Team

Led by Dr. Aly, our dedicated team of graduate and undergraduate students specializes in Wind Engineering and Structural Optimization. We focus our research on advancing resilient and sustainable coastal infrastructure, with a core objective of enhancing safety and reducing costs associated with windstorms and earthquakes.

Collaborating across various disciplines, our diverse team values inclusivity and embraces the power of diverse perspectives. We believe diversity fuels innovation and strengthens our ability to address complex challenges in a rapidly changing world. We cultivate a rich tapestry of ideas and experiences by fostering an inclusive environment.

Our research integrates advanced methodologies and technologies to optimize coastal infrastructure resilience while ensuring sustainability. Bridging the gap between theory and real-world implementation, we develop practical tools that benefit homeowners, local governments, and insurance companies in effectively managing natural hazards.

Driven by a shared commitment to making a positive impact, we continuously expand our understanding of wind dynamics, structural behavior, and optimization techniques. With cutting-edge facilities and advanced computational tools at our disposal, our rigorous research generates invaluable insights for academia, industry, and policy-makers.

Join us as we redefine the boundaries of Wind Engineering and Structural Optimization. Collaboratively, our endeavor is to shape a future that prioritizes safety, resilience, and inclusivity for coastal communities. Our drive stems from a passion for sustainable infrastructure, a commitment to embracing diversity, and an unwavering determination to facilitate positive change.

Current Members

Faculty

Aly Mousaad Aly, Ph.D., P.E., M.ASCE

Associate Professor

Director, WISE Research Lab @ LSU

3230H Patrick F. Taylor Hall

Phone: (225) 578-6654

Email: aly@lsu.edu.       Curriculum Vitae [PDF] (Last update on March 2nd, 2023)

 

 

Graduate Students

 

Feng Xie, P.E.

Ph.D. Student, Wind/Structural Engineering

M.S. in Civil Engineering, Syracuse University

B.S. in Civil Engineering, China University of Geosciences

 

Cynthia Barton-Ruiz, Ph.D. Student, Sustainable Construction for Hurricanes, B.S. and M.S., Louisiana State University.

 

 

Husam Al Shannaq, Ph.D. Student, Renewable Energy.

 

 

Mohammad Asgari, Ph.D. Student, Fluid-Structure Interaction

 

 

Patrick Crifasi

M.S. Student, Structural Engineering

 

 

James Lawson Powers

M.S. Student, Structural Engineering

B.S. CEE, Louisiana State University

 

 

 

 

 

Undergraduate Students

 

Thomas H. O'Donnell III

Undergraduate Student Researcher

School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

 

 

 

 

Long Tran

Undergraduate Student Researcher

LSU President's Future Leaders in Research.

 

 

 

 

Jonathan M Russell, Undergraduate Student Researcher

College of Coast and Environment | Ogden Honors College | LSU Stamps Scholar  

CES - Coastal Meteorology | Climatology & Disaster Science Management

LSU Student Government Gov. Relations | CRCL Future Leader 

LASAL Scholar | Gulf Scholar | Shell Honors Scholar 

 

 

 

Alumni

Postdoctoral Researchers

Dr. Milad Rezae, P.E.

Civil Engineering, LSU, 2017

Current Position: Structural Engineer at AECOM

 

Dr. Hamzeh Gol-Zaroudi, PE, CEEM

Civil Engineering, LSU, 2017-2018.

Current Position: Senior Catastrophe Modeling Analyst, Brown & Brown Insurance

 

Graduate Students

Md Faiaz Khaled, Ph.D.

Ph.D. in Wind/Structural Engineering,

Thesis: Aerodynamics of Low-Rise Buildings: Large-Scale Open-Jet Testing and CFD Simulation

Current Position: Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign 

 

Suvash Chapain, Ph.D. , EIT

 Ph.D. in Control/Structural Engineering,

 Thesis: Vibration Control in High-Rise Buildings and Wind Turbines to Achieve System-Level Performance Under Multiple Hazard Loads

Current Position: Structural Design EngineerStructural Design Engineer, Ferrovial Construction

 

Milad Rezaee, Ph.D., P.E.

Ph.D. in Civil Engineering, LSU, 2017-2018

Thesis: Vibration Control in Wind Turbines for Multihazards

Current Position: Structural Engineer at AECOM

 

Hamzeh Gol-Zaroudi, Ph.D., P.E.

Ph.D. in Civil Engineering, LSU, 2017.

Thesis: Atmospheric Boundary-layer Processes to Mimic Peak Pressures on Low-Rise Buildings: CFD Versus Full-scale and Wind Tunnel Measurements

Current Position: Senior Catastrophe Modeling Analyst, Brown & Brown Insurance

 

 

 Jack Clarke, M.S. Student, Renewable Energy, Engineer at Joule Energy

 

 

Hannah DiLeo  

M.S. Student,  Structural/Bridge Engineering,

B.S. in Civil Engineering, Louisiana State University.

 

 

 

 

 Emily Rone  

M.S., Wind/Structural Engineering, McLaughlin Medalist.

 

 

Matthew Thomas, E.I.

M.S., Wind/Structural Engineering, 2021

B.S. in Civil Engineering, Louisiana State University.

