NHERI Graduate Student Council

Olaniyi Afolayan is a Senior Staff Professional at Geosyntec Consultants, where he contributes to complex civil infrastructure projects involving static and seismic analysis of dams, site characterization, seepage mitigation design, remediation strategies, and large-scale site investigations and construction monitoring on heavy civil projects. He earned his PhD in Civil and Environmental Engineering (with a focus on Geotechnical Engineering) from Auburn University in Alabama, where his research concentrated on internal erosion and soil piping in unsaturated slopes, one of the most pressing challenges in geotechnical engineering with broad implications for infrastructure resilience and environmental protection. As a visiting scholar at the University of California, Davis, he led a centrifuge experiment evaluating vertical differential settlement-induced cracks in a levee and mentored three undergraduate students through research design, data interpretation, and the scientific communication process. His research vision integrates experimental insights with data-driven modeling to develop validated design methodologies that enhance the resilience and sustainability of critical infrastructure systems.

Olaniyi is an active peer reviewer for several leading geotechnical journals and has contributed to peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations, and technical reports in collaboration with national research institutions. His excellence has been recognized through multiple awards, including the 2025 Purdue Trailblazer in Engineering Fellowship, the 2024 METER Grant A. Harris Research Instrumentation Fellowship, and several NSF/NHERI travel and early career awards, reflecting his emerging leadership in geotechnical research and education.

He has also demonstrated his commitment to professional and academic service as president and vice president of the Auburn Geotechnical Society and as vice chair of the Natural Hazards Engineering Research Infrastructure (NHERI) Graduate Student Council. He remains dedicated to advancing the resilience of geotechnical infrastructure against both natural and human-induced hazards.

Jasmine Bekkaye is a geotechnical project engineer at Crawford & Associates, supporting public works projects that strengthen infrastructure across California and beyond. She earned her BS in Environmental Engineering and PhD in Civil Engineering from Louisiana State University, where her research focused on the impacts of natural hazards — particularly disaster debris and improving prediction and forecasting methods. Jasmine previously served as Chair of Workshops and Mentoring for the NHERI Graduate Student Council and is passionate about community-driven improvement projects that enhance resilience and benefit the people they serve. Her current work and interests center on bridge and levee design.

Nurullah Bektaş is an alumnus of the NSF Natural Hazards Engineering Research Infrastructure (NHERI) Graduate Student Council and a Research Associate at Széchenyi István University, Hungary, where he earned his PhD in Civil Engineering (2025). His doctoral research concentrated on the development of rapid visual screening methods for seismic vulnerability assessment of existing buildings through Artificial Intelligence algorithms. Recognized as the International Student of the Year at Széchenyi István University in 2025. His work is recognized globally for bridging the gap between structural engineering, machine learning, and disaster management. Further, Bektaş has contributed to high-impact interdisciplinary research on sustainable debris management, disaster management, and the seismic risk reduction. His research network features collaborations with multiple bodies. In 2023, he applied his expertise in the field as a volunteer structural engineer for the EEFIT mission following the earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria.

A dedicated leader within the NSF NHERI Graduate Student Council, Nurullah has served in multiple executive roles: Chair of Research (2024),Vice Chair of Research (2023–2024), Vice Treasure (2023). Notably, he led the organization of the 2024 NHERI GSC Mini-Conference. At Széchenyi István University, he has mentored numerous undergraduate and graduate students and currently serves as a Publication Coordinator. He is also an Editor for the Discover Sustainability (Springer Nature) special issue on systemic innovation and circularity.

As the Founder of ZEVIZAR Ltd., a disaster preparedness and resilience company, and the Founding President of the TUTZAR Association (currently in the establishment phase), Nurullah leads a global "resilience ecosystem." These organizations connect full-time professionals with a multidisciplinary network of volunteers and researchers to make disaster preparedness measurable and actionable. Through the TUTZAR Knowledge Hub and Research Collaboration Hub, he oversees international programs in disaster education and post-disaster assessment.

