a PhD in Civil and Environmental Engineering. Marino aims to enhance her interdisciplinary expertise by also completing an MS in Engineering and Public Policy. She is currently working with Associate Professor Matthew Eckelman, focusing on the sustainability of the health sector and exploring the interconnectedness of planetary and human health.
Amanda Thomas
Amanda Thomas, originally from Brooklyn, New York, graduated from Stony Brook University in 2021 with a BS in Coastal Environmental Studies and a minor in Environmental Engineering. At Stony Brook, she interned at Mote’s International Center for Coral Reef Research and Restoration in the Ocean Acidification program. She also gained experience at the Stony Brook Civil Engineering laboratories, where she researched nitrogen removal in biochar-amended filters and the sorption of PFAS onto granular activated carbon (GAC). After graduation, Thomas worked as a research technician at the Center for Clean Water Technology, continuing her experiments on short-chain PFAS removal and surface tension data collection. Additionally, she served as an adjunct professor teaching undergraduate biology labs at Stony Brook. Thomas is currently collaborating with University Distinguished Professor Akram Alshawabkeh and the PROTECT Center to develop a portable electro-oxidation drinking water treatment system aimed at removing harmful contaminants affecting communities in Puerto Rico.