Research Team

Dr. Ashley P. Thrall

Myron and Rosemary Noble Assoc. Prof. of Structural Engineering

Dept. of Civil & Environmental Engineering & Earth Sciences

University of Notre Dame

Contact: athrall@nd.edu

Dr. Thrall will be hiring new PhD students for academic year 2025/2026. Interested candidates should email her with their CV and transcript.

Current Graduate Students

  • Camila Duarte

    Camila is investigating a novel deployable tool for the installation of cross-frames in curved and highly-skewed girder bridges through finite element numerical modeling and experimental testing. She is also studying accelerated bridge construction and fabrication approaches.

    She joined the Kinetic Structures Laboratory in January 2023. Before starting at Notre Dame, she earned her bachelor’s degree from the State University of Londrina, Brazil in 2021.

  • Henrique Martins

    Henrique is investigating a new approach to the modular design of steel truss bridges which offers enhanced resiliency, reduced cost, and reduced construction time, with potential to rapidly replace structurally deficient or disaster-damaged bridges.

    He joined the Kinetic Structures Laboratory in January 2022. Before starting at Notre Dame, he earned her bachelor’s degree from the State University of Londrina, Brazil in 2021.

  • Sherryen Mutoka

    Sherryen is investigating approaches for the accelerated construction of civil infrastructure, including built-up press-brake formed tub girders and 3D printed concrete.

    She joined the Kinetic Structures Laboratory in January 2020. She completed her undergraduate degree in civil engineering from Notre Dame in 2017. After graduating, she worked at MASS Design Group as a structural engineer and a site engineer in their Kigali office in Rwanda.

  • Capra Williams

    Capra is studying advanced materials for civil infrastructure, with a focus on glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) and 3D printed concrete.

    She joined the Kinetic Structures Laboratory in January 2024. Before she started at Notre Dame, she earned her Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering at the University of Portland.

Graduate Student Alumni

  • Lara Alegria Mira

    PhD 2014

    Vrije Universiteit Brussels (co-advised)

    Placement: Konligo

  • Casey Casias

    MSCE 2015

    University of Notre Dame

    Placement: Gebau Consulting Structural Engineers

  • Robert Devine

    PhD 2020

    University of Notre Dame

    Placement: Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc.

  • Evan Gerbo

    PhD 2019

    University of Notre Dame

    Placement: Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc.

  • Chad Quaglia

    MSCE 2014

    University of Notre Dame

    Placement: HNTB

  • Brittani Russell

    MSCE 2013

    University of Notre Dame

    Placement: Building Tomorrow

  • Alexis Tugilimana

    PhD 2018

    Universite Libre de Bruxelles

    Placement: Kabandy

  • Mirela Tumbeva

    PhD 2021

    University of Notre Dame

    Placement: Thornton Tomasetti

  • Yao Wang

    PhD 2021

    University of Notre Dame

    Placement: HNTB

Postdoc Alumni

  • Zach Ballard

    Placement: University of Vermont

  • Steve Barbachyn

    Placement: University of Minnesota

  • Francisco Martinez-Martin

    Placement: Mecanotubo Construction

Undergraduate Student Alumni

  • Mary Elizabeth Balof

    BSCE 2026 (expected)

    University of Notre Dame

  • Angelene Dascanio

    BSCE 2015

    University of Notre Dame

    Placement: University College Dublin, Stanford University

  • Max Ducey

    BSCE 2016

    University of Notre Dame

    Placement: Chicago Bridge & Iron

  • Claire Gasser

    BSCE 2020

    University of Notre Dame

    Placement: Texas A&M University

  • Camila Gonzalez Flores

    BSCE 2020

    University of Notre Dame

    Placement: W.E. O’Neil Construction

  • Sam Hillenmeyer

    BSCE 2025 (expected)

    University of Notre Dame

  • Lauren Kane

    BSCE 2025 (expected)

    University of Notre Dame

  • James (Luke) Linder

    BSCE 2024

    University of Notre Dame

    Placement: University of Notre Dame

  • Lauren Llantero

    BSCE 2022

    University of Notre Dame

    Placement: Lehigh University

  • Caroline Long

    BSCE 2025 (expected)

    University of Notre Dame

  • Molly Phillips

    BSCE 2018

    University of Notre Dame

    Placement: Deloitte

  • Spencer Ness

    BSCE 2014

    University of Notre Dame

    Placement: University of Notre Dame

  • John (Jack) Reilly

    BSCE 2014

    University of Notre Dame

    Placement: Princeton University

  • Katrina Sakimoto

    BSCE 2021

    Colorado School of Mines

  • Madalyn (Maddy) Sowar

    BSCE 2016

    University of Notre Dame

    Placement: Army Corps of Engineers