Dr. Alex Sixie Cao is a Lecturer at the Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering at ETH Zurich, working under Professor Andrea Frangi. His research focuses on structural engineering with emphasis on timber structures, progressive collapse analysis, and robustness of tall buildings. His work involves both experimental testing and numerical modeling of structural behavior under extreme loading conditions. His research interests include dynamic structural response, impact loading effects on timber structures, and system reliability of building connections. Dr. Cao has conducted pendulum impact tests on timber beams and developed analytical models for catenary action in reinforced timber structures. Dr. Cao's research primarily appears in computational mechanics and structural engineering journals, with recurring themes in timber structures, progressive collapse mechanisms, granular material behavior, and structural optimization. His recent publications demonstrate consistent focus on developing predictive models for structural failures under various loading scenarios.
Jat-Yuen Richard Liew is a Professor and Head of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the National University of Singapore (NUS), with a career spanning advanced structural systems, composite materials, and extreme load-resilient design. His work bridges academia and industry, contributing to Eurocode standards and iconic projects like Changi Jewel and Gardens by the Bay. B.Eng (First Class) and M.Eng from NUS, PhD from Purdue University Developed Singapore’s national annexes for Eurocodes 3 and 4 Founded Coastal Protection and Flood Resilience Institute (secured $75M) Research Interests focus on steel-concrete composite systems for high-rise and offshore applications, integrating fire/blast resistance , modular construction , and ultra-high-strength materials . His innovations include deployable shelters, shear connectors, and water-energy façade technologies. Scientific Impact includes 400+ papers, 8 books, and 14,500+ Google Scholar citations (h=70). Awards range from the IASS Hangai Prize to NUS Teaching Excellence and World’s Top 2% Scientist (2021–2023). Notably, his team secured $40M+ in external grants for projects in defense, offshore, and petrochemical sectors. Industry Leadership involves roles on national standards committees, advisory panels for Singapore’s Building Construction Authority, and technical direction for iconic projects. He chairs international conferences and serves on the editorial boards of 7 journals, including the Journal of Constructional Steel Research .
Bernardino Chiaia is a Full Professor in the Department of Structural, Geotechnical and Building Engineering (DISEG) at the Polytechnic University of Turin, where he has been a central figure in structural engineering research and education since 1995. He holds a PhD in Structural Engineering and has served in various leadership roles, including Vice-Rettore (Vice-Rector) for Education and Dean of Engineering at UNINETTUNO. His research is focused on structural safety, sustainable materials, and infrastructure resilience, with strong ties to industry and public institutions through numerous funded projects. His research interests include structural mechanics, fiber-reinforced and recycled concrete, seismic safety, avalanche protection, tunnel engineering, and digital asset management. He has pioneered work on eco-mechanical indices for concrete and robustness-oriented design of structures. His work bridges theoretical mechanics with practical engineering applications, particularly in the context of aging infrastructure and climate resilience. His recent publications reflect a strong trend toward digitalization and sustainability in civil engineering, with a focus on avalanche risk modeling, tunnel digital twins, blockchain for asset tracking, and statistical analysis of bridge collapses. These works demonstrate a shift from material-level studies to system-level resilience and data-driven infrastructure management. ACI Wason Medal for Material Research (2013) Chiaia has supervised numerous PhD students and serves on the PhD collegia for Civil and Environmental Engineering at Politecnico di Torino. He has led major research grants funded by national (PRIN, PNRR), European (Interreg), and corporate sources (Autostrade per l’Italia, TELT, CEMEX). His collaborative work includes partnerships with MIT, Imperial College, and Delft University. He also contributes to policy through expert evaluations for MIUR, the European Commission, and international research panels. He leads the Interdepartmental Center SISCON (Safety of Infrastructures and Constructions) and coordinates research agreements with ReLUIS, Autostrade per l’Italia, and the Department of Civil Protection. His work on infrastructure monitoring, digital twins, and risk dashboards underscores his role in advancing smart, resilient civil systems.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. GİRAY ÖZAY is a faculty member in the Civil Engineering Department at the Eastern Mediterranean University , affiliated with the Faculty of Engineering . He holds a PhD in Civil Engineering from Eastern Mediterranean University (1999), following an MS (1994) and BS (1992) in the same field. Research Focus: His work centers on structural engineering, earthquake resilience, and seismic performance evaluation of reinforced concrete (RC) buildings. Key areas include retrofitting techniques, dynamic analysis of structures, and innovative methods for assessing building vulnerability using tools like FEMA P695, artificial neural networks, and regression models. He explores the impact of infill walls and lateral force systems on structural behavior. Advising & Grants: Prof. Özay has supervised numerous PhD and Master’s theses, including studies on RC building strengthening, response modification factors, and comparative analyses of seismic codes (e.g., TBEC 2018 vs. EC8). His ongoing research includes projects on progressive collapse mitigation and cost estimation via neural networks. Labs/Teams: While specific lab affiliations are not listed, his interdisciplinary collaborations involve computational modeling, experimental analysis, and practical field applications in structural engineering.
