Research Group Members
In our research group, the research activities are paired with the educational and training opportunities for a diverse group of postdoctoral, graduate, undergraduate, and K-12 students.
Current Postdoctoral, Graduate, and Undergraduate Advisees
Past Postdoctoral, Graduate, and Undergraduate Advisees
Honors and Awards Received by Research Group Members
Group’s Current Members
Amir Ramezani
Ph.D. Student (2024–present)
M.Sc. (2023) Amirkabir University of Technology
Raymond Pepera
Ph.D. Student (2023–present)
B.Sc. (2022) Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology
Tahereh Torabi
Ph.D. Student (2023–present)
M.Sc. (2017) Iran University of Science and Technology
Amirhosein Vakili
Ph.D. Student (2023–present)
M.Sc. (2019) Amirkabir University of Technology
Ibrahim Odeh
Ph.D. Student (2023–present)
M.Sc. (2020) Jordan University of Science and Technology
Ravi Shastri
Ph.D. Student (2022–present)
M.Sc. (2022) Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee
Bahareh Dokhaei
Ph.D. Student (2022–present)
M.Sc. (2020) Amirkabir University of Technology
Saeed Bozorgmehr Nia
Ph.D. Student (2022–present)
M.Sc. (2013) University of Guilan
Karthian Jadhav
Ph.D. Student (2021–present)
M.Sc. (2021) Iowa State University
Shadi Azad
Ph.D. Student (2021–present)
M.Sc. (2018) University of Tehran
Current Undergraduate Students
– Samuel Oelschlaeger (First-Year Honors Mentor Program & NSF REU)
– Benjamin Marshall (First-Year Honors Mentor Program & NSF REU)
– Jonathan Steiner (First-Year Honors Mentor Program)
– Emma Scheffler (First-Year Honors Mentor Program)
– Bradyn Anderson (Undergraduate Research Assistant)
– Axl Escarcega (Undergraduate Research Assistant & McNair Scholar)
NSF IRES Undergraduate Research Assistant
– Alexis Barrera (Undergraduate Research Assistant & McNair Scholar)
NSF IRES Undergraduate Research Assistant
– Zachary Kahle (Undergraduate Research Assistant, Continued to M.Sc. Program)
– Tristan Lucas (Undergraduate Research Assistant, Continued to M.Sc. Program)
[14] Markus Faerevik (M.Sc. Advisee) (2024–2025)
[13] Edward Kynoe (M.Sc. Advisee) (2024–2025)
[12] Benhur Tekie (M.Sc. Advisee) (2024–2025)
[11] Tesfay Ghebremariam (M.Sc. Advisee) (2024–2025)
[10] Yonas Zewelde (M.Sc. Advisee) (2023–2024)
[9] Sarosh Nawaz (M.Sc. Advisee) (2023–2024)
[8] Haseeb Qureshi (M.Sc. Advisee) (2023–2024)
[7] Emil Lindersson (M.Sc. Advisee) (2022–2023)
[6] Mohammad Askari (M.Sc. Advisee) (2022–2023)
[5] Jennifer Wivast (M.Sc. Advisee) (2022–2023)
[4] Anette Nyland (M.Sc. Advisee) (2022–2023)
[3] Ahmed Omar (M.Sc. Advisee) (2021–2022)
[2] Sirak Kibreab (M.Sc. Advisee) (2021–2022)
[1] Leila Farahzadi (Ph.D. Advisee) (2021–present)
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Group’s Postdoctoral Research Associates
Dr. Dikshant Saini
Postdoctoral Research Associate (2021–2023)
Dr. Weizhuo Shi
Postdoctoral Research Associate (2019–2021)
Dr. Shahin Hajilar
Postdoctoral Research Associate (2018–2019)
Dr. Meysam Najimi
Postdoctoral Research Associate (2017–2019)
Group’s Graduate Alumni
Maziar Kazemian
Ph.D. Advisee (2020–2024)
Dissertation: Innovative strategies to improve hydration development, dimensional stability, and durability of ultra-high performance concrete
Dr. Rizwan Karim
Ph.D. Advisee (2019–2023)
Dissertation: Investigation of ultra-high performance concrete from material and structural perspectives
Dr. Cole Shurbert-Hetzel
Ph.D. Advisee (2019–2023)
Dissertation: Investigation of temperature, shrinkage, and creep effects on frame piers
Dr. Abhijit Kulkarni
Ph.D. Advisee (2017–2022)
Dissertation: Performance of ultra-high performance concrete shear walls subjected to wind and windborne debris impact
Dr. Kofi Oppong
Ph.D. Advisee (2016–2021)
Dissertation: Vulnerability assessment of bridges under vehicular collision
Dr. Dikshant Saini
Ph.D. Advisee (2015–2021)
Dissertation: Vulnerability assessment of buildings subjected to windborne debris impact
Quin Rogers
M.Sc. Advisee (2018–2020)
Thesis: Repair of damaged prestressed concrete bridge girders using cementitious materials
Dr. Weizhuo Shi
