Fatemeh Ali Akbari (PhD Student): Fatemeh Ali Akbari is a Ph.D. student and Graduate Research Assistant in Civil-Structural Engineering at Florida International University. Her research focuses on retrofitting techniques and experimental and numerical investigation of the behavior of reinforced Ultra High-Performance Concrete (UHPC) elements. Fatemeh holds an M.Sc. from Ferdowsi University of Mashhad. Prior to joining FIU, she worked for four years as a lecturer, teaching undergraduate civil engineering courses and advising graduate students on research projects. She has published in high-impact journals across diverse areas, including performance-based design and energy-based seismic design, and now brings years of teaching and research experience to her role at Florida International University (FIU), where she is dedicated to contributing to advancements in structural engineering through innovative research and collaboration.

Carlos Concha Avila (PhD, Student): Carlos is a graduate research assistant at Florida International University (FIU) in Miami, FL. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering in 2012 from the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru and is a licensed professional engineer in Peru. He brings over seven years of experience in structural engineering, having worked in the mining, industrial, residential, and commercial sectors for both national and multinational firms.

In addition to his engineering background, Carlos has expertise in statistics and machine learning. He spent more than two years working as a data analyst and data scientist in the financial sector. In 2025, he began his Ph.D. in Structural Engineering at FIU under the supervision of Dr. Atorod Azizinamini. His research focuses on applying machine learning and artificial intelligence to bridge engineering. 

Gabriela Dos Santos Rodrigues (MS Student): Gabriela Rodrigues is a Graduate Research Assistant at Florida International University (FIU), having joined in Summer 2024. She earned her B.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering from FIU in 2021. Prior to returning to graduate school, she gained two years of industry experience in the oil and gas pipeline sector, where she worked as an engineer involved in design, analysis, and field operations. Her research interests include Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) and Magnetic Flux Leakage (MFL). She is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering and conducting research under the supervision of Dr. Atorod Azizinamini. 

Jayaramachandrasekhar Samudrala (MS Student): Jayaramachandrasekhar is a Master’s student and Graduate Research Assistant in Construction Management at Florida International University (FIU) in Miami, FL. He holds a Bachelor of Technology in Civil Engineering from Ramachandra College of Engineering in Eluru, India. Prior to pursuing graduate studies, he worked as an Engineering Assistant for the Panchayat Raj Engineering Department in Andhra Pradesh, India, where he managed infrastructure projects such as roadways, drainage systems, and public buildings with a strong emphasis on quality and safety standards.

At FIU, Jayaramachandrasekhar’s research focuses on Ultra-High Performance Concrete. His technical skillset includes Primavera P6, AutoCAD, Revit, Procore, and Bluebeam Revu. He is OSHA 30-Hour and CMIT certified, and he brings a strong foundation in project management, cost estimation, and construction documentation to both his research and professional pursuits.

Malena Serrano (PhD, Student): Malena is a Graduate Research Assistant in Civil Engineering at Florida International University (FIU) in Miami, FL. Her research focuses on the repair and upgrade of structures using advanced materials such as Ultra-High Performance Concrete (UHPC), combining experimental testing and numerical modeling to evaluate structural behavior.

She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from Universidad Andina del Cusco and a government-funded Master’s degree from the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru (PUCP), where her research focused on reducing seismic risk in adobe housing in rural areas. She also completed coursework in a Master’s program on Educational Innovation and the Integration of ICTs at PUCP. Prior to joining FIU, Malena worked as a lecturer for six years, teaching undergraduate civil engineering courses, advising students on research projects, and contributing to a PUCP team that received a grant for innovation in university teaching. She later served for two years as Head of the Structural Area at the Peruvian University of Applied Sciences (UPC). She is currently pursuing her Ph.D. under the supervision of Dr. Atorod Azizinamini.

Manuel Escobar (PhD, Candidate): Manuel is a graduate research assistant pursuing a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering at Florida International University in Miami, FL. After earning his bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering in his native country, Manuel decided to pursue his passion for robotics by enrolling in the master’s program in the same discipline as well. As a researcher, he focuses on the study of bridge inspection with autonomous drones in GPS-deprived environments under the supervision of Research Scientist Anthony Abrahao. His major task consists of developing an adaptive drone that can attach and drive under bridges and use visual capabilities to inspect autonomously. Drone navigation in GPS-deprived environments is currently a state-of-the-art topic in many universities, representing ABC-UTC’s commitment to broadening the barriers of knowledge.

Richard Morgan Dickinson (PhD, Candidate): Morgan Dickinson, PE, is a PhD student at FIU. He graduated with an MSCE degree in Geotechnical Engineering at Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, in 1980. He graduated with his BSCE degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, in 1978. He has over 40 years of experience as a consulting engineer providing geotechnical engineering, construction engineering and inspection, construction material testing, and engineering management. He has managed operations for engineering firms and large projects. He has worked on numerous bridge, roadway, and airport projects, including the recently completed Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport Runway Expansion project featuring a bridge supporting the runway over a US highway and FEC railway. He supervised inspection and testing services for the new Hard Rock Casino 32-story hotel, distinctively shaped as a guitar. He was an adjunct professor at FIU, teaching geotechnical engineering and project scheduling/estimating.

Gabriel Cerioni (PhD Student): After graduating with his bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering from Florida International University, Gabriel decided to continue advancing his education by pursuing his master’s degree from his alma mater. As a research assistant, he is focused on robotics and automation. When he is not bringing machines to life, Gabriel enjoys road trips to discover new museums and hiking trails.