Richard Campos is a civil engineer focused on infrastructure resilience and risk from natural hazards, with expertise in wildfires. He completed his B.S. in Architectural Engineering, M.S. in Civil Engineering, and his Ph.D. in Civil Engineering, with a focus on Structural and Resilience Engineering, from the School of Civil Engineering and Environmental Science at the University of Oklahoma. As a PhD candidate, he worked with Oklahoma EPSCoR to provide resilience strategies for infrastructure systems by analyzing hazards (e.g., ice storms, wildfires, earthquakes, and winds), risk, and fragility of electrical and transportation infrastructure components to better infrastructure resiliency in Oklahoma. During his time at the University of Oklahoma, Richard served as Structural Engineering Institute Chair, OK NSF EPSCoR Student Executive Board Engineering Representative, and NHERI GSC Vice President. He also worked as a forensics engineer with ROCA Engineering and developed relationships between concrete compressive, tensile, and flexural strengths.

Richard is now working as a postdoctoral scholar at Oregon State University, where he continues to advance wildfire research. His postdoctoral research at OSU aims to support resilience and risk mitigation for communities and infrastructure subject to wildfires by implementing novel hazard and vulnerability methods. Additionally, he is working on electrical engineering projects to provide utilities with appropriate test systems to carry out resilience objectives by creating a wildfire-aware test system that incorporates novel strategies for modeling wildfire propagation and cascading failures within electrical systems subject to wildfires.

Avipriyo Chakraborty has completed his Ph.D. in Geotechnical Engineering at Jackson State University in 2025. His research was focused on finding the application of Vetiver grass as a nature-based solution in designing resilient infrastructure. As a part of the study, Dr. Chakraborty has investigated the impact of Vetiver on slope stability as a bio-anchor . His research integrates laboratory testing, geotechnical and geophysical investigations that include Electrical Resistivity Imaging (ERI), LiDAR, and MASW, Finite Element Analysis using PLAXIS, and machine learning. Dr. Chakraborty holds a Master of Science in Civil Engineering from Jackson State University (2023) and a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET). He is currently working as a Senior Staff engineer in Schnabel Engineering. He also has over seven years of professional engineering experience in the design of concrete and steel structures, foundation engineering, structural retrofitting, and construction supervision.

Dr. Chakraborty has coauthored journal articles, technical reports, peer-reviewed conference papers, and presentations. He served as the Chair of Social Media and Outreach for the NHERI Student Council, a graduate student organization supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF). Avipriyo is a member of ASCE, a member of the Alpha Kappa Mu Honor Society and the Golden Key International Honour Society and was honored as a Student Marshall for academic excellence at Jackson State University.

Natalie Coleman is a civil engineer and master planner originally from Laredo, Texas. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Texas A&M University in 2020 and completed her Ph.D. in Civil Engineering in 2024. During her doctoral studies, she served as a Graduate Research Assistant in the Urban Resilience.AI Lab. Her research leveraged data science to understand infrastructure outages caused by disasters and identify disparities among vulnerable populations. She currently works with the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) in the Regional Planning and Environmental Center for the Southwestern Division (RPEC-SWD).

In her current role at USACE, Natalie supports planning efforts for a wide range of projects across the U.S. and outside the continental U.S. Her work includes contributing to the development of Master Plans for lakes and military installations as well as supporting dam risk communication plans. She has experience facilitating planning workshops and meetings to engage stakeholders, address customer needs, and support mission objectives. Through her work, Natalie helps ensure the effective management of natural, cultural, and built-environment resources while balancing stakeholder priorities and long-term resilience goals.

Sasan Dolati is a Structural Engineer at Stantec with experience in the analysis, design, and evaluation of reinforced concrete structures, particularly in seismic regions. His work focuses on nonlinear structural behavior, performance assessment, and rehabilitation strategies for existing infrastructure.

He received his Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from the University of Texas at San Antonio, where his research investigated practical and cost-efficient approaches for evaluating and retrofitting earthquake-vulnerable concrete structures. His work contributed to ongoing developments related to ASCE 41 and ACI 369 guidelines.

Dr. Dolati has been involved in major transportation infrastructure projects, including segments of the California High-Speed Rail program. He was the recipient of the 2021 Blind Prediction Competition at the University of California, Berkeley, and received the Structural Engineering Institute (SEI) Young Professional Award in 2025.

