Laura Ray is the Myron Tribus Professor of Engineering Innovation and Senior Associate Dean for Faculty Development at the Thayer School of Engineering, Dartmouth College. Her research focuses on autonomous robotics, system dynamics, and machine intelligence with applications in polar exploration and agriculture. She leads NSF- and NASA-funded projects, including the development of robots like Yeti and Cool Robot for remote terrain analysis. Education: BSE in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering from Princeton University (1984), MSE in Mechanical Engineering from Stanford University (1985), and PhD in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering from Princeton University (1991). Research Interests: Her work spans robotics navigation, cooperative multi-robot systems, and acoustic signal processing. Recent projects include tactile sensing for agricultural robotics and terrain identification algorithms for autonomous vehicles. Awards: Honored with the 2022 Outstanding Service Award, National Academy of Inventors Senior Membership (2020), and multiple fellowships in engineering. Notable contributions include patents for noise-canceling devices and adaptive filtering technologies. Leadership: Served as Interim Dean of Thayer School (2018–2021) and co-leads initiatives like the NSF-funded PhD Innovation Program. Teaches courses in control theory (ENGS 26) and systems engineering (ENGS 22). Key Achievements: Developed robots that reduce risks in polar regions, supported NASA missions, and pioneered precision agriculture technologies. Her lab's innovations have been highlighted in Science, National Geographic, and IEEE Spectrum.
Professor Hong Hao is a John Curtin Distinguished Professor at Curtin University, affiliated with the School of Civil and Mechanical Engineering and the Curtin Research Centre for Infrastructural Monitoring & Protection. His expertise spans Structural Dynamics, Earthquake Engineering, Blast and Impact Engineering, and Structural Health Monitoring. He holds prestigious roles like Fellow of ATSE, ISEAM, and ASCE, and has led organizations such as the International Association of Protective Structures and the Australian Earthquake Engineering Society. Education: BE (Tianjin University, 1982), MSc (UC Berkeley, 1985), PhD (UC Berkeley, 1989). Awards include the Tan Chin Tuan Fellowship and multiple Ko Medals. He has authored over 200 journal articles, with recent work focusing on blast-resistant materials, seismic fragility, and AI-driven structural health monitoring. His research emphasizes resilient infrastructure, including metaconcrete structures, corrosion-resistant materials, and sensor-based damage detection. Ongoing projects involve smart tunnel safety under BLEVE explosions and modular building systems.
Professor Chunsheng Lu is a faculty member at Curtin University's School of Civil and Mechanical Engineering within the Faculty of Science and Engineering. He currently holds the position of Professor and serves as Editor-in-Chief of Mechanical Engineering Advances . His research focuses on fracture mechanics, multi-scale modeling, energy materials, nonlinear dynamics, and natural disaster risk analysis. Lu is actively involved in HDR (Masters/PhD) supervision, offering projects on advanced materials modeling and simulations. His research interests include mechanics of energy materials, multi-scale modeling, and fracture statistics. He has contributed to over 200 publications, with recent work emphasizing piezoelectric semiconductors, nanomaterials, and energy storage systems. Lu's teaching spans materials engineering, solid mechanics, and numerical methods.
Akram N. Alshawabkeh is the George A. Snell Professor of Engineering and University Distinguished Professor at Northeastern University's College of Engineering, where he also serves as Senior Vice Provost and Director of the PROTECT Superfund Research Center. He holds a PhD in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Louisiana State University (1994), an MS from Jordan University of Science & Technology (1990), and a BE from Yarmouk University (1988). His research focuses on geoenvironmental engineering, soil and groundwater remediation, and electrochemical processes. Alshawabkeh has led major research initiatives, including the PROTECT Superfund Research Center (since 2010) and the CRECE Children's Environmental Health Center (since 2015). He has over 100 peer-reviewed publications and has advised numerous PhD, MS, and undergraduate students. His honors include the ASCE Thomas A. Middlebrooks Award (2014), Fulbright Scholar (2005-2006), and National Science Foundation CAREER Award (2001). His service roles include Chair of the Superfund Research Program Conference (2015), Technical Program Co-Chair for GeoCongress 2008, and editorial board memberships in journals like Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering . He has also held leadership positions in professional societies, including Fellow status in the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). Alshawabkeh's work emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration, addressing environmental health challenges in Puerto Rico and beyond. His research integrates engineering, toxicology, epidemiology, and social science to tackle issues like preterm birth linked to environmental contaminants and karst aquifer remediation.