Nasim Mohamadiazar (PhD, Candidate): Nasim is a Ph.D. candidate and a graduate research assistant in the Department of Civil Engineering at Florida International University with broad interests in advanced GIS-based hydrologic modeling and applying green infrastructure to the management of stormwater runoff. She received her MS degree in Civil and Water Resources Engineering from Sharif University of Technology, Iran. Her past work looked at measuring and identifying the economic and private benefits of reallocation of transboundary water, agricultural revolution, and services. Also, she investigated identifying solutions to water resource management problems facing human activities (e.g., farming complex, or agricultural services). As part of her current research, Nasim focuses on integrated flood and socio-environmental risk assessment and multi-criteria decision analysis.

Sepehr Faridmarandi (PhD, 2025): Sepehr was a PhD student in Structural Engineering at FIU beginning in 2021. He received his MS in Structural Engineering from Amirkabir University of Technology in 2016 and his BS in Civil Engineering from Shiraz University in 2011. His master’s thesis focused on performance evaluation and optimum seismic retrofitting of reinforced concrete bridges. Sepehr’s research covered experimental testing and analytical modeling of structures.

Abid Hossain (PhD, 2025): Mr. Hossain was a PhD student at FIU who joined in Spring 2021. He completed his B.Sc. in Civil Engineering at the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) in 2017. After graduation, he worked as an Executive Engineer for three years with Orion Group, a leading construction company in Bangladesh, where he applied practical knowledge of construction techniques in design and management. His research interests included Transportation Planning, Construction Management, Asset Management, and Data Analysis. He worked on the ABC-UTC research project “Life-Cycle Cost Analysis of Ultra High-Performance Concrete (UHPC) in Retrofitting Techniques for ABC Projects” under the supervision of Dr. Carlos M. Chang.

Seyed Saman Khedmatgozar Dolati (PhD, 2024): Saman was a graduate research assistant at Florida International University in Miami, FL, with a focus on structural engineering. He earned his MS in Structural Engineering in 2019 in Iran. During his master’s studies, he ranked first among all civil engineering students with a 4.0 GPA. His MS research project focused on the nonlinear behavior of bridge piers during earthquakes. He worked on the design, evaluation, retrofit, and rehabilitation of bridges using innovative materials and energy dissipation systems, and he also worked on the design of structures with FRP composite materials. He began his PhD in Civil Engineering in 2020 and worked on the ABC-UTC research project “Alternative Materials and Configurations for Prestressed-Precast Concrete Pile Splice Connection” under the supervision of Professor Armin Mehrabi. This research project and the development of a Guide were directly applicable to improving pile splice connection design and analysis for ABC projects, including new bridges and the replacement of existing bridges.

Mansoureh “Suri” Shahabi Ghahfarokhi (PhD, Student): Mansoureh was a graduate research assistant at Florida International University in Miami, FL. She received her master’s degree in Civil Engineering–Structural Engineering in 2009 and her bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering in 2005 from Isfahan University of Technology in Iran. Her MS research project focused on developing MATLAB codes to implement the finite strip method for studying the elastic buckling of curved plates with different boundary conditions and longitudinally stiffened plates. She worked for over 10 years before returning to academia as a structural designer of complex steel and concrete structures, including the Isfahan City Center, the 4th largest shopping mall in the world (www.isfahancitycenter.com). She began her PhD in Structural Engineering in 2022 at FIU, working under the supervision of Dr. Azizinamini on research studies related to bridge engineering.

Md Nizamul Hoque Mojumder (PhD, 2023): Md Nizamul Hoque was a PhD candidate majoring in Transportation Engineering in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Florida International University. He completed his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering at the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET). After gaining three years of industrial experience and two years of academic experience, he continued his research work at Florida International University. In his leisure time, Nizamul enjoyed playing badminton and cricket.

Muhammad Faheem Ud Din Afzal (PhD, 2023): Muhammad was a graduate research assistant at Florida International University in Miami, FL. He graduated with a B.Sc. in Civil Engineering from UET Lahore in 2011. He then received the Asian Development Scholarship in 2015 to pursue his MSc in Civil Engineering with a major in Structural Engineering at Saitama University, Japan. He worked as a Senior Structural Engineer with NESPAK, a premier consultancy in Pakistan, starting in 2012. In his master’s thesis, he studied and experimented with a new radar apparatus for structural health monitoring of a cable-stayed bridge. He began pursuing his PhD in Structural Engineering in January 2019. At FIU, he worked on the project “Extending Maximum Length of the Folded Steel Plate Girder Bridge System (FSPGBS), exceeding 100 ft. with capability to Incorporate Camber.”

Seyedehnakisa “Nakisa” Haghi (Ph.D. Student): Nakisa was a Graduate Research Assistant at FIU. She later pursued her second PhD in Structural Engineering. She received her B.S. from Babol Noshirvani University of Technology and her first PhD from the Tehran University of Science and Culture. Her research focused on developing a new macro model to enable the application of steel–concrete (SC) composite walls to tall buildings and infrastructure. The proposed models could be implemented in engineering computational platforms to simulate the global response of SC shear walls for practical building analysis. Since 2007, Nakisa worked as a construction supervisor and building designer. From 2011–2018, she held a full-time position as a construction supervisor at Babol Noshirvani University of Technology (BNUT), and from 2018–2021, she worked as a member of the structural laboratory at BNUT. She also served as a reviewer for the Journal of Structures and Scientia Iranica.

