FSU Engineering Doctoral Student Maryam Pakdehi Wins Prestigious Leadership Award for Flood Prediction Research

FAMU-FSU engineering student Maryam Pakdehi earns FSU’s Graduate Leadership Award for innovative machine learning research improving flood predictions and disaster preparedness technology

Maryam Pakdehi, a doctoral student in Civil and Environmental Engineering at the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, has been honored with the 2024-2025 Graduate Student Leadership Award from Florida State University (FSU).

We transformed contaminated land into a community asset at State Road 71 and US-90 intersection in Marianna, Florida. Previously, an empty lot held tainted soil and groundwater. Our team reformed the land into a place that empowers the community and provides long-term economic opportunities. Before we upgraded the site, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) required an impermeable cap. It designated part of the property as “restricted property” to fix the pollution. The cap worked like the one on a water bottle, limiting future health dangers.

Profile Photo
The three members of engineering senior design team 225 stand together on the third floor breezeway at the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering.

Goodwood Museum and Gardens has dealt with serious storm damage for years because of poor drainage. Heavy rain often washes away gravel from walkways and parking lots, costing the museum a lot of money to fix. Since the museum runs on a tight budget, these repairs are difficult to afford. Another big issue is flooding in the basement of one of the buildings, where water seeps through the walls.

Profile Photo
The three members of engineering senior design team 224 stand together on the third floor breezeway at the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering.

The Grayton Beach State Park Concession Building in Walton County, Florida, was built to make the park more accessible to visitors by adding a concession area by the campgrounds. Before this project, visitors had to leave the park for food, restrooms and camping supplies. We designed this building to blend with the park’s environment, offering outdoor seating, scenic views and public bathrooms. The most significant challenge during the project was compiling information from multiple sources, including structural guidelines, building codes and stormwater requirements.

Profile Photo
The five members of engineering senior design team 223 stand together on the third floor breezeway at the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering.

After it was built, Rosa’s Community Garden (RCG) helped people in Jackson County, Florida, get fresh food and health services. In 2022, about one in five residents lived in poverty, 6.7% higher than the national average. The garden allowed people to grow food, learn new skills and connect with others.

Profile Photo
The four members of engineering senior design team 222 stand together on the third floor breezeway at the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering.

Seminole Finances has a new home following the completion of construction at Summit East. The development provides office space within Summit East Technology Park that serves as a professional and welcoming place for their employees and clients. Our designs followed all local regulations from the City of Tallahassee and Summit East Technology Park. This expansion offers substantial opportunities for Seminole Finances and stability of the park for years to come.

Profile Photo
The three members of engineering senior design team 221 stand together on the third floor breezeway at the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering.

The Human Bean project created an efficient drive-thru coffee shop in Marianna, FL. The shop sat on a small 0.16-acre lot along US Highway 90. This required careful planning to manage traffic flow and make the best use of the limited space. Without good design, congestion could have caused traffic delays and safety issues for customers and passing vehicles.

Profile Photo
The three members of engineering senior design team 220 stand together on the third floor breezeway at the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering.