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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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Lara Alegria Mira
PhD 2014
Vrije Universiteit Brussels (co-advised)
Placement: Konligo
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Casey Casias
MSCE 2015
University of Notre Dame
Placement: Gebau Consulting Structural Engineers
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Robert Devine
PhD 2020
University of Notre Dame
Placement: Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc.
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Evan Gerbo
PhD 2019
University of Notre Dame
Placement: Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc.
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Chad Quaglia
MSCE 2014
University of Notre Dame
Placement: HNTB
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Brittani Russell
MSCE 2013
University of Notre Dame
Placement: Building Tomorrow
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Alexis Tugilimana
PhD 2018
Universite Libre de Bruxelles
Placement: Kabandy
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Mirela Tumbeva
PhD 2021
University of Notre Dame
Placement: Thornton Tomasetti
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Yao Wang
PhD 2021
University of Notre Dame
Placement: HNTB
Postdoc Alumni
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Zach Ballard
Placement: University of Vermont
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Steve Barbachyn
Placement: University of Minnesota
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Francisco Martinez-Martin
Placement: Mecanotubo Construction
Undergraduate Student Alumni
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Mary Elizabeth Balof
BSCE 2026 (expected)
University of Notre Dame
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Angelene Dascanio
BSCE 2015
University of Notre Dame
Placement: University College Dublin, Stanford University
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Max Ducey
BSCE 2016
University of Notre Dame
Placement: Chicago Bridge & Iron
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Claire Gasser
BSCE 2020
University of Notre Dame
Placement: Texas A&M University
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Camila Gonzalez Flores
BSCE 2020
University of Notre Dame
Placement: W.E. O’Neil Construction
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Sam Hillenmeyer
BSCE 2025 (expected)
University of Notre Dame
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Lauren Kane
BSCE 2025 (expected)
University of Notre Dame
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James (Luke) Linder
BSCE 2024
University of Notre Dame
Placement: University of Notre Dame
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Lauren Llantero
BSCE 2022
University of Notre Dame
Placement: Lehigh University
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Caroline Long
BSCE 2025 (expected)
University of Notre Dame
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Molly Phillips
BSCE 2018
University of Notre Dame
Placement: Deloitte
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Spencer Ness
BSCE 2014
University of Notre Dame
Placement: University of Notre Dame
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John (Jack) Reilly
BSCE 2014
University of Notre Dame
Placement: Princeton University
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Katrina Sakimoto
BSCE 2021
Colorado School of Mines
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Madalyn (Maddy) Sowar
BSCE 2016
University of Notre Dame
Placement: Army Corps of Engineers