Nerma Caluk (PhD, 2023): Nerma Caluk was a graduate research assistant at FIU with a focus on structural engineering. She completed her BS in Civil Engineering at Florida International University in 2018 as a student athlete, receiving the Outstanding Graduate Award in Civil Engineering. She obtained her MS degree in Structural Engineering at FIU in 2020. During her MS studies, she worked under the supervision of Dr. Azizinamini and conducted her own research project on the implementation of Ultra High Performance Concrete (UHPC) in precast shell elements for circular bridge columns used in Accelerated Bridge Construction. She began her PhD in Structural Engineering in the Summer of 2020 at FIU, continuing to work under the supervision of Dr. Azizinamini, while also serving as an active member of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE).

Piyush Pradhananga (PhD, 2023): Piyush was a Ph.D. graduate from the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Florida International University (FIU). He held a B.S. in Civil Engineering from Tribhuwan University (TU). Following his graduation in 2016, he joined a leading real estate corporation in Nepal as a project engineer working on a multi-million-dollar project. He later joined a research firm based in London, where he worked as an Engineering Graduate Researcher. At FIU, Piyush served as a Graduate Research Assistant at the Moss School of Construction, Sustainability, and Infrastructure, where he focused on multidisciplinary research that harmonized sustainability in construction. His research interests included Sustainable Construction, Construction Safety, Engineering Education, Robotics and AI-based construction, Circular Economy, and Sustainable Infrastructure and Resilience for Disasters and Extreme Weather.

Abbas Khodayari (PhD, 2023): Abbas Khodayari was a PhD candidate with a focus on structural engineering at FIU. He received his M.Sc. in Structural Engineering from Sharif University of Technology in 2015 and his B.Sc. from the same institution in 2012. His master’s thesis focused on the seismic behavior of split-level structures with semi-rigid connections. He began his PhD in Civil Engineering in 2018.

Ali Bakhtiari (PhD, 2023): Ali Bakhtiari was a graduate research assistant at FIU. He earned his MS in Structural Engineering in 2016 from Sharif University of Technology in Tehran, Iran, and received his BS in Civil Engineering from the same institution in 2012. His MS research project focused on the importance of the overstrength factor in the inelastic behavior of soil–structure systems. He began his PhD in Civil Engineering in 2018. At FIU, he worked on the ABC-UTC research project “A Predictive Computer Program for Proactive Demolition Planning” under the supervision of Dr. Seung Jae Lee.

Ali Javed (PhD, 2023): Ali Javed was a Graduate Research Assistant at FIU. He earned his Ph.D. in Structural Engineering from FIU, where his research focused on robotics and large-scale 3D printing of ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC). He received his M.S. in Civil Engineering from the University of Tokyo, Japan, in 2017 under the prestigious Asian Development Bank Scholarship, specializing in urban disaster mitigation engineering, and was honored with the Furuichi Kimitake Outstanding Research Award. He also held a Postgraduate Diploma and a B.Sc. in Civil Engineering from the University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore, during which he received a U.S. Education Foundation Exchange Scholarship to study at Kansas State University. Professionally, Ali worked as a Bridge Engineer on the Central Highway Project in Sri Lanka and gained broad experience in the design and analysis of concrete and steel structures. He was also an active member of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and the Japanese Society of Civil Engineers (JSCE).

Carlos Sosa (PhD, 2023): Carlos Sosa was a PhD candidate at FIU with a focus on structural engineering. He received his MS in Structural Engineering from the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru in 2014 and his BS from the National University of San Agustín in 2005, both in Peru. During his master’s program, his research focused on the development and experimental assessment of a new reinforcement system for earthen constructions. He began his PhD in Civil Engineering in 2018. At FIU, he worked on an ABC-UTC research project under the supervision of Dr. Atorod Azizinamini.

Sunil Dhakal (PhD, 2021): Sunil was a Ph.D. candidate in Civil Engineering with a focus on Construction. He received his B.S. in Civil Engineering from Kathmandu University, Nepal. He joined Florida International University as a Ph.D. student in Fall 2017. His thesis research was related to disaster resilience and resilient infrastructure systems. He also worked on the ABC-UTC research project “Understanding Critical Impacting Factors and Trends on Bridge Design, Construction, and Maintenance for Future Planning.”

Alireza Mohammadi (PhD, 2017):  Alireza Mohammadi received his doctoral degree in structural engineering from FIU in December 2016. He earned his MS degree in earthquake engineering from Sharif University of Technology in Tehran and his BS degree from Tabriz University in Iran. He worked as a structural engineer at Zelzeleh Mohaseb Consulting Engineering Co. for four years before returning to academia. At FIU, he was involved in several bridge engineering research projects and assisted with ABC-UTC research and related activities, including organizing monthly webinars and preparing progress reports. His PhD dissertation focused on the dynamic response of high-rise buildings under wind excitation. After completing his degree, he joined WSP Parsons Brinckerhoff to begin his career in the transportation market sector.

Alireza Valikhani (PhD, 2020):  Alireza Valikhani received his PhD at FIU. He earned MS degrees in Structural Engineering, Earthquake Engineering, and Civil and Environmental Engineering from the University at Buffalo in New York, Sharif University in Tehran, and Tehran University, respectively. He also received his BS in Civil Engineering from Tabriz University in Tabriz. He had four years of experience working as a structural designer and field supervisor. For his PhD research, he worked on developing new methods for retrofitting bridge structural elements.