John S. McCartney is a Professor and Hal Sorenson Endowed Chair in the Department of Structural Engineering at the University of California San Diego (UCSD). He directs the Englekirk Structural Engineering Center and holds editorial roles at journals such as ASCE Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering and Computers and Geotechnics. His research focuses on unsaturated soil mechanics, energy geotechnics, and geosynthetics engineering, with applications in thermal energy systems, landfill covers, and seismic response analysis. Education: B.S. and M.S. in Civil Engineering from University of Colorado Boulder (2002), Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from University of Texas at Austin (2007). Research interests include thermo-hydro-mechanical behavior of soils, geothermal energy piles, tire-derived aggregates, and seismic performance of geotechnical systems. His work combines laboratory testing, centrifuge modeling, and numerical simulations to address challenges in sustainable infrastructure and energy systems. Key awards include the Walter L. Huber Research Prize (2016), NSF CAREER Award (2011), and multiple teaching and service recognitions. He actively contributes to ASTM standards and serves as President of the IGS-NA chapter. Lab facilities are located in the Structural and Materials Engineering Building (SME 409). Courses taught include advanced soil mechanics, energy geotechnics, and geotechnical earthquake engineering.
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Gerhard Müller is a Full Professor at the Chair of Structural Mechanics within the TUM School of Engineering and Design at Technical University of Munich (TUM). Since 2004, he has held this distinguished position, and since 2014, he has served as Executive Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs at TUM. His research focuses on structural dynamics and vibroacoustics, with specific expertise in dynamic soil-structure interaction, sound radiation analysis, and seismic risk assessment. Professorship: Structural Mechanics University: Technical University of Munich School: TUM School of Engineering and Design Department: Chair of Structural Mechanics in Civil Engineering Prof. Müller's research spans multiple domains, including: Structural Dynamics : Examining building and vehicle vibrations, seismic soil-structure interaction, and advanced model order reduction techniques Vibroacoustics : Investigating sound radiation from vibrating structures and developing acoustic metamaterials for noise control Computational Methods : Pioneering hybrid deterministic-statistical approaches, Wave Based Methods (WBM) for saturated elastodynamic structures, and parametric model order reduction His recent publications demonstrate expertise in: Wave propagation analysis in poroelastic media Bayesian parameter updating for structural models Acoustic metamaterials for vibration control Advanced numerical methods for seismic risk assessment Hybrid ITM-FEM approaches for soil-structure interaction Energy flow analysis in timber structures Awarded the Spindler Prize in 1984 , Prof. Müller also holds significant academic leadership roles: President of European Association for Structural Dynamics (EASD) Chairman of Bavarian-French University Center (BayFrance) Active member of ASIIN accreditation agency and Bavarian Chamber of Engineers Previously served as Dean of Civil Engineering and Surveying at TUM (2010-2014) He leads the Structural Dynamic Lab (formerly Vibroacoustics Lab) and has developed interactive web apps for engineering education. His work bridges theoretical advancements with practical applications in construction acoustics, transportation noise control, and geothermal energy infrastructure analysis.
Pengfei Wang is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering at Old Dominion University (ODU). He holds a Ph.D. in Geotechnical Engineering and an M.S. in Statistics from UCLA, alongside a B.S. in Transportation Engineering from Tongji University. Prior to ODU, he conducted postdoctoral research at UCLA. His expertise focuses on Geotechnical Engineering , Engineering Seismology , and Applied Statistics , with emphasis on regional geo-hazard modeling, multi-hazards risk assessment, and statistical learning applications. Key research interests include seismic site response analysis, liquefaction susceptibility, and probabilistic risk frameworks for infrastructure resilience. Dr. Wang’s work integrates geospatial analysis and statistical methodologies to address challenges in earthquake engineering. He has developed frameworks for regional landslide and liquefaction risk assessments, particularly in vulnerable regions like California’s Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. His contributions include advancing HVSR (Horizontal-to-Vertical Spectral Ratio) methodologies and ergodic site response modeling. He maintains active collaborations with institutions globally and contributes to open-source databases for seismic data, promoting transparency and reproducibility in geotechnical research. His educational background in transportation engineering enriches interdisciplinary approaches to civil infrastructure resilience.
