The SSIRL team consists of PhD students, Masters students, Undergraduate research assistants, and Industry affiliates.
Principal Investigator
Education
- Ph.D., University of Sydney
- M.S.E., Johns Hopkins University
- B.S., Johns Hopkins University
Publications
Hannah Blum
Alain H. Peyrot Associate Professor
Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering
Director, Consortium for Holistic Steel Systems
Email: hannah.blum@wisc.edu
Awards
- Chancellor’s Teaching Innovation Award (2024), UW-Madison
- Journal of Structural Engineering Outstanding Reviewer (2023), American Society of Civil Engineers
- Harvey Spangler Award for Innovative Teaching (2023), College of Engineering, UW-Madison
- Terry Peshia Early Career Faculty Award (2023), American Institute of Steel Construction
- McGuire Award for Junior Researchers – MAJR Medal (2022), Structural Stability Research Council
- Yoon Duk Kim Young Researcher Award (2021), Structural Stability Research Council
- Vinnakota Award (2016), Structural Stability Research Council
PhD Students
Saleh Alshammari
Fall 2024 – present
M.S., University of Wisconsin-Madison
B.S., King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals – KFUPM
Project: Steel Joist and Deck System Reliability
Md. Mehedi Hassan Bhuiyan
Starting Spring 2025
M.S., Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, Bangladesh
B.S., Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, Bangladesh
Project: Monitoring, Modeling, and Visualization of Structures
Kubilay Cicek
Fall 2022 – present
M.S., Istanbul Technical University, Turkey
B.S., Izmir Institute of Technology, Turkey
Research areas: Nonlinear Analysis, Seismic Assessment, Fragility-Risk curves of structures
Project: Steel Joist and Deck System Reliability
Faria Khan
Starting Spring 2025
M.S., Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, Bangladesh
B.S., Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, Bangladesh
Project: System Reliability of Cold-Formed Framing Systems
Useok Kim
Fall 2023 – present
M.S., Korea University of Technology and Education, South Korea
B.S., Korea University of Technology and Education, South Korea
Project: Proprietary Joist System Reliability
Monamy Mustaq
Fall 2023 – present
B.S., Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, Bangladesh
Project: Design of Shear Connectors Welded Through Steel Deck: Full Beam Testing to Validate ⅞ inch Studs; Monitoring, Modeling, and Visualization of Structures
Shihang Wang
Fall 2023 – present
M.S., Johns Hopkins University
B.S., Beijing University of Technology, China
Project: Metal Buildings Subjected to Tornadoes
MS – Research Students
Dilruba Jahan Disha
Starting Fall 2024
B.S., Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, Bangladesh
Project: Unequal Leg Stainless Steel Angles Under Compression
Richa Rakhee
Fall 2023 – present
B.S., Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, Bangladesh
Project: Monitoring, Modeling, and Visualization of Structures
Md Zubayer Yeaser
Fall 2024 – present
B.S., Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, Bangladesh
Project: Composite Floor Joist System Reliability
Undergraduate Research Students
Quincy Eaton
Class of 2026
Spring 2024 – present
Projects: Develop and Construct Prototype Vacuum Box for Future Steel Deck Testing; Design of Shear Connectors Welded Through Steel Deck: Full Beam Testing to Validate ⅞ inch Studs
Will Krueger
Class of 2025
Fall 2024 – present
Projects: Develop and Construct Prototype Vacuum Box for Future Steel Deck Testing; Design of Shear Connectors Welded Through Steel Deck: Full Beam Testing to Validate ⅞ inch Studs
Jacknetson Naw
Class of 2026
Summer 2024 – present
Projects: Point Cloud Analysis of Structural Components
Lennart-Fredrik Schmitz
Class of 2026
Spring 2023 – present
Projects: Develop and Construct Prototype Vacuum Box for Future Steel Deck Testing; Monitoring, Modeling, and Visualization of Structures; Design of Shear Connectors Welded Through Steel Deck: Full Beam Testing to Validate ⅞ inch Studs
Industry Affiliates
John Klein, P.E., S.E.
Email: john.klein@wisc.edu or john.klein.pe@gmail.com
Research areas: sustainable design of steel systems, standardization of structural steel products
Adjunct Professor, Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering
M.S.C.E., Georgia Institute of Technology
B.S.C.E, Georgia Institute of Technology
Dr. Thomas Sputo, P.E., S.E.
Email: sputo@wisc.edu or tsputo50@gmail.com
Research areas: Structural and Cold-Formed Steel Structures, Sustainable design of steel systems.
Technical Director, Steel Deck Institute; Emeritus Master Lecturer, University of Florida; Honorary Associate, Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering
Ph.D., University of Florida
M.E., University of Florida
B.S.C.E, The Citadel