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Ali BeheshtiView profile

Assistant Professor

• Tribology
• Surface Mechanics
• Advanced Materials
• +5 more

Ali Beheshti is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at George Mason University, where he directs the Tribology and Surface Mechanics (TSM) Lab. His research focuses on sustainable design and operation of advanced materials, particularly tribology (lubrication, wear, friction) and interfacial mechanics under extreme conditions. Prior to George Mason, he held positions at Texas State University-Lamar and Texas A&M University. He earned his PhD in Mechanical Engineering with a minor in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Louisiana State University. Beheshti’s research has been funded by federal and state agencies including the Department of Energy, National Science Foundation (NSF), and Port of Beaumont, totaling nearly $600K. His work addresses challenges in additive manufacturing, superalloys, and materials performance under high-temperature and corrosive environments. Notable projects include helium tribology studies for nuclear reactor applications and the mechanical behavior of additively manufactured Inconel alloys. He has published over 35 peer-reviewed papers in journals like Mechanics of Materials and Tribology International , and serves as a reviewer for multiple journals and NSF panels. In 2017, he received the Texas State University Junior Faculty Merit Award. Current research initiatives include tribological studies of additively manufactured polymers and superalloys, contact mechanics under extreme conditions, and multiscale material characterization. He also organizes STEM outreach activities for K-12 students.

• Structural Engineering
• Structural Control
• Structural Health Monitoring
• +4 more

Roles & Affiliations: Ian F. C. Smith is a Honorary Professor at EPFL's ENAC School, affiliated with the EESD laboratory. He holds dual Swiss-Canadian citizenship and has been a leading figure in structural engineering and adaptive systems. Education: PhD in Engineering from the University of Cambridge (1982). Research Interests: Focuses on adaptive civil structures, biomimetic systems, structural health monitoring, and advanced computing applications in civil engineering. His work includes developing structures that adapt to loads through shape morphing, improving infrastructure resilience via data-driven methods, and enhancing safety through sensor networks and vibration analysis. Key Contributions: Over 150 publications on structural control, smart materials, and data interpretation. Notable works include frameworks for occupancy detection via floor vibrations, biomimetic adaptive control of tensegrity structures, and optimization of measurement systems for bridge testing. Advising & Labs: Supervised numerous PhD students (e.g., S. Drira, N. Bertola). Leads the EESD lab, exploring earthquake engineering, structural dynamics, and adaptive systems. Collaborates on projects like the Singapore Cyber-Civil-Infrastructure initiative and the biomimetic deployable footbridge system.

Dorothea BlosteinView profile

Professor

• Computer Science
• Biomechanics
• Graphics Recognition
• +6 more

Roles and Affiliations: Dorothea Blostein is a Professor in the School of Computing at Queen's University, part of the Faculty of Arts and Science. She has held this position since 1988 after earning her Ph.D. (1987) and B.Sc. (1978) from the University of Illinois and an M.Sc. (1980) from Carnegie Mellon University. Research: Her work focuses on the interface between paper and electronic documents, with specialties in graphics recognition, document analysis, and biomedical computing. Key areas include tensegrity structures for biomechanical modeling, adaptive systems, and artificial fascial networks. She also explores music notation recognition and software engineering document classification. Collaborations include projects with NASA on tensegrity robotics and studies on concussion prevention through helmet fitting systems. Teaching: She teaches courses such as CISC 859 (Pattern Recognition) and CISC 324 (Operating Systems). Her pedagogical approach emphasizes hands-on projects and theoretical foundations in AI and algorithms. Labs and Teams: Her research leverages tools like the NASA Tensegrity Robotics Toolkit and ArtiSynth. She collaborates with institutions like the Gordon Lab for embryonic modeling and biomechanical engineers on cytoskeleton simulations.

