2024 NHERI REU SUMMER PROGRAM:
STUDENT PROJECTS

The 2024 Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program featured thirty-one students throughout the network of NHERI facilities.

Near the conclusion of the ten-week summer program, each student traveled to University of California, San Diego to present a research poster and give a presentation on their experience. The posters and details of each project can be found below. Students were encouraged to publish their research presentations and papers to the DesignSafe Data Depot.

Return to the REU program page
 

Mia Simon

Home University: University of Notre Dame

NHERI EF Site: NSF NHERI Florida International University Wall of Wind Experimental Facility

Research team: M. Abdullah, I. Zisis

Research project title:  Aerodynamic Wind Load Assessment of Parallel Solar Panels: Evaluating Surface-Rooftop Pressure Correlations

Research presentation: DesignSafe Data Depot publication #5582

 

Joshua Del Bosque

Home University: Texas State University

NHERI EF Site:  NSF NHERI Florida International University Wall of Wind Experimental Facility

Research team: D. Abdelkerim, A Gan Chowdhury

Research project title: Efficiency of Roof-Integrated Aerodynamic Mitigation and Power System (AMPS) for Low-Rise Buildings

Research presentation: DesignSafe Data Depot publication #5594

 

Robyn Andrews

Home University: Texas A&M University

NHERI EF Site: NSF NHERI Florida International University Wall of Wind Experimental Facility

Research team: O. Metwally, M. Eissa, A. Elawady

Research project title: Evaluating Wind Load on Tall Buildings: ABL and Downburst Winds

Research presentation: DesignSafe Data Depot publication #5589

 

Madeline Fisher

Home University: Ohio Northern University

NHERI EF Site: NSF NHERI University of Florida Boundary Layer Wind Tunnel Experimental Facility

Research project title: Failure Assessment of Bridge Mounted Light Poles During Hurricane Events; Design Standard Analysis for Improved Resiliency

Research presentation: DesignSafe Data Depot publication #5616

 

Sydney Oberdorfer

Home University: Indiana Institute of Technology

NHERI EF Site: NSF NHERI University of Florida Boundary Layer Wind Tunnel Experimental Facility

Research project title: Modernizing Wind-Driven Rain Fenestration Testing: Redesigning a High Airflow Pressure Loading Actuator

Research presentation: DesignSafe Data Depot publication #5600

 

Christy Joy Tupas

Home University: University of Texas at San Antonio

NHERI EF Site: NSF NHERI Lehigh University of Real-Time Multi-Directional (RTMD) Experimental Facility with Large-Scale Hybrid Simulation Testing

Research team: M. Nissar, C. Reis, J. Ricles

Research project title: Multi-Physics Cyber-Physical Simulations: Challenges in Fluid-Structure Interaction

Research presentation: DesignSafe Data Depot publication #5637

 

Bethany Hutto

Home University: University of Oklahoma

NHERI EF Site: NSF NHERI Lehigh University of Real-Time Multi-Directional (RTMD) Experimental Facility with Large-Scale Hybrid Simulation Testing

Research team: L. Cao, J. Ricles, O. Ozbulut

Research project title: Dynamic Modeling and Performance Evaluation of a Shape Memory Alloy-Based Friction Damper for Seismic Hazard Mitigation

Research presentation: DesignSafe Data Depot publication #5596

 

Marah Kluge

Home University: Smith College

NHERI EF Site: NSF NHERI University of Texas Mobile Shakers Experimental Facility

Research team: J. Lee, K. Stokoe

Research project title: Assessment of Soil Liquefaction Potential in Portland, OR, with Cone Penetrometer Testing (CPT)

Research presentation: DesignSafe Data Depot publication #5580

 

Ariana Paul

Home University: North Carolina State University

NHERI EF Site: NSF NHERI University of Texas Large Mobie Shakers Experimental Facility

Research team: K. STokoe, P. Clayton, J. Lee

Research project title: Evaluation of Soil Liquefaction Susceptibility in Portland, Oregon: Application of the Direct Push Cross-Hole (DPCH) Method

