Structural Engineering and Materials Program

The Structural Engineering and Materials group remained active in cutting-edge research related to structural systems, natural hazards, blast research, digital twins, smart sensing, composite structures, computational analysis, structural materials and more, further strengthening its reputation for innovation and impact.

Carin Roberts-Wollmann will be sorely missed after retiring this year following more than 25 years as a professor, mentor and leader within the department. The SEM group welcomed Jessica Thangjitham, an alumna of the program, as its newest assistant professor. Brett Farmer, who celebrated 40 years as a technician at the Structural Engineering Laboratory, earned a 2025 Staff Recognition Award, while Ioannis Koutromanos was named the Curry Faculty Fellow in Structural Engineering. The Concrete Canoe and Steel Bridge teams had one of their best years ever, finishing second and third, respectively, at the national competitions—a testament to the talent and dedication of our students. In the spring, the Bridges, Builders and Society class took 12 students to the United Kingdom to study landmark historical bridges and experience engineering in a global context. The picture above shows the famous Iron Bridge in Shropshire, England.