DISSERTATIONS/THESES/ GRADUATE PROJECTS

1. Major Advisor: Kathryn Hogarth (2021-2024), Experimental Investigation and Analytical Validation of Post-Earthquake Repair Methods for an Innovative Precast Pier System, PhD Dissertation, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Idaho State University.

2. Major Advisor: Mahesh Acharya (2021-2024), Titanium Alloy Reinforced Ultra High-Performance Concrete, PhD Dissertation, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Idaho State University.

3. Major Advisor: Jared Cantrell (2021-2024), Additive Manufacturing in Structural Engineering, PhD Dissertation, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Idaho State University.

4. Major Advisor: Kabiraj Phuyal (2022-2023), Reducing the Carbon Footprint of Cement in Structural Concrete and Geotechnical Applications, Master’s Thesis, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Idaho State University.

5. Major Advisor: Manish Acharya (2023-2024), Experimental and Analytical Investigations of Titanium Alloy Bars in Concrete Structures, Master’s Thesis, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Idaho State University.

6. Major Advisor: Raghav Sharma (2023-2024), TBD, Master’s Thesis, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Idaho State University.

7. Major Advisor: Samjhana Rajbhandari  (2023-2024), TBD, Master’s Thesis, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Idaho State University.

8. Major Advisor: Kshitiz Raisal (2023-2024), TBD, Master’s Thesis, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Idaho State University.

9. Major Advisor: Pawan Bhattarai (2023-2024), TBD, Master’s Thesis, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Idaho State University.

10. Major Advisor: Ujwal Sharma (2022-2023), Mobile Robot for Security Applications in Remotely Operated Advanced Reactors, Master’s Special Project, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Idaho State University.

11. Major Advisor: Aashish Deo (2022-2023), Enhancing Shear Transfer Across 90-degree Slab-Wall Concrete Connections Using +/- 45 Degree Bidirectional FRP Composites, Master’s Thesis, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Idaho State University.

12. Major Advisor: Saksham Maharjan (2022-2023), Metallic Dissipaters Made of Steel, Aluminum, and Titanium Alloys for Seismic Protection, Master’s Thesis, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Idaho State University.

13. Major Advisor: Jose Duran (2021-2022), Strengthening of Structurally Deficient Reinforced Concrete Elements with Duktil Strips, Master’s Thesis, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Idaho State University.

14. Major Advisor: Ahmad Zaied (2021-2022), Bond Testing of Titanium Alloy Bars in Conventional and Ultra-High-Performance Concrete, Master’s Thesis, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Idaho State University. [The student did not continue and transitioned to industry]

15. Major Advisor: Mahesh Mahat (2021-2022), Use of Waste Tires as Transverse Reinforcement and External Confinement in Concrete Columns Subjected to Axial Loads, Master’s Thesis, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Idaho State University.

16. Major Advisor: Aashish Thapa (2020-2021), Large-Scale Flexural Testing of Concrete Beams Reinforced with Conventional Steel and Titanium Alloy Bars, Master’s Thesis, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Idaho State University.

17. Major Advisor: Usha Pant (2020-2021), Analytical and Experimental Investigation of Modular Structural Concrete Insulated panels (SCIPs), Master’s Thesis, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Idaho State University.

18. Major Advisor: Kathryn Hogarth (2020-2022), A Low Damage Double-Beam Coupling Beams for Seismic Regions, Master’s Thesis, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Idaho State University.

19. Major Advisor: Mahesh Acharya (Spring 2020-2021), Experimental Investigation of Titanium Alloy Bars (TiABs) for Seismic Resilient and Durable Concrete Bridge Piers, Master’s Thesis, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Idaho State University.

20. Major Advisor: Daniel Garz (2020-2021), Design and Construction of a Disaster Response Complex in Idaho for Training of Emergency Responders, Master’s Special Project, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Idaho State University.

21. Major Advisor: Mohammad Saifuzzaman (Summer 2021), Comparison of Seismic Performance of Bridges with Low Damage Technologies, PhD Dissertation, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Idaho State University. [The student did not continue at ISU and transferred to another university in his home country of Canada]

22. Major Advisor: Jared Cantrell (2018-2021), Large-Scale Testing of a Precast Bent for Accelerated Bridge Construction in Seismic Zones, Master’s Thesis, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Idaho State University.

23. Major Advisor: Corey Marshall (2018-2020), A Precast Cantilever Pier System in High Seismicity, Master’s Thesis, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Idaho State University.