Research presentation: DesignSafe Data Depot publication #5588

 

Aitong Xu

Home University: Texas A&M University

NHERI EF Site: NSF NHERI University of Texas Large Mobile Shakers Experimental Facility

Research team: C. Bai, P. Clayton, K. Stokoe

Research project title: Dynamic Characterization of Portland Soil Using Resonant Column Torsional Shear Testing

Research presentation: DesignSafe Data Depot publication #5579

 

Beatrice Olaosebikan

Home University: Houston Community College

NHERI EF Site: NSF NHERI University of Texas at Austin DesignSafe in collaboration with Texas Advanced Computing Center

Research team: C-H. Hsiao, K. Kumar

Research project title: Hyperparameter Optimization of Graph Neural Network Simulation for Liquid and Granular Flow

Research presentation: DesignSafe Data Depot publication #5591

 

Jonathan Gaucin

Home University: University of Houston

NHERI EF Site: NSF NHERI University of Texas at Austin DesignSafe in collaboration with Texas Advanced Computing Center

Research team: C-H. Hsiao, K. Kumar

Research project title: Graph Network-Based Simulators and Point-E for 3D Natural Hazard Simulations

Research presentation: DesignSafe Data Depot publication #5581

 

Trey Gower

Home University: University of Texas at Austin

NHERI EF Site: NSF NHERI University of California, Berkeley, SimCenter

Research project title: Unveiling Debris Flow Dynamics: Physics-Informed Machine Learning via MPM Wave Simulations

Research presentation: DesignSafe Data Depot publication #5612

 

Cristian Varela

Home University: University of Rhode Island

NHERI EF Site: NSF NHERI University of California, Berkeley, SimCenter

Research project title: Evaluating the Impacts of Flooding on Transportation Infrastructure in Coastal Areas

Research presentation: DesignSafe Data Depot publication #5599

 

Josette Audi

Home University: University of Rhode Island

NHERI EF Site: NSF NHERI University of California, Berkeley, SimCenter

Research project title: Data-Based Validation of Regional Hurricane Damage Models with Variance-Based Sensitivity Analysis: A Case Study of Hurricane Ian

Research presentation: DesignSafe Data Depot publication #5590

 

Emily Nakamura

Home University: University of California, San Diego

NHERI EF Site: NSF NHERI University of California, Berkeley, SimCenter

Research project title: Development of Parametrized Fragility Database for Performance-Based Structural Fire Engineering

Research presentation: not yet available

 

Lucy Hegenderfer

Home University: California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo

NHERI EF Site: NSF NHERI Oregon State University O.H. Hinsdale Wave Research Laboratory Experimental Facility

Research team: E. Landau, K. Wong, P. Lomonaco

Research project title: Evaluating Tsunami-Like Free Surface Interactions with a Structural Column

Research presentation: DesignSafe Data Depot publication #5619

 

Kamaakekahio Wong

Home University: University of Hawai'i, Manoa

NHERI EF Site: NSF NHERI Oregon State University O.H. Hinsdale Wave Research Laboratory Experimental Facility

Research project title: Effect of Shoaling, Breaking, and Structure Blockage on Solitary Wave Velocity Fields

Research presentation: not yet available

 

Ella Landau

Home University: University of Texas at Austin

NHERI EF Site: NSF NHERI Oregon State University O.H. Hinsdale Wave Research Laboratory Experimental Facility

Research team: P. Lomonaco, L. Hegenderfer, K. Wong

Research project title: Experimental Study of Vertical Pressure Distribution Due to the Tsunami-Like Wave Impact on a Structural Column

Research presentation: DesignSafe Data Depot publication #5620

 

Diego Moreno

Home University: University of California, Berkeley

NHERI EF Site: NSF NHERI University of California, Davis, Center for Geotechnical Modeling Experimental Facility

Research project title: Consolidation's Effect on Strength in Wilamette Silt

Research presentation: DesignSafe Data Depot publication #5607

 

