Our Research Group
The Smart Structures research group is a multidisciplinary research lab at the University of Kentucky. One application of this research work shows how bio-inspired concepts for protection of civil infrastructure provides additional reliability even during extreme events where energy is a limited resource. This research lies in 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 in the Department of Civil Engineering at University of Kentucky.
Currently investigating multi-disciplinary research in smart civil engineering infrastructure.
Prethesha Alagusundaramoorthy
Graduate Researcher
Ph.D. Civil Engineering graduate student.
Currently investigating aerodynamic mitigation of building structures.
Garrett Demaree
Undergraduate Researcher
B.S. Civil Engineering
Currently investigating seismic behavior of irregular diagrid buildings
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"
Christopher Wheatley
Undergraduate Researcher
B.S. Material Science Engineering
Currently investigating shape memory alloys for morphing building envelope
Laura Marie Letellier
Graduate Researcher
Ph.D. Civil Engineering graduate student.
Currently investigating the design of medicines at the nanometer scale using engineering mechanics
Sajad Javadinasab Hormozabad
Graduate Researcher
Ph.D. Civil Engineering graduate student.
Currently investigating structural health monitoring and vibration control.
Find out more on my personal website
Phillip Antonio Thompson
Graduate Researcher
Ph.D. Family Science graduate student. Currently investigating family resilience analysis models
Meet the Alumni from this Research Group
What is next?
Nicolas Vargas
Undergraduate Researcher
B.S. Civil Engineering
Investigated economical and sustainable development of vulnerable communities impacted by natural hazards
Morgan Baumann
Former Undergraduate Researcher
B.S. Civil Engineering
Investigated additive manufacturing for origami building structures
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
Roberto Barajas
Former Undergraduate Researcher
B.S. Civil Engineering. Investigated vibration control of bridge structures.
Currently working at Consulting Services Incorporated
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
Amanda Melendez
Former Graduate Researcher
M.S. Civil Engineering
Thesis: Holistic Resilience Quantification Framework of Rural Communities
Currently works at Michael Baker International
Caylee Marshall
Former Undergraduate Researcher
B.S. Chemical Engineering student. Investigated origami-inspired structures
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
Amanda Bellamy
Former Graduate Researcher
M.A. Architecture, B.S. Civil Engineering, B.A. Architecture.
Investigated origami-inspired building structures and dynamic building envelope.
Currently works at Denham-Blythe Company, Inc.
Brandon Enbody
Former Undergraduate Researcher
B.S. Civil Engineering.
Studied biomimicry of aquatic life for community windstorm design.
Currently a M.S. graduate student at UCLA
Chris Addington
Former Undergraduate Researcher
B.S. Civil Engineering student. Investigated origami-inspired structures