24. Major Advisor: Ruchin Khadka (2018-2019), Mechanical and Bond Testing of Titanium Alloy Bars: Comparison with Steel, Master’s Thesis, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Idaho State University.

25. Major Advisor: Karma Gurung (2017-2019), Experimental Investigations of Full-Scale MetRock Structural Concrete Insulated Panels (SCIPs), Master’s Thesis, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Idaho State University.

26. Major Advisor: Hamed Kouhestani (Spring 2018), Analytical Stress-Strain Models for Titanium Alloy Bars, PhD Dissertation, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Idaho State University. [The student did not continue at ISU and transferred to another university]

27. Supervisor: Durga Parajuli (Summer 2022), Experimental and Analytical Studies on Concrete Insulated Panels, (Research Assistant), Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (Advisor = Arya Ebrahimpour), Idaho State University.

28. Supervisor: Jack Dunker (2021-2022), Using Real-world Simulations and Virtual Reality for Radiation Disaster Response Training, Master’s Thesis, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering / Department of Nuclear Engineering - Health Physics (Advisor = Richard Brey), Idaho State University.

29. Supervisor: Zach Free (2021-2022), Bulk Storage of Hydrogen Energy, Master’s Thesis, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering / Department of Mechanical Engineering (Advisors = Kunal Mondal and Anish Sebastian), Idaho State University.

30. Supervisor & Committee Member: Uma Shankar Medasetti (2019-2022), Use of Robotics in Disaster Response, PhD Dissertation, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering / Department Mechanical Engineering (Advisor = Anish Sebastian), Idaho State University.

31. Supervisor: Uma Shankar Medasetti (2021-2022), Mobile Robot for Security Applications in Remotely Operated Advanced Reactors, (Student Employee), Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering / Department Mechanical Engineering (Advisor = Anish Sebastian), Idaho State University.

32. Supervisor: Meesha Iqbal (2021-2022), Disaster Preparedness and Response Conference, (Research Assistant), Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering / Department of Community and Public Health (Advisor = Irene van Woerden), Idaho State University.

33. Supervisor: Nirajan Bhattarai (Summer 2021), Augmented and Virtual Reality Templates for Military and Civilian Responders, (Research Assistant), Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering / Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Science, Idaho State University.

34. Supervisor: Shishir Khanal (2020-2021), Literature Review on Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality, Shake Table Testing, Data Acquisition System, (Research Assistant), Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering / Department of Mechanical Engineering (Advisor = Marco Schoen), Idaho State University.

35. Co-Advisor: Hana Al-Ghanim (2022-2025), Application of Titanium Alloy Bars in Strengthening of RC Beams with Near-Surface Mounted (NSM) Technique, PhD Dissertation, Department of Civil and Architectural Engineering (Advisor = Wael Alnahhal), Qatar University, Doha, Qatar.

36. External Examiner: Sajad Veismoradi (2023), Development of New Self-Centering Friction-based Damage Avoidant Systems for Earthquake-prone Reinforced Concrete Buildings, PhD Dissertation, (Advisor = Pouyan Zarnani), Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand.

37. Co-Advisor: Yan Chen (2018-2022), Experimental and Numerical Study on An Innovative Multiple U-Shaped Flexural Plate Seismic Bracing Device, Master’s Thesis, Department of Civil and Natural Resources Engineering (Advisor = Alessandro Palermo), University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand.

38. Co-Advisor: Eric Cohen (2019), Use of ArcGIS for Development of an Inventory and Inspection Database Framework for MSE Walls, (Research Assistant), Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering / Department of Geosciences (Advisor = James Mahar), Idaho State University.

39. Co-Advisor: Janet Towner (2018), Development of an Inventory and Inspection Database Framework for MSE Walls, (Research Assistant), Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (Advisor = James Mahar), Idaho State University. [The student passed away before finishing their degree].

40. Committee Member: Wyatt Radke (2023), Experimental Testing and Finite Element Analysis of an Adjustable Anchor System, Master’s Thesis, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (Advisor = Arya Ebrahimpour), Idaho State University.

41. Committee Member: Bipin Aryal (2022), Pullout Behavior of Rebars Embedded in Ultra-High-Performance Concrete, Master’s Thesis, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (Advisor = Arya Ebrahimpour), Idaho State University.

42. Committee Member: Ali Shokrgozar (2022), Bond Strength Behavior Between Non-Proprietary UHPC and High Strength Precast Concrete Bridge Components, PhD Dissertation, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (Advisor = Arya Ebrahimpour), Idaho State University.

