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!
We discover how to prepare and respond during extreme events such as earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes, and so much more.
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.
Check out our publications and join our community!
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.
David Caballero Russi
Graduate Researcher
Ph.D. Civil Engineering.
Currently investigating structural health monitoring
Esther Newton
Undergraduate Researcher
Currently investigating sustainable solutions and design optimization
Mercy B. Muganyizi
Graduate Researcher
Ph.D. Architectural Engineering.
Currently investigating vertical greenery systems in buildings
Kyra Martindale
Undergraduate Researcher
B.S. Civil Engineering
Currently investigating design of additive manufactured buildings
Jennifer Fisher
Graduate Researcher
Doctor of Engineering
Currently investigating resilience and recovery monitoring after hurricane events
YOU
Future Researcher
Meet the Alumni from this Research Group
What is next?
Alejandro Palacio Betancur, Ph.D.
Former Graduate Researcher
Ph.D. in Civil Engineering, 2024
Dissertation: "Design and control of smart structural systems under multiple hazards" (2024)
M.S. Thesis: "Adaptive Tracking Controller for Real-Time Hybrid Simulation" (2020)
Currently System Integration Engineer at MTS Systems Corporation
Amanda Melendez, M.S.
Former Graduate Researcher
M.S. Civil Engineering, 2019
Thesis: Holistic Resilience Quantification Framework of Rural Communities
Currently works at Michael Baker International
Amanda Bellamy, M.S.
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.
Aaron Rohlfing, M.S.
Former Graduate Researcher
M.S. Engineering Design, 2023
Investigated compliance mechanisms for origami aerodynamic mitigation
Co-Advisor: Jared Butler, Ph.D.
Prethesha Alagusundaramoorthy, M.S.
Former Graduate Researcher
M.S. Civil Engineering, 2021
Investigated computational fluid dynamics of building structures.
Christopher Wheatley
Former Undergraduate Researcher
B.S. Material Science & Engineering
Investigated aerodynamic mitigation through origami building envelope
He pursued an M.S. in Material Science & Engineering at Pennsylvania State University and currently works at Oak Ridge National Lab
Nicolas Vargas
Former 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
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
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
Saanchi Kaushal, Ph.D.
Former Graduate Researcher
Ph.D. Architectural Engineering, 2024
Dissertation: "Dimensionality Reduction and Physics-Based Modeling to Quantify Relationships between Masonry Buildings and Tornadoes"
Co-Advisor: Rebecca Napolitano, Ph.D.
Currently Emergency Manager at San Mateo, CA
Sumant Rokade, M.S.
Former Graduate Researcher
M.S. Engineering Design, 2023
Thesis: "Large Scale Additive Manufacturing of Lattice Beams with Tessellation Variation: Predicting Structural Behavior using Laws of Similitude"
Co-Advisor: Nick Meisel, Ph.D.
Currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering
Kareem M. Hanna
Former Undergraduate Researcher
B.S. Engineering Science and Mechanics, 2025
Thesis: "Experimental Bending Analysis of Additively Manufactured Lattice Beams using Digital Image Correlation"
Andrew Aguila
Former Undergraduate Researcher
B.S. Mechanical Engineering, 2026
Investigated multi-axial real-time hybrid simulation of civil structures
Daivik Manickmalar
Former Undergraduate Researcher
B.S. Mechanical Engineering, 2024
Studied protective systems for the built environment.
Currently a rocket design engineer at Rocketdyne
Rayyan Alwaneen
Former Undergraduate Researcher
B.S. Mechanical Engineering, 2024
Investigated characterization of semi-active cam-lever friction devices for vibration control
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
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
Chris Addington
Former Undergraduate Researcher
B.S. Computer Science student. Investigated origami-inspired structures
Sajad Javadinasab Hormozabad, Ph.D.
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
Elnaz Ghasemi, M.S.
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
Ana Weiss
Former Undergraduate Researcher
B.S. Mechanical Engineering
Studied 3D printing of metamaterial structures for aerospace applications
Co-Advisor: Tamy Guimaraes, Ph.D.
Shakthi Suresh, M.S.
Former Graduate Researcher
M.S. Engineering Design, 2023
Investigated user-centered design of biodigesters
Co-Advisor: Juliana Vasco-Correa, Ph.D.
Chiranjeev Singh
Former Undergraduate Researcher
B.S. Mechanical Engineering, 2025
Investigated smart structures in extraterrestrial habitats
Currently Engineering Designer intern at Tesla
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.
Akinade Peter-Koyi
Former Undergraduate Researcher
B.S. Electrical Engineering
Currently investigating modeling of school of fish using machine learning
Co-Advisor: Nate Wagenhoffer, Ph.D.
Seth Roth
Former Undergraduate Researcher
B.S. Computer Engineering
Investigated experimental testing of additively manufactured lattice 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
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
Roberto Barajas
Former Undergraduate Researcher
B.S. Civil Engineering, 2019
Investigated vibration control of bridge structures.
Currently working at Consulting Services Incorporated