Ph.D. Advisee (2015–2019)
Dissertation: Investigation of shrinkage-compensating cement concrete from material and structural perspectives
Dr. Dena Khatami
Ph.D. Advisee (2015–2019)
Dissertation: Management of concrete bridges under aging mechanisms and extreme events
Dr. Shahin Hajilar
Ph.D. Advisee (2015–2018)
Dissertation: Cementitious materials subjected to mechanical and environmental stressors: A computational framework
Jordan Eikamp
M.Sc. Advisee (2018–2020)
Thesis: Investigation of plastic shrinkage in fiber-reinforced concrete and shrinkage-compensating concrete
Kenneth Coblentz
M.Sc. Advisee (2018–2020) (co-advised with Dr. Sritharan)
Thesis: Analysis of a precast concrete barrier subjected to varying loads
Cole Shurbert-Hetzel
M.Sc. Advisee (2018–2020)
Thesis: Structural behavior of frame piers subject to temperature and shrinkage effects
Austin DeJong
M.Sc. Advisee (2017–2019)
Thesis: Innovations in integral abutment connection details for accelerated bridge construction
Douglas Krapf
M.Sc. Advisee (2017–2019)
Thesis: Increasing service life at bridge ends of movable abutment bridges
Melvin Glenn Veigas
M.Sc. Advisee (2017–2019) (co-advised with Dr. Passe)
Thesis: Design and development of cellulose-based composites for the built environment
Rizwan Karim
M.Sc. Advisee (2017–2019)
Thesis: Innovations in material design and structural configuration of link slabs
Michael Dopko
M.Sc. Advisee (2016–2018)
Thesis: Fiber-reinforced concrete: Tailoring composite properties with discrete fibers
Saeed Arabi
M.Sc. Advisee (2015–2017)
Thesis: Vulnerability assessment of sign-support structures during transportation and in service
Jyothirmai Nandibhatla
M.Sc. Advisee (2015–2017) (co-advised with Dr. Sritharan)
Thesis: Material characterization and application of ultra-high performance concrete
Anmol Pakhale
M.Sc. Advisee (2014–2017) (co-advised with Dr. Phares)
Thesis: Acceleration of bridge construction with prolonged service life
Shahin Hajilar
M.Sc. Advisee (2012–2014)
Thesis: Nano-scale investigation of mechanical characteristics of main phases of hydrated cement paste
David Ribbans
M.Sc. Advisee (2012–2014)
Thesis: Structural vulnerability of bridge piers in the event of barge collision
Past Undergraduate Students
[55] Samuel Oelschlaeger (2025) First-Year Honors Mentor Program & Summer REU
[54] Benjamin Marshall (2025) First-Year Honors Mentor Program & Summer REU
[53] Jonathan Steiner (2025) First-Year Honors Mentor Program
[52] Emma Scheffler (2025) First-Year Honors Mentor Program
[51] Axl Escarcega (2024–2025) Undergraduate Research Assistant & McNair Scholar
[50] Alexis Barrera (2024–2025) Undergraduate Research Assistant & McNair Scholar
[49] Miguel Zelaya (2024) Undergraduate Research Assistant
[48] Diane Kirkpatrick (2024) First-Year Honors Mentor Program
[47] Natalie Marti (2024) First-Year Honors Mentor Program
[46] Elizabeth Wetzel (2024) First-Year Honors Mentor Program
[45] Brendan Dougherty (2024) Undergraduate Research Assistant
[44] Tristan Lucas (2023–2024) Undergraduate Research Assistant & NSF IRES Fellow
[43] Zachary Kahle (2023–2024) Undergraduate Research Assistant & NSF IRES Fellow
[42] Ella Lovin (2023) Undergraduate Research Assistant
[41] William Stokes (2023) Undergraduate Research Assistant
[40] Logan Baumler (2023) Undergraduate Research Assistant
[39] Eli Walter (2023) Undergraduate Research Assistant
[38] Dylan Osborn (2023) Undergraduate Research Assistant
[37] Mario Carapia Segundo (2023) APEX-E Program
[36] Sydney Fisher (2023) Undergraduate Research Assistant
[35] Lia Miller (2022–2023) First-Year Honors Mentor Program
[34] John Martin (2022–2023) First-Year Honors Mentor Program
[33] Aniston Cumbie (2023) Undergraduate Research Assistant
[32] Alberto Perea (2022–2023) Undergraduate Research Assistant
[31] Nicolas Worsham (2022–2023) Undergraduate Research Assistant
[30] Manuel Santana (2022) APEX-E Program
[29] J’Avanti Hall-Lopez (2022) IINSPIRE LSAMP Summer Research Experience
[28] Quentin Tiscareno (2021) Summer REU
[27] Josiah Crawford (2021) Summer REU
[26] Thomas Gauley (2021) Summer REU
