LK
Unit: School of Engineering and Applied Science
Department: Department of Systems and Information Engineering
Office location and address
d202 Thornton Hall
351 McCormick Rd
Charlottesville,
Virginia
22903
Education
B.S. Lafayette College, 2000
M.S. University of Washington, 2005
Ph.D. Penn State, 2008
M.S. University of Washington, 2005
Ph.D. Penn State, 2008
Biography
Leidy's scholarship merging engineering and social science for a more sustainable and resilient built environment has been consistently funded, including through an NSF CAREER award and through one of the first awards through NSF’s interdisciplinary INSPIRE program. He also played a lead role in programs, funded by grants from NSF and the Department of Education, which support cohorts of graduate students on interdisciplinary research in a more resilient and sustainable built environment. Since 2012, he has advised 11 Ph.D. graduates (ten from groups underrepresented in engineering) and eight graduates of his research team have secured faculty positions.
Leidy has twice been selected by students as top teacher in his department and twice recognized for individual mentoring of top undergraduates.
Before becoming an academic, Leidy worked managing the design and construction of building projects in New Jersey and before that he played professional soccer for the Pittsburgh Riverhounds.
Leidy is always LOOKING FOR EXCELLENT STUDENTS FROM ALL BACKGROUNDS WHO WANT TO DO PH.D. RESEARCH MERGING ENGINEERING AND SOCIAL SCIENCE.
Publications
Sponsored Awards
Science Projects Integrating Computing and Engineering (SPICE)
Source: SRI International
September 01, 2017 – August 31, 2022
Planning Grant: Engineering Research Center for REstorative infrastructure through Convergent Engineering and Psychology (RE¿CEP)
Source: U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF)
September 01, 2018 – August 31, 2020
Inspire - Intentional defaults for more sustainable infrastructure: Studying interventions to alleviate biases in upstream, multi-stakeholder decisions
Source: U.S. NSF - Directorate For Engineering
April 01, 2017 – December 31, 2019
Courses
Credits: 1
Student-led special topic courses which vary by semester
Credits: 3
Topical offerings in architecture.
Credits: 3
This course takes a systems perspective to study and design for sustainability in the built environment at various scales (e.g., materials, buildings, cities, and regions) and for different types of systems (e.g., physical, social, information). Students from SEAS, A-School, and other majors are welcome in this course, which emphasizes interdisciplinary design collaboration and diversity of thought.
Credits: 3
A design project extending throughout the fall semester. Involves the study of an actual open-ended situation, including problem formulation, data collection, analysis and interpretation, model building for the purpose of evaluating design options, model analysis, and generation of solutions. Includes an appropriate computer laboratory experience. Prerequisite: SYS 3021, 3060, and fourth-year standing in the Systems Engineering major.
Credits: 1–3
Applies basic engineering principles, analytical procedures and design methodology to special problems of current interest in civil engineering. Topic for each semester are announced at the time of course enrollment. Prerequisite: Fourth-year standing and instructor permission.
Credits: 1–3
Detailed study of a selected topic determined by the current interest of faculty and students. Offered as required. Prerequisite: As specified for each offering.
Credits: 3
Selected students lead a seminar (of 8 to 10 younger students each) for 'Lessons of the Lawn' and 'Lessons in Making.' All student assistants attend class lectures (for a second time) and then meet with their seminar groups weekly, leading discussions of topics and questions raised by the instructor.
Credits: 3
Team-based project course focusing on design or research effort with focus in a CEsub-discipline. Involves the study of an open-ended project, including problem formulation, development of methodology, data collection from physical experiments and/or models, analysis and interpretation, and formulation of conclusions/solutions. Requisites: 4th Year Standing Civil Majors and Assignment by CEE dept.
Credits: 1–4
Study of a civil engineering problem in depth by each student using library, computer, or laboratory facilities. The project is conducted in close consultation with departmental faculty and involves survey, analysis, or project development. Progress reports and a comprehensive written report are required. May be repeated if necessary. Prerequisite: Contact individual professor for Instructor Permission.
Credits: 3
Just as physics and math inform design, so can behavioral sciences, which offer rigorous and rapidly advancing insight into how people interact with their environments and with each other. This project-based course will expand students' design repertoires by connecting to psychology and related fields. This course is for "designers" broadly construed: those who wish to influence areas such as architecture, engineering, policy, and business.
Credits: 3
This course takes a systems perspective to study and design for sustainability in the built environment at various scales (e.g., materials, buildings, cities, and regions) and for different types of systems (e.g., physical, social, information). Students from SEAS, A-School, and other majors are welcome in this course, which emphasizes interdisciplinary design collaboration and diversity of thought.
Credits: 1–6
Topical offerings in architecture.
Credits: 3
Detailed study of special topics in civil engineering. Master's-level graduate students. Prerequisites: to be listed for each section as needed
Credits: 1–3
Detailed study of a selected topic, determined by the current interest of faculty and students. Offered as required.
Credits: 1–12
Detailed study of graduate course material on an independent basis under the guidance of a faculty member. Master's-level graduate students. Prerequisites: Instructor Permission
Credits: 1–12
Formal record of student commitment to project research under the guidance of a faculty advisor. Registration may be repeated as necessary. Master's-level graduate students. Prerequisites: Instructor Permission
Credits: 3
The course involves the study of human comfort, environmental conditioning systems, building systems, daylighting and lighting technology. Students will be exposed to digital simulation tools to assess daylighting and energy use.
Credits: 1–12
Detailed independent study of graduate course material under the guidance of a faculty member. Doctoral-level graduate students. Prerequisites: Instructor Permission
Credits: 1–12
Formal record of student commitment to project research under the guidance of a faculty advisor. Registration may be repeated as necessary. Doctoral-level graduate student. Prerequisite: Instructor Permission
Credits: 1–12
For graduate students who will be GTA for a course taught by CE faculty who have granted Instructor Permission for that section. Prerequisites: Instructor Permission
Credits: 1–12
Formal record of student commitment to master's thesis research under the guidance of a faculty advisor. Registration may be repeated as necessary. Prerequisites: Instructor Permission
Credits: 1–12
Formal record of student commitment to doctoral research under the guidance of a faculty advisor. Prerequisites: Instructor Permission
Honors
CAREER Award, National Science Foundation 2011
40 under 40: Professors Who Inspire, Nerdscholar 2014