Who Qualifies as a Young Professional?
The CERC Young Professionals (YP) Committee defines young professionals as individuals engaged in coastal engineering and coastal sciences, including academic researchers, consultants, and government employees, who are either students or have up to 10 years of experience following their last degree. The definition also includes an allowance for career interruptions, ensuring inclusivity for those with non-linear career paths and potentially extending the timeframe beyond 10 years. This broad definition acknowledges the diversity of career trajectories and the value of supporting professionals in different contexts.
Daily Student & Young Professional Networking Break
This daily networking break will bring together established professionals for a speed networking session with students and young professionals.
Monday, May 18, 2026 | 10:00 am - 10:30 am – Theme: Industry/Consulting [Exhibit Hall Location]
Tuesday, May 19, 2026 | 10:10 am - 10:40 am – Theme: Academia [Exhibit Hall Location]
Thursday, May 21, 2026 | 10:00 am - 10:30 am – Theme: Agencies [Hallway Location]
Friday, May 22, 2026 | 10:00 am - 10:30 am – Theme: All [Hallway Location]
ICCE Younger Member Social
Wednesday, May 20, 2026 | 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm ** New Date **
The Hilton Galveston Island Resort [Poolside]
5400 Seawall Boulevard, Galveston, TX 77551
Free to Attend
Come join other younger members to network and enjoy the Galveston sun in an informal setting hosted by the Coasts, Oceans, Ports, and Rivers Institute (COPRI) of ASCE!
- ASBPA - American Shore and Beach Preservation Association
- PIANC - The World Association for Waterborne Transport Infrastructure
- WICGE - Women in Coastal Geoscience and Engineering
- And more...
Drinks and light snacks will be provided. We look forward to seeing you there!
Student and Younger Member Networking Lunch – Coordinated by Taylor Engineering
Thursday, May 21, 2026 | 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm
Galveston Island Convention Center [Grand Ballroom C]
Free to Attend
Join a networking lunch intended to connect students and younger members with professionals in the coastal engineering field. The event is being coordinated by Taylor Engineering.
Inaugural COPRI Coastal Engineering Research Council (CERC) Young Professionals Meeting
Thursday, May 21, 2026 | 5:15 pm - 6:00 pm
Galveston Island Convention Center [Galleon I]
Free to Attend
Be part of history: this is the first official meeting of the CERC Young Professionals (YP) Committee, including the election of its inaugural officers! CERC is a committee within COPRI that is responsible for the technical program at ICCE. The new CERC YP Committee is an organization for early career researchers to network and advance the field of coastal engineering.
ICCE Student Scholarship
Congratulations to the award winners!
• Mohamed Hassan – Texas A&M University
• Jeremy Devin Karkanis – University of British Columbia
• Narayan Kumar - University of Delaware
• Ryan McCune – North Carolina State University
• Jay Merrill – Oregon State University
• Miaad Mojadam – San Diego State University
• Parisa Toofani Movaghar – University of Notre Dame
• Sebin Oh – Old Dominion University
• Mariana Roldan Upegui – University of Cantabria
ICCE Student Scholarship questions should be submitted to COPRI at ASCE.
ICCE Outstanding Early Career Professional in Coastal Engineering Award
The ICCE Outstanding Early Career Professional Award celebrates early career excellence and innovation in coastal engineering within the COPRI community. It aims to recognize impactful contributions by emerging professionals who advance the field through research or practice. The award reflects COPRI’s commitment to fostering leadership and technical advancement in coastal engineering.
Congratulations to the winners!
• Practice: Philip Blackmar, PE, M.ASCE – HDR
• Research: Tori Tomiczek, Ph.D., M.ASCE – US Naval Academy
Meet the Young Professionals Planning Committee for the ICCE Conference
Deidra Dittmar, AtkinsRéalis
Welcome students and young professionals! We are excited to have you join the upcoming ICCE conference in Galveston, TX! Please reach out if you have any questions and be on the lookout for upcoming events and conference updates. If you see me at the conference, please be sure to introduce yourself.
Erin Rooney, HDR
I am excited to welcome students and new professionals to the 39th International Conference on Coastal Engineering! As the coastal representative on the COPRI Governing Board, we are continually looking for ways to engage our inspiring students and new professionals! The YP committee has been working to develop content and events to amplify your ICCE experience. We look forward to seeing everyone there!
Alexandra Schueller, University of Applied Sciences Koblenz & Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI)
I am pleased to support our coastal community in my role as the inaugural At-Large Member of the Coastal Engineering Research Council (CERC) and to chair the interim CERC Early-Career Committee.
This initiative aims to strengthen engagement with early-career professionals and to support the continued relevance of the International Conference on Coastal Engineering (ICCE) by fostering connections among emerging researchers and practitioners. Drawing on my background as early-career faculty, I look forward to contributing an early-career perspective and supporting international collaboration within CERC and COPRI.
I hope to meet many of you during the very first official meeting of the CERC Young Professionals (YP) Committee on May 21!