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Message from the Chair

Dear Students, Colleagues, and Friends,

Spring has sprung in the Department of Structural Engineering! Just as the days have gotten longer, our students and faculty continue to spring forward (or upward!) as well. Our faculty continue to win the highest honors in their fields, partner to springboard their research in new directions, and organize and host international conferences. Our students distinguish themselves with international conference Best Paper Awards and fellowships for promoting diverse, inclusive excellence.  Our alumni continue to shine by leading a study that describes the future Giant Magellan Telescope seismic isolation system.  With everyone in on the action, we invite you all to take a look at opportunities like the Structural Engineering Excellence and Innovation Fund to help keep our Structural Engineering family poised on the leading edge of innovation. Join me in our final quarter “lap” of the academic year as we approach graduation and all the new starts and opportunities that come with that.

Michael Todd
Distinguished Professor & Chair

UC San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering ranks Top 10 in U.S. News & World Report Rankings of Best Engineering Schools

The University of California San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering has ranked the #10 best in the nation in the influential U.S. News & World Report Rankings of Best Engineering Schools. This #10 ranking is up from #11 last year. Among public engineering schools, the Jacobs School of Engineering ranks #6 best engineering school in the nation, up from #7 last year. 

The Civil Engineering program at UC San Diego was ranked #20 in the nation, and #13 among public schools. The former ranking is up from #27 last year. Read More >>>

Distinguished Professor Jiun-Shyan Chen Honored with Prestigious John von Neumann Medal

In a remarkable recognition of decades of groundbreaking research, Distinguished Professor Jiun-Shyan (JS) Chen received the 2025 John von Neumann Medal, the highest honor awarded by the United States Association for Computational Mechanics (USACM). Reserved for individuals, whose contributions have significantly shaped the field over the course of their careers, the medal is awarded only once every two years during the USACM National Congress. Read More >>>

Professors Hyonny Kim and Mehran Tehrani Lead Esteemed International Conference on Composite Materials

In October 2024, the University of California, San Diego, was proud to host the 39th Annual Technical Conference of the American Society for Composites (ASC) at the Hyatt Regency Mission Bay in San Diego, Calif. The event was co-chaired by UC San Diego’s own Associate Professor Mehran Tehrani and Professor Hyonny Kim, showcasing the university’s commitment to leading in the field of structural engineering and composites. The event brought together over 400 participants from 18 countries and featured 280 technical presentations. Attendees—70% from academia and 30% from industry and government laboratories—took part in rich discussions and meaningful collaborations across sectors. Read More >>>

Assistant Professors Shabnam Semnani and Georgios Tsampras Receive Jacobs School Early Career Faculty Development Award

Structural Engineering faculty members Assistant Professor Shabnam Semnani and Assistant Professor Georgios Tsampras have been selected as recipients of the 2025 Jacobs School Early Career Faculty Development Award for their collaborative research project, Multiscale Mechanics and Fabrication of Additively Manufactured Recycled Thermoplastic Composites. This award is designed to jumpstart cross-disciplinary collaborations by funding graduate students from two different labs for two quarters — empowering faculty to pursue high-impact, interdisciplinary research. Read More >>>

PhD Student Abdoul Aziz Sandotin Coulibaly Wins Best Paper Award at IMAC-XLIII Conference

Abdoul Aziz Sandotin Coulibaly, a PhD student in Professor's Joel Conte research group, received the Best Paper Award from the Dynamics of Civil Structures Technical Division at the IMAC-XLIII Conference and Exposition on Experimental Mechanics, held Feb. 10 to 13 in Orlando, Fla. This award recognizes outstanding contributions to the field of structural dynamics. Read More >>>

Celebrating Inclusive Excellence: SE PhD Student Received Diversity Fellowship for the Second Time

We are proud to spotlight Ali Zare Hosseinzadeh, a Ph.D. student working under the guidance of Professor Francesco Lanza di Scalea, who has been awarded the Structural Engineering Department Diversity Fellowship for the second consecutive year. This recognition honors his continued dedication to creating an inclusive, supportive, and empowering environment within our department. In a recent interview, Ali shared his thoughts on the significance of this recognition, his current research projects, and his commitment to fostering a more inclusive and supportive engineering community. Read More >>>

UC San Diego Structural Engineering Alumni Co-Author Groundbreaking Study on Seismic Isolation System for Giant Magellan Telescope

Structural Engineering Ph.D. alumni Claudio Sepulveda and Ricardo Bustamante, alongside Professor Gilberto Mosqueda, co-authored a newly published study detailing the seismic isolation system designed to protect the Giant Magellan Telescope — one of the world’s largest telescopes under construction in Chile. The innovative system, developed in collaboration with industry partners, is a key example of academia-industry impact on global infrastructure. Read More >>>

Stay connected with fellow Structural Engineering alumni and see where their journeys have taken them. Explore stories, achievements, and opportunities to engage with our vibrant alumni network.

On Wednesday, April 30, the UC San Diego community will come together to make a meaningful difference during this year’s annual Triton Giving Day. Last year, 1,758 donors joined forces to raise more than $635,000 for over 150 different areas and programs across campus! Make an impact this Triton Giving Day by supporting the Structural Engineering Department at the UC San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering. 

By supporting the Structural Engineering Excellence and Innovation fund, you contribute to the enhancement of academic programs and remarkable diversity of cutting-edge research in the field of structural engineering. Click the button below to donate and learn more about how your gift will make a difference.

Seismic Outreach, a team project within the Society of Civil and Structural Engineers, supports earthquake science education for 4th-6th graders, inspiring STEM careers through hands-on learning. Donations expand outreach, fostering experiential education and future leaders. Activities include classroom visits, UC San Diego field trips to test K’NEX structures on shake tables and campus tours. By supporting the Seismic Outreach Industry Collaboration Fund, you’re investing in the future of engineering and STEM education.

Take part in the Wayne Chang '96 and Randy Collins '96 Seismic Outreach Inspiration Challenge, an alumni lead gift of $5,000, by making a gift today! Donations of any amount make a difference. Click the button below to donate. 

For questions about how you can make a difference this Triton Giving Day, charitable giving, or establishing a named fund, please contact Madison Lyle, Associate Director of Development at m1lyle@ucsd.edu or 858-424-1450. 

Real Earthquake Puts 10-story Building in the Spotlight 

Structures tested at UC San Diego’s shake table usually only experience simulated earthquakes. But on April 14, the 10-story, steel-framed building currently standing on the earthquake simulator got to experience a real, 5.2 magnitude earthquake, centered just 40 miles away. Researchers are still analyzing the data they collected during the event. The planned testing of this 10-story cold-formed steel frame building will begin in early June. There were no fatalities and no major structural damage sustained during the earthquake, thanks in part to the rigorous testing performed on this earthquake simulator which is largely funded by the US National Science Foundation. It is the largest outdoor shake table in the world, and testing on this shake table has resulted in more earthquake-safe buildings, roads and bridges. The shake table is highlighted in this story by CBS 8. Learn more about the upcoming 10-story test.