Associate Professor Ingrid Tomac has been honored with the Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Award from the National Science Foundation (NSF) for her groundbreaking research on the devastating impacts of post-wildfire debris flows on civil infrastructures. The rise in wildfires due to climate change brings a multitude of hazards to both communities and natural ecosystems. After wildfires, the scorched earth becomes water-repellent, causing rainwater to rush downhill, eroding soil, and carrying heavy debris. Dr. Tomac’s work addresses this issue by developing innovative methods and models of debris flow impact forces that will lead to better design and retrofit strategies for impacted civil infrastructure. The results of this work will have a profound impact on the safety of communities by bolstering the resilience of civil infrastructure.