Amir Sadeghnejad (PhD, 2021): Amir Sadeghnejad was a PhD candidate at FIU. He received his MS in Structural Engineering from Sharif University of Technology in 2015 and his BS from the same institution in 2012. During his master’s program, his research focused on the seismic behavior of beam-to-column connections. He began his PhD in Civil Engineering in 2016. At FIU, he worked on the ABC-UTC research project “Extending Application of SDCL to ABC in Seismic Regions, Phase II – Experimental.” He graduated in Spring 2021.

Muhammad Atif Anwer (MS, 2022) : Muhammad Atif was a graduate research assistant and completed his MSc in Civil Engineering at Florida International University in Miami, FL, in 2022. He earned his BSc in Civil Engineering from UET Taxila in 2013. In 2016, he received the ADB-JSP scholarship to pursue an MSc in Civil Engineering with a major in Structural Engineering at Saitama University, Japan. He worked as a Structural Engineer for the National Highways Authority of Pakistan. In his master’s thesis, he performed a probabilistic analysis of stiffened steel plates considering column-like buckling.

Azadeh Jaberi (PhD, 2019): Azadeh Jaberi Jahromi was a PhD candidate with a focus on structural engineering at FIU. She received her MS from the Iran University of Science and her BS degree in 2006 from Tabriz University in Iran. Her M.Sc. research focused on retrofitting concrete bridges with FRP and on the characterization of plastic hinges in reinforced concrete bridge piers. She worked as a structural designer at Mapna Group for seven years before returning to academia. While pursuing her PhD, she worked on the ABC-UTC research project “Development of Manual for Enhanced Service Life of ABC Projects.”

Buse Ilayda Oz (MS, 2022): Buse Ilayda Oz was a graduate research assistant at Florida International University in Miami, FL. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Architecture from Bilkent University, Turkey, in 2019. She worked as an intern in 2017 on the construction project of the world’s largest airport design, the Istanbul Grand Airport (IGA). She later pursued her Master’s degree at FIU with a focus on Structural Engineering. Outside of academics, Buse was a licensed athlete in the World Dance Sport Federation and an avid traveler.

Dewan Hossain (PhD, 2020): Dewan Hossain was a PhD candidate at FIU with a focus on structural engineering. He received an MS in Structural Materials Engineering from Louisiana Tech University and an MCE in Transportation Infrastructure Engineering from the University of Delaware. He also earned his BS degree in Civil Engineering from the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology in Dhaka, Bangladesh. He worked on a NASA-led research project involving the repair of a rocket testing facility using geopolymer concrete. For his PhD at FIU, he worked on corrosion-related projects.

Ehsan Izadpanahi (PhD, 2020): Ehsan Izadpanahi was a PhD student at FIU with a focus on Mechanical Engineering. He joined the mechanical engineering program at Florida International University in 2016 and worked as a graduate research assistant in the Fluid–Solid Interaction Laboratory. He obtained his master’s degree from Chamran Ahvaz University. He worked on a wide range of topics, including stability analysis and nonlinear structural dynamics of beams subjected to follower forces, as well as the constructal design and stability of high-altitude long-endurance aircraft. At FIU, he also worked on the ABC-UTC research project “Application of Drone in Accelerated Bridge Construction.”

Esmail Shahrokhinasab (PhD, 2021): Esmail was a graduate research assistant at FIU in Miami, FL. He received his M.Sc. in Civil Engineering, with a major in Railway Structure Engineering, from the Iran University of Science and Technology in 2012, and his B.Sc. in Civil Engineering in 2009 from the Amirkabir University of Technology in Iran. For his master’s thesis, he worked on “Field Studies on the Effects of Under Sleeper Pads in Lateral Resistance of Railway,” under the supervision of Dr. Jabbar Ali Zakeri. He also worked as a civil expert in various departments at Mahab Ghodss Consulting Engineers, one of the most prominent companies in the dam industry in Tehran, Iran, for six years. His research experience covered a wide range of topics, including sustainability, structural health monitoring, concrete technology, and the long-term durability of structures. At FIU, he worked on FDPC deck panels, and his project was titled “Performance Comparison of In-Service, Full-Depth Precast Concrete Deck Panels to Cast-in-Place Decks,” under the supervision of Dr. Garber.

Francisco Chitty (PhD, 2021): Francisco Chitty was a PhD candidate at FIU with a focus on structural engineering. He received his MS degree in Civil Engineering from Florida International University in 2016 and his BS from Andres Bello Catholic University in 2014. As part of his bachelor’s research, he developed and published a structural retrofit scheme for a typical school’s concrete structure in Venezuela to reduce its seismic vulnerability. During his master’s studies, he worked on the simulation of evacuation environments by integrating social behavior, architectural analysis, and structural analysis into a single simulation step for emergency scenarios. These evacuation studies were based on multi-scale methods for agent-based simulations. At FIU, he assisted with research related to the performance of precast concrete deck panels.

Huy V. Pham (PhD, 2016): Dr. Pham joined AECOM in 2016 as a structures designer. He worked on various projects involving the design and construction of steel, concrete, and railroad bridges, including the SR 826 to I-75 Express Lanes Program, the All Aboard Florida Miami Viaduct, the NE 203rd Street Intersection Improvements between SR 5/US-1 and West Dixie Highway, and the Wekiva Parkway Section 7A (SR 429). Dr. Pham obtained his doctoral degree from Florida International University in 2016 and his master’s degree from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 2013. During his time at FIU, he worked under the ABC-UTC and was involved in several research projects related to the construction, inspection, and rehabilitation of bridges.