• Residual Stress Analysis
• Eigenstrain Theory
• Creep Mechanisms in Superalloys
• +5 more

Dr. Fatih Uzun is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Engineering Science at the University of Oxford, funded by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie European Fellowship. His research focuses on residual stress analysis, eigenstrain theory, creep mechanisms in superalloys, and applications of artificial intelligence in materials science. He holds a DPhil (PhD), MSc, and BSc in Chemical Engineering from Yeditepe University. Research Interests: - Residual stresses and eigenstrain reconstruction - Creep behavior of superalloys in high-temperature applications - AI-driven material modeling and fuzzy systems - Digital image correlation (DIC) and tensegrity structures His current project, RESTREIG, develops computational tools to analyze creep behavior in welded aerospace components using eigenstrain theory and experimental methods like diffraction and contour analysis. Collaborations involve ABAQUS finite element modeling and industry partnerships for high-temperature material applications. Key achievements include pioneering work in height DIC (hDIC) for triaxial surface deformation analysis and integrating AI with eigenstrain theory for residual stress evaluation in Inconel alloys. His research bridges computational mechanics, experimental materials science, and advanced manufacturing challenges. Grants/Funding: - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellowship (2016–present) - RESTREIG Project (2016–2025) Labs/Teams: - Solid Mechanics and Materials Engineering Research Group (Oxford) - Collaboration with Jenkin Building facilities for experimental and computational studies

• Architectural Design
• Structural Systems
• Modular Construction

Sofia Martins Da Cunha is a Lecturer at the Department of Architecture of the Oslo School of Architecture and Design (AHO). Her work focuses on architectural design and structural systems, with a particular emphasis on innovative approaches like tensegrity structures. In 2016, she contributed to the edited volume Structures and Architecture: Beyond their Limits , where her research explored the transfer of extraordinary tectonic principles to everyday architectural applications. Her scholarly output aligns with interdisciplinary themes connecting structural engineering and design methodologies.

Yingying (Samara) RenView profile

Assistant Professor

• Digital Fabrication
• Physics-Based Simulation
• Inverse Design Optimization
• +3 more

Yingying (Samara) Ren is an Assistant Professor in Computer Science at the Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA), leading the Geometric Computing and Digital Fabrication group. Her research focuses on digital fabrication, physics-based simulation, and computational inverse design, with applications in medical devices, architecture, and soft robotics. She holds a PhD from EPFL (2019–2024) and dual BS degrees in Mathematics and Computer Science from UIUC (2015–2019). Her work explores novel structures and materials through geometric reasoning and numerical methods. Notable projects include Tensors (tensegrity structures with elastic rods), C-shells (deployable gridshells), and Umbrella Meshes (freeform deployable mechanisms). Recent contributions span inflatable structures, elastic knots, and weaving-based architectural systems. Ren’s research integrates computational design, material science, and advanced manufacturing. She has published in top venues like ACM Transactions on Graphics and SIGGRAPH, focusing on deployable systems, elastic mechanics, and inverse design. Her lab emphasizes practical fabrication, with prototypes ranging from small-scale elastic knots to large architectural pavilions.

Shamsul ArefeenView profile

Assistant Professor

• Solar Photovoltaic System Design
• Bifacial PV Performance Modeling and Simulation
• Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure
• +6 more

Shamsul Arefeen is an Assistant Professor in the Renewable Energy program at SUNY Morrisville's Division of Environmental & Renewable Resources under the School of Agriculture, Business & Technology. He holds a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Texas Tech University (2022) and has industry experience in power systems and telecommunications. His research focuses on: Bifacial solar photovoltaic performance modeling Tensegrity-enabled racking structures for cost-efficient solar systems Applications in water canal covering, EV charging canopies, and agrivoltaics Artificial intelligence applications in renewable energy Energy storage systems Notable research trends include: 15+ recent publications emphasizing structural innovation in solar PV systems Integration of tensegrity engineering principles with photovoltaic design Exploration of synergistic applications across energy, transportation, and agriculture Parallel work on digital education solutions for post-pandemic learning Academic credentials include: Ph.D. Electrical Engineering (Texas Tech, 2022) MS Electrical Engineering (Texas Tech, 2018) MBA (University of Dhaka, Bangladesh) Bachelor's in Electrical & Electronics Engineering (Islamic University of Technology, Bangladesh)

