Alumni

Post Doctoral Research Fellows

Aslihan Karatas, PhD  

• Research topic: Understanding Occupancy Behavioral Parameters in Buildings 

• Current position: Assistant Professor, Lawerence Technological University

PhD Students

Min Deng, PhD  

• Thesis topic: Advancing Management and Control of Enclosed Spaces through Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence 

• Current position: Assistant Professor, Department of Civil, Environmental, and Construction Engineering, Texas Tech Engineering 

Xi Wang, PhD  

• Thesis topic: Enabling Human-Robot Partnerships in Digitally-Driven Construction Work through Integration of Building Information Models, Interactive Virtual Reality, and Process-Level Digital Twins  

• Current position: Assistant Professor, Department of Construction Science, Texas A&M

Ci-Jyun Polar Liang, PhD  

• Thesis topic: Affecting Fundamental Transformation in Future Construction Work Through Replication of the Master-Apprentice Learning Model in Human-Robot Worker Teams 

• Current position: Research Fellow, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)

Da Li, PhD  

• Thesis topic: Enabling Thermally Adaptive and Sustainable Built Environments through Sensing and Modeling of Human-Building Interactions 

• Current position: Assistant Professor, Glenn Department of Civil Engineering, Clemson University

Lichao Xu, PhD  

• Thesis topic: Enabling Thermally Adaptive and Sustainable Built Environments through Sensing and Modeling of Human-Building Interaction Geometric, Semantic, and System-Level Scene Understanding for Improved Construction and Operation of the Built Environments 

• Current position: SLAM Engineer, Flexiv Robotics

Bharadwaj Mantha, PhD  

• Thesis topic: Navigation, Path Planning and Task Allocation Framework for Mobile Co-Robotic Applications in Indoor Building Environments

• Current position: Post Doctoral Associate, S.M.A.R.T. Construction Research Group, New York University Abu Dhabi

Albert Thomas, PhD  

• Thesis topic: Modeling Occupant Behavior, Systems Life Cycle Performance, and Energy Consumption Nexus in Buildings Using Multi-Method Distributed Simulation

• Current position: Assistant Professor, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay

Fawaz Boodai, PhD  

• Thesis topic: Achieving Construction Project Success through Integration in the Project Delivery System from an Owner’s Perspective  

• Current position: Adjunct Professor and Expert with the Public Authority for Applied Education and Training, Experts Department - Ministry of Justice – Kuwait

Elie Azar, PhD

• Thesis topic: A Comprehensive Framework to Assess, Model, and Enhance the Human Role in Conserving Energy in Commercial Buildings

• Current position: Assistant Professor at Masdar Institute for Science and Technology – Abu Dhabi, UAE

MSE Students

Mohammad Yardehnavi

• Topic: Evaluating Wearable Devices to Measure Occupant Comfort and Wellbeing in Closed Built Environments

• Current position: Senior Consultant at PMA Consultants

Da Li

• Topic: Indoor Building Energy Monitoring and Control

• Current position: PhD student at UM

Mark Nemeth

• Topic: Evaluating Differences in Thermal Comfort Parameters between Occupants

• Current position: Project Engineer at the Whiting-Turner Contracting Company

Yan Shen

• Topic: Models to Improve Business Development and Resource Allocation for Construction Companies

• Current position: Civil Engineer at CPG Corporation Pte Ltd, Singapore

Bharadwaj Mantha

• Topic: Evaluating Data Collection Methods for Building Energy Monitoring

• Current position: PhD student at UM

Aakash Mittal

• Topic: Analysis of Plug Load Monitoring Techniques in Buildings

• Current position: Project Controls Specialist at ARCADIS, Chicago, IL

Wilson Ortiz Vega

• Topic: Modeling the Influence of External Information and Stakeholder Interactions in High Performance Building (HPB) Investments.