- LCOPRI ASCE scholarship recipient, Project: Open-Jet Testing;

- 2018 LSU Discover Scholar Awardee

Current Position: Engineering Associate IIEngineering Associate II, LCRA 

 

 Bianca Goodlow 

M.S., Heat Island Effects, 2020

B.S. in Civil Engineering, Louisiana State University

 

Nader Yousef, EIT     

M.S., Wind/Structural Engineering, 2020

B.S. in Civil Engineering, Universidade Anhanguera Uniderp

Area:   Experimental and computational investigations of wind-induced loads on low-rise buildings.
 

 
James Benson 

M.S.,  Structural Engineering, 2020

Thesis: CFD Study of Wind Loads on Overhead Sign Structures

 B.S. in Civil Engineering, Louisiana State University.

 

Erin Dougherty  

M.S.,  Structural Engineering, 2019

Thesis: CFD ANALYSIS OF BRIDGE PIER GEOMETRY ON LOCAL SCOUR POTENTIAL

B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the United States Coast Guard Academy, New London, CT

Jennifer Whipple, EIT

M.S., Wind/Structural Engineering, 2020

Thesis: Investigation of Wind Loading on Ground-Mounted Solar Arrays: A Comparative Study

B.S. in Civil Engineering, the University of Louisiana at Lafayette

 

 Marc Hoffmann, P.E.

M.S. in Civil Engineering, LSU, 2018.

Thesis: Over-Height Vehicle Impact Reduction on Bridges: A Case Study

 

Laura Iverson

M.S. in Civil Engineering, LSU, 2016.

Thesis: Aerodynamic Mitigation of Roof Suction Using Solar Panels.

 

Srinivasa Adithya Sailesh Abbur, EIT

M.S. in Civil Engineering, LSU, 2015.

Thesis: Vibration Mitigation in High-Rise Buildings Under Multi-Hazard.

 

Amar Cumurovic, P.E.

M.S. in Civil Engineering, LSU, 2014.

Area: Dynamic response and mitigation of steel stacks under wind loads

 

Mujahed Shalabi, P.E.

M.S. in Civil Engineering, LSU 2014.

Area: Flow validation in a new open-jet simulator at LSU

Current Job: Project Design Engineer at Quds Engineering & Design 

 

Brian Carrington II, P.E., LEED AP
M.S. in Civil Engineering, LSU, 2014.

Area: Aerodynamic retrofitting of roof geometry on low-rise buildings to reduce uplift

Current Job: Project Manager at ARCO/Murray Design Build· 

 

Undergraduate Students

Jacob Conerly

Undergraduate Student, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

 

 

 

 

 

Ryan T Clancy 

Undergraduate Student, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

LSU President's Future Leaders on Research Awardee.

 

 

 

 

Eli P Barbin

Undergraduate Student, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

LSU President's Future Leaders on Research Awardee.

 

 

 

 

Hong Zhu

Undergraduate Student, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

2021 LSU Discover Scholar Awardee (Spring and Fall Semesters)

 

 

 

 

 Matthew Thomas, EIT

Undergraduate Student, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Louisiana State University,

LCOPRI ASCE scholarship recipient, Project: Open-Jet Testing;

2018 LSU Discover Scholar Awardee

Current Position: Engineering Associate II, LCRA 

 

Emily Rone, E.I.

Undergraduate Student,  Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Louisiana State University.

McLaughlin Medalist.

 

Raymond Poche

Undergraduate Student, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Louisiana State University

2018 LSU Discover Scholar Awardee

Talk a little about your Research, Involvement, or skills learned at LSU.

My research at LSU focuses on the effects of wind loads on roofs and roof-mounted solar panels. I am studying why solar panels fail when subjected to loads often less than the advertised load capacity. Many variables affect how the panels withstand these wind forces, including the location of solar arrays to the roof, the array shape and size, inclination angles, mounting scheme, wind direction, and even the aerodynamics of the roof design itself. In performing this research, I learned about the fluid mechanics and dynamics of wind and rain computational fluid dynamic simulations in the OpenFOAM software to visualize flow fields and measure pressure and velocity profiles at various locations. In my research and my classes at LSU, I developed many skills that I believe will help me for the rest of my life. These include diligence, self-discipline, time management, communication, motivation to improve my skills, and even the ability to learn new information quickly while building upon previous fundamental material. I have applied these skills to the best of my ability here at LSU, allowing me to publish a journal with my research mentor, maintain a 4.2 GPA, earn several scholarships, and build new friendships along the way. I hope to continue this success in years to come.

 

 Sunny Nguyen

Undergraduate, B.S.

Area: Wind Engineering

 

Lisa Goodgion, EIT

Undergraduate, B.S.

Area: Hurricane Engineering and Open-Jet Testing

 

Joseph Richard Bresowar

Undergraduate, B.S.

Area: Open-Jet Testing and Aerodynamic Mitigation

 

Dalton R Guidry  

Undergraduate, B.S.

Area: Wind Engineering.
 

 

K-12 Student Researchers

Brice Sanders, Kenilworth Science and Technology School, 3rd Place Winner, 2018 Region VII Science Fair

Derrick Batiste, Kenilworth Science and Technology School, 3rd Place Winner, 2018 Region VII Science Fair

Jordan Freeman, Kenilworth Science and Technology School, 4th Place Winner, 2017 Region VII Science Fair

Kolby Trosclair, Kenilworth Science and Technology School