College of Engineering's Distinguished Lecture Series

The College of Engineering proudly hosted the latest seminar in our Distinguished Lecture Series, featuring Dr. Robert Miller, Associate Professor of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Assistant Director of the Louisiana Watershed Flood Center and a nationally recognized hydrologist.

Dr. Miller enriched the audience with his talk, “Modeling the Delta: Research Activities in the Mississippi/Atchafalaya River Nexus,” highlighting his cutting-edge work developing computational models that help engineers and policymakers better understand the dynamics of the Mississippi and Atchafalaya Rivers. Drawing on his industry experience and federally recognized research leadership, he explored pressing regional challenges, from flood protection and sediment transport to temperature and salinity trends affecting ecological sustainability, and offered valuable insights into how advanced modeling can guide long-term planning for one of the most complex and consequential river systems in the world.

This research is a part of the Mississippi River & Tributaries project, an essential system that protects 70% of Louisiana’s population from catastrophic floods while supporting navigation, the national supply chain, and ecological health.

Dr. Miller’s work centers on developing computational models to address critical challenges in river and coastal management. His research excellence has earned national recognition, including the National Academies Early-Career Gulf Research Fellowship in Environmental Stewardship and the Louisiana Engineering Foundation Faculty Professionalism Award. In 2022, he was appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the U.S. Senate to serve on the Mississippi River Commission, where he contributes engineering expertise at the highest levels of national policy.

Before joining academia, Dr. Miller spent more than a decade in industry working on drainage design, FEMA flood zone permitting, stormwater master planning, and coastal restoration. He holds a PhD in computational and applied mathematics and is a licensed professional engineer in Louisiana.

We thank Dr. Miller for an engaging and impactful seminar, and we look forward to continuing these important conversations throughout the College of Engineering’s Distinguished Lecture Series.