His professional and research interests include: Nonlinear Finite Element Analysis; Seismic assessment and retrofit of concrete structures; Structural performance evaluation and resilience; Damage detection and structural health monitoring; Machine learning applications in structural engineering; Fatigue and fracture behavior of materials; Use of Fiber-Reinforced Polymer (FRP) systems for rehabilitation; Inspection and non-destructive evaluation methods.

Dr. Dolati is an active member of both the American Concrete Institute (ACI) and the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), contributing to technical activities within the structural engineering community.

Karim Mostafa is a licensed civil engineer based in South Florida with over a decade of combined academic and industry experience. His expertise spans university teaching, structural analysis and design, wind tunnel testing, forensic engineering, and structural evaluation and restoration. His project portfolio includes high-rise condominiums, residential developments, parking garages, stadiums, elevated structures, and underground utility systems. He has worked on projects throughout the United States, North Africa, and the Gulf region.

In addition to his current role as a Structural Forensic Project Manager, Dr. Mostafa serves as an Adjunct Professor, where he teaches structural analysis and design courses. He is also an active member of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) 7-28 Wind Load Subcommittee and the American Association for Wind Engineering (AAWE). 

Edwin Rajeev, Ph.D., is a Coastal Engineer and the Gainesville Office Lead at Cummins Cederberg, specializing in coastal resiliency and infrastructure design. With a Ph.D. in Civil and Coastal Engineering from the University of Florida, his project experience spans the U.S. coastlines and the Caribbean. Drawing on a broad, interdisciplinary background that includes mechanical, aerospace, biomedical, software, and civil engineering, Edwin brings a unique perspective to complex engineering challenges in our natural environment. Edwin’s expertise bridges coastal engineering, fluid dynamics, and data science to assess climate impacts and develop sustainable, resilient solutions for coastal communities. Alongside his industry role, he serves as Courtesy Faculty at the University of Florida, where he actively engages in industry-academia collaboration on applied research projects.

In his role as a Coastal Engineer at Cummins Cederberg, Edwin tackles complex coastal environmental challenges for a diverse range of clients, from private cruise companies and port authorities to public works agencies. His technical work focuses heavily on leading advanced modeling efforts, utilizing computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and hydrodynamic modeling platforms such as OpenFOAM, and DHI MIKE to understand coastal processes that affect our shorelines. By leveraging high-performance computing and integrating large geospatial datasets using Python and GIS, Edwin provides data-driven insights to inform the design of resilient coastal infrastructure. He brings high-fidelity modeling techniques to these projects, ensuring that advanced scientific methods align seamlessly with industry standards for coastal design. Furthermore, through his faculty position at UF, Edwin bridges practical engineering with academic research. He actively publishes in collaboration with academia, engaging in writing technical proposals and research papers to advance coastal adaptation and resilience strategies.

Rakesh Salunke is a Remote Sensing Scientist at Shannon & Wilson and brings over a decade of practical experience gained through industry and academic projects working with public agencies. Rakesh’s expertise centers on applying remote sensing technologies, including Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR), Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR), satellite and drone-based optical, thermal, and hyperspectral imagery, to geohazard monitoring for highways, railroads, dams, and levees. He also has experience with geophysical methods, including electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) and multichannel analysis of spectral waves (MASW), for geohazard monitoring.  He has implemented full-cycle remote sensing workflows from planning and data acquisition, including field reconnaissance and site investigations, through processing and analysis using Python, AI/ML techniques,  and advanced GIS platforms.

Some of his research projects include landslide susceptibility mapping of highway slopes, InSAR-based land deformation mapping, multi-sensor slope instability detection, optical and thermal imagery-based moisture estimation, and geotechnical monitoring with geophysical techniques. His peer-reviewed work has been published in journals including Scientific Reports (Springer Nature), Remote Sensing, Transportation Geotechnics, and Transportation Research Record, and presented at conferences including the American Geophysical Union (AGU), ASCE Geo Frontiers, Geo Congress, and ASCE Inspire, among others. He serves on the ASCE Geo-Institute Earth Dams and Slopes technical committee and on review panels for journals, conferences, and federal grants. Outside of work, he enjoys traveling, hiking, running, outdoor activities, and 3D printing. Finishing the New York City marathon in 2025 was a life-changing experience for him.