Jawad Gull (PhD, 2015): Jawad is a bridge designer at HDR and had nine years of experience in research and structural engineering, with expertise in cable structures and steel bridges. He worked on diverse engineering projects in the United States, Japan, and Pakistan. He also worked on the I-4 Ultimate project, which involved the design and construction of over 60 new bridges and the replacement of more than 70 existing bridges. Dr. Gull obtained his doctorate from Florida International University, where he worked on several research projects and successfully addressed issues related to the construction, inspection, and rehabilitation of bridges. He served as the assistant director of the ABC-UTC at FIU and was the PI of key ABC-UTC research projects related to service life and database management of ABC projects. He earned his master’s degree from Saitama University in Japan, where he and his research team collaborated with Tokyo Electric Power Company to address issues related to wind-induced vibrations of cable structures. He was involved in numerous destructive and non-destructive tests of structures and materials in Pakistan. He was also an active member of ASCE and ACI and a proud member of the ABC-UTC mentoring team.

Jianmin Jia (PhD, 2017): Jianmin earned his PhD in the Transportation Engineering program at Florida International University in Miami, FL. He was a PhD student from August 2013 until completing his degree in 2017. He received his MS degree in Civil Engineering from Shandong University, Jinan, China, in 2013, and his BS degree in Mathematics from the same university in 2010. His master’s thesis focused on developing an Integrated Evaluation System for Urban Green Transportation. At FIU, Jianmin worked on the ABC-UTC research project titled “Estimating Total Cost of Bridge Construction Using ABC and Conventional Methods of Construction,” under the supervision of Professor Hadi in the Lehman Center for Transportation Research (LCTR). He also participated in the SHRP 2 L38(C) project on pilot testing of reliability data and analytical products, as well as a project on optimizing Emergency Management Systems (EMS) through the use of ITS technologies.

Mahsa Farzad (PhD, 2019): Mahsa Farzad was a graduate research assistant at Florida International University in Miami, FL. She received her MS in Civil Engineering from the Sharif University of Technology in Iran in 2013. In her master’s thesis, she conducted an experimental study of building bracing systems using semi-rigid connections. She began her PhD in Structural Engineering in August 2014. At FIU, she worked on accelerated repair solutions for bridge elements subjected to axial load utilizing UHPC, under the supervision of Professor Azizinamini.

Md Ashraf Ahmed (PhD, 2021) : Ashraf was a Graduate Assistant at Florida International University (FIU) beginning in Spring 2018. He graduated with a B.Sc. in Civil Engineering from the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) in 2014 and later received a graduate assistantship from the Moss Department of Construction Management at FIU in 2017. He was an enthusiastic researcher and an experienced civil engineering professional with a demonstrated history of working in both industry and academia. His skills included Transportation Engineering, Construction Management, Big Data Analytics, Data Management, Visualization, and Data Mining. He possessed strong programming knowledge in C++, MATLAB, Python, and R, along with solid project management skills. He pursued his Ph.D. in Civil Engineering at FIU, focusing on transportation infrastructure effectiveness using big data analytics, machine learning, agent-based modeling, and network science. During his doctoral studies, he attended multiple international conferences and workshops and published three papers in conference proceedings.

Mohamadreza Shafieifar (PhD, 2018): Mohamadreza worked as a bridge engineer at T.Y. Lin International in San Francisco and had more than six years of experience in the bridge and structural engineering industry. Dr. Shafieifar earned his doctorate from Florida International University in Fall 2018 and joined T.Y. Lin International in January 2019. During his PhD program, he developed a new bridge connection detail for both seismic and non-seismic regions and worked on several funded research projects related to Accelerated Bridge Construction (ABC) and Ultra High Performance Concrete (UHPC). He obtained his master’s degree in structural engineering from the Sharif University of Technology, where he conducted research on base plates and addressed issues related to their rigidity and design. He was also involved in designing several steel and concrete structures in Iran. Dr. Shafieifar served on editorial boards and as a reviewer for multiple peer-reviewed journals. He was honored with “Outstanding Reviewer” awards from the journals Construction and Building Materials and Engineering Structures.

Mohamadtaqi Baqersad (PhD, P.E., 2020): Mohamadtaqi Baqersad was a graduate research assistant at Florida International University in Miami, FL. He received his M.Sc. in Civil Engineering from Isfahan University of Technology in Iran in 2014 and his B.S. in Civil Engineering from Yazd University in Iran in 2011. His master’s thesis focused on the numerical simulation of consolidation settlement in saturated soil. He began his PhD in Structural and Pavement Engineering in August 2015. At FIU, he worked on the ABC project titled “Development of Guide for Selection of Substructure for ABC Projects,” under the supervision of Professors Armin Mehrabi and Hesham Ali. This project provided guidelines to assist designers and bridge owners in selecting appropriate substructure and foundation systems for new bridges and for replacement projects using ABC methods, including evaluation, retrofitting, design, and construction.

Mohamed Ibrahim (PhD, 2017): Mohamed earned his PhD in the Transportation Engineering program at FIU. He began his PhD in 2012 and completed it in 2017. He received his M.Sc. from Cairo University in Egypt and his BS degree from the American University in Cairo, where he also earned an MBA. Mohamed had more than 10 years of work experience as both a site engineer and an engineering consultant in Egypt and the Middle East. During his doctoral studies, Mohamed worked on decision-making processes for alternative contracting methods for highway pavement rehabilitation projects. He also contributed to an NSF-funded research project titled “Foster Complex Systems Thinking in Construction Engineering Education Using a Case-Based Multidimensional Virtual Environment,” under the supervision of Professor Yimin Zhu from 2012 to 2014. In addition, he worked on the ABC-UTC research project “Estimating Total Cost of Bridge Construction using ABC and Conventional Methods of Construction.”