• Current position: Risk Analyst with AON, Chicago, IL

Kristina Stephan

• Topic: Agent-Based Modeling of the Impact of Stakeholder Requirements on Sustainable Retrofit of Buildings

• Current position: Senior Cost Controller at Green Top International and Projects Coordinator at Stephan Contracting, Beirut, Lebanon

John Boktor

• Topic: The State of Practice of Building Information Modeling (BIM) in the Mechanical Construction Industry

• Current position: Field Engineer with Renewable Energy Group - Mortenson Construction

Nathan Taylor

• Topic: An Experimental Approach to Optimizing Automated Hybrid Ventilation in Complex Buildings

• Current position: Engineer – Affiliated Engineers Inc.

Brad Baer

• Topic: Sustainable Retrofits in Existing Buildings - An Analysis of the Hierarchy of Stakeholder Requirements for Implementing Different Technical Retrofit Measures and Conflict Amongst Stakeholders in the Decision Making Process, using the House of Quality

• Current position: Civil Engineer Corps Officer, US Navy

William Cook

• Topic: Evaluating Sustainable Construction Practices in Afghanistan

• Current position: Senior Construction Project Manager / Engineer at US Navy

Carl Kirar

• Topic: United States Navy LEED Certification Costs

• Current position: Shore Energy and Utilities Action Officer and Chief of Naval Operations, Shore Readiness Division (OPNAV N46). Pentagon

Elie Azar

• Topic: Impact of Occupants Behavior on Building Energy Use: An Agent-Based Modeling Approach

• Current position: Assistant Professor at Masdar Institute for Science and Technology – Abu Dhabi, UAE

Seth Mangasarian

• Topic: Energy Consumption Evaluation of United States Navy LEED Certified Buildings for Fiscal Year 2009

• Current position: Public Works Officer with rank Lieutenant Commander for Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort

Kenneth Honek

• Topic: Recession Effects in Public Sector Construction Contracting: Focus on American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009

• Current position: Officer for Marine Corps Air Station Naples-Italy

Alexander Rexrode

• Topic: A Conceptual Framework for Applying Real Options in the Economic Analysis of Sustainably Retrofitted Existing Infrastructure Systems

• Current position: Project Engineer at J. P. Cullen

Undergraduate Students

Emilio Urias (UROP)

• Topic: Determining Optimal Maintenance and Replacement Schedules for Building Facades

Allisandra Stoiko (UROP and Independent Study)

• Topic: Analysis of Energy Use Intervention Methods in Buildings

Cassandra Hoffman (UROP)

• Topic: Development of a Method to Define Building Occupant Social Networks

Sara Saliby (Student intern from American University of Beirut)

• Topic: Review of Dispute Resolution Process in Middle East Region

Kendall Schmidt (UW)

• Topic: Behavioral Economics Application for Buildings

 Anthony El Khoury (Student intern from American University of Beirut)

• Topic: Simulation of Occupant Behavior using Agent Based Models

Winston Vankuta (UW-WiscAMP)

• Topic: Understanding Building Occupant Energy Use Behavior

Alexandra Malkovic (UW)

• Topic: Developing a Hierarchy of Energy Intervention Methods for Buildings

Carine Choubasi (Student intern from American University of Beirut)

• Topic: Developing a Data Fusion Based Method for Analysis of Energy Data from Building Automation Systems

Eva Sevilla (UW)

• Topic: EnergyPlus Building Simulation Software to Account for Occupant’s Impact on Energy Consumption in Office Buildings

Diane Aoun (Student intern from American University of Beirut)

• Topic: Developing a Data Base of Occupant Behaviors that Influence Energy Use

Kristina Stephan (Student intern from American University of Beirut)

• Topic: Characteristics of Net Zero Energy Buildings

Ibrahim Saade (Student intern from American University of Beirut)

• Topic: Understanding Applications of Building Information Modeling and eQuest

Karen Flynn (UW)

• Topic: Comparing Public and Private Construction Projects