Dr. Venkatesh Kodur is a University Distinguished Professor and Director of the Centre on Structural Fire Engineering and Diagnostics at Michigan State University's College of Engineering. He specializes in structural and fire engineering, with a focus on material behavior under extreme fire conditions. His work has significantly impacted fire safety in infrastructure globally. He holds adjunct professorships at institutions like University of Waterloo and Indian Institute of Technology, and has led international projects, including investigations of the World Trade Center collapse. Education : Ph.D., Structural Engineering, Queen's University, Canada (1992) M.S., Structural Engineering, Queen's University, Canada (1988) B.S., Civil Engineering, Bangalore University, India (1985) Research Interests : His research addresses fire resistance of materials, structural integrity under extreme conditions, and disaster mitigation. He has pioneered techniques to minimize fire damage in built environments, leveraging computational modeling and material science. Recognition : Over 22,000 citations and an h-index of 82 (Google Scholar) Elected Fellow of seven prestigious academies, including the Royal Society of Canada and Indian National Academy of Engineering Awarded NATO Collaborative Research and Fulbright Scholar honors Leadership : Former Chair of MSU's Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, and current Chair of the international 'Structures in Fire' steering committee. He has held editorial roles in top journals and led numerous technical committees. Labs/Teams : Leads the Centre on Structural Fire Engineering and Diagnostics, advancing fire safety through interdisciplinary research and global collaborations.
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.
Professor Chi King Lee is a full Professor in the Department of Civil Engineering at the School of Engineering & IT, University of New South Wales (UNSW) Canberra, Australia, a position he has held since June 2015. Prior to this, he served at Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore, as Lecturer (1998–2000), Assistant Professor (2000–2001), and Associate Professor (2002–2015). He earned his PhD from Imperial College London in 1996, with earlier degrees from the University of Hong Kong. His research spans: Structural and numerical engineering Sustainable construction materials (e.g., green concrete, ECC) Protective engineering (blast, impact, progressive collapse) Steel structures and integrated sustainable design His recent publications reflect a strong focus on sustainable materials, structural resilience under extreme loads, and advanced numerical modelling. He has over 190 journal articles, 11 book chapters, and serves on the Editorial Board of Engineering Structures . He actively supervises PhD students and offers competitive scholarships. Scientific contributions include: Editorial Board, Engineering Structures (2021–present) Consultant for PSA Singapore and structural software firms Extensive publication record in high-impact journals He mentors PhD candidates in sustainable materials and protective engineering, with research supported by institutional and industry collaboration. His work integrates numerical simulation, experimental validation, and practical application in civil and defence infrastructure.
