AzadehBolhari

  • Associate Teaching Professor
  • Registered P.E. (Colorado)
Azadeh Bolhari

Department:Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering

Education:B.Sc.,Iran University of Science and Technology;M.Sc.,University of Colorado Denver;Ph.D.,Colorado State University
Teaching:EVEN 4830 Fate & Transport ofContaminants, CVEN/EVEN 4404 Water Chemistry,CVEN/EVEN 4434/5434 Environmental Engineering Design
Research:Engineering education, sustainable water systems, fate & transport of microplastics

Office: SEEC S274

Honors, Distinctions and Grants:

  • NSF Grant: PIMorelock, J.,Co-PI Bolhari, A., Co-PI Jarvie-Eggart, M.E., Co-PI Beck, R. “Collaborative Research: BCSER: The ProQual Institute for Interpretive Research Methods in STEM Education: Sustaining Impact and Building on Success” Submission toNSF ECR Building Capacity in STEM Education Research (BCSER).Awarded, UC-Boulder part: $89,579, total: $999,819. Duration: 2025-2028. Award #2526933
  • Bolhari, Azadeh, and Angela Bielefeldt. “Universal Design for Learning and Neurodiversity Training for Instructors and Course Assistants.” University of Colorado President’s Inclusive Excellence Grant, $8,000, 2025.
  • NSF Grant: PI Bolhari, A., Co-PI Bielefeldt, A. “Research Initiation: Enhancing Engineering Students’ Innovation Self-Efficacy through Design of K-12 STEM Projects” Submission to NSF RIEF. Awarded. $239,222, 2022-2025.
  • Bolhari, A. "Design of an AI-Augmented Learning Thread for Environmental Engineering Curriculum.” Submission to Engineering Education and AI-Augmented Learning IRT, University of Colorado Boulder:Awarded$16,410, January 2022.
  • Bolhari, A., Tillema, S. “Understanding Households’ Increase in Capacity and Resiliency from Undertaking Engineering Projects.” Submission to Resilient Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RISE) IRT, University of Colorado Boulder: Awarded$6,000, January 2022.
  • President’s Research Award, Angelo State University,2020
  • NSF Grant: Bolhari, A., Castaneda, D.I. “EAGER: PPER Developing Drought-Resilient Communities by Utilizing Acrylic Concrete Structures for Rainwater Harvesting.” Submission to NSF CBET. Awarded. $99,997, 2017.
  • Certificate of Appreciation for Outstanding Leadership; Vision and Development of the Future P4 Joint Emergency Training Facility Site Plan, Tom Green County, The State of Texas,2019
  • ASCE ExCEED Teaching Fellow,2018
  • Registered Professional Engineer: State of Colorado

Recent Publications:
**denotes work done in collaboration with graduate students
*denotes work done in collaboration with undergraduate students

