Robert Thomas

Robert Thomas is an Associate Professor in the Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering at Clarkson University, part of the Coulter School of Engineering & Applied Sciences. He is also affiliated with The Center for Advanced Materials Processing (CAMP). His academic journey includes a B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. in Civil & Environmental Engineering from Clarkson University (2011–2016). Prior to his current role, he held postdoctoral positions at Utah State University (2018) and Idaho State University (2017).

His research focuses on concrete materials and structures, including durability, sustainability, impact and blast loads, and experimental mechanics. He has pioneered work on alkali-activated binders, BCSA cement composites, and UAV-assisted structural inspection. Notable contributions include developing models for ion diffusion in aggregates and improving rapid-repair materials for infrastructure.

Award recognition includes the Emerging Leaders Alliance (2019) and two Outstanding Teaching Awards (2016, 2015). His teaching spans courses like CE212 (Engineering Design), CE549 (Experimental Methods in Structures), and ES100 (Engineering Computing).

Key research outputs include over 30 peer-reviewed articles on cement chemistry, structural durability, and UAV-based inspection. His work bridges fundamental material science with practical applications in sustainable civil infrastructure.