Performance-based Engineering of Precast Foundation Systems

Position description: The Institute of Bridge Engineering (IBE) is recruiting a PhD student to conduct research on performance-based design and assessment of pre-cast foundation systems. The work will include interdisciplinary research involving geotechnical engineering, structural engineering, laboratory experiments, numerical simulations, and probabilistic risk assessment analyses. A solid background and/or interest in the following subjects is required: traditional soils laboratory experimental testing, nonlinear finite element modeling, and risk-based frameworks and approaches for civil infrastructure.

Financial support: Doctoral students are supported with a stipend ($28,541 for AY 22/23), paid tuition and healthcare. Financial support after the first year is contingent on academic standing and research progress.

Research Facilities: IBE faculty and students have access to state-of-the-art research facilities, including Structural Engineering and Earthquake Simulation Laboratory (SEESL), Shared Instrumentation Laboratories (SIL), and the Center for Computational Research (CCR). SEESL is equipped with a diverse array of test equipment and platforms, including two 6 DOF earthquake simulators, a geotechnical laminar box, a multiple-fan wind tunnel, a strong floor and strong wall, a furnace for structural fire testing, wind tunnel, and standard tools and equipment needed for performing state-of-the-art concrete materials and geotechnical-engineering research. The cyclic triaxial device, shown on the right, is used in the graduate soils laboratory in the assessment of soil media for symmetric and asymmetric cyclic loading. SIL provides access to a scanning electron microscope, atomic force microscope, nano-indenter, and other advanced equipment for nano/micro-scale investigation of materials. CCR is an academic supercomputing facility at the University at Buffalo and maintains high-performance computing and visualization laboratories.

Contact associate professor Anthony Tessari for the position description and Jackie Baum, graduate studies coordinator, for other information, including admission, visas, and the graduate program in the department.