Rate My Professor Manoj Chopra

Manoj Chopra is a professor of engineering at the University of Central Florida in the College of Engineering and Computer Science, where he serves as Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. He joined the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Construction Engineering in 1993 as an Assistant Professor, was promoted to Associate Professor in 1998, and to Professor in 2014. Chopra earned his Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from the State University of New York at Buffalo in 1992, his M.S. in Civil Engineering from the same institution in 1988, and his B.E. in Civil Engineering with honors from Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani, India, in 1985. His extensive career includes leadership roles such as Interim Vice Provost and Dean of Undergraduate Studies (2014-2015), Provost Faculty Fellow developing the Faculty Cluster Initiative (2014-2016), Chair of the UCF Faculty Senate (2005-2009), member of the UCF Board of Trustees (2005-2009), faculty representative on the Florida Board of Governors (2012-2014), Executive Director and Director of the UCF Stormwater Management Academy (2009-2014), NCAA Faculty Athletics Representative since 2013, Campus Lead on Research Space (2016-2019), and Assistant Chair of the department (1998-2003). He also serves as a program evaluator for ABET.

Chopra's research specializations encompass soil behavior, foundations, sinkhole studies, soil erosion and sediment control, and pervious pavements. Notable publications include "Effect of rejuvenation methods on the infiltration rates of pervious concrete pavements" (Journal of Hydrologic Engineering, 2010), "Finite-element analysis of time-dependent large-deformation problems" (1992), "Hydraulic performance assessment of pervious concrete pavements for stormwater management credit" (2007), "A mass balance model for designing green roof systems that incorporate a cistern for re-use" (2012), and "Experimental study of sinkhole failure related to groundwater level drops" (ASTM Journal of Testing and Evaluation, 2020). He co-edited the book "Boundary Element XX – Advances in Boundary Elements Series" (1998). Chopra has received the University Teaching Incentive Program (TIP) Award multiple times (2002, 2007, 2012, 2016), induction into Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society as Distinguished Faculty (2013), Gold Apple Awards for outstanding teaching (2007, 2008, 2009), CECE Department Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching Award (2007, 2009), Excellence in Professional Service Awards (2008, 2009, 2010), ASCE Region 5 Faculty Advisor of the Year (2007), and Chi Epsilon Excellence in Teaching Award (2003-2004). His work has advanced engineering education, research infrastructure, and governance at UCF and statewide.