Kun Liu, PhD, PE

Kun Liu’s journey began in the southeast China province of Zhejiang, where he was born and raised. Growing up, his father, a seasoned structural engineer, would often take young Kun to his office. Watching his father’s precise drawings and neat handwriting left a lasting impression on Kun. While those early experiences sparked his desire to be an engineer, the choice would not be entirely his to make.

“In China, the career you may have can depend heavily on your SAT score,” explains Kun (pronounced “Kwen”). “The first option afforded me was architecture. Fortunately, my second option was engineering.”

That pivotal moment led Kun to study engineering at Chongqing University, where he completed his undergraduate degree in 2010. Although he enjoyed his college experience in China, he had always hoped to study abroad. Many people in his country regarded the United States as the best option for graduate school, so he chose Purdue University for its highly regarded engineering program.

At Purdue, Kun earned a Master’s in Civil Engineering, completing the program in just two years. Soon after, he joined the Indiana Department of Transportation, where he conducted road and pavement analyses. His educational journey didn’t end there; he pursued a PhD in Environmental Science at Ohio State University, focusing his doctoral research on applying engineering principles to water and wastewater management. Upon graduation, he opted to work in industry instead of pursuing a career in academia or research.

After spending three and a half years at Commonwealth Engineers in Indianapolis, where he gained valuable experience in wastewater engineering, Kun transitioned to Triad Associates in 2021. Four years later, VS Engineering acquired Triad. Though he spent a brief time at the new parent company, he eventually found a better fit with Jones & Henry Engineers, joining the Carmel office in April 2025. There, he specializes in wastewater treatment plants and collection systems.

Personal Life

Kun’s journey took a personal turn when he first arrived in the United States for graduate school. He traveled here with a family friend who would also be attending Purdue. On their third day in the country, his traveling companion introduced Kun to her new roommate, a fellow Chinese student studying construction management. He and this new acquaintance quickly bonded and eventually got married.

Becoming parents has significantly transformed their lifestyle. Their nine-year-old son is passionate about baseball, so nearly every weekend is filled with games, including those for his local travel team.. Kun often reflects on how parenthood has been a learning experience.

“One good thing about having a child is that you get to learn new things,” says Kun. Growing up, he competed in popular Chinese sports such as table tennis and cycling, so he had to learn American baseball to support his son.

Although Kun claims he was not exceptionally talented as a child, he enjoyed trying new things. He has always had a knack for drawing, sketching, and painting, even contemplating a career as an artist before shifting to science. He believes his artistic skills aid in his freehand drawing in engineering, enhancing his design capabilities.

Despite his demanding career, Kun enjoys winter sports, particularly snowboarding. “Since I started snowboarding, there are only two season for me each year: snow season and off season,” quips Kun. But he also makes time for music, playing both the piano and guitar, though he admits he practices them only occasionally. Family trips back to China have become less frequent post-COVID, and he often experiences “reverse cultural shock” when he returns after spending years in America.

The Future of Engineering

When it comes to guiding young people, Kun emphasizes that engineering is a knowledge-building career that equips individuals with foundational skills applicable across various disciplines. He sees engineering as not only a promising career but also a fulfilling life path.

Whereas older engineers often advise young people on avoiding mistakes, Kun believes that learning from mistakes is invaluable and essential for growth. He is passionate about lifelong learning and still feels excited about discovering new things.

As he contemplates the future, Kun acknowledges the growing impact of Artificial Intelligence on engineering. While he and his colleagues currently use AI for tasks such as note-taking and grammar, he anticipates that it will soon extend into the core aspects of engineering, such as design and layouts. Although he thinks AI software may struggle with some specific engineering nuances, he is confident it will enhance rather than replace human engineers.

Through his continuous development and contributions to the field, Kun Liu embodies the spirit of curiosity and dedication, reflecting the challenges and rewards of a career in engineering.