Mohammad Abedin (PhD, 2021) : Mohammad was a graduate research assistant at Florida International University in Miami, FL. He received his master’s degree in structural engineering in 2013 from the Sharif University of Technology and his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Isfahan in 2011. He also worked as a structural designer at SBR EPC Company for four years before returning to academia. He began his PhD in Structural Engineering in January 2018. As part of his doctoral research, he investigated bridge behavior following severe structural damage to establish a redundancy evaluation approach for twin steel box girder bridges. He also developed a cost-effective and rapid bridge monitoring method using laser vibrometers, supported by detailed finite element modeling and vibration measurements. At FIU, he worked on the ABC-UTC research projects “Available ABC Bridge Systems for Short Span Bridges – Course Module” and “Performance of Existing ABC Projects: Inspection Case Studies.”

Nazanin Rezaei (PhD, 2018): Nazanin earned her PhD in the Structural Engineering program at Florida International University in Miami, FL, and her master’s degree in Civil Engineering from the Iran University of Science and Technology. She had seven years of experience in research and structural engineering projects in the United States and Iran. In her PhD dissertation, she conducted experimental and numerical studies on reinforced concrete struts, work that gained national attention from ACI members and contributed to proposed code changes in ACI 318, the primary international building code for concrete design. She also contributed to the development of a national ABC database that became a resource for bridge designers across the United States. Nazanin was a member of ACI Committee 445 “Shear and Torsion” and ASCE.

Priya Tripathi (PhD, Student): Priya Tripathi was a PhD student in Civil Engineering at Florida International University. She earned her MS at Florida International University in 2020 while working as a Graduate Research Assistant at ABC-UTC under the supervision of Dr. Seung Jae Lee. She graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from Saraswati College of Engineering in Mumbai, India, in 2017. Before joining FIU, she worked for two years as an Assistant Engineer in India.

Ramin Taghinezhad (PhD, 2016): Ramin worked on the seismic retrofit of building structures in the city of Los Angeles. He had over eight years of experience in the seismic design and rehabilitation of commercial, residential, and industrial steel and concrete structures. He received his BS degree in Civil Engineering and his MS degree in Structural Engineering. Ramin obtained his doctorate from Florida International University, where his PhD research focused on extending the application of simple-for-dead-load and continuous-for-live-load (SDCL) steel bridge systems in seismic regions. He was involved in several research projects, including the assessment and evaluation of timber piles under axial load, non-destructive testing (NDT) of segmental prestressed bridges, and experimental investigations of the redundancy of twin steel box-girder bridges. He had extensive experience in nonlinear static and time-history analysis as well as performance-based design. Ramin authored numerous papers and articles on the seismic behavior of building and bridge structures and wrote a book titled Seismic Design and Rehabilitation of Structures Under Pushover Analysis, which focuses on nonlinear behavior under seismic loads.

 Saiada Fuadi Fancy (PhD, 2020): Saiada Fuadi Fancy was a PhD student at FIU with a focus on structural engineering. She received her MS degree in Structural Engineering from the Bangladesh University of Engineering & Technology and her BS degree in Civil & Environmental Engineering from Shahjalal University of Science & Technology. Her MS research focused on the experimental performance investigation of beam-column frames with column kickers. She began her PhD in Structural Engineering in Fall 2014. At FIU, she worked on the corrosion durability of reinforced concrete utilizing UHPC for ABC applications.

Saman Farhangdoust (PhD, 2021): Saman was a PhD candidate in Structural Engineering in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Florida International University. He received his M.Sc. in Rolling Stocks Engineering from the Iran University of Science and Technology and his B.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering – Solid Mechanics. He worked on Nonlinear Vibration Analysis of Thin-Walled Structures, Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) of Composite Structures, Design and Nondestructive Evaluation (NDE) of Infrastructure Systems, and Smart Bridge Monitoring projects. As a multidisciplinary graduate research assistant, he worked on two ABC-UTC projects: “Nondestructive Testing Methods (NDT) Applicable to Health Monitoring of ABC Closure Joints,” which focused on developing practical and economical inspection methods for ABC closure joints; and “Development of Guide for Selection of Substructure for ABC Projects,” which provided guidance for designers and bridge owners in selecting substructure and foundation systems for new bridges and replacement projects using ABC methods, including evaluation, retrofitting, design, and construction.

 Seyedmirsajad  Mokhtarimousavi (PhD, 2021): Sajad was a PhD candidate in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Florida International University in Miami, FL. He received his M.S. degree in Transportation Planning from IAU, Science and Research Branch, Tehran, Iran, in 2013. His primary research interests were transportation systems planning, travel behavior analysis, and transportation safety. His master’s thesis focused on airport planning and surface management by improving runway capacity through optimal landing-sequence strategies. During his PhD program, his research focused on developing machine learning techniques to analyze highway work zone safety and evaluate the benefits associated with implementing ABC methods. He worked under the supervision of Dr. Atorod Azizinamini. He graduated in Spring 2021.

Sheharyar-e-Rehmat (PhD, 2022): Sheharyar-e-Rehmat earned his PhD at FIU with a focus on structural engineering. He worked on an ABC-UTC research project involving the application of UHPC for bridge applications.

