Dr. Tomasz Ferenc serves as an Assistant Professor at the Department of Strength of Materials within the Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Gdańsk University of Technology. His research focuses on structural integrity assessment, particularly in the context of corrosion processes and non-destructive testing methodologies for civil engineering structures. His primary research interests include: Corrosion mechanisms in reinforced concrete structures Non-destructive evaluation techniques including electrical potential, ultrasonic and vibration-based methods Structural health monitoring of concrete and composite materials Mechanical behavior of composite materials under various loading conditions Recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on corrosion characterization in reinforced concrete beams using multiple testing methodologies. His work combines destructive and non-destructive experimental approaches to assess structural integrity, particularly examining electrochemical corrosion processes and their effects on structural performance. His research spans civil infrastructure elements including concrete beams, LPG storage tanks, and composite footbridges. Dr. Ferenc frequently collaborates with researchers including E. Wojtczak, B. Meronk, M. Rucka, and K. Wilde, indicating active participation in research teams focused on structural materials and integrity assessment. His work appears in journals specializing in construction materials, nondestructive evaluation, and civil engineering research.
Dr. Marcin Krajewski serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Structural Mechanics at Gdańsk University of Technology, conducting experimental and numerical research on structural stability and load-bearing capacity of building components. His work bridges theoretical analysis with practical engineering applications in timber and steel construction systems. Research interests center on structural mechanics of wooden carpentry joints, truss stability under wind loading, and composite material behavior at elevated temperatures. Key methodologies include finite element analysis, vibration-based nondestructive testing, and experimental validation of structural elements using biaxial testing machines. His investigations address critical factors like geometric imperfections, connection stiffness, and material degradation under thermal stress. Recent publications (2022-2025) reveal consistent focus on stability analysis of log wall joints and roof trusses, with increasing emphasis on numerical modeling of friction effects and imperfection sensitivity. Work spans both traditional timber engineering (saddle-notch/dovetail joints) and modern composite systems (GFRP-reinforced concrete), demonstrating interdisciplinary approach to structural failure mechanisms. Secured research grants include projects on wooden joint load capacity (2024), truss wind stability (2024), wood strength testing (2022), and experimental testing stands for structural connections (2022). These projects operate within the Department of Structural Mechanics framework, utilizing university laboratory facilities for experimental validation of theoretical models.
Mikko Nykyri is a Post-doctoral researcher at the Department of Electrical Engineering within the School of Energy Systems at Lappeenranta-Lahti University of Technology (LUT). His research focuses on energy systems with particular emphasis on smart grids, energy communities, and demand response mechanisms. His work bridges theoretical approaches with practical applications in the energy sector, aligning with LUT's strategic focus on energy transition. Dr. Nykyri's research interests center around the intersection of energy systems and digital technologies. He investigates how machine learning, particularly deep reinforcement learning, can optimize energy efficiency in buildings and industrial processes. His work on energy communities explores economic models, blockchain-based settlement systems, and educational approaches through serious games. He also maintains research interests in power electronics, including inverter technologies and semiconductor device characterization. His research demonstrates strong interdisciplinary connections across electrical engineering, computer science, and energy economics. An analysis of Dr. Nykyri's publication history reveals a clear evolution from fundamental power electronics research toward increasingly complex system-level applications. His early work focused on specific technical challenges in power conversion and semiconductor devices, while his recent publications address holistic energy system challenges including community-scale economics, AI-driven optimization, and educational frameworks. This progression reflects the broader energy transition from component-level improvements to integrated system solutions, with particular emphasis on the role of digitalization in enabling new energy paradigms. Dr. Nykyri has established a robust collaborative network, frequently working with researchers including Tommi J. Kärkkäinen, Saku Levikari, and Pertti Silventoinen. His peer review activity for Applied Energy demonstrates his recognized expertise in the field. His research maintains a practical orientation, with multiple studies involving real-world industrial applications and educational demonstrators that bridge academic research with industry implementation needs.
Lucio Salles deSalles serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Civil Engineering Technology, Environmental Management and Safety at Rochester Institute of Technology's College of Engineering Technology. His research spans critical areas of transportation infrastructure: Advanced pavement engineering and concrete technology Data-driven infrastructure management systems Highway construction safety analysis using AI Nondestructive testing methodologies for concrete Professor Salles' work demonstrates significant innovation in applying computational methods to traditional civil engineering challenges, particularly through his recent exploration of large language models for safety analysis. His research directly addresses practical industry needs in pavement performance prediction and construction safety. With 9 publications in 2023-2024, his output shows strong momentum in high-impact transportation journals and international conferences. The consistent collaboration with Dr. Lev Khazanovich across multiple projects indicates well-established research partnerships within RIT's transportation engineering community. His publications reveal a clear trajectory toward integrating artificial intelligence with infrastructure engineering, positioning his work at the intersection of traditional civil engineering and computational innovation. This approach provides valuable frameworks for improving pavement management systems and construction safety protocols through data-driven methodologies.
