Education

Workforce development is the heart of INSITES’ mission. Infrastructure sensing sits at the interface of disciplines, so INSITES students come from civil and environmental engineering, mechanical engineering and materials science, electrical and computer engineering, geology and environmental science, and computing and information, and learn to work across them. They train in sensor materials and devices, distributed optical fiber and acoustic sensing, nondestructive evaluation and structural health monitoring, geophysical monitoring, signal processing, and AI and digital twin methods.

Beyond the classroom, INSITES students work on faculty-led research with NETL and industry partners, present posters at the annual UPISC workshop, where about 20 technical posters were presented in 2026, meet industry and government leaders, and pursue internships and co-ops with partner organizations that often lead to careers. As a core center of Pitt’s Center for Energy, INSITES also connects students to the Center’s broader education programs in electric power, nuclear, natural gas and renewables, and sustainability.

Explore the relevant courses below.