I am currently an active member of Nweke Research Group at USC (Nweke Nest | Natural Hazards, Engineering Reliability, Sustainable Foresight, Telluric Excellence ) PI - Prof. C.C. Nweke
Journal Publications
In preparation
Shams, R., Buckreis, Tristan; Nweke, Chukwuebuka, Brandenberg, Scott and Stewart, Jonathan (20xx), Basin Depth Extrapolation Model (Under Preparation)
Shams, R., Nweke CC, Parker GA, (20xx), Site Response in LA Basin at CSN and Non-CSN Sites (Under Preparation)
Shams, R., Nweke CC, Parker GA, (20xx), Understanding Site Response Variability in Large Sedimentary Basins using Sub-Basin Framework (Under Preparation)
Vyas Piyush, Shams, R., Nweke, Chukwuebuka (20xx), Bayesian Models for Modulus Reduction Curves (G/Gmax) for Biocemented Sands (Under Preparation)
Submitted
Shams, R., Gupta, R. K., Gogoi, A., Lallawmawma, C., Pandey, M., Pratap, B., Srivastava, M., Sharma, M. L., & Mittal, H. Uncertainty-aware Bayesian neural network-based peak ground-motion models for regional seismic hazard assessment in Northeast India. Bulletin of Earthquake Engineering. (under submission)
Published
2026
Shams, R., Mitra Devjyoti, Nath Ritu (2026), A data-driven framework for basin delineation and site response characterization using spatial clustering and Bayesian modeling: A case study for the San Francisco Bay area, Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering, 208, 110380. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soildyn.2026.110380
Shams, R., Gupta RK, Shamra ML, (2026), Towards Robust Sesimcity Characterisation of Stable Continental Regions: A Bayesian Approach for b-values in Peninsular India, Bulletin of Earthquake Enigneering, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10518-026-02447-3
Shams, R., Nweke CC, Parker GA, (2026), Seismic Site Response Models based on Geometric Parameter for Southern California Sedimentary Basins California, Earthquake Spectra , https://doi.org/10.1002/esp4.70027
2025
Henry Burton; Sebastian Galicia Madero; Chenhao Wu; Shams, R; Chukwuebuka Nweke, (2025) Quantifying the Realized and Unrealized Benefits of Seismic Interventions using Causal Inference, Natural Hazards. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-025-07531-6
Buckreis, Tristan; Nweke, Chukwuebuka; Wang, Pengfei; Brandenberg, Scott; Ramos-Sepulveda, Maria; Shams, R.; Shako, Mohammad, Pretell, Renmin; Mazzoni, Silvia; Zimmaro, Paolo; Stewart, Jonathan, (2025). A Global Application Programming Interface–Enabled Earthquake Ground Motion Relational Database for Engineering Applications. Earthquake Spectra. 2025;0(0). doi:10.1177/87552930251344978
Nweke, Chukwuebuka; Shams, R.; Southern California Basin Classification Algorithm for Ground Motion Site Amplification Models, Earthquake Spectra. https://doi.org/10.1177/87552930241293568 Link
2024
Mohammed S, Shams, R., Nweke CC, et al. Usability of Community Seismic Network recordings for ground-motion modeling. Earthquake Spectra. 2024;0(0). doi:10.1177/87552930241267749 Link
Shams, R., Agrawal, M. Nonlinear Seismic Site Response Analysis of Shallow Sites in Dhanbad City, Jharkhand, India. Geotech Geol Eng (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10706-024-02742-3. Link
2023
Gupta, R.K., Agrawal, M., Shams, R.. (2023), Seismic site response study of Dhanbad city (India) using equivalent linear analysis complemented by horizontal-to-vertical spectral ratios. Environ Earth Sci 82, 291 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-023-10985-1 Link
