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'
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.
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)
Kyra Martindale
Undergraduate Researcher
B.S. Civil Engineering
Currently investigating design of additive manufactured buildings
Daivik Manickmalar
Undergraduate Researcher
B.S. Mechanical Engineering
Currently investigating protective systems for the built environment
Chiranjeev Singh
Undergraduate Researcher
B.S. Mechanical Engineering
Currently investigating smart structures in extraterrestrial habitats
David Caballero Russi
Graduate Researcher
Ph.D. Civil Engineering.
Currently investigating structural health monitoring
Andrew Aguila
Undergraduate Researcher
B.S. Mechanical Engineering
Currently investigating protective systems for the built environment
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.
Rayyan Alwaneen
Undergraduate Researcher
B.S. Mechanical Engineering
Currently investigating structural control for resilient hospital buildings
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.
Ana Weiss
Undergraduate Researcher
B.S. Mechanical Engineering
Currently investigating aerodynamic performance of metamaterials
Co-Advisor: Tamy Guimaraes, Ph.D.
Seth Roth
Undergraduate Researcher
B.S. Computer Engineering
Currently investigating cyber-physical testing of additive manufacturing building components
Meet the Alumni from this Research Group
What is next?
Sumant Rokade
Former Graduate Researcher
M.S. Engineering Design, 2023
Investigated laws of similitude for additive manufacturing of building structures
Co-Advisor: Nick Meisel, Ph.D.
Currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering
Aaron Rohlfing
Former Graduate Researcher
M.S. Engineering Design, 2023
Investigated compliance mechanisms for origami aerodynamic mitigation
Co-Advisor: Jared Butler, Ph.D.
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
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 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
Nicolas Vargas
Undergraduate Researcher
B.S. Civil Engineering
Investigated economical and sustainable development of vulnerable communities impacted by natural hazards
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
Elnaz Ghasemi
Former Graduate Researcher
M.S. Architectural Engineering, 2023
Investigated kinetic facades in smart tall buildings in response to natural hazards
Currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Architecture
Shakthi Suresh
Former Graduate Researcher
M.S. Engineering Design, 2023
Investigated user-centered design of biodigesters
Co-Advisor: Juliana Vasco-Correa, Ph.D.
Keely Patelski
Former Undergraduate Researcher
REU at the UW RAPID facility
Investigated the
Co-Advisor: Dr. Rebecca Napolitano
Phillip Antonio Thompson
Graduate Researcher
Ph.D. Family Science graduate student. Currently investigating family resilience analysis models
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.
Caylee Marshall
Former Undergraduate Researcher
B.S. Chemical Engineering student. Investigated origami-inspired structures
Currently as Manufacturing Co-Op at Themo Fischer Scientific
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
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
Garrett Demaree
Former Undergraduate Researcher
B.S. Civil Engineering, 2023
Investigated the optimal design of irregular diagrid building structures
Currently pursuing an MBA at University of Kentucky
Emad Hassan
Former Summer Undergraduate Researcher
B.S. Computer Science
Investigated modeling of school of fish using machine learning
Co-Advisor: Nate Wagenhoffer, Ph.D.
Prethesha Alagusundaramoorthy
Former Graduate Researcher
M.S. Civil Engineering, 2021
Investigated computational fluid dynamics of building structures.
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 Barajas
Former Undergraduate Researcher
B.S. Civil Engineering, 2019
Investigated vibration control of bridge structures.
Currently working at Consulting Services Incorporated
Chris Addington
Former Undergraduate Researcher
B.S. Computer Science student. Investigated origami-inspired structures
Laura Marie Letellier
Former Researcher
Senior Lecturer
Investigated the design of medicines at the nanometer scale using engineering mechanics
Morgan Baumann
Former Undergraduate Researcher
B.S. Civil Engineering
Investigated additive manufacturing for origami building structures