David Rounce
Assistant Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering
David Rounce joined the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department at Carnegie Mellon University in Fall 2020. He received his BS in civil engineering in 2010 from Villanova University and his master’s degree in environmental and water resources engineering in 2012 and Ph.D. in civil engineering in 2016 from the University of Texas at Austin. He conducted postdoctoral research in the Glaciers Group at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.
Rounce’s research seeks to quantify the response of glaciers, water resources, and hazards to climate change to inform adaptation and mitigation efforts at local, regional, and global scales. His work uses computational models informed by remote sensing and grounded in fieldwork to produce actionable information.
Constraining the future evolution of glaciers in Alaska
Developing an energy balance model for glaciers in Alaska
Studying glaciers to help improve coastal communities
Urban storm water modeling for present and future
Faculty Insights
The Response of Glaciers, Water Resources, and Hazards to Climate Change
Education
2016 Ph.D., Civil Engineering, University of Texas at Austin
2012 MS, Environmental and Water Resources Engineering, University of Texas at Austin
2010 BS, Civil Engineering, Villanova University
Research Interests
Media mentions
CMU Engineering
Climate policy can save half of the world’s glaciers
A study published in Science finds that twice as much of the world’s glacier mass could be preserved by meeting the 1.5°C threshold set by the Paris Agreement.
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Forecasting glacial floods to protect communities
Climate change has exacerbated glacier outburst floods, posing a growing threat to nearby communities like Juneau, Alaska. Researchers are developing robust models to better understand and predict glacial flooding and how it will evolve in the future.
CMU Engineering
Rounce receives early-career research fellowship
David Rounce was chosen for a research fellowship to study the effects of climate change and sea-level rise, and to develop coastal adaptation strategies in the Gulf of Mexico.
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Rounce receives inaugural Firn Award
CEE Assistant Professor David Rounce received the International Glaciology Society’s inaugural Firn Award for his pioneering research on debris-covered glaciers and glacier evolution modeling.
Civil and Environmental Engineering
CEE at COP28: energy justice and glacier projections
At the 28th annual United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28), CEE professors Destenie Nock and David Rounce discussed topics such as energy efficiency, climate mitigation, mountain glaciers, and global temperature rise.
Civil and Environmental Engineering
2023 Freeman Fellowship recognizes Marissa Webber for her exceptional PhD work
Marissa Webber, a current CEE PhD student, has been awarded the 2023 Freeman Fellowship for her outstanding work in climate change adaptation for urban infrastructure, with a focus on mitigating stormwater flooding, which highlights her dedication to sustainable solutions for urban areas.
NASA
Rounce on new NASA-funded climate study
CEE’s David Rounce responds to a NASA study that found half of glaciers vanish with 1.5 degrees of warming.
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Khadka awarded IPCC Scholarship
PhD student Mira Khadka has been awarded the IPCC Scholarship for her research on remote sensing and modeling of mountain glaciers. Her work involves leveraging cloud computing to analyze satellite data, leading to valuable insights into glacier melt patterns.
Wilton E. Scott Institute for Energy Innovation
Scott Institute Seed Grants Support CMU Energy Projects in Eleventh Annual Round
The Wilton E. Scott Institute for Energy Innovation’s Seed Grants for Energy Research program will support three research projects in the 2023 cycle.
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Undergraduate program: building CEE skills across the curriculum
At CEE, we empower our students with the skills to make a real difference in their careers and communities. As students progress through their studies, our program threads approach allows for a deepening of their knowledge, expertise, and practical skills, ensuring that they are equipped to tackle real-world challenges with confidence and competence.
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Hidden ice melt in the Himalaya
A new study reveals that the mass loss of lake-terminating glaciers in the greater Himalaya has been significantly underestimated due to the inability of satellites to see glacier changes occurring underwater, leading to critical implications for the region's future projection of glacier disappearance and water resources.
CNN
Rounce quoted on new glacial melt insights
CEE’s David Rounce comments on recent research about Thwaites Glacier, nicknamed the “Doomsday Glacier.” Roughly the size of Florida, this glacier is largely held in place by an ice shelf, and the new study exemplifies how its collapse could drive catastrophic sea level rise.