Shams, R., Agrawal M., (2023), Kappa Model and Coda-Q study for Eastern Chotanagpur Plateau (India), Nat Hazards https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-023-05871-9 Link
2022
Shams, R., Agrawal, M. & Gupta, R.K. Probabilistic seismic hazard assessment of Kishanganj, Bihar, India. J Earth Syst Sci 131, 257 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12040-022-01999-7 Link
Tristan E. Buckreis, Scott J. Brandenberg, Tadahiro Kishida, Meibai Li, Shako Mohammed, Chukwuebuka C. Nweke, Shams R, Sana H. Anamangadan, Timothy D. Ancheta, Domniki Asimaki, Grigorios Lavrentiadis, Mahdi Bahrampouri, Brendon A. Bradley, Brian S.-J. Chiou, Jyun-Yan Huang, Giovanni Lanzano, Robin L. Lee, Lucia Luzi, Saburoh Midorikawa, Nobuyuki Morikawa, Cesar A. Pajaro, Aaron Rampersad, Joel N. Ridden, Hongjun Si, Karen C.-H. Sung, Paolo Zimmaro, Chuanbin Zhu, and Jonathan P. Stewart (2025). Ground motions and intensity measures. In NGA-West3 database report (Report GIRS-2025-07) (Chap. 3). Natural Hazards Risk & Resiliency Research Center, University of California, Los Angeles. https://doi.org/10.34948/N3D30R
Tristan E. Buckreis, Shams R, Chuckwuebuka C. Nweke, Scott J. Brandenberg, Jonathan P. Stewart, Shako Mohammed, Laurie Baise, Meibai Li, Shiying Nie, Mahdi Bahrampouri, and Tadahiro Kishida. (2025) Station and site characterization. In NGA-West3 database report (Report GIRS-2025-07) (Chap. 5). Natural Hazards Risk & Resiliency Research Center, University of California, Los Angeles. https://doi.org/10.34948/N3D30R
Stewart, JP, Mohammad S, Brandenberg Scott, Buckreis TE, Nweke CC, Shams, R. (2025). Sub-Regional Site Response of San Francisco Bay Area, Garrick Institute for Risk Sciences, UCLA Samueli Engineering. DOI: 10.34948/N3HS3Q. Link
Shams, R. and Nweke, C. C., (2024). Geometric Parameterization of Sedimentary Basins in Southern California for Site Response Analysis and Modeling, Garrick Institute for Risk Sciences, UCLA Samueli Engineering. DOI: 10.34948/N3988K. Link
Stewart, JP, Mohammad S, Nweke CC, Shams R, Buckreis TE, Kohler MD, Bozorgnia Y (2023). Usability of ground motions recorded by Community Seismic Network, Garrick Institute for Risk Sciences, UCLA Samueli Engineering. DOI: 10.34948/N36K5M. Link
2024
Nweke, C., Shams, R. (2024). "Southern California Basin and Non-Basin Classification Algorithm for Ground Motion Site Amplification Model Applications". DesignSafe-CI. https://doi.org/10.17603/ds2-fnat-6024
Nweke, C., Shams, R. (2024). "Geometric Parametrization of Sedimentary Basins in Southern California", in Geometric Parametrization of Sedimentary Basins in Southern California. DesignSafe-CI. https://doi.org/10.17603/ds2-54xr-mm22
Nweke, C. C., Shams, R., P. Vyas, S. K.C., F. Ornelas. (2024) "Microtremor Horizontal to-Vertical Spectral Ratio (mHVSR) Data Collection at Baldwin Hills, 2023", in Microtremor Measurements Performed Within https://doi.org/10.17603/ds2-sekd-j098 v1 Southern California. DesignSafe-CI. Link
Nweke, C. C., Shams, R., P. Vyas, S. K.C., F. Ornelas. (2024) "Microtremor Horizontal to-Vertical Spectral Ratio (mHVSR) Data Collection at Griffith Park, 2023", in Microtremor Measurements Performed Within https://doi.org/10.17603/ds2-bjq5-xv26 v1 Link
Mohammed, S., Shams, R., T. Buckreis, C. Nweke, M. Kohler, Y. Bozorgnia, J. Stewart. (2024) "Data Files for Community Seismic Network (CSN) Ground Motion Study." DesignSafe-CI. https://doi.org/10.17603/ds2-3e79-4e07 v1 Link
