Current team members:

Xiaohang Ji

Xiaohang Ji

Ph.D. Candidate. Expected graduation: Dec 2024.

M.S., Geotechnical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

B.S., Civil Engineering, Shandong University, China

I joined Dr. Xiao's research team in Fall 2020. I participated in field research in Utqiaġvik, Alaska in 2021 and 2022, focusing on distributed temperature sensing (DTS) and distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) of in-situ permafrost. My dissertation is "Understand and forecast long-term variations of in-situ geophysical and geomechanical characteristics of degrading permafrost in the Arctic."

Zi-Yi (Zoey) Wang

Zi-Yi Wang

Ph.D. Candidate. Expected graduation: May 2025.

M.S., Geotechnical Engineering, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong

B.S., Civil Engineering, Chengdu University of Technology, China

I joined Dr. Xiao's research team in August 2021. I conducted field sampling and geophysical testing on the permafrost tundra in Utqiaġvik, Alaska. I am developing an Arctic Coastal Hazard Index map that takes into account permafrost thaw settlement, coastal erosion, and flooding in North Slope Borough, Alaska. My research dissertation is "Civil Infrastructure Geohazard Assessment under the Effects of Permafrost Degradation and Coastal Erosion in Northern Alaska."

Xueyang Wang

Xueyang Wang

Ph.D. student. Expected graduation: May 2027.

M.S., Geotechnical Engineering, Tongji University, China

B.S., Urban Underground Space Engineering, Central South University, China

I joined Dr. Xiao's research team in August 2023. In summer 2024, I went to the Arctic Alaska to participate in a STEM summer camp and a geophysical survey of permafrost. My research dissertation is “Mapping and Predicting Spatiotemporal Permafrost Characteristics using Ground-based and Airborne Geophysical Methods.”

Xueyang Wang

Lingyun Gou

Ph.D. student. Expected graduation: May 2028.

M.S., Geotechnical Engineering, Hunan University, China

B.S., Civil Engineering, Hunan University, China

My name is Lingyun Gou. I joined Dr. Xiao's research team in August 2024. My research focuses on developing a digital twin of the permafrost-infrastructure system in the Arctic using UAS-borne geophysical imaging and physics-based machine learning.

Xueyang Wang

Mona Anbarestani

Ph.D. student. Expected graduation: December 2028.

M.S., Hydraulic Structure Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Iran

B.S., Civil Engineering, Malayer University, Iran

I will join Dr. Xiao's research team in January 2025. My research focuses on using UAS-borne geophysical imaging for permafrost characterization and environmental hazard detection.

Matthew Hallissey

Matthew Hallissey

M.S. student. NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) awardee. Expected graduation: May 2025.

B.S., Civil Engineering, Pennsylvania State University (GPA: 4.0)

I joined Dr. Xiao's research team in fall 2021 as an undergraduate student. In 2022, I received the NSF REU award and participated in Dr. Xiao's field research in Utqiaġvik, Alaska. In 2023, I received the NSF GRFP award and continued my graduate studies in Dr. Xiao's team. I have led two STEM summer camps for middle school and high school students in Utqiaġvik, Alaska, in 2023 and 2024. I am currently leading the UAS-borne geophysical survey using very low frequency electromagnetics (VLF-EM) in Dr. Xiao’s team. My thesis is “Development of Electromagnetic Geophysical Surveys for Permafrost using Unmanned Aerial System.”

Isabel Rubino

Isabel Rubino

Undergraduate student, Civil Engineering, expected graduation: May 2026.

I joined Dr. Xiao's research team in Fall 2022 as a first-year undergraduate student. In 2023, I received the NSF REU award and co-organized a STEM summer camp for middle school students in Utqiaġvik, Alaska, and STEM activities in middle schools in State College, PA. In summer 2024, I returned to Utqiaġvik to co-lead another week-long STEM summer camp for high school students. I led the development of two manuals, “STEM Activities and Lesson Plans” for middle and high school students, and contributed to many STEM-related videos on our YouTube channel: The Changing Arctic. I am passionate about environmental issues under climate change.

Former graduate students (with Xiao as major advisor)

PhD Graduates

  1. Min Liew, PhD, Aug 2022, Penn State University. Dissertation: “Permafrost Degradation and Coastal Erosion and Their Potential Impacts on Civil Infrastructure in the Arctic.”