Luisa Giuliani is an Associate Professor at the Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering Structures and Safety at the Technical University of Denmark. Her expertise spans structural robustness, nonlinear structural behavior, and fire safety engineering, with a focus on progressive collapse and infrastructure resilience. Education: PhD in Structural Engineering International Experience: Visiting researcher at TU Hamburg-Harburg (2008-2009, 2004-2005), Erasmus exchange student in Germany (1999) Her research investigates structural responses to exceptional actions like fire and explosions, contributing to sustainable design practices. Key projects include hydrogen tunnel safety (HyTunnel-CS) and fire protection of bridge cables. She employs advanced tools such as Abaqus, Ansys, and Fire Dynamics Simulator (FDS) for modeling. Recent work addresses fire-induced glass breakage, tunnel explosion mitigation, and hydrogen vehicle fire spread. She serves on scientific committees for conferences like NordicSteel and SEMC, organizing sessions on collapse safety and fire vulnerability. Languages: Italian (mother tongue), English and German (advanced), Danish (intermediate), French (basics). Software expertise includes FEM/CFD programs (Abaqus, FDS) and coding (Visual Basic .Net, APDL).
Dr. Robert Evans is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Civil Engineering within the School of Engineering at Swinburne University of Technology. With a comprehensive academic background including a PhD in Civil Engineering from Swinburne, he brings both academic expertise and practical industry experience from his previous roles at Vicroads and as a Geotechnical Consultant at Piper and Associates. His research focuses on critical geotechnical challenges, particularly soil mechanics and the behavior of expansive soils on light structures. Dr. Evans has developed expertise in analyzing pavement roughness through waveband analysis and modeling pavement deterioration. His work bridges theoretical understanding with practical applications in civil infrastructure. Dr. Evans has maintained an active research program over the past decade, with publication trends showing consistent contributions to high-impact journals in geotechnical and pavement engineering. His recent work emphasizes sustainable solutions, including the use of waste materials in construction, polymer-based stabilization techniques, and understanding the environmental factors affecting infrastructure performance. His research achievements include securing competitive grants from both internal and external sources, including the Australian Research Council. Dr. Evans has successfully supervised numerous PhD and Master's students, with current projects addressing innovative footing systems, sustainable pavement materials, and the interaction between infrastructure and environmental factors. As an educator, Dr. Evans is responsible for undergraduate courses in Geomechanics and Geotechnical Engineering within the Civil Engineering program. His teaching is informed by his active research program and industry experience, ensuring students receive up-to-date knowledge of both theoretical principles and practical applications in the field.
Richard Blane Alley is the Evan Pugh Professor of Geosciences at Pennsylvania State University's College of Earth and Mineral Sciences, where he conducts groundbreaking research on glaciology, ice sheets, and abrupt climate change. His work focuses on understanding the relationships between Earth's cryosphere and global climate systems, with particular emphasis on ice core analysis to reconstruct past climate conditions and predict future changes. Alley's research spans multiple critical areas of Earth science: Glaciology and ice sheet dynamics Abrupt climate change events in Earth's history Cryosphere-climate interactions Ice core analysis and interpretation Sea level rise mechanisms and projections Climate change communication and policy implications His extensive publication record demonstrates a consistent progression from fundamental ice physics to large-scale climate implications. Recent publications increasingly address the mechanisms behind rapid ice loss and their consequences for sea level rise, reflecting the growing urgency of understanding ice sheet stability in a warming world. Alley's work integrates field observations from both Greenland and Antarctica with laboratory experiments and numerical modeling to advance our understanding of ice sheet behavior. Alley's scientific contributions have been widely recognized through numerous prestigious awards: Seligman Crystal (2005) for contributions to understanding ice sheet stability Louis Agassiz Medal (2005) for outstanding contributions to glaciology Heinz Award with special focus on the Environment (2011) BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Award in Climate Change (2014) Foreign Member of the Royal Society (ForMemRS) (2014) Wollaston Medal from the Geological Society of London (2017) National Medal of Science (2025) Throughout his career, Alley has maintained strong research funding through grants from the National Science Foundation and other agencies supporting polar research. His work has been instrumental in advancing our understanding of how ice sheets respond to climate change and the potential consequences for global sea levels. He has mentored numerous graduate students and postdoctoral researchers who have become leaders in glaciology and climate science. Alley leads research through Penn State's Earth System Science Center, where his team analyzes ice cores, develops models of ice sheet behavior, and investigates the physical processes governing ice flow and stability, making fundamental contributions to one of the most critical areas of climate science.
