Dave Saftner is an associate professor in the University of Minnesota Duluth’s Swenson College of Science and Engineering. His areas of research include beneficial reuse of waste soil material, geotechnical site investigation and characterization, and teaching and learning in engineering education. He teaches geotechnical engineering-related courses and has earned several teaching and advising awards. Saftner is actively involved in several professional organizations (e.g., ASCE, ASEE, NRRA, etc.) and currently serves as an officer in committees for ASCE and ASEE.
Prior to pursuing a career in academics, Saftner spent five years as an engineer officer in the US Army serving in several states, Kuwait, and Iraq. He earned a BS in civil engineering from the United States Military Academy and an MS and PhD in civil engineering from the University of Michigan.