Sumana Bhattacharya (PhD, 2019): Sumana Bhattacharya was a PhD recipient at FIU specializing in geomechanics. She received her BS in Civil Engineering from Jadavpur University, India, and her MS in Geotechnical Engineering from the National Institute of Technology, Rourkela, India. During her master’s studies, she applied the finite element method, finite difference method, and artificial neural networks to geotechnical engineering problems. After completing her BS, she worked as a software automation engineer for three years. During her time at FIU, she worked on the multi-scale modeling of bridge foundations. She graduated in December 2019 with her PhD in Civil Engineering and later worked at a geotechnical engineering consulting firm in San Francisco.

A.M.M. Muhaimin (MS, 2021): A.M.M. Muhaimin was a graduate research assistant at Florida International University in Miami, FL. He obtained his B.Sc. in Civil Engineering from the Islamic University of Technology in Bangladesh. He began his MS in Construction Management in January 2020. At FIU, he worked on the project “Understanding Critical Impacting Factors and Trends on Bridge Design, Construction, and Maintenance.”

Ana Torrealba (MS, 2020): Ana Torrealba was a graduate research assistant at Florida International University. She received her bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from Carabobo University, Venezuela, in 2015. Her bachelor’s research received a publication mention for proposing a structural retrofit of the “Caribe Hotel” located in Vargas, Venezuela. After completing her bachelor’s degree, she worked as a research assistant, performing nondestructive testing (NDT) using ultrasonic pulse velocity measurements on the “Caribe Hotel” in Venezuela. She later completed her MS with a focus on Structural Engineering at FIU. During her studies, she assisted on the project “Development of ABC Course Module: Available ABC Bridge Systems for Short Span Bridges,” under the supervision of Dr. Armin Mehrabi. This project provided guidelines for the application of ABC to short-span bridges, addressing decision-making, construction methods, available elements and systems, performance and inspection, design, detailing, and connections.

Daniel Castillo (MS, 2018): Daniel Castillo was an MS student at FIU with a focus on structural engineering and graduated in December 2018. He obtained his BS in Civil Engineering from Florida Atlantic University in 2016. He had construction project management experience as well as structural engineering experience designing low-rise buildings and other structures such as amusement park ropes courses. At FIU, he worked on the ABC-UTC research project “Towards Simulation-Aided Predictive Demolition Planning” under the direction of Dr. Seung Jae Lee. After completing his degree, he worked as a structural engineer at Hardesty & Hanover, where he was part of the movable bridges design team.

Francesco Riccitelli (MS, 2020): Francesco Riccitelli was a graduate research assistant at Florida International University. He received his bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Sannio, Italy, in 2016. He worked as a student research assistant for ABC-UTC in the Titan America Structures and Construction Testing Laboratory, assisting with several projects such as Retrofitting Methods of Existing Reinforced Concrete Structural Bridge Elements, the Application of UHPC to Bridge Elements, and the Development of Non-Proprietary UHPC Mixes. He later completed his Master’s degree with a focus on Structural Engineering at FIU. During his program, he served as a Graduate Research Assistant on the ABC-UTC project “Performance of Existing ABC Projects: Inspection Case Studies,” under the supervision of Dr. Mehrabi. The primary objective of the project was to collect essential information on the performance of two in-service ABC bridges. The inspection scope included routine visual inspections, special inspections of critical details, and the application of NDT methods such as Phased Array Ultrasonic Testing (PAUT) and Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR). The findings were compiled and documented for effective reporting.

Sayed Feras AlMosawi (MS, 2018): Beginning in 2015, Sayed Feras attended Florida International University, where he completed both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Civil Engineering with a focus on structures. During his time at FIU, he served as both an undergraduate and graduate research assistant, assisting Dr. Armin Mehrabi on a research project focused on NDT methods applicable to the health monitoring of ABC closure joints. This project involved the search, identification, and development of practical and economical methods for field inspection and damage detection of ABC closure joints immediately after construction and throughout their service life. In Fall 2016, he was awarded the ASCE SEI-ACE Merit Award for ACE Outstanding Structural Engineering Student. After completing his studies, Sayed Feras began seeking full-time job opportunities in the structural and civil engineering field.

Alfredo Ignacio Falcon (BS, 2017): Alfredo was an undergraduate student at Florida International University. He received his BS in Civil Engineering in May 2017 and planned to pursue an MS in Structural Engineering. Alfredo served as a student assistant for ABC-UTC beginning in September 2015, and he participated in the testing of a cap beam-to-column connection using Ultra High Performance Concrete. Through this work, he developed a strong interest in Accelerated Bridge Construction, concrete design, and UHPC. Alfredo also served as chair of the American Concrete Institute Student Chapter at FIU and was Captain of the Steel Bridge Team for the American Society of Civil Engineers at FIU.

Andrew Puglisi (BS, 2018): Andrew Puglisi was an undergraduate research assistant at FIU during the summers of 2017 and 2018. After his time at FIU, he continued working toward his BS in Mechanical Engineering at Villanova University, where he expected to graduate in Spring 2020. While working with the ABC-UTC program at FIU, Andrew conducted research and reviewed studies on the applications of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles for improving current bridge inspection methods in 2017, and in 2018 he assisted on various ABC research projects in the laboratory. Outside of academics, Andrew participated in multiple engineering clubs and held a leadership position in club tennis.