  2. Sajjad Salam, PhD, Aug 2020, Penn State University. Dissertation: “Cyclic Behavior of Fine Coal Refuse and Seismic Stability of Coal Tailings Dams.”

  3. Benjamin Adams, PhD, Aug 2020, Penn State University. Dissertation: “Experimental and Analytical Investigations of the Relative and Interactive Effects of Physicochemical Fluid Characteristics on the Incipient Motion of Granular Particles Under Laminar Flow Conditions.”

  4. Jintai Wang, PhD, Aug 2018, Penn State University. Dissertation: “Seismic Performances of a Liquefiable Sand Deposit Using 1-G Shake Table Testing Considering Aging and Shaking History Effects and the Numerical Simulation of Sand Liquefaction.”

  5. Mahsa Khosrojerdi, PhD, Aug 2018, Penn State University. Dissertation: “Service Limit State Design and Analysis of Engineered Fills for Bridge Support.” Co-advisor: Dr. Tong Qiu.

  6. Behnoud Kermani, PhD, May 2018, Penn State University. Dissertation: “Experimental and Numerical Study of Subgrade Soil Migration into Pavement Subbase and Mitigation Using Geotextile.” Co-advisor: Dr. Shelley Stoffels.

M.S. Graduates

  1. Chih-Chun Tang, M.S., Dec 2022, Penn State University. Thesis: “Evaluation of Erodibility of Sand Infill Placed in Synthetic Grass.”

  2. Yen-Chieh Wang, M.S., May 2019, Penn State University.Thesis: “Synthesis of Geotechnical Properties of Tailings.”

  3. Rong Zhao, M.S., May 2019, Penn State University. Thesis: “Evaluation of Liquefaction Potential and In-Situ Geotechnical Properties of Coal Slurries in Shake Table Testing Using Cone Penetration Test.”

  4. Maria Lissette Beltri, M.S., Dec 2018, Penn State University. Thesis: “Hurricane-Induced Coastal Soil Erosion – Review and Synthesis.”

  5. Min Liew, M.S., Aug 2018, Penn State University.Thesis: “Field and Laboratory Characterizations of In-Situ Coal Slurry.”

  6. Yuetan Ma, M.S., May 2018, Penn State University. Thesis: “The Effects of Fluid’s Physicochemical Characteristics on Piping Erosion Progression of a Silty Sand.”

  7. Anthony Cemo, M.S., Dec 2013, California State University, Fresno. Project: “Development of an Experimental Imaging System for the Micro-Scale Study of Seepage-Induced Granular Particle Mobilization.”

  8. Martine Ledezma, M.S., May 2013, California State University, Fresno. Thesis: “Improved Shake Table Tests on the Seismic Responses of Slurry Walls.”

  9. Corbin Hartman, M.S., May 2013, California State University, Fresno. Thesis: “Seismic Responses of MSE Walls Using Accelerated Alternative Backfill Materials with Tire Derived Aggregate (TDA) and Lightweight Aggregates (LWA).”

  10. Jan Bowen, MS, Dec 2011, California State University, Fresno. Project: “Seismic Responses of Bridge Abutments with Tire Derived Aggregate (TDA) Backfill.”

  11. Mathew Graham, M.S., Dec 2011, California State University, Fresno. Thesis: “Seismic Analysis of Slurry Walls.”

  12. Exequiel Sinco, M.S., May 2011, California State University, Fresno. Thesis: “Piping Progression of Sand under Various Permeating Fluids.”

  13. Benjamin Adams, M.S., May 2011, California State University, Fresno. Thesis: “Piping Erosion Mechanisms of Organic Soils and Bioabatement of Piping Erosion of Sand.”

  14. Nathan Shwiyhat, M.S., Dec 2010, California State University, Fresno. Thesis: “Geo-mechanical Effects on Suffusion of Sand-Kaolinite Mixtures.”

  15. Jose Gomez, M.S., Dec 2009, California State University, Fresno. Thesis: “Effect of Piping on Shear Strength of Soils.”