2023
Buckreis, T.E., C.C. Nweke, P. Wang, S.J. Brandenberg, M.E. Ramos-Sepulveda, Rashid Shams, R. Pretell, S. Mazzoni, P. Zimmaro, and J.P. Stewart (2023) Web portal for the global earthquake ground motion relational database. The B. John Garrick Institute for the Risk Sciences.DOI:https://doi.org/10.34948/G4RP4K Link
Shams, R., Hussain, A. (2021). Analysis of Effect of Anti-slide Pile on Stability of Slopes. In: Kumar Shukla, S., Raman, S.N., Bhattacharjee, B., Bhattacharjee, J. (eds) Advances in Geotechnics and Structural Engineering. Lecture Notes in Civil Engineering, vol 143. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-33-6969-6_22 Link
Hussian, A., Mawai, D., Shams, R., Kumar, S., Yadav, I.K. (2021). An Experimental Study on Effect of Partial Replacement of Rubber Tyres Dust as Fine Aggregates on Compressive Strength of Concrete. In: Kumar Shukla, S., Raman, S.N., Bhattacharjee, B., Bhattacharjee, J. (eds) Advances in Geotechnics and Structural Engineering. Lecture Notes in Civil Engineering, vol 143. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-33-6969-6_24. Link
Shams, R., & Nweke, C. C. (2025). The impact of sub-basins on the spatial variability of ground motion amplification in the Los Angeles Basin. In Geo-Extreme 2025: Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering (Paper No. 023). https://doi.org/10.1061/9780784486504.023
Shams, R., Buckreis, T. E., Nweke, C. C., Brandenberg, S. J., & Stewart, J. P. (2025). Extrapolation algorithm for computing z1.0 from shallow measured velocity profile. In Geo-Extreme 2025: Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering (Paper No. 024). https://doi.org/10.1061/9780784486504.024
Shams, R., & Nweke, C. C. (2025). Lessons learned from site characterization efforts during reconnaissance: 2022 Taitung earthquakes. In Geo-Extreme 2025: Civil Infrastructure, Geomaterials, and Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering (Paper No. 031). https://doi.org/10.1061/9780784486511.031
Buckreis, T. E., Brandenberg, S. J., Mohammed, S., Nweke, C. C., Shams, R., Bahrampouri, M., Bradley, B. A., … & Stewart, J. P. (2025). Regional data sets included in the NGA-West3 ground motion database. In Geo-Extreme 2025: Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering (Paper No. 028). https://doi.org/10.1061/9780784486504.028
Mohammed, S., Shams, R., Buckreis, T. E., Nweke, C. C., Brandenberg, S. J., & Stewart, J. P. (2025). Sub-regional site response in the San Francisco Bay Area. In Geo-Extreme 2025: Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering (Paper No. 027). https://doi.org/10.1061/9780784486504.027
Shams, R, Nweke, C. C., Chenhao Wu, Henry Burton (2025), A Causal Lens Perspective on Basin Effects,, Presented at 2025 Proceedings of the 3rd Croatian Conference on Earthquake Engineering - 3CroCEE 19–22 March 2025, Split, Croatia, DOI: https://doi.org/10.5592/CO/3CroCEE.2025.3
Buckreis, T., Nweke, C. C., Wang, P., Shams, R., Ramos-Sepulveda, M., Pretell, R., Mazzoni, S., & Stewart, J. P. (2024). User-interaction with a web-served global ground motion relational database, Proceedings WCEE 2024. Link
Shams, R and Nweke, C. C., Capturing the Path Dependency of Site Response in Basin and Non-Basin Southern California Locations, Geo Congress 2024, 25-28 February 2024, Vancouver, BC, https://doi.org/10.1061/9780784485316.043.