Professor Atilla Ansal is a distinguished academic in Civil Engineering at Özyeğin University's School of Engineering, where he has served as a full-time professor since March 2012 and previously as the Founding Chair of the Civil Engineering Department from 2012-2019. With an extensive career spanning over five decades, Professor Ansal has held prominent positions at Istanbul Technical University, Bogaziçi University's Kandilli Observatory and Earthquake Research Institute, and has served as a visiting professor at numerous international institutions including Northwestern University, University of California, and Tokyo University. Northwestern University, 1978 (Doctorate) Civil Engineering, Istanbul Technical University, 1969 (Master's) Civil Engineering, Istanbul Technical University, 1969 (Bachelor's) Professor Ansal's research focuses on Earthquake Geotechnical Engineering, Soil Dynamics, Seismic Hazard Analysis, Landslide hazard analysis, Seismic Microzonation, and Laboratory and In-Situ Testing of Soil Properties. His work has significantly advanced our understanding of soil behavior under seismic loading, site response analysis, and seismic microzonation methodologies. His research has direct applications in urban planning, earthquake risk mitigation, and performance-based seismic design. Professor Ansal has pioneered approaches to site-specific earthquake characterization and developed methodologies for seismic microzonation that have been implemented in numerous Turkish cities and adopted internationally. His extensive publication record demonstrates consistent contributions to earthquake engineering, with recent work focusing on probabilistic seismic microzonation, 2D basin effects, site-specific response analysis, and performance-based design approaches. His research shows a clear evolution from fundamental soil behavior studies to practical applications in urban risk assessment and mitigation. 7th Prof.N.Ambraseys Lecturer (2024), European Association for Earthquake Engineering 15th Nonveiller Lecturer (2017), Croatian Geotechnical Society Third Prof.Dr. Rıfat Yarar Lecturer (2015), Turkish Civil Engineers Association Third Ord.Prof.Dr. Hamdi Peynircioglu Lecturer (1988) Professor Ansal has advised 15 PhD students and 27 Master's students, shaping the next generation of earthquake engineers. His leadership extends to editorial roles as Editor-in-Chief of the Springer journal 'Bulletin of Earthquake Engineering' since 2002 and Editor-in-Chief for the Springer book series on 'Geotechnical, Geological and Earthquake Engineering'. He served as Secretary General (1994-2014), President (2014-2018), and Vice President (2018-2022) of the European Association for Earthquake Engineering, significantly influencing the field internationally. His work has been supported by numerous grants from Turkish government agencies, international organizations including UNESCO, and collaborative research projects across Europe. Professor Ansal has been instrumental in establishing geotechnical monitoring systems in Istanbul, including vertical arrays for site response analysis. His leadership in the 'Earthquake Master Plan for Istanbul' and 'Seismic Microzonation for Municipalities' projects has created critical infrastructure for earthquake risk management in Turkey's most populous city. His work with GeoIst, Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering and Consultancy Inc. has translated academic research into practical engineering solutions for seismic risk mitigation.
Roya Nasimi, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Engineering at California State University, East Bay, where she joined in Fall 2023. Her expertise spans structural engineering, computer vision, and artificial intelligence, with a focus on developing innovative solutions for infrastructure monitoring and safety. Dr. Nasimi's educational background includes: Ph.D. with distinction in Structural Engineering from the University of New Mexico Master’s degree in Structural Engineering from the University of Tabriz Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Tabriz Her research focuses on structural health monitoring using advanced technologies. She integrates computer vision , artificial intelligence , and machine learning to develop systems for monitoring aging infrastructure, particularly bridges. Her work includes designing low-cost and high-end sensor systems, conducting full-scale bridge experiments, and collaborating on interdisciplinary projects to enhance infrastructure safety and resilience. Her recent publications (2021-2025) demonstrate a strong emphasis on non-contact monitoring techniques using drones, lasers, and computer vision. Key trends include the application of deep learning for displacement measurement, digital twinning for infrastructure, and rockfall prevention through machine learning. Her work bridges civil engineering with cutting-edge technology to address critical infrastructure challenges. Dr. Nasimi's research is supported by multiple grants: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Transportation Research Board (TRB) Transportation Consortium of South-Central States (Tran-SET) New Mexico Consortium She serves on two TRB standing committees and mentors students in structural health monitoring and infrastructure technology. Dr. Nasimi leads interdisciplinary research teams focused on infrastructure monitoring, utilizing drones, lasers, and computer vision systems. Her work involves field experiments on bridges and rail systems, often in collaboration with government agencies and research consortia.