  • Bolhari, A.,Bielefeldt, A. R. (2026). Assessing Changes in Innovation Self-Efficacy and Interest among Environmental Engineering Students Engaged through Inquiry-Based Learning. Journal of Civil Engineering Education, (manuscript under publication).
  • Bolhari, A. and A.R. Bielefeldt. 2026. Is neurodiversity addressed as a [hidden] dis/ability in engineering education? A literature review. International Journal of Engineering Education. 42(1), 16-31.
  • Bielefeldt, A. R., & Bolhari, A. (2026, April), How Neurotypes Relate to Engineering Students' Mind Maps in a Design ProjectPaper presented at Zone 4 Conference, Cal Poly Pomona, California. 10.18260/1-2–58418
  • Bolhari, A., & Bielefeldt, A. (2026). Engineering Student Interest and Confidence in Experimentation: A Comparative Study Across Academic Ranks.Paper to be presented at the 2026ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition,Charlotte, NC.
  • Wynn**, C.,Bolhari, A., & Bielefeldt, A. (2026). WIP -A New Standard: Evaluating Innovativeness in Environmental EngineeringSolutions.Paper and Poster; to be presented at the 2026ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition,Charlotte, NC.
  • Bolhari, A., & Bielefeldt, A. (2025, November).From Campus to Classroom: Hands-On Environmental Engineering Lessons for K–12 Learners Worldwide. Poster presented at the STEM Together Symposium, Boulder, CO./csl/media/1226
  • Bolhari, A., & Bielefeldt, A. (2025, September). Designing for All Neurotypes: A Global Effort to Advance Universal Design for Learning in Engineering Education. Poster presented at the STEM Together Symposium, Boulder, CO./csl/media/1225
  • Bolhari, A., & Bielefeldt, A. (2025, September). Teaching Across Neurotypes: A Scalable Workshop Model for Engineering Instruction. Poster presented at the Stanford Neurodiversity Summit, Palo Alto, CA.
  • Castaneda, D. I., Stewart, K., & Bolhari, A. (2025). Mobilizing Cultural Wealth in Citizen Science: A Qualitative Inquiry of Spanish Language-Dominant Family Households in a Participatory Engineering Project.Engineering Studies, 1–16.
  • Bolhari, A., Bielefeldt, A., Dyer, S. (2024)."WIP: Comparison of Neurodivergent Student Prevalence in Engineering Across Two Institutions,"2024 IEEE Frontiers in Education Conference (FIE), Washington, DC, USA, 2024, pp. 1-5, doi: 10.1109/FIE61694.2024.10893517
  • Bolhari, A., Bielefeldt, A. R. (2024, June),Board 316: Innovation Self-Efficacy: Empowering Environmental Engineering Students to InnovatePaper presented at 2024 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Portland, Oregon.
  • Bolhari, A., Bielefeldt, A. R., Saxton, R. W., Gowrishankar*, A., Leizerovich*, M., Gavney*, S. (2024, June),Exploring the Relationships between Artistic Creativity and Innovation Attitudes in Engineering StudentsPaper presented at 2024 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Portland, Oregon.
  • Morelock, J., Bolhari, A., J. Jarvie-Eggart, M.E., Wilson, S., Reck, R.M., Smith, C.K., Srougi, M., Chenette, H Crosson, K., Dodson, K. (2024, June).A workshop for faculty developers: An accessible process for helping STEM faculty scope and design educational research and SOTL!Paper presented at 2024 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Portland, Oregon.
  • Bielefeldt, A.,Bolhari, A. (2024, May).Work-in-Progress: Neurodivergence and Intersecting Demographics Among Engineering Students.Paper presented at 2024 ASEE Rocky Mountain Section Conference, Boulder, Colorado./engineering/sites/default/files/attached-files/asee_2024_schedule_with_updated_locations.pdf
  • Leizerovich*, M., Gowrishankar*, A., Gavney*, S.,Bolhari, A., Bielefeldt, A. (2024, May).Role of Reflective Memos in Enhancing Experimentation Skill of Engineering Students.Poster presented at 2024 ASEE Rocky Mountain Section Conference, Boulder, Colorado./engineering/sites/default/files/attached-files/asee_2024_schedule_with_updated_locations.pdf
  • Gavney*, S., Leizerovich*, M., Gowrishankar*, A.,Bolhari, A., Bielefeldt, A. (2024, May).Role of Reflective Memos in Enhancing Questioning Skills of Engineering Students.Poster presented at 2024 ASEE Rocky Mountain Section Conference, Boulder, Colorado./engineering/sites/default/files/attached-files/asee_2024_schedule_with_updated_locations.pdf
  • Gowrishankar*, A., Leizerovich*, M., Gavney*, S.,Bolhari, A., Bielefeldt, A. (2024, May).Role of Reflective Memos in Enhancing Associational Thinking Skill of Engineering Students.Poster presented at 2024 ASEE Rocky Mountain Section Conference, Boulder, Colorado./engineering/sites/default/files/attached-files/asee_2024_schedule_with_updated_locations.pdf
  • Vaisanen*,V., Tyson*, E., Wood*, R., Nelson*, R., Dupeyron*, T., Shahi**, A.,Bolhari, A., Bielefeldt, A. (2024). A Slippery Situation: Oil Spill Cleanup and Polarity. TeachEngineering.
  • ​Bolhari, A., T. Sale. (2023). Processes governing treatment of contaminants in low permeability zones. Sci. Total Environ. 879 (2023) 163010. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.163010
  • Albright, E. A., Crow, D. A., Dickinson, K., Devoss, R., Rumbach, A.,Bolhari, A.(2023). CWC: The Politics of Multilevel Disasters, Recovery and Rebuilding. Southern Political Science Association Annual Meeting, January 11-14, 2023 - St. Pete Beach, Florida focused on disasters and recovery.
  • Bolhari, A. (2023). BYOE: Laboratory Exercise using Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality for Environmental Engineering Curriculum. Paper presented at 2023 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Boston, MA.
  • Bolhari, A., Bielefeldt, A. (2023). Work in Progress: Exploring Innovation Self-Efficacy in Neurodiverse Engineering Students. Paper presented at 2023 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Boston, MA.
  • ​Bolhari, A., Bielefeldt, A. (2023). Exploring the Role of Mentorship in Enhancing Engineering Students’ Innovation Self-Efficacy.Paper presented at 2023 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Boston, MA.
  • Higgins, C.*, Kamp, E.*, Stewart, K., Bolhari, A., Castaneda, D. (2023). Surveying the Cultural Assets of Engineering Students: An Exploratory Quantitative Study.” Paper presented at 2023 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Boston, MA.
  • Bolhari, A., Flaska, E.*, Stewart, K. (2023). Engagement in Practice: Role of Community Engagement in Disaster Recovery. Paper presented at 2023 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Boston, MA.
  • Bolhari, A., Castaneda, D.I., Arehart, J., Tillema, S. (2022).Performance Analysis and Life Cycle Assessment of Acrylic Concrete Structures for Rainwater Harvesting.RCR Advances13 (2022) 200063
  • Dickinson, S., Devoss, K., Albright, R., Crow, E., Rumbach, D., Bean, A., Fraser, H., Reid, T., Bolhari, A., Welton-Mitchell, Andre, C. Aldrich, D., Morss, R. Whelton, Javernick-Will, A., Irvine, L., du Bray, M., Rubenfeld, S.*, Tillema, S.* (2022). "Marshall Fire Unified Survey", in RAPID: Can Big Ideas ̽Ƶ Resilience Survive the Reality of a Disaster? Built Environment Policy and Recovery After the Marshall Fire. DesignSafe-CI. https://doi.org/10.17603/ds2-0yc8-4h27
  • Flood, W.*, La Rue-Lovett, M.*, Schade, K.*, Wager, E.*, & Bolhari, A. (2022). Utilizing Cryogenic CO2 Spray process for Removal of Lunar Regolith Dust Adhered to Spacesuits. In 2022 Waste-management Education Research Conference (WERC) (Vol. 3, pp. 1-4). IEEE. https://doi.org/10.1109/WERC54916.2022.9851240.
  • *Butler, B., *Engelken, J., *Hill, M., *Tillema, S., *Trick, R., Bolhari, A., (2021). Utilization of Municipal Solid Waste Derived Biochar for Thermal Destruction of PFOA and PFOS. Colorado Rocky Mountain SWANA Annual Conference. Boulder, Colorado. November 1-3, 2021.
  • Stewart, K., Castaneda, D.I.; Bolhari, A. (2020), Work in Progress: Citizen Scientists’ Description of an Engineer presented at 2020 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Virtual Conference. https://doi.org/10.18260/1-2--35620
  • Bolhari, A.; Castaneda, D.I.; Stewart, K. (2020), Work in Progress: An Exploratory Study of the Sustainability Mindset through a Citizen Science Project in a Vulnerable Latinx Community presented at 2020 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Virtual Conference. https://doi.org/10.18260/1-2--35609

