Research Team

Principal Investigator

Thomas Petersen

Assistant Professor

Sonny Astani Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

University of Southern California

3620 South Vermont Ave, KAP 230C

Los Angeles, California 90089-2531

+1 (928) 210-2088 | thomasp3@usc.edu | LinkedIn

I grew up in Germany and have been in the US since high school, moving between Arizona, North Carolina, Massachusetts, Texas, and California. I have many hobbies, including running, cycling, skiing, snowboarding, going on hiking adventures with my wife and dog, reading biographies of interesting people, and painting, to name a few, and there is never enough time to pursue them all. But I count myself lucky: I get to spend much of my time at work solving interesting physics and mechanics problems!

I am always excited to meet new, curious, driven, self-motivated, and creative people. Diverse perspectives help push research into intersectional and unexplored topic areas.

Amirmahdi Rabiee - Ph.D. student (2023 - Present)

I earned my B.Sc. in Civil Engineering in 2018 and my M.Sc. in Earthquake Engineering in 2021, both from the University of Tehran. During my undergraduate studies, I delved into the UHPC mix design and its bond strength with ordinary concrete. The concentration of my master’s thesis was on strengthening full-scale seismically deficient concrete beam-column joints through the application of UHPC jackets and CFRP laminates. Currently, my research endeavors are dedicated to investigating the impact of salinity and pH gradients on the transport of clay-stabilized Pickering emulsions. The observed diffusiophoretic dynamics of porous flow on microfluidic chips are to be compared to non-equilibrium thermodynamic transport equations that account for the gelation of the clay.

In my leisure time, I find joy in listening to Persian literature and songs, reading philosophical and self-help books, exploring LA, playing FIFA, and cherishing moments with friends. Whenever I seek respite from academic pursuits, there is nothing I enjoy more than traveling and trekking.

Pouya Golchin - Ph.D. student (2023 - Present)

I earned my B.Sc. in Civil Engineering in 2017 from the University of Tabriz, Iran. Following this, I completed my M.Sc. in Structural Engineering in 2021 at the prestigious Sharif University of Technology in Tehran, Iran. My master’s research involved an assessment of how varying intensity measures and ground motion selections influence the mean vector and covariance matrix of engineering demand parameter distributions in steel frame models. This study was grounded in advanced nonlinear analyses, utilizing the Ibarra-Medina-Krawinkler deterioration model to simulate realistic structural behavior under seismic loads. Presently, my research endeavors have taken a new turn, focusing on electrochemical flow through porous media. This research intersects the domains of fluid mechanics, material science, and civil engineering, exploring the mechanisms of fluid transport through dynamically adaptable pore structures. The work holds the potential to improve fluid transport methodologies in various engineering applications.

In my personal time, I immerse myself in the world of arts and culture. Music and movies form an integral part of my leisure activities, offering a much-needed respite from academic rigors. These pursuits not only provide relaxation but also enrich my creative thinking and perspectives, which I find invaluable in my professional research endeavors.

Undergraduate Students

Jana Fladd (joined as a 2023-2024 CURVE Fellow)

Sophia Li (joined as a 2023-2024 CURVE Fellow)

Kevin Kumar

Interested in joining our research group?

Graduate Students

Although we are currently not recruiting Ph.D. students to our lab, this may change over the course of the year pending changes in funding. Students of interdisciplinary science and engineering backgrounds (civil, environmental mechanical, aerospace, chemical, physics) are encouraged to apply: interest, curiosity, and willingness to learn are more important to us than possessing a particular set of technical skills. You will be pushed to think critically, develop independent problem-solving skills, and collaborate with the students, engineers, and scientists around you.

Prospective students are encouraged to contact Professor Petersen by email before submitting their applications. However, not all can be answered due to the large volume of emails received. When you reach out to Professor Petersen, please describe the topic areas of research that interest you: What excites you about doing research in the specific area of mechanics of materials?

Apply for admission to the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department