• Leal, C (2025). Influence of Particle Shape and Size in Cyclic Liquefaction Resistance and Post-Liquefaction Behavior of Sands

• Nunez, E (2025). Effects of Heating on Microplastic-Kaolin’s Hydromechanical Behavior Using Geophysical Methods 

• Palacios, JC (2024). Implementation and Analysis of Intricate Loading Paths by a Multi-Axis Simple Shear Apparatus

• Vasquez, A. (2022). Numerical Studies on The Hydraulic Performance of Red Mud and Fly Ash

• Kam, T. (2020). Laboratory Investigation of Geophysical Measurements in Clays

• Machado, J. (2020). Advanced Hydraulic Characterization of Treated and Untreated Bauxite Residue Study Using Steady State Centrifugation

• Huaz, J. (2020). Effects of Irregular Loading on the Strength of Sand 

Post-Doctoral Researchers or Research Associates

Please contact Dr. Kwan (wkwan4@calstatela.edu) to discuss research and education opportunities. 

Graduate Student Researchers 

Please contact Dr. Kwan (wkwan4@calstatela.edu) and visit the Cal State LA Civil Engineering website for more information about our MS program. Please be noted that our campus does not offer Ph.D. degrees in engineering. We would love to have you join our MS program. 

Undergraduate Student Researchers from Cal State LA and ELAC

We always encourage motivated students to inquire about current opportunities. Please email Dr. Kwan your resume/CV and unofficial transcript. A short paragraph describing why you are interested in joining our group is encouraged. 

• Hydro-Mechanical Effects of Heating on Soil and Microplastic Contamination 

• Partial Drainage Testing under Undrained and Boundary-Control Simple Shear Settings 

• Reduction in Undrained Soil Shear Strength due to Static Shear Stresses with Various Magnitudes and Directions 

• Advanced Geotechnical Characterization of Bauxite Residue (Red Mud)

• Non-Contact Geophysical Methods to Predict Near-Surface Seafloor Soil Properties [PI: Mark Tufenkjian]

Name, Expected Graduation Year, Degree in Progress

• Jose Fuentes, 2026, MS

• Cesar Leal, 2025, MS

• Elizabeth Nunez, 2025, MS

• Brandon De Jesus, 2026, MS 

• Catherine Nguyen, 2025, Research Associate

• Luis Salgado, 2025, BS

• Yordi Perez, 2025, BS

• Giselle Sandoval, 2026, BS

• Kyle Kunieda, 2027, MS

Name, Year Graduate, Awarded Degree, Position upon graduation 

• Brandon De Jesus, 2024, BS, Graduate student @ Cal State LA (Geotech Research Lab)

• Jean-Carlo Palacios, 2024, MS, Civil Engineering Assistant, Los Angeles County Public Works

• Amanda Wu, 2023, Summer Intern (NSF-REU)

• Chaslyn Evans, 2023, Summer Intern (NSF-REU)

• Elizabeth Nunez, 2023, BS, Graduate student @ Cal State LA (Geotech Research Lab)

• Cesar Leal, 2023, BS, Graduate student @ Cal State LA (Geotech Research Lab)

• Ambria Vasquez, 2022, MS, Senior Civil Engr. Assistant @ LA County Dept. of Public Work

• Jose Fuentes, 2021, BS, Graduate student @ Cal State LA (Geotech Research Lab)

• Alan Lopez, 2020, BS, Staff Engineer @ HD Geosolutions, Inc. 

• Tommy Kam, 2020, MS, Lab Engineer @ Geotechnologies Inc., Glendale, CA

• Joao Machado, 2020, MS, RDP Geotechnical Engineer @ Gecomp, Boston, MA (also admitted to Washington State University Ph.D. program) 

• Jose Huaz, 2020, MS, Engineering Aid III @ LA County Dept. of Public Work

• Tommy Kam, 2019, BS, Graduate student @ Cal State LA (Geotech Research Lab)

• James Tuazon, 2019, BS, Engineer @ Naval Facilities Engr. Command (NAVFAC), EXWC, Port Hueneme, CA

• Kenny Khov, 2019, BS, Graduate student @ University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign 

• Niccolas Peralta, 2019, BS, Geotechnical Engineer @ US Army Corps of Engineers 

• Freddy Garcia, 2018, BS, Transportation Engr. Associate @ City of LA