José Ortiz

Home University: University of California, Sacramento

NHERI EF Site: NSF NHERI University of California, Davis, Center for Geotechnical Modeling Experimental Facility

Research team: K-W. Ko, J. DeJong

Research project title: Tensile Behavior of Unsaturated Soil via Beam Bending Tests

Research presentation:  DesignSafe Data Depot publication #5676

 

Hamad Khan

Home University: University of California, Merced

NHERI EF Site: NSF NHERI University of Caliornia, Davis, Center for Geotechnical Modeling Experimental Facility

Research team: M. Buttery, M. Gardner, S. Ham

Research project title: Temperature Gradient Change Regarding Permafrost Thawing

Research presentation: DesignSafe Data Depot publication #5608

 

Maria Huang

Home University: University of California, Berkeley

NHERI EF Site: NSF NHERI University of Colorado, Boulder CONVERGE

Research team: C. Evans, R. Adams, L. Peek

Research project title: CONVERGE Training Module: Maternal Health in Hazards and Disaster Research and Practice

Research presentation: DesignSafe Data Depot publication #5642

 

Bayley Dickinson

Home University: Hamilton College

NHERI EF Site: NSF NHERI University of Colorado, Boulder CONVERGE

Research team: C. Evans, R. Adams, L. Peek

Research project title: CONVERGE Training Module: Understanding Social Vulnerability and the Complexities of Homelessness in Natural Hazards and Disasters

Research presentation: DesignSafe Data Depot publication #5595

 

Leah Seifert

Home University: California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo

NHERI EF Site: NSF NHERI University of California, San Diego, Large High Performance Outdoor Shake Table6 Experimental Facility

Research team: T. Hutchinson, J. Zhang, A. Singh

Research project title: Assessment of a Fire Sprinkler System in a 10-story Cold Formed Steel Building During Seismic Loading Scenarios

Research presentation: DesignSafe Data Depot publication #5617

 

Emersen Liauw

Home University: Cleveland State University

NHERI EF Site: NSF NHERI University of California, San Diego, Large High Performance Outdoor Shake Table6 Experimental Facility

Research team: K. Lotfizadeh

Research project title: Development of a Total Environmental Data Interaction System for the Large High Performance Outdoor Shake Table

Research presentation: DesignSafe Data Depot publication #5626

 

Saul Romero

Home University: University of Texas at El Paso

NHERI EF Site: NSF NHERI University of California, San Diego, Large High Performance Outdoor Shake Table6 Experimental Facility

Research team: S. Suarez, M. Morrison

Research project title: Optimizing Steel Pipe-Pile Design for Enhanced Seismic Performance

Research presentation: DesignSafe Data Depot publication #5602

 

Michael Morales

Home University: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

NHERI EF Site: NSF NHERI University of California, San Diego, Large High Performance Outdoor Shake Table6 Experimental Facility

Research team: M. Tu, M. Morrison

Research project title: Contributions to the Development of a Framework for Predicting Weldment Fracture

Research presentation: DesignSafe Data Depot publication #5613

 

Edan Miller

Home University: University of Maryland

NHERI EF Site: NSF NHERI University of Washington RAPID Facility

Research team: B. Cetiner, J. Berman, J. Wartman, K. Dedinsky, J. Irish

Research project title: Using Street-Level Hurricane Damage Datasets to Advance AI-Supported Damage Detection and Characterization

Research presentation: not available yet

 

Kathleen Julca

Home University: Massachusetts Institute of Technology

NHERI EF Site: NSF NHERI University of Washington RAPID Facility

Research team: Jacqueline Zdebski, Tim Gould

Research project title: Low-Cost Air Monitor Accuracy and Specification Comparison for Community-Based Monitoring

Research presentation: DesignSafe Data Depot publication #5652

 

Anna Miletich

Home University: Texas Tech University

NHERI EF Site: NSF NHERI University of Washington RAPID Facility

Research project title: Justifying Physical-Visual Pedagogies that Mitigate Excess Cognitive Load in Undergraduate Engineering Mechanics Courses

Research presentation: DesignSafe Data Depot publication #5604