Cassandra Rutherford

Dr. Cassandra Rutherford is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering at Iowa State University. Her research focuses on geotechnical engineering, environmental sustainability, and engineering education. She leads projects on saturated riparian buffers for nitrate reduction in agricultural drainage systems and has pioneered studies on biocementation for slope stabilization. Her work also addresses macroethical responsibilities in engineering, particularly during crises like pandemics and natural disasters.

Her expertise includes soil characterization, hazard mitigation, and innovative teaching methods such as game design-based learning to enhance student engagement in geotechnical engineering. She has developed a multidirectional cyclic direct simple shear device to study dynamic soil behavior and contributed to numerical models for seismic analysis of dense sands. Her research spans experimental design, material science, and ethical frameworks in engineering education.

Dr. Rutherford’s publications reflect a dual focus on technical advancements (e.g., cement grout optimization, tidal current turbine foundations) and pedagogical innovations. She has investigated student perceptions of engineers’ roles in global crises and co-authored studies on levee performance post-flooding. Her work bridges geotechnical applications with environmental and societal challenges, emphasizing sustainability and professional responsibility.