Professor Rupa Purasinghe serves as a faculty member in the Department of Civil Engineering at California State University, Los Angeles within the College of Engineering, Computer Science, and Technology. He concurrently holds the position of Chair of the Technology Department and maintains registration as a Professional Civil Engineer in California. His academic credentials include: Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from Case Western Reserve University, Ohio M.S. in Structural Engineering from Portland State University, Oregon B.S. in Civil Engineering from University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka Dr. Purasinghe's research program integrates structural engineering innovation with educational technology, focusing on performance-based structural analysis, energy dissipation systems for seismic protection, and sustainable construction materials. His work bridges theoretical analysis with practical applications in earthquake engineering and green building technologies, while simultaneously developing web-based and mobile learning tools to transform engineering pedagogy. Publication analysis reveals two dominant research trajectories: seismic resilience of infrastructure through energy dissipation devices and sustainable construction systems, alongside significant contributions to educational technology. His structural engineering work addresses critical challenges in lifeline infrastructure at earthquake faults, non-ductile concrete buildings, and wood-based seismic systems, while his educational research pioneers mobile learning, vertically integrated classrooms, and collaborative project-based course redesign. His scholarly impact is recognized through: NCEES national award for Connecting Professional Practice and Education (2011) NCEES national award for Connecting Professional Practice and Education (2010) As Course Coordinator for the Civil Engineering Senior Design Projects, Dr. Purasinghe has successfully integrated professional practice with academic curriculum, creating nationally recognized experiential learning opportunities. His course redesign initiatives incorporate e-learning tools and collaborative projects to enhance student engagement and professional readiness. Dr. Purasinghe directs the Civil Engineering Senior Design Projects program and teaches computer-aided design laboratories, implementing vertically integrated classroom approaches where current research—such as the Linked Column Frame System and lifeline pipe testing—directly informs undergraduate structural engineering education.
Amarjit Singh serves as Professor in the Department of Civil, Environmental and Construction Engineering at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, where he has held continuous faculty appointments since 1993, progressing from Assistant to full Professor. His academic leadership includes serving as Graduate Chair (2022-2023) and holding visiting positions at IIT Delhi, University of New South Wales, and Cornell University. His educational foundation includes: Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from Purdue University (1990) M.Eng. in Civil Engineering from Texas A&M University (1987) B.Tech. in Civil Engineering from I.I.T. Delhi (1976) Professor Singh's research pioneers the integration of legal frameworks with engineering practice , particularly in construction dispute resolution and risk analysis . His work spans concrete technology, construction safety, and infrastructure asset management, characterized by practical applications in international contexts. As Founding Editor of the Journal of Legal Affairs and Dispute Resolution in Engineering and Construction, he has shaped scholarly discourse at the law-engineering interface. His recent publications (2021-2025) demonstrate consistent focus on infrastructure failure analysis (dam failures, high-rise collapses, fuel storage incidents) and context-specific construction challenges (India's concrete practices, Afghanistan's conflict-zone projects). The work exhibits strong interdisciplinary connections between engineering, legal liability, and public policy. His distinguished recognition includes the Richard R. Torrens Award (2024) and multiple best paper awards across ASCE journals: Richard R. Torrens Award (2024) Construction Management Award (2019) Board of Regents’ Excellence in Teaching Award (2009) Seven Best Paper Awards (2007-2021) Professor Singh has secured over $5M in research funding from FHWA, USGS, NSF, and industry partners for infrastructure projects including Kahului Airport pavement monitoring, Honolulu water pipe networks, and harbor protection systems. His grants consistently address practical infrastructure challenges through engineering-economic analysis. His research collaborations with the Honolulu Board of Water Supply and Hawaii Department of Transportation focus on real-world asset management solutions, particularly in pipeline performance analysis and coastal protection engineering.
