Dr. Devin Harris is professor and chair of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Virginia (UVA). He is also a member of UVA’s Link Lab, a leading research center focused on cyber-physical systems. He earned his BS in civil engineering from the University of Florida and his MS and PhD from Virginia Tech. His research centers on large-scale civil infrastructure systems with an emphasis on smart cities and technology integration. His work spans image-based measurement techniques, virtual and augmented reality, crowdsourcing, artificial intelligence, data analytics, structural health monitoring, and the use of innovative materials in infrastructure. Recently, his research advanced applications of digital twins and immersive technologies in civil infrastructure and engineering education. Through these efforts, Dr. Harris seeks to enhance resilience, sustainability, and the role of emerging technologies in shaping future infrastructure systems.
Home Institution USA: University of Virginia
Zachary Marhanka
Zachary Marhanka graduated from the University of Virginia in May 2022 with double majors in economics and global studies on environments and sustainability, and a minor in statistics. Under the Department of Economics Distinguished Majors Program, Zachary wrote an empirical thesis analyzing the adoption of community solar systems and their financial consequences for U.S. households. He further synthesized nationwide low-income solar policies and their application to his home state of Virginia for his global studies major capstone project. As an undergraduate and as a lawyer in his university’s judiciary committee, Zachary defended students accused of conduct violations. He also assisted fellow community residents as a volunteer income tax assistant. Besides, he was an editor for the Virginia Policy Review, a university policy journal. Outside of management consulting stints, Zachary has held internships with the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, the office of Congressman Gerry Connolly, and the United States Census Bureau. After graduating, he worked as a research assistant in development economics topics, analyzing tax collection data and gender-focused surveys in South Asia. He currently works as an analyst for ICF International where he assists the U.S. Department of Energy and several state governments in identifying energy supply-chain vulnerabilities. These experiences emphasize Zachary’s goal to pursue a career in energy and environmental policymaking, specifically around topics of energy justice and the development of community-centered renewable energy systems.
In his free time, Zachary enjoys hiking, cooking, playing volleyball, and gardening.
For his Fulbright-Nehru research project, Zachary is using a mixed survey and interview design to assess solar pump deployment within the Pandharpur tehsil of Maharashtra. In partnership with SVERI and Sobus Insight Forum, his research is engaging farmers in the 103 villages surrounding Pandharpur to collect data on solar adopter demographics and financial statements. Zachary’s work will provide a case study on solar irrigation and its consequences for agricultural businesses. The project’s output will also contribute to SVERI’s understanding of renewable energy deployment among local businesses, as well as provide a path toward the refinement of rural energy policy.