About
Robert Elliott '11 serves as Assistant Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Lafayette College's College of Engineering. His work focuses on integrating natural systems with urban infrastructure to enhance safety, resilience, and sustainability through ecosystem-based solutions.
His research examines how living ecosystems can repair natural processes in urban settings, particularly addressing challenges like heat islands and stormwater runoff. Key interests include environmental regulation services (stormwater absorption, temperature reduction, water purification), cultural impacts on health and well-being, and practical viability metrics (CapEx, maintenance, NPS). His interdisciplinary approach bridges natural science perspectives with engineering economics and project management principles.
Elliott teaches Fluid Mechanics (CE 251) and CE Project Management (CE 331), emphasizing both technical engineering skills and broader environmental/human impacts. His educational philosophy focuses on developing students' motivation to apply engineering thinking to complex modern challenges while considering integrated design approaches.
Originally from a Quaker background that instilled values of living in harmony with nature, Elliott previously founded a business after completing his PhD. This experience shaped his understanding that engineering solutions require not just technical excellence but also financial modeling, project management, and organizational design to succeed in real-world applications.
Outside academia, he enjoys squash, gardening, and spending time with his wife Sarah (also a Lafayette alum), their 2-year-old daughter Louisa, and their tri-pawed dog Zuzu.
