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Message from the Chair

Dear Students, Colleagues, and Friends,

Fall quarter is rapidly coming to a close, and I can see it reflected in the fiery red maple trees around Warren Mall. As you start to ease into holiday mode, take a look at all going on in the Department of Structural Engineering. Our faculty continues to lead seminal research ranging from multi-scale modeling of geomaterials and winning awards in NDE, the steel industry, soil mechanics, mentoring, and a DURIP award for research on active materials! Our students are collecting conference presentation awards, winning scholarships, and completing national internships. From me to everyone in the SE family, I wish you a restful and rejuvenating winter break and look forward to an exciting winter quarter!

Michael Todd
Distinguished Professor & Chair

CAREER Award: An Integrated Experimental and Computational Framework for Hydro-chemo-mechanics of Geomaterials Across Scales

Assistant Professor Shabnam Semnani received a Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Award from the National Science Foundation (NSF) for her innovative research on the mechanical behavior of geomaterials. This prestigious award will support the development of an integrated experimental computational framework that models the complex interactions between mechanical properties, fluid flow, and chemical processes in geological materials. Read More >>>

Complex rock-fluid reaction process during geological carbon storage. Dissolution of minerals increases pore space while precipitation has the opposite effect.

Professor Kenneth Loh Receives DURIP Award to Advance Human Performance Research

UC San Diego received 10 DURIP awards from the Department of Defense, the most of any institution this year. Among the recipients is Professor Kenneth Loh from the Department of Structural Engineering. He will use his grant to acquire a portable motion capture system that does not require physical markers. This technology will enable his lab – the ARMOR lab – to analyze human performance in real-time and diverse environments, supporting his various research projects on shipboard and urban firefighting, athletic performance, and physical therapy and rehabilitation, among others. Read More >>>

Distinguished Professor Michael Todd Receives Prestigious Roy Sharpe Prize for Contributions to Nondestructive Testing

Distinguished Professor and Chair at the Department of Structural Engineering, Michael Todd has been awarded the 2023 Roy Sharpe Prize by the British Institute of Nondestructive Testing (BINDT). This award recognizes his outstanding contributions to the field of nondestructive testing (NDT) and structural health monitoring (SHM) over the past two decades. Professor Todd’s research has significantly advanced the application of NDT in both industry and society.

Professor Machel Morrison Honored with the Terry Peshia Early Career Faculty Award

Assistant Professor Machel L. Morrison, a rising star in structural steel design, was recently honored with the Terry Peshia Early Career Faculty Award, recognizing his exceptional contributions to research, teaching, and service to the steel industry. The award highlights Morrison’s promise as a leader in academia, particularly in the field of structural engineering. Read More >>>

ASCE honors Professor Ahmed Elgamal with the Prestigious H. Bolton Seed Medal

Distinguished Professor Ahmed Elgamal has been honored with the 2025 H. Bolton Seed Medal by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). He is recognized for his groundbreaking research in the field of geotechnical earthquake engineering and his contributions to soil dynamics, liquefaction, and seismic soil-structure interaction. Professor Elgamal will deliver the 24th Seed Lecture at the ASCE Geotechnical Frontiers in Louisville, KY, this coming March. Read More >>>

Professor Alessandro Palermo Named IABSE Fellow

In 2023, Professor Alessandro Palermo was named an IABSE Fellow, a prestigious honor given to senior members of the International Association for Bridge and Structural Engineering who have excelled in technical expertise and contributed to IABSE and the profession. Fellows play a key role in mentoring young engineers and guiding them toward successful careers." It is an honor to be an IABSE Fellow, knowing my role is to nurture the next generation of engineers towards an impactful career in civil and structural engineering," Palermo said. His selection as a Fellow further acknowledges his long-standing commitment to both the profession and the future of engineering.

Advancing Research Through Collaboration: Alexandre Guibert’s Award-Winning Presentation at the FEniCS Conference

Alexandre Guibert, a PhD student in the Department of Structural Engineering, recently received the Best Presentation Award at the FEniCS 2024 Conference for his groundbreaking work on improving the efficiency of battery systems for electric aircraft. His research, which integrates electrochemical, thermal, and fluid dynamics models, demonstrates how interdisciplinary collaboration is crucial in solving complex engineering challenges. Read More >>>

A PhD Student’s Journey: An Interview with Louis Lin on Gaining Hands-On National Lab Experience through NOMAD

Louis Lin, a Structural Engineering PhD student at UC San Diego, spent his summer as part of the NOMAD Research Institute, a program that connects students with experts at Sandia National Laboratories. Over eight weeks, he gained hands-on research experience, tackling technical challenges and navigating team dynamics in a national lab setting. Reflecting on the experience, Lin shares how it deepened his understanding of cutting-edge research and shaped his career goals. His time in the program provided valuable lessons in both research and personal growth. Read More >>>

Q&A with Dominic Tran: Scholarship Recipient and Aspiring Structural Engineer

Third-year structural engineering student Dominic Tran has been awarded the 2024-2025 ASCE Robert B. B. Moorman and Josephine N. Moorman scholarship, as well as the Simpson Strong-Tie scholarship. In our interview, Tran, who is an IDEA Scholar, shares how these scholarships are helping him pursue his academic and career goals, from his research under Professor Georgios Tsampras to his plans for the future in structural engineering. Read More >>>

Three SE professors at UC San Diego's Jacob School of Engineering were awarded endowed chairs: Professor Tara Hutchinson as the Jan Talbot Chair, Professor John McCartney as the Hal Sorenson Chair, and Professor Gilberto Mosqueda the Mervyn Lea (M. Lea) Rudee Chair.

Please consider providing a charitable donation to the Structural Engineering Department in 2024. Your philanthropic contribution strengthens what is possible for our students, faculty, and facilities. Click below to explore where you can make your impact this year. 

Gifts can be made through donations of cash, appreciated securities and cryptocurrency. For any questions or to inquire about establishing a named fund, please contact Madison Lyle, Associate Director of Development at m1lyle@ucsd.edu or (858) 424-1450.