Jonathan P. Stewart, Shako M., Chukwuebuka C. Nweke, Shams, R, Tristan Buckeries, Monica Kohler, Yousef Bozorgnia, Comparison of Ground Motions from CSN Instruments and Proximate Sensors from Other Networks, SMIP23 Seminar on Utilization of Strong-Motion Data, 19 October 2023. Link
Shams, R., Nweke, C. C., Tristan E. Buckreis, Scott J. Brandenberg, and Jonathan P. Stewart, Improving Iso-surface Depth Estimates for California sites using Measured Velocity Profiles and Geology, 7th Le Val Lund Symposium at CalTech, 1st May 2025. (In-person oral presentation)
Shams, R., C.C. Nweke, and G.A. Parker, (2025), Enhanced Site Response Models using Geometric Parameters in Los Angeles Basin, SoCal Civil and Environmental Research Symposium (CEERS) at USC and UCI 10-11th April. (Oral Presentation)
Shams, R., C.C. Nweke, Henry Burton, Chenhao Wu, (2025), A Causal Perspective on Basin Effects, 3rd Croatian Conference on Earthquake Engineering (3rdCroCEE) 19-22nd March. (Oral Presentation)
Rashid Shams, C.C. Nweke, Henry Burton, Chenhao Wu, (2025), A Causal Perspective on Basin Effects, NHERI Computational Symposium 2025 at UCLA, 6-7th Feb. (Oral Presentation) Abstract Link
Shams, R. (2024), Understanding Spatial Variability of Site Response in LA, Presented at COSMOS Technical Session 2024 at Oakland, CA, 14-15th Nov 2024. Link
Shams, R. and Chukwuebuka C. Nweke (2024), Capturing the Path Dependency of Site Response in Basin and Non-Basin Southern California Locations, Geo Congress 2024, 25-28 February 2024, Vancouver, BC, https://doi.org/10.1061/9780784485316.043 (Oral Presentation) Link
Shams, R., Agrawal, M., Analysis of Seismic Attenuation Characteristics for Eastern Chotanagpur Region, India. Presented as flash talk presentation in Frontiers of Geoscience Research Conference (FGRC-2021), Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), Ahmedabad, 27-28 Sept 2021. (Oral Presentation) Link Presentation
Shams, R., Hussain, A., Liquefaction Hazard Assessment of Yamuna Bank Region, Delhi. Presented at the National Conference on Geo-science and Geo- Geo-structures (GSGS-2020), National Institute of Technology, Jamshedpur, 3-4 September 2020. (Oral Presentation)
Shams, R., Hussain, A., An Experimental Study on Effect of Partial Replacement of Rubber Dust as Fine Aggregate on Compressive Strength of Concrete. Presented at International Conference on Smart Cities: Opportunities and Challenges at Jamia Millia Islamia (Central University), 14-16 March 2019, Delhi. (Oral Presentation)
Shams, R., Nweke, C. C., Buckreis, T. E., Brandenberg, S. J., Stewart, J. P., (2025) Improving Iso-surface Depth (z1.0) Estimates for California Sites from Measured Profiles and Geology-Based Proxy Models for Ground Motion Studies. Poster Presentation at 2025 SCEC Annual Meeting. (Poster) Link
Shams, R., C.C. Nweke, (2025), Seismic Site Response on the Moon: A Framework for Engineering Design, 56th Lunar Planetary Science Conference, Houston, 10-14th March. (Poster Presentation) Link
Shams, R., C.C. Nweke, (2025), Seismic Signal Processing of Shallow Moonquakes for Engineering Applications, 56th Lunar Planetary Science Conference, Houston, 10-14th March. (Poster Presentation) Link
Shams, R., C.C. Nweke and G.A. Parker, (2025), Ground Motion Amplification in Los Angeles Basin using Sub-Basins, NHERI Computational Symposium 2025 at UCLA, 6-7th Feb. (Poster Presentation) Link
Shams, R., K C, S., Buckreis, T. E., Brandenberg, S. J., Stewart, J. P., & Nweke, C. C. (2024, 09). Application for CVMs for NGA-West3 Project. Poster Presentation at 2024 SCEC Annual Meeting. (Poster Presentation) Link
Stewart, J. P., Buckreis, T. E., Shams, R. R., Mohammed, S., Meibai, L., Kishida, T., Lanzano, G., Luzi, L., Zimmaro, P., Bradley, B. A., Huang, J., Nweke, C. C., Brandenberg, S. J., Donahue, J. L., & Bozorgnia, Y. (2024, 09). Overview of the NGA-West3 Ground Motion Database. Poster Presentation at 2024 SCEC Annual Meeting. (Poster Presentation) Link
Shams, R., C.C. Nweke, Henry Burton, Chenhao Wu, Understanding Basin Effects and the Impact on Structural Response and Damage through Causal Lens, Geometric Parameters for Seismic Site Response in Sedimentary, Poster presented at EERI Annual Meeting, 9-12 April 2024, Seattle. (Poster Presentation) Link Abstract Link
