.jpg)
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
-
 Energy efficient and adaptive built Environment
-
 Sustainable and multifunctional building materials
-
 Bio-inspired and biomimicry design
-
 Structural hazard mitigation
-
 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
-
 Cementitious materials and concrete, low-carbon construction materials
-
Responsive smart polymers
-
3D printing and digital construction
We Yin, PhD
Post-doc Research Associate
Civil and Environmental Engineering
University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN
Research Areas
-
Sustainable Construction Materials (Asphalt, Concrete etc.)
-
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)