Dr. Houssam A. Toutanji serves as Dean of the Andrew J. Anagnost College of Engineering and Computer Science and Professor of Civil Engineering and Construction Management at California State University, Northridge. Previously, he held leadership positions including Dean of the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences at Western Michigan University, Chair of Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, and Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Education at the University of Alabama in Huntsville. Dr. Toutanji's educational background includes: Certificate in Communication for Impact, Harvard University, Graduate School of Education (2022) Certificate in Management and Leadership Education (MLE), Harvard University, Graduate School of Education (2018) Ph.D. in Civil Engineering, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, MA (1992) M.S. in Civil Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA (1987) B.S. in Civil Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA (1985) Dr. Toutanji's research focuses on advanced construction materials and structural engineering. His work spans processing and mechanics of composites, smart materials and structures, high-performance concrete, sustainable construction materials, and fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites. He has made significant contributions to bridge design, infrastructure renewal, multi-threat mitigation (including blast), impact/damage mechanics, fracture fatigue, and nondestructive assessment of materials and structures. His research addresses critical challenges in civil infrastructure durability and performance under various loading conditions. Dr. Toutanji's scholarly output demonstrates consistent focus on strengthening techniques for concrete structures, particularly using FRP composites. His work shows progression from fundamental material characterization to practical applications in structural rehabilitation. Recent publications emphasize fatigue analysis, prediction models, and innovative coating systems for enhanced structural performance and durability. His research bridges theoretical modeling with experimental validation across multiple structural systems, with particular attention to long-term performance under cyclic loading. Dr. Toutanji has received numerous prestigious awards: National Science Foundation CAREER Award (1996) NSF-EPSCoR Scholarly Productivity Award (1995, 1996) Fellow, American Society of Civil Engineers (2006) John J. Guarrera Engineering Educator of the Year Award (2020) UAH Research and Creative Achievement Award (2005) UAH Distinguished Teaching Award (2004) As a dedicated educator and researcher, Dr. Toutanji has secured over $7 million in research funding from agencies including NSF, DOD, NOAA, NASA, Army Corps of Engineers, ALDOT, and UTCA. He has advised 18 doctoral students to completion and served as principal or co-principal investigator on numerous research projects. His leadership extends to editorial roles for academic journals and service as an ABET evaluator. Dr. Toutanji also holds visiting positions at Cergy-Pontoise University as a Research Visiting Scholar and University of Gent as a Visiting Professor. Dr. Toutanji's research activities center around advanced materials testing and structural analysis laboratories focused on composite materials, concrete technology, and structural rehabilitation techniques. He has established collaborative research networks with international institutions including universities in France and Belgium, contributing to the global advancement of civil engineering knowledge and practice in structural engineering and construction materials science.
Andrus Salupere is a distinguished Professor and current Dean of the School of Science at Tallinn University of Technology. He holds a Tenured Full Professor position in the Department of Cybernetics, where he previously served as Director from 2017-2020. His academic career spans over three decades with significant leadership roles including Chairman of the Estonian National Committee for Mechanics since 2009 and representing Estonia in the IUTAM General Assembly. Salupere's educational background includes a Doctor's degree earned in 1991 from Tallinn University of Technology with his dissertation on "Optimal design of rigid-plastic stepped circular and annular plates" supervised by Ülo Lepik. His academic journey began at the University of Tartu where he completed his studies in Applied Mathematics (1976-1981) followed by PhD studies (1983-1986). His research focuses on continuum mechanics, nonlinear waves, and soliton theory, with significant contributions to numerical methods for solving nonlinear partial differential equations. Salupere's work bridges mathematical physics with practical applications in materials science and nondestructive testing. His recent publications demonstrate expertise in Haar wavelet methods for nonlinear PDEs, solitonic structures in hierarchical KdV systems, and applications of nonlinear wave phenomena in material characterization. His research portfolio reveals consistent exploration of wave propagation phenomena across multiple media types, from theoretical mathematical models to practical applications in carbon fiber composites and biological tissues. This interdisciplinary approach connects fundamental mathematical physics with engineering applications in nondestructive testing and materials characterization. Honors & Awards Order of the White Star, 4th Class (2013) Salupere maintains active involvement in academic governance as a member of TalTech Senate and its Committee for Academic Affairs. His international collaborations include visiting fellowships at Cambridge University (2002, 1998) and post-doctoral research at the University of Paris 6 (1993-1994). He has organized special issues on nonlinear wave complexity in the Proceedings of the Estonian Academy of Sciences and serves on multiple expert panels including the Estonian Research Council's Expert Panel for Natural Sciences.
