Awarded Education: Dr. Shawn Sun’s Commitment to Student Growth
Figure 1 Dr. Shawn Sun working with a graduate student on a project. Photo by Spencer Hutchison.
Dr. Shawn Sun, an assistant professor of Civil Engineering and Construction Management at the College of Engineering and Computer Science, has made significant contributions to civil infrastructure and education. His impactful work has garnered more than a dozen accolades, including the NASA MUREP MPLAN Award, Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute (PCI) Daniel P. Jenny Fellowship, Easton Foundations Faculty Fellowship in Engineering, and The Engineer Council Outstanding Engineering Achievement Merit Award (Figure 2), for his exceptional research activities and continued contribution to the field of structural engineering.
As an educator and researcher specializing in structural engineering, Dr. Sun shepherds students to frontier innovations with his own groundbreaking work. Dr. Sun actively cultivates that potential through research opportunities and hands-on experience inside and outside the classroom. “I believe in the cascading effect of the engineers I send off into the world,” he proclaims. “They have the potential to create something wonderful.”
Dr. Sun’s commitment to merging practical knowledge with academic teaching has been a cornerstone of his career. His academic journey began with a B.S. and M.S. in China, culminating in a Ph.D. under the mentorship of Professor Maher K. Tadros, an internationally renowned expert in prestressed concrete, at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL).
After finishing his schooling at UNL, Dr. Sun embarked on a professional journey within various consulting engineering firms, where he held positions such as project engineer, project manager, and senior vice president. During this 13—year period, he achieved distinction as a co-winner of eight national design awards for his work. But throughout his time in industry, Dr. Sun still wanted to impart practical wisdom in academia, to help shape and mold the generations of students to come.
Moving away from industry, Dr. Sun started working at Louisiana Tech University as an assistant professor. During this time, Dr. Sun led a significant study sponsored by the Louisiana Transportation Research Center, titled “Load Rating of Existing Continuous Stringers on Louisiana’s Bridges.” His impactful research resulted in the publication of five papers in esteemed journals, including the Journal of Structural Engineering, Journal of Bridge Engineering, Engineering Structures, and AISC Engineering Journal. Students actively participated in this study, working underneath Dr. Sun and collaborating with Professors Daniel Linzell and Jay Puckett at UNL. Together, they re-evaluated the load rating methodology for continuous steel beams, striving for a more accurate determination of lateral torsional buckling strength. The profound implications of this research empower bridge owners to make informed decisions, avoiding costly rehabilitations or replacements and saving millions of dollars.
Figure 2 Dr. Shawn Sun receiving The Engineers Council Award for exceptional research activities
With all of his educational and practical experience, he came to CSUN not only to shape future engineers but also to investigate some truly exciting projects. In 2023 alone, Dr. Sun provided research assistant positions to 12 undergraduate and graduate students, significantly contributing to their academic and professional development while advancing his research projects.
These research interests revolve around improving civil infrastructure performance and exploring new materials and structural systems. He actively incorporates emerging technologies, such as 3D printing of various types of concrete, to advance construction practices and enhance structural performance within these projects, giving students the latest and greatest advancements.
Recently, Dr. Sun is serving as the Principal Investigator (PI) on a PCI-funded research project, collaborated closely with industry partners to identify critical parameters for the stability analysis of precast girder transport vehicles. This initiative marked the first nationwide collection of rotational stiffness data for these vehicles, offering students invaluable hands-on experience as they worked alongside Dr. Sun in this significant field.
But by tirelessly merging research, collaboration, and mentoring, Dr. Sun is making a profound impact—with the core of his work sparking inspiration for our students to enhance civil infrastructure and build our communities for the better. As he continues to work hard and strive for better education for his students, Dr. Sun is on the right path to stoke these young engineers to help shape a brighter engineered world.