Jonathan P. Stewart, Shako M., Chukwuebuka C. Nweke, Shams, R., Tristan Buckeries, Monica Kohler, Yousef Bozorgnia, Comparison of Ground Motions from CSN Instruments and Proximate Sensors from Other Networks, SMIP23 Seminar on Utilization of Strong-Motion Data, 19 October 2023 Link
Shams, R., C.C. Nweke and G.A. Parker, Geometric Parameters for Seismic Site Response in Sedimentary, Poster presented at Physics-Based Ground Motion Modeling, SSA, 10-13 October 2023, Vancouver, BC (Poster Presentation) Link
Rashid Shams, C.C. Nweke and G.A. Parker, Classification Algorithms for Sedimentary Basins in Southern California, Poster presented at Physics-Based Ground Motion Modeling, SSA, 10-13 October 2023, Vancouver, BC (Poster Presentation) Link
Rashid Shams, C.C. Nweke and G.A. Parker, Geometric Parameterization of Sedimentary Basins for Seismic Site Response Analysis and Modelling, Poster presented at Seismology Student Workshop organized by Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Columbia University, 15-17 March 2023. (Poster Presentation)
Shams, R., Agrawal, M., 1D Non-Linear Seismic Ground Response Analysis for various locations in Dhanbad City, Jharkhand, India, Presentation in 58th Indian Geophysical Union (IGU), Shillong, India, 2-4th Feb. 2022. (Poster Presentation) Poster
Shams, R., Agrawal, M., Seismic Hazard Analysis of Kishanganj (India) using Probabilistic Approach, Presentation in 58th Indian Geophysical Union (IGU), Shillong, India, 2-4th Feb. 2022. (Poster Presentation) Poster
Shams Rashid, (2025), Insights into Seismic Site Response Modelling and Assessment in Sedimentary Basin through Multidimensional Parameterization, Invited Seminar Talk, Department of Structural and Geotechnical Engineering, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile, 29th September 2025 (In-person)
Shams Rashid, (2025), Ground Motion in Sedimentary Basins: A Multiscale Perspective, invited talk at ICED and Earthquake Engg Department, IIT (Indian Institute of Technology)-Roorkee, 9th Jan 2025. (In person)
Shams, Rashid (2025), Demystifying Basin Effects: Enhancing Basin Depth Database, Site Parameters, and Seismic Site Response, invited research talk organised by Civil Engg Dep and IGS-IITH Chapter at IIT, Hyderabad, 3rd Jan, 2025. (In person) Link
Shams, Rashid (2025), Invited guest in IMC (Instructional Media Center), MANUU, for Science and Research podcast series where I talked about Earthquake Engg and Seismic Awareness. (In person)
Shams, Rashid (2024), Invited guest in IMC (Instructional Media Center), MANUU, for Dream Jobs podcast series. (In person)
Shams, Rashid, (2024), Ground Motion and Site Response Modelling in Sedimentary Basins, presented as an invited talk during Seismology workshop at CSIR-NGRI (National Geophysical Research Institute), 19th Dec. 2024. (In person) Link
Shams, Rashid, (2024), Overview of NGA-West3 Project and Site Response in Sedimentary Basins, Presented virtually at ICED (International Center for Excellence in Dams) (hosted by Prof. M.L. Sharma), 28th Nov. 2024. Link
Shams Rashid, (2024), Lunar Seismology and Understanding Moonquakes, STEM Bytes Seminar, Organized by Women in Science and Engineering (WISE), University of Southern California (USC), Sep 25, 2024. Link
Shams Rashid, (2024), USGS Earthquake Science Center Seminar, Geometric Parametrization of Sedimentary Basins in Southern California for Site Response Analysis and Modelling, August 19, 2024. Link
Shams Rashid, (2023), Community Seismic Network Data for Seismic Hazard Analysis and Modelling, COSMOS Event for Early Career Professionals and Students, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, November 3, 2023. Link
Shams Rashid, Earthquakes and Southern California. STEM Bytes Seminar, Organized by Women in Science and Engineering (WISE), University of Southern California (USC), June 12th, 2023. Link
Shams Rashid, Understanding Non-Ergodic Path Effects in Ground Motion Models and Geometric Parameterization of Basins for Seismic Site Response Analysis. Presentation to Graduate Students in Department of Applied Geophysics, Indian Institute of Technology (ISM), Dhanbad, India, April 2023. Link