Engineering Education Workshops:

  • Bolhari, A., & Bielefeldt, A. (2026). Universal Design for Learning in Engineering: A Faculty Development Workshop for Neuroinclusive Teaching and Assessment.Workshopto beheld at the 2026ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition,Charlotte, NC. Workshop length: 150 minutes.
  • Jarvie-Eggart, M.E., Bolhari, A.,Morelock, J. (2025). The ProQual Method: Design Your Educational Research Using a Systems Thinking Approach.Workshoppresented atthe 2025 CEEA Canadian Engineering Education Association Conference, Montreal, Canada.Workshop length: 90 minutes.
  • Bolhari, A., & Bielefeldt, A. (2025). Advancing Collective Intelligence and Collaborative Innovation through Inclusive and Personalized Learning Systems for Neurodivergent Engineering Students. Workshop presented at the 2025 CEEA Canadian Engineering Education Association Conference, June 2025, Montreal, Canada.Workshop length: 90 minutes.
  • Bolhari, A., & Bielefeldt, A. (2025, August). Universal Design for Learning for All Neurotypes. Workshoppresented at the University of Colorado Boulder for GEEN 1400 First Year Design Instructors, Boulder, Colorado. Workshop length: 60 minutes.
  • Bolhari, A., & Bielefeldt, A. (2025, August). Universal Design for Learning for All Neurotypes. Workshoppresented at the University of Colorado Denver, Denver, Colorado. Workshop length: 90 minutes.
  • Bolhari, A., & Bielefeldt, A. (2025, May). Teaching Engineering Students with Different Neurotypes: Strategies for Engaging and Effective Education.Workshop held at the 2025 ASEE Rocky Mountain Section Conference, Boulder, Colorado. Workshop length: 90 minutes.
  • Bolhari, A. (2024, November). Personalized Learning Systems for Neurodivergent Undergraduate Engineering Students. Workshop for 50 faculty at Fulbright BrazilModernization of Undergraduate Education (PMG), Curitiba, Parana, Brazil. Workshop length: 2 hours.
  • Morelock, J., J. Jarvie-Eggart, M.E., Wilson, S., Reck, R.M., Bolhari, A., Smith, C.K., Srougi, M., Chenette, H Crosson, K., Dodson, K. (2024, June). A workshop for faculty developers: An accessible process for helping STEM faculty scope and design educational research and SOTL!Workshop held at the 2024 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Portland, Oregon.
  • Morelock, J., Jarvie-Eggart, M.E., Chenette, H., Hooshangi, S., Chestnutt, B., Wilson, S., Bolhari, A., Dodson, K., Pavlova, I., Reck, R.M.(2023, October). Learn how to design high-quality qualitative educational research! - A workshop for disciplinary STEM faculty by disciplinary STEM faculty.Workshop held at the 2023 IEEE Frontiers in Education (FIE) Conference, College Station, Texas.