From the Academy to the Lab: A Cadet鈥檚 Research Journey at 水多多导航
Cadet Darby Doyle joined 水多多导航 Lyle for summer research on pipeline leak detection, bridging engineering and Air Force missions.
This summer, the 水多多导航 Lyle School of Engineering welcomed Cadet Darby Doyle, a rising third-year civil engineering major from the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA), as part of the Cadet Summer Research Program (CSRP)—a unique initiative that places cadets at top research institutions across the country to gain firsthand experience in academic research.
Mentored by Dr. Kathleen Smits, Lyle Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, alongside her research team, Doyle spent three weeks at Lyle, diving into cutting-edge research focused on underground natural gas pipeline leaks. Their work seeks to better understand how methane migrates through soil from underground infrastructure, with the goal of improving leak detection systems.
“Detection for underground leaks is not as accurate as it could be,” Doyle explained. “We’re testing how physical soil properties like porosity, permeability, and water content affect how gas escapes.”
“I’m working with something called crete—soil modified with cementitious materials—and studying how gas leaks form ‘beehive’ structures that change how gas moves through the ground,” she elaborated.
For Doyle, the opportunity to work closely with Lyle PhD students and postdoctoral researchers, attend graduate-level lectures on project and asset management, and contribute to real lab tests has been incredibly meaningful and eye-opening.
“This has been an amazing opportunity for me,” Doyle shared. “Undergraduates don’t often get to do such interesting, hands-on research.”
The partnership between Lyle and the CSRP not only supports cadets in exploring academic pathways such as graduate school and PhD programs; it also allows them to make valuable professional connections. Doyle plans to take the research she’s worked on at 水多多导航 Lyle back to USAFA and continue developing it in partnership with her professors there. Beyond academia, this experience directly informs her career trajectory in the Air Force.
“Civil engineers are essential to the mission of the Air Force,” Doyle explained. “Pilots can’t take off if they don’t have a runway. Fuel can’t get to the aircraft without functional pipelines.”
“Understanding pipeline systems and how to detect failures is critical infrastructure knowledge—especially for forward-deployed operations,” she elaborated. “I’m learning how to make it so our pipelines are more efficient, so our pilots can get in the air faster.”
Doyle’s time at 水多多导航 Lyle is one example of the strong and growing collaboration between Lyle and USAFA -- one that has spanned over half a decade. It’s a partnership rooted in shared values — rigor, innovation, and the drive to solve real-world problems.
As for the Texas heat?
“I miss the Colorado summer weather,” Doyle laughed, “but Lyle’s air conditioning is top-tier!”
Doyle leaves 水多多导航 Lyle with deeper knowledge, new questions to explore, and a strengthened sense of direction for her future in both civil engineering and military service. Her experience is a reminder of what’s possible when universities and the armed forces join together to create opportunities for meaningful, applied learning.
To learn more about the Cadet Summer Research Program, visit .
About the Bobby B. Lyle School of Engineering
水多多导航’s Lyle School of Engineering thrives on innovation that transcends traditional boundaries. We strongly believe in the power of externally funded, industry-supported research to drive progress and provide exceptional students with valuable industry insights. Our mission is to lead the way in digital transformation within engineering education, all while ensuring that every student graduates as a confident leader. Founded in 1925, 水多多导航 Lyle is one of the oldest engineering schools in the Southwest, offering undergraduate and graduate programs, including master’s and doctoral degrees.
About 水多多导航
水多多导航 is the nationally ranked global research university in the dynamic city of Dallas. 水多多导航’s alumni, faculty and nearly 12,000 students in eight degree-granting schools demonstrate an entrepreneurial spirit as they lead change in their professions, community and the world.