43. Graduate Faculty Representative: Michael Benson (2022), Assessment of Thermal Cycling of Ultra-High-Performance Concrete, Master’s Thesis, Department of Nuclear Engineering (Advisor = Daniel LaBrier), Idaho State University.

44. Graduate Faculty Representative: Jordan Harley (2022), Physical Interaction Between Molten Sodium and Standard Insulation, Master’s Thesis, Department of Nuclear Engineering (Advisor = Daniel LaBrier), Idaho State University.

45. Graduate Faculty Representative: Suman Neupane (2022), RFID Localization, Master’s Thesis, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (Advisor = Andrew Chrysler), Idaho State University.

46. Committee Member: Amin Torabi (2021), A Novel Submerged Oscillating Water Column (SOWC) Energy Harvester, PhD Dissertation, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (Advisor = Bruce Savage), Idaho State University.

47. Committee Member: Nathan Oldham (2020), Finite Element Modeling of Concrete Bridge Connections, Master’s Thesis, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (Advisor = Arya Ebrahimpour), Idaho State University.

48. Committee Member: Christopher Clauson (2019), Field Performance of High-Early Strength Class 50AF Concrete with Polypropylene Fibers used as Field-Cast Connection between Deck Bulb-T Girders in Accelerated Bridge Construction, Master’s Thesis, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (Advisor = Arya Ebrahimpour), Idaho State University.

49. Committee Member: Utsa Rashique (2018), Nonlinear Finite Element Modeling of a Field-Cast Connection Composed of High-Early Strength Concrete with Polypropylene Fibers and headed Bars for Bridge Prefabricated Elements, Master’s Thesis, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (Advisor = Arya Ebrahimpour), Idaho State University.

50. Committee Member: Maximilian Casanova (2018), Mechanical Behavior of High-Early Strength Concrete with Polypropylene Fibers for Field-Cast Connections of Bridge Precast Elements, Master’s Thesis, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (Advisor = Arya Ebrahimpour), Idaho State University.

51. Committee Member: Barbara Earles (2017), Seismic Performance of Columns with Grouted Couplers in Idaho Accelerated Bridge Construction Applications, Master’s Thesis, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (Advisor = Arya Ebrahimpour), Idaho State University.

UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH PROJECTS AT IDAHO STATE UNIVERSITY

1. Supervisor: Arpan Adhikari (2023-Present), Structural Laboratories, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.

2. Supervisor: Asa Flowers (2022-Present), Disaster Response Complex / Structural Laboratories, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.

3. Supervisor: Bo Frasure (2022-Present), Disaster Response Complex / Structural Laboratories, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.

4. Supervisor: Anthony Droghei (2021-2022), Experimental Validation of Repair Methods for Earthquake Damaged Bridges Incorporating ITD’s Precast Pier System, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.

5. Supervisor: Sindi Banda (2021-Present), Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality for Disaster Response, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering / Business Informatics - College of Business.

6. Supervisor: Joe Shurtleff (2021-Present), Design and Construction of Training Lanes for the Disaster Response Complex / Recycled Concrete Aggregate for Eco-Friendly Construction in Idaho, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.

7. Supervisor: Berenice Sosa Aispuro (2021-2022), Shake Table of Bridge Piers and Recycled Concrete Aggregate for Eco-Friendly Construction in Idaho, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering / Department of Nuclear Engineering.

8. Supervisor: Kabiraj Phuyal (2021-2022), Recycled Concrete Aggregate for Eco-Friendly Construction in Idaho, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.

9. Supervisor: Claire Haupt (2021-2022), Building 3D As-Built Drawings of Disaster Response Complex, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering / Department of Mechanical Engineering.

10. Supervisor: Lwin Htun (2021-2022), Building 2D As-Built of Disaster Response Complex, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.

11. Supervisor: Pawan Acharya (2021-2022), Mixed Reality for Disaster Response, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering / Department of Computer Science.

12. Supervisor: Zach Free (2020-2021), Augmented Reality/Virtual Reality in Disaster Response, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering / Department of Mechanical Engineering.

13. Supervisor: Maya Hernandez (2021), Advanced Manufacturing for Energy Storage, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering / Department of Chemistry (Advisor = Rene Rodriguez).

