Graduate student illuminates new solutions for infrastructure resilience

Shreya Mul, a graduate student in Boise State's civil engineering master's program, won first place in the poster competition at the 2026 GeoCongress Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah. Her research on stabilizing problematic soils is a culmination of her academic work in geotechnical engineering.

Research tackles costly soil problems

Mul's winning presentation, "Hydrophobic Stabilization of Expansive Soils," addresses a major infrastructure challenge. Expansive soils swell with high moisture and shrink when dry, causing billions of dollars in damage to foundations, roads, and buildings each year.

Rather than relying on traditional stabilizers like lime or cement, Mul's research evaluates how hydrophobic - water-repelling - chemical treatments can reduce soil's attraction to water, thereby reducing the risk of moisture-related damage and improving structural durability. Preliminary results show significant reductions in swelling potential compared to untreated soils.

Connecting research to Idaho's water challenges

Beyond soil stabilization, Mul's research extends into broader questions of infrastructure resilience. She is a graduate researcher for the Idaho Community-based Resilience of Energy-Water Systems (I-CREWS), a National Science Foundation initiative to tackle Idaho's energy-water challenges. Alongside civil engineering professors Bhaskar Chittoori and Nick Hudyma, Mul collaborates on a project led by Bruce Savage at Idaho State University to examine the potential of subsurface dams as supplements for regional energy-water systems.

"What excites me most is how both of my research projects intersect around resilience," Mul said. "Whether storing water underground or preventing foundational damage, my work focuses on designing systems that are not only structurally sound, but also adaptive, sustainable, and long-lasting."

From earthquake survivor to soil engineer

Mul's path to engineering began in childhood, watching her civil engineer father sketch detailed building plans by hand. "I was always fascinated by how careful lines on paper could eventually become real structures," Mul said.

Growing up in Nepal, she witnessed stark contrasts between the developed capital city of Kathmandu and rural areas and realized the power infrastructure plays in shaping people's lives.

The 2015 Gorkha earthquake - a 7.8 magnitude disaster responsible for the loss of nearly 9,000 human lives - cemented her resolve to pursue geotechnical engineering.

"Experiencing that disaster personally, seeing buildings collapse, communities disrupted and families affected, deeply impacted me," Mul said. "It made me question not just how structures are designed, but how the ground beneath them behaves during such events."

Finding the right fit at Boise State

Mul, who graduates this summer, chose Boise State for its hands-on research environment.

"Boise State provides unique opportunities to study water systems, subsurface engineering, and environmental challenges in a region where these issues are highly relevant," Mul said. "Additionally, programs like I-CREWS allow students to work on projects that have both local and global impact."

Her advisor, professor and department chair, Bhaskar Chittoori, attended the conference and witnessed her win. "I could not be prouder," Chittoori said. "Shreya is meticulous, responsible, intellectually curious, and incredibly hardworking - qualities that make for an exceptional graduate student. Mentoring students and watching them succeed like this is easily the most rewarding part of academic life."

This publication was made possible by the NSF Idaho EPSCoR Program and by the National Science Foundation under award number OIA-2242769.

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