Babak Moaveni is a Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Tufts University, serving as the Associate Chair since September 2024. He also holds a joint appointment as a Professor in Electrical and Computer Engineering. His research focuses on structural health monitoring, Bayesian inference, earthquake engineering, and offshore wind energy systems. Moaveni earned his Ph.D. in Structural Engineering from the University of California San Diego (2007), following an M.S. (2001) and B.S. (1999) from Sharif University of Technology in Tehran, Iran. His research interests span probabilistic system identification, signal processing, uncertainty quantification, and verification/validation of computational models. Notable grants include leadership in the PIRE project on offshore wind energy digital twins and the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind Pilot Project. He has supervised multiple Ph.D. and M.S. students, with current advisees including Mehdi Akhlaghi and Nasim Partovi-Mehr. Moaveni has received the Best Presentation Award at the 2022 EDGE Symposium and serves on editorial boards for journals like Structural Health Monitoring and Frontiers in Built Environment . His lab, the Structural Health Monitoring Lab, specializes in infrastructure management and offshore wind energy systems. Key professional activities include membership in the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and roles on Tufts' Tenure and Promotion Committee. His teaching includes courses on structural health monitoring, numerical methods, and structural reliability.
Gaetano Miraglia is a Fixed-term Assistant Professor in the Department of Structural, Building and Geotechnical Engineering (DISEG) at Politecnico di Torino, where he conducts research in structural health monitoring, seismic analysis, and computational modeling. He is a member of the Interdepartmental Center R3C – Responsible Risk Resilience Centre, contributing to interdisciplinary efforts in risk mitigation and infrastructure resilience. His work spans both theoretical and applied domains, with strong emphasis on heritage preservation and sustainable urban development. His research interests include Bayesian calibration of nonlinear models, hybrid simulation, peridynamics, masonry structures, and the integration of satellite interferometric (InSAR) data with in-situ measurements for structural monitoring. He applies advanced computational and machine learning techniques to improve the accuracy and reliability of structural assessments, particularly in historical and monumental buildings. His work supports UN Sustainable Development Goals 9, 11, and 13. His recent publications demonstrate a consistent focus on data fusion, digital twinning, domain adaptation, and real-time damage detection. He frequently collaborates with researchers such as Rosario Ceravolo and Erica Lenticchia, publishing in high-impact journals like Computer-Aided Civil and Infrastructure Engineering , Structures , and Scientific Reports , as well as at major conferences including EWSHM, SAHC, and EVACES. His research is applied in projects such as the monitoring of the Vicoforte Sanctuary and the development of the CAMELOT and HY-LEARN toolboxes. Research Projects: MONITORAGGIO VICOFORTE (2024–2026) – Member of Research Group CAMELOT – PoC Transition (2023–2024) – Member of Research Group HY-LEARN – Model Calibration via Hybrid Simulation and ML (2022–2024) – Scientific Manager (PNRR Mission 4) He teaches in various programs, including as a course collaborator in PhD, Master’s, and Bachelor’s level courses such as Earthquake Engineering , Structural Consolidation , and Seismic Risk of Cultural Heritage . He is also an inventor on national and international patents and software related to the CAMELOT toolbox, highlighting the translational impact of his research. He has no listed scientific awards or formal advisees in the provided text.
Dr Donya Hajializadeh is an Associate Professor of Structural Engineering at the University of Surrey's School of Sustainability, Civil and Environmental Engineering. She holds multiple professional qualifications including Chartered Engineer (CEng) and European Engineer (EUR ING), and is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA). Her roles include Director of Employability (since 2020), Deputy Coordinator of the Surrey/ICE Scholarship (since 2019), and IStructE Liaison Officer (since 2021). She is also affiliated with the Surrey Institute for People-Centred Artificial Intelligence (PAI). Her education includes a BEng (Hons), MEng, and PhD in relevant fields. Research focuses on structural health monitoring (SHM), machine learning applications in asset management, and deep learning for damage identification. Key areas include railway bridge dynamics, vibration analysis, and resilience assessment under seismic and environmental hazards. Current PhD students include Chia Sadik (Transport Infrastructure Failure Assessment) and Michael Millgate (Dynamic Characterisation of Tall RC Buildings). Teaching responsibilities include ENG1073 Fluid Mechanics and ENGM054 Earthquake Engineering. Research aligns with sustainable development goals, emphasizing infrastructure sustainability and carbon reduction strategies. Notable projects include rail bridge innovation recognized by the Chief Scientific Adviser Award and presentations on damage identification techniques to government officials. She contributes actively to interdisciplinary initiatives, integrating AI with civil engineering for smarter infrastructure solutions.
