Current Openings
Now recruiting qualified PhD candidates for Fall 2020 start date.
Prospective Students
Graduate: Students with a background in civil/structural engineering, mechanical engineering, and materials science interested in obtaining their M.S. or Ph.D. in the group should contact me to discuss potential research opportunities. All prospective students are encouraged to supplement their graduate studies by applying for the fellowship opportunities described below.
Graduate students who are currently enrolled at Virginia Tech in the SEM program are invited to schedule appointments to discuss possible PhD/MS projects. Students interested in working in the Infrastructure Protection Research Group are strongly recommended to take the Blast Analysis and Protective Design course (CEE5984) during the Spring semester.
Undergraduate: Feel free to send me an email or stop by my office to discuss potential undergraduate research opportunities.
Funding Opportunities
The following are competitive external fellowship opportunities available to prospective students that I encourage all qualified candidates apply for. I can provide guidance on research proposals and assist with review of of application materials, but do contact me well in advance of the application deadline to discuss whether your qualifications are suitable for a position in the group. Note that some have citizenship or permanent residency requirements.
| Scholarship | Agency | Eligibility | Annual Closing† |
|---|---|---|---|
| Graduate Research Fellowship Program | NSF | MS, PhD | October |
| National Defense Science & Engineering Fellowship | NDSEG | PhD | December |
| Fulbright Program for Foreign Students | Fulbright | MS, PhD | Check website |
| The Hertz Foundation | - | MS, PhD | Fall |
| IC Postdoctoral Research Fellowship Program, Improved understanding of composite material properties, with the aim of increased blast resistance | Oak Ridge | Post-doc | March |
| † – Be sure to visit funding agency for fellowship details and deadlines. |
Visiting Scholars
Visiting scholars whose research interests and expertise coincides with current research projects are encouraged to contact me several months ahead of their proposed arrival date. In particular, experience in the following areas is considered advantageous: (i) high strain rate material and structural response; (ii) large-scale experimental blast testing (arena tests, shock tube, etc.); (iii) novel structural configurations for energy dissipation, and; (iv) fluid-structure computational mechanics.
It is expected that visiting scholars provide their own external financial support and provide evidence of sufficient communication skills a to apply for a J-1 visa in accordance with the requirements of Virginia Tech’s International Support Services.