14. Supervisor: Rachel Brownell (2020-2021), Novel Earthquake Protection Technologies for Structures and Shake Table Testing of Bridge Piers, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.

15. Supervisor: Samantha Kerr (2019-2021), Novel Seismic Dissipaters for Earthquake Resiliency of Structures, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.

16. Supervisor: Kathryn Hogarth (2017-2020), A Precast Pier System for Accelerated Bridge Construction in Seismic Zones, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.

17. Supervisor: Ryan Golding (2018-2019), Concrete Mix Designs Using Recycled and Novel Materials, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.

18. Supervisor: Mahesh Acharya (2018-2019), Concrete Mix Designs Using Recycled and Novel Materials, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.

19. Co-Advisor: Christopher Baker (2018-2019), Development of an Inventory and Inspection Database Framework for MSE Walls, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (Advisor = James Mahar) / College of Education.

20. Supervisor: Christopher Baker (2018), Replacing Shake Table Plate in the Structural Dynamics Laboratory, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering / College of Education.

21. Supervisor: Stephen Arnold (2018), Designing a Controller System for Four Small Hydraulic Actuators in the Structural Laboratory, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering / Department of Electrical Engineering.

22. Co-Advisor: Christopher Clauson (2016-2017), Effectiveness of High Early Strength Concrete Class 50A with Polypropylene Fibers as a Cost-Effective Alternative in Connections between Deck Bulb-T Girders and Precast Deck Panels in Accelerated Bridge Construction, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (Advisor = Arya Ebrahimpour).

23. Supervisor: Irvin Aguilar (2016-2017), Accelerated Bridge Construction (ABC) in Idaho, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.

24. Supervisor: Michael Kelley (2017), Construction of the Strong Floor for the Structural Laboratory, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering / Department of Mechanical Engineering.

25. Supervisor: Jordan Stearns (2017), Quasi-Static Cyclic Testing of Large-Scale Structural Models: Strong Floor, Testing Apparatus and Setup, Acquisition System, and Experimental Testing, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.

26. Supervisor: Jared Cantrell (2016), Shake Table Testing: The Most Reliable Tool for Evaluating the Seismic Performance of Structural Models, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.

SENIOR DESIGN PROJECTS

1. Advisor: Rahul Anand, Anil Ghimire, and Saga Gaire (2020-2021), RAS – Pedestrian Steel Truss Bridge Design, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Idaho State University.

2. Advisor: Rafael Martinez, Jesus Villa, Usha Pant, and Rogelio Del Bosque (2019-2020), Replacement of a Bridge over I-15 Using Accelerated Bridge Construction, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Idaho State University.

3. Advisor: Mohammed Alhasan, Zakariya Burabie, Nasser Alotaibi, and Fahed Alhuraiti (2019), AISC Steel Statue at Idaho State University, Senior Design Project, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Idaho State University.

4. Advisor: Jordan Stearns, S. Albehairi, H. Alqattan, A. Almutairi, and J. Cantrell (2017-2018), Design of a Multi-story Prestressed Concrete Parking Garage, Senior Design Project, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Idaho State University.

5. Advisor: Fatimah Ghazwi, Jerry Burrows, Sukriti Panthi, and Karma Gurung (2016-2017), Concrete Canoe, Senior Design Project, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Idaho State University.

6. Co-Advisor: Chloe McKenzie and Christa Murphy (2013), Innovation in Aesthetics and Design of Dallington Pedestrian Bridges, Senior Design Project, Department of Civil and Natural Resources Engineering (Advisor = Alessandro Palermo), University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand.

7. Co-Advisor: Matthew Henden and Royce Liu (2013), Ferrymead Bridge: A Case Study into the Past and Present to Design for the Future, Senior Design Project, Department of Civil and Natural Resources Engineering (Advisor = Alessandro Palermo), University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand.

8. Co-Advisor: Theo Dombroski and Daniel Kaijser (2014), Seismic Advanced Bridge Technologies for Short-Span New Zealand Highway Bridges, Senior Design Project, Department of Civil and Natural Resources Engineering (Advisor = Alessandro Palermo), University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand.

CAREER PATH INTERNSHIPS AT IDAHO STATE UNIVERSITY

1. Supervisor: Asa Flowers, Bo Frasure, Ujwal Sharma, and Aashish Deo (Fall 2022), Various Projects in the Structural Laboratory, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.

2. Supervisor: Ahmad Zaied, Jose Duran, Gage Cussins, Josh Peck, and Joe Shurtleff (Fall 2021 and Spring 2022), Various Projects in the Structural Laboratory and the Disaster Response Complex, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.