Anibal E. Morales  (BS, 2020): Anibal was an engineering student and received a double Bachelor of Science degree in Biomedical and Electrical Engineering from Florida International University. He graduated in Summer 2020. Anibal was a robotics enthusiast with plans to use robots in hazardous environments. He gained experience in synthetic biology at Boston University; robotics for nuclear decommissioning at Argonne National Lab and FIU’s Applied Research Center; robotics for space exploration at NASA Kennedy Space Center; and digital products for satellites at Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems. Anibal also enjoyed learning about new cultures and places, which he did by attending multiple international engineering programs in China, Iceland, Sweden, and Japan. At ABC-UTC, he worked on the electrical and software components of a robot designed to automate and expedite bridge construction.

Carlos Mena (BS, 2018): Carlos Mena was an undergraduate student at FIU working toward a BS degree in Civil Engineering. He worked as a research intern for ABC-UTC at FIU in 2017 and assisted with ongoing laboratory projects. He obtained this position through networking with the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) chapter at FIU. He was a member of ASCE at FIU and attended several annual conferences. Carlos graduated in Fall 2018 and later worked as a Junior Engineer at a heavy civil construction firm, Perfetto Contracting, in Brooklyn, NY.

Cristhian Gutierrez De Pineres (BS, 2020): Cristhian was an undergraduate student and a research assistant at Florida International University. He majored in Civil Engineering and planned to pursue an MS after graduating.

Hamza Al- Shalabi (BS, 2019): Hamza Al-Shalabi was an undergraduate student at FIU working toward a BS degree in Civil Engineering with a specialization in structural engineering. He worked as a research intern for ABC-UTC at FIU for about six months and assisted with most of the projects conducted in the research lab. Hamza was an active member of the ASCE FIU chapter and participated in the steel bridge, concrete canoe, and dynamic dam projects for the ASCE conference in early March. Hamza graduated in May 2019 and later began pursuing his master’s degree in Construction Management.

Jaime Danies  (BS, 2017): Jaime Danies was an undergraduate research assistant at FIU during the summer of 2017. After his time at FIU, he continued his studies at Columbia University, working toward a BS in Civil Engineering with a concentration in Structural Engineering and a minor in Architecture, and expected to graduate in Spring 2020. As an ABC-UTC research intern, Jaime worked under Dr. Atorod Azizinamini, assisting several PhD candidates on projects—particularly those involving alternative ABC connections using UHPC. Outside of academics, Jaime enjoyed photography and served as Vice President of his ASCE chapter.

Josef Ricardo (BS, 2017): Josef Ricardo graduated in Fall 2017 with a BS in Civil Engineering from Florida International University. His focus was on Structural Engineering, and he took several structural electives including Steel Design and Introduction to Pre-Stressed Concrete Structures. In 2017, Josef worked on the research project “Long-Term Performance Comparison of In-Service, Full-Depth Precast Concrete (FDPC) Deck Panels to Cast-in-Place (CIP) Decks,” where his tasks included collecting information from the Long-Term Bridge Performance (LTBP) Bridge Portal and developing a survey for bridge owners (State DOTs). After graduating, He is currently working at Ribbeck Engineering , Inc, a roadway and drainage consulting firm.

Joselaine Pateau (BS, 2016): Joselaine completed her undergraduate degree at Florida International University in 2016. She also earned her Associate in Arts in Civil Engineering from Miami-Dade College. During her time at FIU, she worked as an intern for the ABC-UTC. Her research focused on beginning the development of crash-tested, prefabricated bridge railings with durable anchorage details. Outside of school, Joselaine worked part-time as a retail associate and spent her free time reading and singing.

Julian Gomez (BS, 2015): Julian was an undergraduate research assistant at Florida International University. He completed his BS in Civil Engineering in 2015. Julian worked with the ABC-UTC for nearly a year as an undergraduate, assisting with several event-related projects and research activities. Outside of school, Julian enjoyed spending time with his family and playing soccer in his free time.

Manfredi Di Maggio (BS, 2019): Manfredi Di Maggio was an undergraduate student at FIU, where he earned his BS in Civil Engineering. He worked as a research intern for ABC-UTC at FIU from Fall 2017 to Summer 2018, assisting graduate students on various projects, including casting Ultra High-Performance Concrete (UHPC) for applications in corrosion and durability of reinforced concrete. Manfredi pursued Civil Engineering because of his passion for infrastructure and innovative engineering projects.

Matheus Dutra (BS, 2020): Matheus Dutra was an undergraduate student at Florida International University pursuing his BS in Civil Engineering. He worked as an undergraduate research assistant for ABC-UTC. He planned to pursue an MS in Structural Engineering after completing his BS.

Saivy Nasser (BS, 2017): Saivy Nasser successfully graduated from FIU with a BS degree in Civil Engineering in 2017. After graduating, he applied his knowledge gained from ABC-UTC work in the transportation field as a Transportation Engineer I for a consulting firm in the city of Fort Lauderdale.

Vanessa Castillo (BS, 2014): Vanessa was an undergraduate ABC-UTC assistant at Florida International University. She graduated in December 2014 with a BS in Civil Engineering and went on to pursue her MS in Construction Management.

Willys Chirino (BS, 2021): Willys Chirino was an undergraduate engineering student pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering at Florida International University, graduating in Spring 2021. His academic focuses included design optimization and structural analysis, with personal interests in machine learning. During his time at FIU, Willys worked in the FIU Applied Research Center’s Robotic Laboratory under the supervision of Anthony Abrahao. He aspired to work for NASA and apply his robotics knowledge to develop advanced mining machinery for extracting valuable resources from asteroids and other mineral-rich bodies in space. Willys had played chess since third grade and competed in national and international tournaments.