People

Our Research Group

The DREAM structures research group is a multidisciplinary research lab at the Pennsylvania State University. We aim to Design Resilient Engineered Autonomous and Multifunctional (DREAM) structures!

One application of this research work shows how bio-inspired concepts for the protection of civil infrastructure provide additional reliability even during extreme events where energy is a limited resource. This research lies in the intersection of agent-based modeling, vibration control, and evolutionary game theory which is a solid foundation for cross- and multi-disciplinary research.

Meet the Team

" One cannot discover new oceans unless one has the courage to lose sight of shore" - Andre Gide'

MGS

Mariantonieta Gutierrez Soto, Ph.D.

Director and Assistant Professor

Assistant Professor of Engineering Design in the School of Engineering Design and Innovation

Affiliate Faculty, Architectural Engineering

Affiliate Faculty, Civil and Environmental Engineering

The Pennsylvania State University

 

Currently investigating multi-disciplinary research in smart civil engineering infrastructure.

AlejandroP

Alejandro Palacio Betancur

Graduate Researcher

Ph.D. Civil Engineering.

Currently investigating real-time hybrid simulation of smart structures.

M.S. Thesis: "Adaptive Tracking Controller for Real-Time Hybrid Simulation" (2020)

 

Elnaz

Elnaz Ghasemi

Graduate Researcher

Ph.D. Architectural Engineering

Currently investigating design optimization of kinetic facades in smart tall buildings in response to natural hazards

 

Akinade

Akinade Peter-Koyi

Undergraduate Researcher

B.S. Electrical Engineering

Currently investigating modeling of school of fish using machine learning

Co-Advisor: Nate Wagenhoffer, Ph.D.

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Seth Roth

Undergraduate Researcher

B.S. Electrical Engineering

Currently investigating cyber-physical testing of additive manufacturing building components

Davidc

David Caballero Russi

Graduate Researcher

Ph.D. Civil Engineering.

Currently investigating structural health monitoring

 

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Sumant Rokade

Graduate Researcher

M.S. Engineering Design

Currently investigating additive manufacturing of building structures

Co-Advisor: Nick Meisel, Ph.D.

 

Garrett Demaree

Garrett Demaree

Undergraduate Researcher

B.S. Civil Engineering

Currently investigating the optimal design of irregular diagrid building structures

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Chiranjeev Singh

Undergraduate Researcher

B.S. Mechanical Engineering

Currently investigating smart structures in extraterrestrial habitats

Saanchi

Saanchi Kaushal

Graduate Researcher

Ph.D. Architectural Engineering

Currently investigating dimensionality reduction and physics-based modeling to quantify relationships between masonry building features and wind hazards

Co-Advisor: Rebecca Napolitano, Ph.D.

 

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Ana Weiss

Undergraduate Researcher

B.S. Mechanical Engineering

Currently investigating aerodynamic performance of metamaterials

Co-Advisor: Tamy Guimaraes, Ph.D.

Emad

Emad Hassan

Undergraduate Researcher

B.S. Computer Science

Currently investigating modeling of school of fish using machine learning

Co-Advisor: Nate Wagenhoffer, Ph.D.

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Daivik Manickmalar

Undergraduate Researcher

B.S. Mechanical Engineering

Currently investigating protective systems for the built environment

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Rayyan Alwaneen

Undergraduate Researcher

B.S. Mechanical Engineering

Currently investigating structural control for resilient hospital buildings

Meet the Alumni from this Research Group

What is next?

aaron

Aaron Rohlfing

Former Graduate Researcher

M.S. Engineering Design, 2023

Investigated compliance mechanisms for origami aerodynamic mitigation

Co-Advisor: Jared Butler, Ph.D.

 

sajad

Sajad Javadinasab Hormozabad

Former Graduate Researcher

Ph.D. Civil Engineering, 2022

Investigated structural health monitoring and vibration control.

Find out more on his personal website

Currently a Post-doctoral Scholar at the Ohio State University

AmandaM

Amanda Melendez

Former Graduate Researcher

M.S. Civil Engineering, 2019

Thesis: Holistic Resilience Quantification Framework of Rural Communities

Currently works at Michael Baker International

Christopher

Christopher Wheatley

Former Undergraduate Researcher

B.S. Material Science & Engineering

Investigated aerodynamic mitigation through origami building envelope

Currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Material Science & Engineering at Pennsylvania State University

NicolasVargas

Nicolas Vargas

Undergraduate Researcher

B.S. Civil Engineering

Investigated economical and sustainable development of vulnerable communities impacted by natural hazards

pablo

Pablo Velasquez

Former Undergraduate Researcher

B.S. Electrical Engineering

Involved in investigating structural health monitoring using the IoT approach

Currently pursuing his M.S. Electrical Engineering at Grand Valley State University

Shakthi Narayan Suresh

Shakthi Suresh

Former Graduate Researcher

M.S. Engineering Design, 2023

Investigated user-centered design of biodigesters

Co-Advisor: Juliana Vasco-Correa, Ph.D.

 

Keely

Keely Patelski

Former Undergraduate Researcher

REU at the UW RAPID facility

Investigated the

Co-Advisor: Dr. Rebecca Napolitano

phillip

Phillip Antonio Thompson

Graduate Researcher

Ph.D. Family Science graduate student. Currently investigating family resilience analysis models

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Amanda Bellamy

Former Graduate Researcher

M.A. Architecture, B.S. Civil Engineering, B.A. Architecture. 2019

Investigated origami-inspired building structures and dynamic building envelope.

Currently works at Denham-Blythe Company, Inc.

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Caylee Marshall

Former Undergraduate Researcher

B.S. Chemical Engineering student. Investigated origami-inspired structures

Currently as Manufacturing Co-Op at Themo Fischer Scientific

daniel

Daniel Gallutia

Former Undergraduate Researcher

Investigated energy harvesting using wave energy converters and their performance in an array.

Now, works as a civil engineer at the Naval Sea Systems Command for the U.S. Navy

Alagusundaramoorthy

Prethesha Alagusundaramoorthy

Former Graduate Researcher

M.S. Civil Engineering, 2021

Investigated computational fluid dynamics of building structures.

Brandon

Brandon Enbody

Former Undergraduate Researcher

B.S. Civil Engineering, 2018

Studied biomimicry of aquatic life for community windstorm design.

Currently a M.S. graduate student at UCLA

roberto

Roberto Barajas

Former Undergraduate Researcher

B.S. Civil Engineering, 2019

Investigated vibration control of bridge structures.

Currently working at Consulting Services Incorporated

Chris

Chris Addington

Former Undergraduate Researcher

B.S. Computer Science student. Investigated origami-inspired structures

Laura

Laura Marie Letellier

Former Researcher

Senior Lecturer

Investigated the design of medicines at the nanometer scale using engineering mechanics

Morgan

Morgan Baumann

Former Undergraduate Researcher

B.S. Civil Engineering

Investigated additive manufacturing for origami building structures

Alex

Alex Nguyen

Former Undergraduate Researcher

B.S. Computer Engineering.

Investigated origami-inspired structures.

Currently pursuing a M.S./Ph.D. in Integrated Circuits and Systems at the University of Texas at Austin