Binod Tiwari

California State University, Fullerton | Fullerton, CA | 2023

Binod Tiwari Portrait Photo

I am grateful and feel truly honored to receive this Presidential Award and join a group of mentors who have selflessly supported and contributed to the success of many individuals in STEM fields. My primary aim as a mentor is to assist my mentees in reaching their full potential as they achieve all their professional aspirations; this recognition is a testament of encouragement to first generation college graduates, including myself and many of my mentees, to serve for enhanced social mobility.

The official biography below was current at the time of the award. Awardees may choose to provide their latest biographical information on their profile page.

Binod Tiwari is the Associate Vice President for Research & Sponsored Projects (AVPRSP) and a professor of civil and environmental engineering at California State University, Fullerton (CSUF). He joined CSUF in 2006 as an assistant professor and rose through ranks to professor in 2015. He has been serving as AVPRSP since 2019. During his academic career at CSUF, Binod has personally mentored over 240 students, from high school to graduate level, in research projects, among which 62% are students from underrepresented minorities in STEM. His mentoring has resulted in more than 150 student co-authored publications, 40 scholarships including an NSF Graduate Research Fellowship, 140 presentations, and 20 first place awards in regional and national competitions. To promote student research at CSUF, Binod established the Summer International Research Institute; Summer Undergraduate Research Academy; Engaging Graduate Students in Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activities; and Undergraduate Research Opportunity Center. He has received funds from NSF, Partners of Americas, and the United States Department of Education to support these programs. Binod’s commitment to mentoring has resulted in 30 honors including the 2022 Edmund Friedman Professional Recognition Award and 2020 Thomas A. Middlebrooks Award from American Society of Civil Engineers, as well as 2017 Outstanding Professor Award, 2016 Carol Barnes Teaching Excellence Award, 2012 CSUF Alumni Association Distinguished Faculty of the Year Award, and 2011 Faculty Advisor of the Year award, all from CSUF. Binod received his B.S. in civil engineering, with distinction, from Tribhuvan University, Nepal, and M.S. in geo and biosphere science and Ph.D. in environmental management science both from Niigata University, Japan.