We are pleased to announce the recipients of the 2025 UVA Engineering Outstanding Ph.D. Student Award. These exceptional students have demonstrated meaningful contributions to their fields through innovative research, dedicated mentorship and community engagement. Their work not only exemplifies academic excellence but also drives practical solutions in technology, artificial intelligence and climate resilience. They received their awards at a ceremony held at The Center at Belvedere on May 17.
Jad Atweh
Ph.D. in Systems Engineering
Enhancing team communication through real-time eye-tracking technology
Jad Atweh’s research in human factors and systems engineering explores how technology can improve team communication and performance in complex environments. His concept of "gaze sharing" enables teammates in different locations to see where each member is focusing their attention in real time, enhancing collective awareness and decision-making in unmanned aerial vehicle operations. His work has been published in Human Factors and selected as an editor's pick — a distinction reserved for research demonstrating high quality and relevance. Atweh’s portfolio includes 20 peer-reviewed publications and multiple awards for best student papers, reflecting his ability to drive impactful research that bridges technology and human collaboration. His invited talks at national and international universities further underscore the influence of his work.
"Jad's research redefines how teams operate in high-pressure, technology-driven settings," said associate professor Sara Lu Riggs. "His focus on gaze-sharing technology introduces a new dimension to team collaboration, offering practical solutions to challenges in communication and coordination."
Atweh’s commitment to teaching and mentorship has been a hallmark of his graduate career. He has supervised senior design teams, guided undergraduate interns through research projects and contributed to classroom learning with hands-on support. This summer, Atweh will begin his role as an assistant professor in the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering at the University of Florida, where he plans to expand his research in human factors and real-time team communication technologies.
Yushun Dong
Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering
Building fair and accountable artificial intelligence systems
Yushun Dong’s research in machine learning and data mining focuses on improving fairness and accountability in artificial intelligence. His work on graph machine learning addresses key challenges like algorithmic bias and equitable technology applications, spanning fields from political science to large-scale technology systems. Dong has authored over 40 peer-reviewed publications in top venues, including the Conference on Knowledge Discovery and Data Mining (KDD), Neural Information Processing Systems (NeurIPS) and the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AAAI). His projects extend beyond theory, with internships at Microsoft Research and Snap contributing to practical improvements in recommendation systems and graph neural networks.
"Yushun’s work exemplifies the power of machine learning to address societal challenges," said assistant professor Jundong Li. "His research bridges theoretical insights with practical solutions, setting a standard for responsible AI."
At UVA, Dong mentored 18 students, many of whom published research under his guidance. Now a tenure-track assistant professor at Florida State University, Dong has established the Responsible AI (RAI) Lab, where he focuses on building ethical and socially aware AI technologies. His upcoming research will explore global applications of AI in areas that benefit from transparent and fair technology solutions.
Benjamin Goffin
Ph.D. in Civil Engineering
Harnessing satellite technology for sustainable water and environmental solutions
Goffin’s research leverages satellite remote sensing to tackle challenges in water resources, ecosystem resilience and wildfire risk. His dissertation employs Earth observations to provide insights for sustainable agriculture and disaster preparedness. During his Ph.D., Goffin led projects with NASA’s Capacity Building Program, presenting his findings at NASA Headquarters. He also collaborated with global institutions, including the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis in Austria and Universidad de Concepción in Chile, to enhance environmental monitoring and agricultural sustainability. His research has been published in respected journals and presented at international conferences, highlighting its practical application in geospatial data science.