Ada AmendolaView profile

Associate Professor

• Mechanics of Materials
• Metamaterials
• Tensegrity Structures
• +12 more

Ada Amendola is an Associate Professor in the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of Salerno, where she conducts advanced research in innovative materials and structural mechanics. Her work bridges computational modeling, bio-inspired design, and experimental validation of multiscale systems. Her research interests include: Mechanics of Metamaterials and Tensegrity Structures Nonlinear Wave Propagation in Solids Seismic and Dynamic Protection of Structures Energy-Harvesting and Carbon-Storing Building Systems Bio-inspired and Fractal Structural Design Additive Manufacturing of Advanced Structural Components The recent articles highlight her focus on solitary wave dynamics, tensegrity-based seismic isolators, impact-resistant columns, and sustainable composite structures. These works reflect a strong integration of theoretical, computational, and experimental approaches in applied mechanics and civil engineering. Scientific recognition includes competitive funding from the Italian Ministry of University and Research (PRIN), MAECI, and PRIN-PNRR Linea Giovani for projects such as: 'The Mathematics and Mechanics of Nonlinear Wave Propagation in Solids' 'Sustainable Composite Structures for Energy-Harvesting and Carbon-Storing Buildings' (SUSTBUILD) 'Next-Generation Green Structures for Natural Disaster-Proof Building' (NEXTBUILDING) She leads and contributes to interdisciplinary research initiatives, advising teams working on 3D-printed meta-isolators highlighted in Nature , and developing novel structural systems with re-centering capabilities using shape memory alloys. Her lab investigates post-tensioned tensegrity columns, dynamic impact responses, and parametric design of meta-braces. Ongoing work explores the use of self-similarity and biological principles to innovate in structural resilience and sustainability.

Ann SychterzView profile

Assistant Professor

• Structural Engineering
• Sustainable and Resilient Infrastructure Systems
• Adaptive Structures
• +3 more

Ann Sychterz is an Assistant Professor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in the Civil and Environmental Engineering department. She leads the SMARTI Lab, focusing on adaptive structures, tensegrity systems, and machine learning for civil infrastructure. Her research integrates computational design with experimental validation to create deployable systems for climate resilience. PhD, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (2018) M.A.Sc, University of Waterloo (2014) B.A.Sc, University of Waterloo (2012) Her research interests span structural dynamics, form-finding, machine learning, and adaptive infrastructure. Recent work involves MLRAM materials for tensegrity structures, origami-based coastal anchors, and sensor-actuator optimization. 2024-2025 highlights include a Visiting Professorship at University of Stuttgart and SEAOI Outstanding Young Engineer Award . Key trends across her 2023-2025 publications include: Advancements in tensegrity and origami structural modeling Integration of machine learning for damage detection Functionally graded materials for geotechnical applications Experimental validation of full-scale deployable systems Scientific recognition includes: ASCE SEI Future Leaders Award (2024) Best Paper/Poster Awards (2021-2025) NSERC and Ontario Graduate Scholarships Leadership roles in ASCE Technical Committees She advises PhD students in structural control, oversees the SMARTI Lab, and collaborates with the Beckman Institute and National Center for Supercomputing Applications. Her work addresses climate-driven infrastructure challenges through deployable, biomimetic designs.

Evgenia SpyridonosView profile

Researcher

• Sustainable Architecture
• Biocomposite Materials
• Computational Design
• +6 more

Evgenia Spyridonos is a Doctoral Researcher and Research Associate at the University of Stuttgart’s Institute of Building Structures and Structural Design (ITKE), affiliated with the Cluster of Excellence IntCDC. Her work focuses on biocomposite materials for sustainable architectural applications. Current projects: RP 6-1 Biocomposite Façade Panels, AP9 LeichtPRO Key research areas: Computational design, digital fabrication, active-bending structures, tensegrity systems Teaching involvement: Material Matter Lab seminars, design projects on biocomposites Her research explores the integration of natural fibres (flax, hemp) and bio-based resins into structural systems using pultrusion, 3D printing, and tailored fibre placement. Case studies include large-scale demonstrators like the LightPRO Shell and deployable furniture. Publications highlight mechanical testing, computational optimization, and scalability of biocomposite systems, with recent works in Case Studies in Construction Materials , Designs , and Buildings journal. Current efforts focus on frameworks for industrial production and architectural-scale implementations.

• Progressive Collapse
• Structural Fire Analysis
• Tensegrity Structures
• +8 more

