Student Committee Members

Core

Omar Issa
Director, PSC Core
PhD student @ Stanford University

It is a privilege to be serving the PEER Student Committee as this year’s Director. A bit about me: my research investigates solutions that bridge the gap between building-level engineering and resilience at the community scale. Over the past two years, I’ve coupled PBEE principles with ML/AI tools to develop computationally efficient optimization strategies to support recovery-based design.  Outside the lab,  I enjoy running, hiking, and brewing coffee.

Bryam Astudillo
Assistant Director, PSC Core
PhD student @ Stanford University

My research includes the analysis of strongback systems towards seismic resilient structures. As part of it, I am working in the US-Japan collaborative research on frame-spine systems with force-limiting connections, which included full-scale shake-table testing. I am very excited to engage in the PEER Student Committee and I look forward to promoting student participation in the coming activities. In my free time, I like to play soccer.

Suha Hussain
Secretary, PSC Core
Undergraduate student @ California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo

After I was introduced to performance-based earthquake engineering through a summer internship, I wanted to learn more about advanced earthquake engineering research, leading me to the PEER Student Committee (PSC). I look forward to connecting students to educational opportunities within earthquake engineering. I hope to pursue graduate studies and research the intersection of challenges in disaster resilience, social equity, and sustainability. In my free time, I enjoy hiking, baking, drawing, painting, and photography.

Outreach

Rahemeen Ahmed
Director, PSC Outreach
MS student @ Stanford

My primary interests are around integrating structural engineering applications, community resilience, specifically for disasters, and effective policy. I'm very excited to join the PEER Student Committee as the Outreach Director. In my (somewhat non-existent) free time, I like to explore new hiking trails, swim and read!

Sajan K C
Assistant Director, PSC Outreach
PhD student @ University of Southern California

I am working with simulated earthquakes. I had heard of PEER several years before joining grad school. I feel super excited to be part of the PEER Student Committee and hope to contribute to students participation and engagement in PEER activities. In my free time, I enjoy watching movies, trying new recipes, hiking, and traveling.

Research

Aditya Jhunjhunwala
Director, PSC Research
PhD student @ University of California, Davis

My research focuses on understanding the behavior and performance of welded steel connections, with a focus on fracture assessment. I am excited to be a part of the PSC, where we thrive to build a strong community of students and create awareness about how we, as civil engineers, can address the diverse economic and safety needs of society.

Arka Maity
Assistant Director, PSC Research
PhD student @ University of California, Davis

I am a PhD Candidate at University of California, Davis. I’m working in the research group of Prof. Amit Kanvinde and my research focuses on developing novel elements to simulate Interactive steel column buckling. My interest lies in Earthquake Engineering and interested in building collaborative network between industry and academia; and I’m also excited to do get to young budding students and professionals, thus building a wholesome ecosystem. Outside work, I love playing and following soccer, having movie and game nights and go out on hikes.

Maximilian Plotzeneder
Officer, PSC Research
Undergraduate student @ California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo

Some of my research interests are energy dissipation devices for seismic design, seismic retrofitting of buildings, and seismic behavior analysis of bridges. I am very excited to serve on the PEER student committee and work with many talented individuals this year. In my free time I enjoy snowboarding, cooking, and building computers.

Professional

Patricio Uarac
Director, PSC Professional
PhD student @ Oregon State University

I am an international Fulbright scholar in my second year as a Ph.D. student at Oregon State University with Professor Andre Barbosa. My main research aim is to fill the gaps in the displacement-based design methodology applied to mass timber buildings, including higher-order effects and soil-structure interaction. As a former assistant professor back in Chile, I'm especially interested in sharing my knowledge with other students and aiding the PEER student committee to grow. In my free time, I love to take a walk with my dog, watch a good movie, or play video games.

Naser Katanbaf Nezhad
Assistant Director, PSC Professional
PhD student @ Oregon State University

I am in my second year as a Ph.D. student studying structural engineering at Oregon State University with Professor Andre. R Barbosa. My main research aim is developing a wood-steel hybrid resisting system against lateral loads for mass timber structures. I am especially interested in helping to build community among students and very excited to serve on the PEER student committee. In my free time( which is rarely exist) , I enjoy playing and listening Traditional Iraninan music. In my free time I play an iranian instrumental music called Setaar.

Patricia Wendy
Secretary, PSC Professional
MS student @ Stanford University

I am interested in learning more about performance-based earthquake engineering, specifically in relation to designing new structures. I am excited to serve on the PEER student committee and help students connect with professionals in the industry. In my free time, I enjoy watching documentaries and crime shows.

C. Franco Mayorga
Officer, PSC Professional
PhD Student @ University of California San Diego

My research focuses on the analysis and design of buildings with force-limiting connections. I have experience in research, teaching, and practice. Before starting my PhD studies, I was a research engineer in the field of Stochastic Computational Mechanics at Santa Maria Technical University in Chile. My hobbies are playing soccer, working out, and traveling. I’m very happy to be part of the PEER student committee. This is a new experience that will be very enriching for me.

Gustavo Orozco
Officer, PSC Professional
PhD student @ Oregon State University

My name is Gustavo Fernando Orozco, I am a third year Ph.D. student in Civil Engineering at Oregon State University, working with Professor Andre Barbosa. My research is about performance-based analysis of new and existing structures using Mass Timber as lateral resisting system. I also have several years of experience working in the industry back in my country as a structural designer. I’m happy to be part of the PEER student committee, willing to share with my peers and create a supporting community. In my free time, I like listening to music, films, and painting.

Piyush Vyas
Officer, PSC Professional
PhD student @ University of Southern California

My main research aim is to investigate the dynamic behavior of Biocemented Sands treated with EICP and MICP, using resonant column test. I am very excited to be a part of the PEER student committee . In my free time, I enjoy traveling,hiking and playing badminton.

2022-2023 Directory

PSC Core

Director

Omar Issa

oissa@stanford.edu

PhD student @ Stanford University

Assistant Director

Bryam Astudillo

bryam.astudillo@stanford.edu

PhD student @ Stanford University

Secretary

Suha Hussain

suhussai@calpoly.edu

Undergraduate student @ California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo

PSC Outreach

Director

Rahemeen Ahmed

rahemeen@stanford.edu

MS student @ Stanford

Assistant Director

Sajan K C

sajankc@usc.edu

PhD student @ University of Southern California

PSC Research

Director

Aditya Jhunjhunwala

arjhunjhunwala@ucdavis.edu

PhD student @ UC Davis

Assistant Director

Arka Maity

arkmaity@ucdavis.edu

PhD student @ UC Davis

Secretary

Maximilian Plotzeneder

mplotzen@calpoly.edu

Undergraduate student @ California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo

PSC Professional

Director

Patricio Uarac

uaracpip@oregonstate.edu

PhD student @ Oregon State University

Assistant Director

Naser Katanbaf Nezhad

katanban@oregonstate.edu

 PhD student @ Oregon State University

Secretary

Patricia Wendy

pwendy@stanford.edu

MS student @ Stanford

Officer

 C. Franco Mayorga

cfmayorg@ucsd.edu

PhD student @ UC San Diego

Officer

Gustavo Orozco

gustavo.orozco@oregonstate.edu

PhD student @ Oregon State University

Officer

Piyush Vyas

piyushvy@usc.edu

PhD student @ University of Southern California