3. Supervisor: Usha Pant, Aashish Thapa, Kabiraj Phuyal, Laura-Louise Alicke, and Samantha Kerr (Spring and Summer 2021), Various Projects in the Structural Laboratory and Disaster Response Complex, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.

4. Supervisor: Jack Dunker, Fernando Mendoza, and Zachary Free (Spring and Summer 2021), The Use of Emerging Technologies for Training of Emergency Responders, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering / Department of Nuclear Engineering – Health Physics / Department of Mechanical Engineering.

5. Supervisor: Mahesh Mahat, Aashish Thapa, and Anil Ghimire (Summer and Fall 2020), Various Projects in the Structural Laboratory, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.

6. Supervisor: Usha Pant, Mahesh Mahat, Aashish Thapa, Anil Ghimire, and Laura-Louise Alicke (Spring 2020), Various Projects in the Structural Laboratory, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.

7. Supervisor: Usha Pant, Mahesh Mahat, Kshitiz Shrestha, and Kabiraj Phuyal (Fall 2019), Various Projects in the Structural Laboratory, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.

8. Supervisor: Garrett Thompson (2016-2017), Construction, Instrumentation, Shake Table Testing, and Data Acquisition of Steel/Concrete Structural Models, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.

9. Supervisor: David Nielsen and Christopher Clauson (2016), Rehabilitation of Civil Engineering Labs at Idaho State University, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.

NATIONAL/REGIONAL STUDENT COMPETITIONS

1. Advisor: Mahesh Acharya, Ali Shokrgozar, Laura-Louise Alicke, and Anthony Droghei (2022), Project Precast, PCI Convention and Precast Show, Kansas City, MO. Industry Sponsor = PCI Foundation, Naperville, IL.

2. Advisor: Usha Pant (2021), PCI Foundation’s Video Poster Competition, (held virtual). Industry Sponsor = PCI Foundation, Naperville, IL.

3. Advisor: Samantha Kerr and Ali Shokrgozar (2020), American Segmental Bridge Institute (ASBI) Research Project Competition, (held virtual). Industry Sponsor = ASBI, Austin, TX.

4. Advisor: Rafael Nunez, Jesus Villa, Rogelio Del Bosque, Usha Pant, Kshitiz Shrestha, and David Hull (2019-2020), PCI Big Beam Competition (Cancelled at ISU due to COVID-19). Industry Sponsor = Teton Prestress Concrete, Idaho Fall, ID.

5. Advisor: Aashish Thapa, Bipin Aryal, Kathryn Hogarth, and Mahesh Acharya (2019-2020), ASCE Concrete Canoe Competition. Industry Sponsor = ASCE, Reston, VA.

6. Advisor: Mahesh Mahat (2020), Project Precast, PCI Convention and Precast Show, Fort Worth, TX. Industry Sponsor = PCI Foundation, Naperville, IL.

7. Advisor: Mahesh Acharya, Ali Shokrgozar, Maria Tangarife, and Garrett Thompson (2019-2020), National Precast Concrete Association (NPCA) Student Competition. Industry Sponsor = NPCA Foundation, Carmel, IN.

8. Advisor: Ali Shokrgozar, Ruchin Khadka, Mahesh Acharya, and Alexander Gunkler (2018-2019), PCI Big Beam Competition. Industry Sponsor = Teton Prestress Concrete, Idaho Falls, ID.

9. Advisor: Ryan Golding, Blake Kleffner, and David Lucyga (2018-2019), PCI Big Beam Competition. Industry Sponsor = Contech Engineered Solutions (formerly Forterra Structural Precast), West Valley, UT.

10. Advisor: Karma Gurung, Maximilian Casanova, Henrik Karstens, Christopher Clauson, and Jared Cantrell (2017-2018), PCI Big Beam Competition. Industry Sponsor = Contech Engineered Solutions (formerly Forterra Structural Precast), West Valley, UT.

11. Advisor: Garrett Thompson and Isaac Wood (2016-2017), Student Video Competition, American Society of Civil Engineers Structures Congress, Denver, CO. Sponsor = Idaho State University.  

12. Advisor: Fatimah Ghazwi, Jerry Burrows, Sukriti Panthi, and Karma Gurung (2016-2017), ASCE Concrete National Competition. Industry Sponsor = ASCE, Reston, VA / multiple others.