Research team

Faculty, students, collaborators and alumni working on AI for resilient infrastructure at Kennesaw State University and partner institutions.
9
Current researchers
6
Collaborators
8
Alumni

Lab director

Dr. Tadesse G. Wakjira

Founding director

Dr. Tadesse G. Wakjira

Assistant Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

Kennesaw State University, Georgia, USA

Dr. Wakjira leads AI4RISE Lab. His research combines explainable and physics-informed machine learning with advanced materials, performance-based seismic design and 3D computer vision to improve the safety, resilience and environmental efficiency of civil infrastructure.

Research interests

  • AI/ML
  • Physics-informed AI
  • Structural and community resilience
  • Performance-based design
  • Advanced materials
  • 3D computer vision
  • Multi-objective optimization
Faculty webpageEmailLinkedIntadessewakjira.com

PhD students

02

Doctoral researchers developing AI methods for resilient infrastructure.

  • Kamal Gbolahon Oladele

    Kennesaw State University

  • Heider Mendoza

    Idaho State University

MSc students

02

Graduate researchers completing thesis and project-based studies.

  • Ajaya Subedi

    Civil Engineering

    Kennesaw State University

    EmailLinkedIn

  • Diana Vargas

    Civil Engineering

    Idaho State University

Undergraduate researchers

05

Students gaining research experience in programming, data analysis and infrastructure systems.

  • William O'Quinn

    Civil Engineering

    Kennesaw State University

  • Noah Boynton

    Mechanical Engineering

    Kennesaw State University

    LinkedIn

  • Monvilai Chet

    Civil Engineering

    Kennesaw State University

  • Tinsaye Henock

    Civil Engineering

    Kennesaw State University

  • Shray Bhatnagar

    Industrial Engineering

    Kennesaw State University

    LinkedIn

Collaborators

06

Faculty and scientists at partner universities and national laboratories who conduct joint research with the lab.

  • Dr. Mustafa Mashal

    Ph.D., P.E., CPEng, IntPE(NZ), F.SEI, M.ASCE

    East Texas A&M

    Vice President for Research and Economic Development (VPRED)

    ProfileLinkedIn

  • Dr. Kunal Mondal

    University of Central Florida

    Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

    ProfileLinkedIn

  • Jared Cantrell

    Idaho State University

    Associate Director, Strategic Partnerships & Innovation

    ProfileLinkedIn

  • Dr. Islam M. Mantawy

    PhD, PE

    Rowan University

    Assistant Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

    ProfileLinkedIn

  • Dr. Srishti Banerji

    Utah State University

    Assistant Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

    ProfileLinkedIn

  • Dr. Mahesh Acharya

    PhD, EIT

    Idaho National Laboratory

    Clean Energy Researcher

    ProfileLinkedIn

Alumni

08

Former lab members and the theses and dissertations they completed.

  • PhD · 2024

    Kathryn Hogarth

    PhD, PE

    Idaho State University

    Dissertation

    Experimental Investigation and Analytical Validation of Post-Earthquake Repair Methods for an Innovative Precast Pier System

    EmailLinkedIn
  • MSc · 2024

    Manish Acharya

    PE

    Idaho State University

    Thesis

    Compressive Behavior of Ultra-High Performance Concrete (UHPC) Confined with Titanium Alloy Ties

    LinkedIn
  • MSc · 2024

    Samjhana Rajbhandari

    Idaho State University

    Thesis

    Machine Learning-Based Strength Prediction of Green Concrete Utilizing Wastewater

    LinkedIn
  • MSc · 2025

    Suraj Dahal

    EIT

    Idaho State University

    Thesis

    Double UFP Metallic Dissipators for Seismic Protection of Precast Diaphragms

    EmailLinkedIn
  • MSc · 2024

    Pawan Bhattarai

    PE

    Idaho State University

    Thesis

    Stress-Strain Behavior of Confined Green Concrete with Precipitated Calcium Carbonate and Upcycled Concrete Aggregate

    LinkedIn
  • MSc · 2025

    Raghav Sharma Poudel

    Idaho State University

    Thesis

    Seismic Response of High-Strength Steel Reinforced Ultra-High-Performance Concrete (UHPC) Bridge Piers Using Factorial Design of Experiment

    EmailLinkedIn
  • MSc · 2025

    Kshitiz Raisal

    EIT

    Idaho State University

    Thesis

    Comparative Study of UFPs Made From 316L SS Via Conventional Rolled Plate and Additive Manufacturing

  • MSc · 2024

    Aashish Deo

    EIT

    Idaho State University

    Thesis

    Enhancing Shear Transfer Across 90-Degree Slab-to-Wall Concrete Connections Using +/- 45 Degree Bidirectional Fiber Reinforced Polymer Composites

    LinkedIn

Join us

Research with AI4RISE Lab

We welcome motivated students with backgrounds in civil engineering, computer science or related fields, and researchers interested in collaboration on AI for resilient infrastructure.

View open positionsEmail the lab