CSE student pairs her passion for engineering and Minnesota’s geology

Biomimicry drives Niamh Wachholz wish to reimagine the built environment 

MINNEAPOLIS / ST. PAUL (08/07/2025) — For Niamh Wachholz, choosing a college major was a natural evolution of her curiosity about the world. Her love of geology was rooted in childhood adventures across her state’s diverse terrain, from basalt-covered beaches to towering limestone bluffs. Later, while serving in the Minnesota Army National Guard, a former squad leader sparked her interest in engineering. 

“I was also drawn to anthropology—how humans interact with nature—and philosophy—how we conceptualize our place within it,” said Wachholz, a University of Minnesota student. “So choosing to major in geoengineering was the natural progression of all these ideas.”

Wachholz is a recipient of several scholarships including the University of Minnesota Dakota Aggregates Scholarship, the College of Science and Engineering Donald and Louise Ruhnke Scholarship, and Geoengineering Support Fund. She has served as president of the Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration on the Twin Cities campus. As an undergraduate researcher in Professor Joe Labuz’s lab, she homed a proficiency in geomechanics and mineral sustainability systems. 

In the video below, learn how she plans to use her geoengineering degree.

Story and interview by Pauline Oo.