Dr. Feng Fu is a Senior Lecturer at the School of Mathematics, Computer Science and Engineering , City, University of London. He serves as Editor-in-Chief of the Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Structures and Buildings and holds leadership roles in professional organizations like the Institution of Structural Engineers and American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). His career blends academic research, industry consultancy, and code development, including contributions to ASCE standards on blast protection and disproportionate collapse mitigation. MSc in Software Engineering (University of Oxford), MBA (University of Manchester), PhD in Structural Engineering (University of Leeds), and BSc/MSc in Structural Engineering (Beijing University of Technology). Worked at WSP Group Ltd, Waterman Plc, and Beijing Institute of Architectural Design and Research, contributing to iconic projects like The Shard and Nakheel Tower. His research focuses on progressive collapse , structural fire analysis , tensegrity structures , and steel composite joints , with recent interdisciplinary work on machine learning and IoT applications in structural design. He has authored 160+ peer-reviewed papers, four books, and developed the first numerical procedure for progressive collapse analysis used in major projects. The 15 most recent articles span diverse topics including biomaterials for diabetic wound healing , seismic performance of composite structures , advanced sensors for structural monitoring , and multi-hazard analysis , reflecting his interdisciplinary expertise. Scientific Awards : Excellence in Teaching (2016), IStructE Young Researchers' Competition (2005), WUN Award (2003). Fellowships : Institution of Structural Engineers (2019–present), American Society of Civil Engineers (2020–present), Institution of Civil Engineers (2020–present), Higher Education Academy (2012–present). He supervises research students working on topics like progressive collapse under multi-hazards , FRP-reinforced concrete , and machine learning applications in structural analysis . His lab collaborates on international projects, including EU-funded initiatives and multi-institutional studies on structural resilience.

• Responsive Architecture
• Shape-Shifting Structures
• Tensegrity Systems
• +7 more

Giuseppe Ruscica is an Associate Professor in the scientific disciplinary sector ICAR/11 (Building Production) at the Department of Engineering and Applied Sciences of the University of Bergamo. He has been with the university since 2012, initially serving as a Researcher until 2023 before being promoted to his current position. Dr. Ruscica earned his PhD in "Architectural, Urban, and Environmental Design and Restoration" from the University of Catania in 2009 and a Degree in Building Engineering with highest honors (110/110 cum laude) from the same institution in 2004. His research focuses on innovative approaches to architectural design and construction, with particular emphasis on responsive and shape-shifting architectures, tensegrity systems, reciprocal structures, and origami-like operations. He also investigates automation for self-supporting masonry shells and develops building components with electromagnetic radiation shielding capabilities using sustainable materials like biochar. His work extends to low-cost IoT sensor systems for environmental monitoring in construction contexts. Dr. Ruscica's publications reveal a strong trend toward integrating sustainable materials with advanced construction technologies, particularly focusing on electromagnetic shielding applications using biochar composites. His research bridges traditional construction methods with cutting-edge digital technologies including Building Information Modeling (BIM), augmented reality, and virtual reality applications for construction sites. He serves as Lecturer for courses including "Technology of Construction Elements and Building Information Modeling" and "Building Ergonomics" for the Building Technologies Engineering program, and co-teaches "Building Information Modeling (BIM)" for the Master's Degree in Construction Engineering.

• Expandable spatial structures
• tensegrity
• exoskeletons
• +1 more

Adam Zawadzki serves as an Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Automotive and Construction Machinery Engineering, Warsaw University of Technology. His academic work focuses on advanced mechanical engineering concepts within the university's scientific and didactic framework. Research interests encompass: Expandable spatial structures for deployable systems Tensegrity structural principles Exoskeleton design and mechanics Hydraulic system applications Consultations are conducted via MS Teams on Wednesdays and Thursdays (16:00-17:00) during the 2025/2026 academic year, with additional appointments available for in-person meetings or alternative scheduling.

• Robotics
• Mechatronics
• Mechanical Engineering
• +3 more

Marc Vedrines is a Lecturer in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, associated with the ICube Research Unit's Automatic Vision Robotics (AVR) team. His educational responsibilities include managing the mechatronics engineering training program through work-study and teaching courses in mechanical construction, strength of materials, mechatronic systems, and projects. His research spans robotics and mechanical systems, with key interests in tensegrity mechanisms, compliant mechanisms, variable stiffness joints, and applications in medical robotics (MR-compatible robots) and aerial vehicles (VTOL UAVs). He investigates the structural behavior and design of innovative robotic components through theoretical analysis and practical implementation. Analysis of his publications from 2010 to 2016 reveals a consistent focus on robotic mechanism design, including tensegrity workspace computation, variable stiffness joints for medical applications, singularity analysis in compliant mechanisms, and aerodynamic optimization of VTOL UAVs. His work demonstrates strong interdisciplinary connections between mechanical engineering, robotics, and biomedical/aerospace applications. Marc Vedrines actively contributes to the AVR team at ICube, advancing research in robotics, computer vision, and automatic systems through collaborative projects and publications in high-impact venues like ASME journals and IEEE conferences.