Harman Singh is a dual-title PhD candidate in Geography and Climate Science at The Pennsylvania State University, where she also earned her M.S. and B.Sc. in Geography. Her research examines inland urban flooding, disaster risk and climate action planning, sustainability education, and water resource management in the U.S. and India. She has contributed to interdisciplinary research teams working on transboundary water sharing in India, solar infrastructure in Pennsylvania, participatory community mapping, and cartographic analysis. Singh has shared her work through more than 30 conference and workshop presentations, including at the American Association of Geographers and the American Geophysical Union.

Singh has served as a graduate teaching assistant for courses in advanced spatial analysis and cartography, and as instructor for GEOG 464: Research Project. She has held multiple leadership roles within the NSF Natural Hazards Engineering Research Infrastructure (NHERI) Graduate Student Council, serving as President (2024–2025), Chair of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (2023–2024), and Vice Chair of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (2021–2023). At Penn State, she chairs the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences Sustainability Council: Student Committee (2022–present) and serves on the Department of Geography’s Supporting Women in Geography (SWIG) Executive Committee. She has also led the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Connections program in Geography (2021–present), offering research and professional development opportunities to undergraduate and graduate students.

Harman plans to graduate in summer 2026 and intends to pursue a career in academia researching the socio-spatial dimensions of climate risk and adaptation, with a focus on urban flooding, youth sustainability imaginaries and wayfinding, & disaster risk communication and mapping.

Amber Spears is a Research Assistant Professor in the Civil and Architectural Engineering Department at Tennessee State University, where her research uses remote sensing, instrumentation, slope stability, and geospatial analyses to understand the geoenvironmental impacts on earthen infrastructure. She helped develop the new Minor in Mining Engineering Program at TSU, which focuses on critical minerals, and is the only mining engineering program in the state of Tennessee. Through her involvement with mining engineering at TSU, she became an inaugural member of the Department of Energy’s Critical Mineral Leadership Academy (CMLA). Her involvement in NHERI has been instrumental in her success in academia.

While earning her PhD in Civil (Geotechnical) Engineering at Jackson State University, Dr. Spears was a member of the NHERI GSC from 2021 to 2024. During this time, she was an inaugural NHERI RAPID Graduate Scholar in 2022, a NHERI ECO panelist at the 14th Americas Conference on Wind Engineering, a 2024 NHERI Summer Institute travel grant awardee, and an inaugural North American Alliance of Hazards and Disaster Research Institutes (NAAHDRI) Rising Star awardee at the 49th Annual Natural Hazards Research and Applications Workshop.

Dr. Spears earned her BS and MS in Civil (Geotechnical) Engineering from the University of Michigan and the University of Texas at Austin, respectively. Following obtaining her master’s, she worked in the civil engineering consulting industry and obtained her PE license in Civil (Geotechnical) Engineering from the State of Michigan, focusing primarily on solid waste/landfill geotechnical investigations, design, and permitting for commercial, municipal, and federal clients.

She looks forward to providing more opportunities for students and early career professionals in the fields of geotechnical engineering, natural hazards, and mining through her continued involvement in communities such as the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Geo-Institute, NHERI, the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), the Society of Mining Professors (SOMP), and the United States Universities Council on Geotechnical Education and Research (USUCGER).

Margaret (Maggie) Webb (she/her) is a postdoctoral research fellow in disciplinary-based education research (DBER) at Cornell University. She holds a Ph.D. in Engineering Education and an M.S. in Civil Engineering from Virginia Tech, and a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Rice University. As a former member of the NHERI Graduate Student Council (2021–2024), Webb served as chair of the DEI and Social Science Research Committees, where she helped bridge social science perspectives within the natural hazards engineering community. That interdisciplinary foundation continues to shape her scholarship today — her research spans two interconnected areas. The first examines how institutional structures and systems shape STEM graduate students' interdisciplinary identity development and motivation — with a particular focus on how microsystems interact to either support or constrain interdisciplinary pathways. The second applies community-engaged and participatory approaches to human computer interaction research, including developing resettlement technology resources in partnership with refugee and immigrant communities, and exploring how generative AI can scale qualitative research methods in disaster and risk communication.

Looking ahead, Webb is now developing frameworks to support evidence-based instructional change in STEM higher education — including a critical examination of STEM postdoctoral professional development and AI-assisted approaches to assessing undergraduate reflective practice in STEM courses at scale.