[25] Jared Benson (2020) Summer REU
[24] Mia Wright (2020) Summer REU
[23] Alec McDowell (2019–2020) Undergraduate Research Assistant
[22] Thomas Gauley (2019–2020) Undergraduate Research Assistant
[21] Alex Stein (2019–2020) Undergraduate Research Assistant
[20] Mira Luke (2019–2020) First-Year Honors Mentor Program
[19] Noah Rudi (2019–2020) First-Year Honors Mentor Program
[18] Isaac Hunter (2019–2020) First-Year Honors Mentor Program
[17] Iluda Ko (2019) APEX-E Program
[16] Peter Gepson (2019) First-Year Honors Mentor Program & APEX-E Program
[15] Thomas Gauley (2018–2019) First-Year Honors Mentor Program
[14] Matthew O’Brien (2018–2019) First-Year Honors Mentor Program
[13] Eric Lezniak (2018–2019) Undergraduate Research Assistant
[12] Jiangrui Cao (2018–2019) Independent Study
[11] Jordan Eikamp (2017–2018) Independent Study
[10] Dallas Carter (2017) Undergraduate Research Assistant
[9] Craig Serchen (2017) Undergraduate Research Assistant
[8] Siyuan Cheng (2017) Undergraduate Research Assistant
[7] Michael Dopko (2015–2016) Independent Study
[6] Andrew Jacobucci (2013–2014) Honors College with Thesis
Thesis: Fragility analysis of bridges with eroded abutment piles
[5] Marissa Shea (2013–2014) Honors College with Thesis
Thesis: Capacity loss estimation of aging reinforced concrete structures
[4] Eric Muench (2013–2014) Honors College with Thesis
Thesis: Damageability of reinforced concrete bridges under impact loads
[3] Stephanie Castine (2012–2013) Independent Study
[2] Angela Berthaume (2012–2013) Independent Study
[1] Jessica Boakye (2012–2013) Honors College with Thesis
Thesis: Seismic performance assessment of highly skewed bridges
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Group’s Honors and Awards
2026: Saeed Bozorgmehr Nia
Graduate Scholarship, Iowa Ready Mixed Concrete Association
2026: Tahereh Torabi
ACI Travel Scholarship, American Concrete Institute
2025–2026: Raymond Pepera
Burg-Coleman Iowa State ‘77 ACI Fellowship, American Concrete Institute
2025–2026: Zachary Kahle
ACI Foundation Scholarship, American Concrete Institute
2025–2026: Amirhosein Vakili
O. H. Ammann Research Fellowship, ASCE Structural Engineering Institute
2025: Raymond Pepera & Ravi Shastri
Best Student Presentation Award, 2nd International Conference on Net-Zero Built Environment: Innovations in Materials, Structures, and Management Practices
2025: Saeed Bozorgmehr Nia
Long Family Scholarship, International Association of Foundation Drilling
2025: Amirhosein Vakili
James D. Cooper Best Student Poster Award, International Bridge Conference
2025: Raymond Pepera
Best Poster Award (2nd Place) in Structural Engineering, 13th Annual CCEE Student Research Showcase and Poster Competition
2025: Amirhosein Vakili
Best Poster Award (3rd Place) in Structural Engineering, 13th Annual CCEE Student Research Showcase and Poster Competition
2025: Bahareh Dokhaei
Most Involved Club Member, Structural Engineering Institute Graduate Student Chapter
Engineering Student Council, Iowa State University
2025: Leila Farahzadi
Best Presentation Award, 5th International Civil Engineering and Architecture Conference
2025: Shadi Azad
SEI Futures Fund Student Scholarship, ASCE Structural Engineering Institute
2025: Raymond Pepera
SEI Futures Fund Student Scholarship, ASCE Structural Engineering Institute
2025: Saeed Bozorgmehr Nia
SEI Futures Fund Student Scholarship, ASCE Structural Engineering Institute
2025: Amir Ramezani
SEI Futures Fund Student Scholarship, ASCE Structural Engineering Institute
2025: Amirhosein Vakili
SEI Future Leader Scholarship, ASCE Structural Engineering Institute
2025: Bahareh Dokhaei
ACI Travel Scholarship, American Concrete Institute
2025: Saeed Bozorgmehr Nia
Graduate Scholarship, Iowa Ready Mixed Concrete Association
2024–2025: Raymond Pepera
George A. Jackson Award, Iowa State University
2024–2025: Amir Ramezani
Brown Graduate Fellowship, Iowa State University
2024: Amirhosein Vakili
SEI Futures Fund Student Scholarship, ASCE Structural Engineering Institute
2024: Bahareh Dokhaei
