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Principal Investigator
Hongyu 'Nick' Zhou
Assistant Professor
Civil and Environmental Engineering
University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN
Education
Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ Civil Engineering Ph.D., 2013
Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ Civil Engineering M.S.E., 2012
Tongji University, Shanghai, China Civil Engineering B.S., 2010
Experience
2019 – Present Assistant Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
2014 – 2019 Assistant Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Alabama in Huntsville
Research Areas
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Energy efficient and adaptive built Environment
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Sustainable and multifunctional building materials
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Bio-inspired and biomimicry design
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Structural hazard mitigation
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Cyber-physical systems in civil engineering and security
Grants & Awards
2015 New Faculty Research Award University of Alabama in Huntsville
2014 Individual Investigator Distinguished Research Award University of Alabama in Huntsville
2012 Higher Education Research Experience (HERE) Fellow Oak Ridge Associate Universities
2010 Outstanding Thesis Award Tongji University

Research Scientists & Associates
Nima Farzadnia, PhD
Research Assistant Professor
Civil and Environmental Engineering
University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN
Research Areas
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Cementitious materials and concrete, low-carbon construction materials
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Responsive smart polymers
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3D printing and digital construction

We Yin, PhD
Post-doc Research Associate
Civil and Environmental Engineering
University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN
Research Areas
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Sustainable Construction Materials (Asphalt, Concrete etc.)
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Multi-scale characterization
Graduate Students

Adam Brooks
Ph.D. Student
M.S. University of Alabama in Huntsville 2018
B.S. University of Alabama in Huntsville 2015
Research Topic: Functional cementitious materials, additive construction process (DOE BENEFIT project DE-EE-0008677, DOE-FE-0031983)

Yawen He
Ph.D. Student
M.S. Tongji University, China 2017
B.S. Southeast University, China 2014
Research Topic: Dynamic building envelope for adaptive buildings (NSF project CMMI-1663302), Bio-inspired building envelope

Yucen Li
Ph.D. Student
M.S. Northeastern University 2021
B.S. Beijing University of Technology 2017
Research Topic: Thermal/heat transfer, phase change materials (DOE BENEFIT project DE-EE-0008677)
Undergraduate Research Assistants





Shayan Seyfimakrani
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Undergraduate student. University of Tennessee
Research Topic: Trigger-on-demand phase change materials, additive construction
Emily Stanton
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Undergraduate student. University of Tennessee
Research Topic: Coal derived multifunctional pavement materials (DOE-FE-0031983)
Griffin Bedell
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Undergraduate student. University of Tennessee
Research Topic: Life cycle cost analysis of sustainable infrastructures (DOE-FE-0031983), infrastructure management
Hsun Jui 'Ray' Chang
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Undergraduate student. University of Tennessee
Research Topic: Bio-receptive building surfaces, Additive manufacturing and 3D printing for civil engineering applications
Zaina Abou Janb
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Undergraduate student. University of Tennessee
Research Topic: Green and energy efficient buildings
Alumni


Zhenglai Shen
Post-doc Research Associate University of Tennessee 2019-2021
Ph.D. Graduated from University of Alabama in Huntsville 2019
Currently employed at Oak Ridge National Laboratory


Dominic Hanna
MS student graduated 2018 Currently employed at Moffatt & Nichol Inc.
Research Topic: Self-centering connection for transportation support structures; Hurricane surge mitigation for coastal bridges (funding source: Alabama DOT)
Babak Salarieh
MS student graduated 2018
Research Topic: Lock-in force development in steel girder bridges during early stage of construction (funding source: Alabama DOT)