Katrina M. Groth is a Professor and Director of the Reliability Engineering Program at the University of Maryland, affiliated with the A. James Clark School of Engineering. She also serves as Associate Director for Research at the Center for Risk and Reliability and is part of the Maryland Energy Innovation Institute. Her expertise spans risk analysis, hydrogen safety, and nuclear safety, with notable contributions to probabilistic risk assessment (PRA) and human reliability analysis (HRA). Groth holds a Ph.D., M.S., and B.S. in Reliability Engineering from the University of Maryland (2009, 2008, 2004). Her research focuses on advancing safety practices for energy systems, including hydrogen technologies, nuclear power plants, and pipelines. Key innovations include the HyRAM toolkit for hydrogen risk assessment and the HyCReD database for reliability data. Groth has published over 175 papers and secured funding from DOE, NRC, and industry partners. She advocates for educational equity, mentoring women and first-generation engineering students. Award highlights include the NSF CAREER Award, USM Board of Regents Faculty Award, and ASME Rising Star of Mechanical Engineering. She leads initiatives such as the SyRRA Lab and serves on editorial boards for journals like Reliability Engineering & System Safety . Groth teaches graduate and undergraduate courses on reliability engineering and risk analysis, emphasizing practical applications in infrastructure and energy systems. Education: Ph.D., Reliability Engineering, University of Maryland, 2009 M.S., Reliability Engineering, University of Maryland, 2008 B.S., Engineering, University of Maryland, 2004 Professional Service: Board of Trustees, National Museum of Nuclear Science & History Associate Editor, ASCE-ASME Journal of Risk and Uncertainty in Engineering Systems Her work integrates Bayesian methods, deep learning, and causal reasoning to address complex system safety challenges, with global impact on engineering standards and practices.
Eileen Martin is an Associate Professor in the Department of Geophysics and Applied Math and Statistics at the Colorado School of Mines. Her research focuses on near-surface geophysics, environmental monitoring, and the application of distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) technology. She leads projects involving fiber-optic sensing for permafrost degradation, urban seismic monitoring, and mining safety. Martin has developed open-source tools like DASCore and contributes to scalable computational methods for geophysical data analysis. Education: PhD (2018) in Computational and Mathematical Engineering from Stanford University; MS (2017) in Geophysics from Stanford; BS (2012) in Mathematics and Physics from UT Austin. Research interests include fiber-optic sensing systems, seismic imaging, data-intensive computing, and applications in environmental science. Her work bridges geophysics with computational methods, emphasizing real-world deployment in challenging environments like arctic permafrost sites and underground mines. Her recent work explores DAS for glacier monitoring, mine seismicity detection, and urban infrastructure assessment. Collaborative projects include Arctic permafrost monitoring and developing public datasets for geoscience research (PubDAS repository). Grants and lab activities include NSF CAREER funding for scalable computational seismology and partnerships with industry on fiber-optic monitoring solutions.
Dr. Mourad Zeghal is a Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI). His research focuses on computational geomechanics, seismic response monitoring, and geotechnical system identification. He leads projects addressing liquefaction mitigation, multiscale modeling of geosystems, and development of advanced computational tools for geotechnical analysis. Dr. Zeghal collaborates with RPI's Center for Network for Earthquake Engineering Simulation (CEES), Scientific Computation Research Center (SCOREC), and Inverse Problems Center (IPRPI). His work emphasizes reducing risks from natural hazards through improved design tools and model validation. Key projects include the Liquefaction Experiments and Analysis Projects (LEAP), which use centrifuge testing and machine learning to analyze soil behavior under seismic loads. Dr. Zeghal's research integrates experimental data with numerical simulations to enhance understanding of soil-structure interaction and lateral spreading during earthquakes. Research Interests: Soil liquefaction, multiscale modeling, inverse problem methods, computational geomechanics Key Collaborations: CEES, SCOREC, IPRPI, and global research networks Focus Areas: Centrifuge testing, model validation, seismic hazard mitigation His recent publications (2023–2025) highlight advancements in quantifying uncertainty in soil response, analyzing LEAP centrifuge experiments, and developing machine learning approaches for model calibration. Dr. Zeghal actively engages with industry and government labs to translate research into practical engineering solutions.