SEI Futures Fund Student Scholarship, ASCE Structural Engineering Institute
2024: Haseeb Qureshi & Sarosh Nawaz
Best Student Presentation Award, 1st International Conference on Net-Zero Built Environment: Innovations in Materials, Structures, and Management Practices
2024: Bahareh Dokhaei
Best Poster Award (2nd Place) in Structural Engineering, 12th Annual CCEE Student Research Showcase and Poster Competition
2024: Saeed Bozorgmehr Nia
ACI Travel Scholarship, American Concrete Institute
2024: Amirhosein Vakili
ACI Travel Scholarship, American Concrete Institute
2023: Jennifer Wivast & Anette Nyland
OsloMet Best Master Thesis Award
2023: Maziar Kazemian
Research Excellence Award, Iowa State University
2023: Cole Shurbert-Hetzel
Research Excellence Award, Iowa State University
2023: Shadi Azad
Best Poster Award (2nd Place) in Structural Engineering, 11th Annual CCEE Student Research Showcase and Poster Competition
2023: Amirhosein Vakili
Best Poster Award (3rd Place) in Structural Engineering, 11th Annual CCEE Student Research Showcase and Poster Competition
2022: Saeed Bozorgmehr Nia
Best Poster Award (2nd Place), Iowa Better Concrete Conference
2021: Rizwan Karim
Research Excellence Award, Iowa State University
2021: Rizwan Karim
Iowa Ready Mixed Concrete Association Scholarship
2020: Dikshant Saini
Research Excellence Award, Iowa State University
2020: Jared Benson
Outstanding Senior in Civil Engineering
Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering
Iowa State University
2020: Weizhuo Shi
Postdoctoral Seed Grant
Iowa State University
2020: Maziar Kazemian
Lowell Greimann Fellowship
2019–2020: Dikshant Saini
INTERN Fellowship
National Science Foundation (NSF)
2019: Austin DeJong
Outstanding Student of the Year Award
U.S. Department of Transportation
2019: Dikshant Saini
Best Oral Presentation, Annual Graduate and Professional Student Research Conference, Iowa State University
2019: Cole Shurbert-Hetzel
Best Poster Award (1st Place) in Structural Engineering, 8th Annual CCEE Student Research Showcase and Poster Competition
2019: Dikshant Saini
Best Poster Award (2nd Place) in Structural Engineering, 8th Annual CCEE Student Research Showcase and Poster Competition
2018: Dena Khatami
Research Excellence Award, Iowa State University
2018: Weizhuo Shi
Best Poster Award (1st Place), Iowa Better Concrete Conference
2018: Melvin Glenn Veigas
Best Poster Award (2nd Place), Iowa Better Concrete Conference
2017: Shahin Hajilar
Student Marshall for ISU’s Graduate Commencement Ceremony
2017: Shahin Hajilar
Research Excellence Award, Iowa State University
2017: Dikshant Saini
Best Poster Award (2nd Place) in Structural Engineering, 7th Annual CCEE Student Research Showcase and Poster Competition
2017: Shahin Hajilar
Best Poster Award (2nd Place), Iowa Better Concrete Conference
2016: Shahin Hajilar
Best Poster Award (1st Place) in Structural Engineering, 6th Annual CCEE Student Research Showcase and Poster Competition
2016: Saeed Arabi
People’s Choice Award, 6th Annual CCEE Student Research Showcase and Poster Competition
2016: Shahin Hajilar
Teaching Excellence Award, Iowa State University
2016: Weizhuo Shi
Best Oral Presentation, Annual Graduate and Professional Student Research Conference, Iowa State University
2015: Shahin Hajilar
Best Poster Award (3rd Place) in Structural Engineering, 5th Annual CCEE Student Research Showcase and Poster Competition
2014–2017: Angela Berthaume
Graduate Research Fellowship
National Science Foundation (NSF)
2014: Marissa Shea (2014)
Emerging Leader Award, University of Massachusetts, Amherst
2014: Eric Muench (2014)
Commonwealth Honors College Research Assistant Fellowship
2014: Marissa Shea
Commonwealth Honors College Research Assistant Fellowship
2013: Jessica Boakye
21st Century Leader Award, University of Massachusetts, Amherst
2013: Jessica Boakye
Rising Researcher Award, University of Massachusetts, Amherst
2013: Angela Berthaume
Commonwealth Honors College Research Assistant Fellowship
2013: Jessica Boakye
New Face of Civil Engineering (College Edition)
American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)