Team

I received my B.S. in Civil Engineering from The Ohio State University and then went on to pursue a Ph.D. at Purdue University, where I studied mechanical metamaterials and bioinspired materials. Metamaterials are engineered to have novel properties not found in natural materials. I then worked for approximately two years at the University of Oxford, applying this knowledge to the design of deployable medical devices. These experiences showed me the versatility of civil engineering education. I enjoy working with students just as much as conducting research, and invite students interested in developing innovative structures to apply to join my lab.

Li Wan

Li Wan is a second-year Ph.D. student majoring in Structural Engineering at the University of Texas at Austin. He received his B.S. in Civil Engineering from Southeast University in China, where he conducted in-depth research on origami metamaterials. In the future, he plans to focus on creating mechanical metamaterials and advanced structures that exhibit innovative properties such as metastability, reversible energy absorption abilities, and responsive behavior to external stimuli.

Sibo Zhang

Sibo Zhang is a first-year Ph.D. student in Structural Engineering at the University of Texas at Austin. He holds both a B.S. and M.S. in Civil Engineering from Southeast University in China, where he conducted extensive research on steel structures and advanced metal materials. With a deep interest in the convergence of structural engineering, materials science, and computer science, he aspires to develop next-generation, performance-driven metamaterials, and advanced structures through innovative manufacturing technologies and computational tools.

Devin Young

Devin is a first-year PhD student in Structural Engineering at the University of Texas at Austin, with a keen interest in utilizing architected materials and deployable structures for extraterrestrial construction.

Ethan Ng

Ethan is a first-year Master’s student at the University of Texas at Austin. With a strong academic foundation, he holds a B.S. in Civil Engineering from National Taiwan University. Ethan’s keen interest lies in the field of structural engineering, specifically with a focus on materials, as he strives to contribute to the development of innovative and sustainable solutions. His commitment to addressing environmental challenges has been a driving force throughout his academic journey. Ethan has already gained valuable experience as an undergraduate research assistant, exploring cutting-edge concepts in his field. Furthermore, he has honed his skills through work experience at a leading civil engineering consultant company.

Chaisiri Okoun (Johnnie)

Chaisiri Okoun (Johnnie) is a distinguished alumnus of King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology, Ladkrabang, Bangkok, where he achieved first-class honors in civil engineering. During the study, Johnnie dedicated himself to structural design research at the Computational Laboratory during his tenure. Upon completing his undergraduate studies, Johnnie served the Thai Department of Highways for two years, playing a pivotal role in bridge design and construction projects. As a master’s student at UT Austin, he is developing computational tools to guide the design of sustainable materials and structures. His commitment to the field of structural engineering remains unwavering.

Nida Virabalin

Nida Virabalin is a 5th-year civil engineering undergraduate student at the University of Texas at Austin, with prior research experience in steel structures and shear studs. She has a strong interest in the behavior of structures under extreme loading conditions, particularly blast loads, with a focus on applications in protective structures and space research.

Darin Pi

Darin is a 3rd-year Civil Engineering student at the University of Texas at Austin, with a keen interest in ocean and structural engineering, focusing on offshore and coastal applications.

Marc Damien

Marc is a fourth-year mechanical engineering student at the American University of Beirut (AUB). He is currently joining MASLab at UT Austin as a summer research intern. Marc is passionate about structures, design, and materials, particularly aerospace applications. He is actively working on projects that integrate all his interests and is eager to pursue more in-depth studies in this field.

Jennifer Xue

Jennifer is a first-year undergraduate student majoring in mechanical engineering at the University of Texas at Austin. Her previous research experience focused on structural integrity and buckling loads. She is interested in the development of new materials and in approaching biomedical innovation from a mechanical and structural perspective.

Antony J Sutanto

Antony graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in Spring 2023.  He is currently pursuing a Master’s degree at MIT.

Sergio M Diaz

Sergio received his Bachelor’s in Civil Engineering from UT and is currently pursuing a Master’s in Structural Engineering.

Ganiat Ogidan

Ganiat Ogidan is a third-year Civil Engineering student at the University of Texas at Austin.

Dhruv Srivastava

Dhruv is an undergraduate sophomore Aerospace Engineering student at the University of Texas at Austin.

I am looking for Ph.D. , MS, and Undergraduate students to join my lab! If you are interested in joining MASLab, please email Dr. Zhang with your CV and research interests.