Undergraduate Students in Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) Supported by Penn State and NSF

  1. Isabel Rubino, Civil Engineering, 2022-present. NSF NNA REU program, 2022-2023.

  2. Matthew Hallissey, Civil Engineering, NSF NNA REU program, 2022-2023. Matthew went to pursue M.S. at Penn State.

  3. Kehinde Azeezat Ololade Sokunbi, Civil Engineering, Equity REU program, Spring 2019.

  4. Scott Carbaugh, Mechanical Engineering, Penn State Harrisburg, summer 2018.

  5. Daniel Duran Esmeral, Civil Engineering, Spring 2018. Daniel went to pursue M.S. at Imperial College London.

  6. Andrew Bechtold (Schreyer Scholar), Civil Engineering, Spring 2017.

  7. Danielle Berman (Schreyer Scholar), Fall 2015. Danielle went to pursue Ph.D. at Penn State.

  8. Kristin Beckman, Penn State Harrisburg, Summer 2015.

Awards received by graduate students at Penn State (with Xiao as major advisor)

  1. Matthew Hallissey (Undergraduate student 2019-2023, and M.S. student 2023-2025)

    • Deep Foundations Institute, Penn State Scholarship Fund, awardee 2022
    • NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) awardee 2023
    • College of Engineering Wormley Family Graduate Fellowship 2024

  2. Ziyi Wang (PhD student)

    • Mark E. and Claire L. Alpert Fellowship, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, 2024
    • Leo P. Russell Graduate Fellowship in Civil Engineering, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, 2022
    • Deep Foundations Institute (DFI) Francis Gularte Scholarship, 2024
    • Thomas Krzewinski Best Student Presentation of Merit, 20th ASCE International Conference on Cold Regions Engineering, 2024
    • Outstanding Reviewer Award, Journal of Cold Regions Engineering, ASCE, 2024

  3. Xiaohang Ji (PhD student)

    • At-Large Scholarships, Deep Foundations Institute (DFI) Charles J. Berkel Memorial Scholarship Fund, 2022
    • At-Large Scholarships, Deep Foundations Institute (DFI) Francis Gularte Civil Engineering Scholarship Fund, 2022
    • Leo P. Russell Graduate Fellowship in Civil Engineering, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, 2022

  4. Min Liew (MS then PhD student)

    • NSF Fellowship for Mechanistic Machine Learning and Digital Twins for Computational Science, Engineering and Technology Conference, San Diego, California (hybrid mode), September 26–29, 2021. (National level)
    • James E. Marley Graduate Fellowship in Engineering, College of Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, 2021 (College level)
    • Professional Development Grant, Women in Deep Foundations, Deep Foundations Institute Educational Trust, 2021 (National level)
    • Leo P. Russell Graduate Fellowship, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, 2021 (Department level)
    • Grant Award for the National Conference for College Women Student Leaders (NCCWSL) by the American Association of University Women (AAUW) Pennsylvania, 2020 (National level)
    • Distinguished Master’s Thesis Award, Pennsylvania State University, 2018 (University level)
    • Mark E. and Claire L. Alpert Fellowship, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, 2020 (Department level)
    • ASCE Central Pennsylvania Section award, 2021 (Regional level)

  5. Sajjad Salam (PhD student)

    • Harry G. Miller Fellowship in Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, 2020. (College Level)
    • Distinguished Graduate Fellowship, Pennsylvania State University, 2017. (University Level)
    • Mark E. and Claire L. Alpert Fellowship, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, 2019 (Department level)
    • Leo P. Russell Graduate Fellowship, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, 2019 (Department level)
    • International Association of Foundation Drilling (ADSC) Endowed Civil Engineering Award, 2019 (National Level)
    • Itasca Education Partnership, 2019 (National Level)

  6. Jintai Wang (PhD student)

    • The Graduate Scholarship for Excellence in Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, 2018 (College level)

  7. Behnoud Kermani (PhD student)

    • Harold F. Martin Graduate Assistant Outstanding Teaching Award, Pennsylvania State University, 2018 (University level)
    • Geosynthetic Institute (GSI) Fellowship award (2017) (National level)
    • Geosynthetic Institute (GSI) Fellowship award (2018) (National level)
    • International Association of Foundation Drilling (ADSC) Scholarship award, 2017 (National level)
    • Leo P. Russell Graduate Fellowship in Civil Engineering, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, 2016 (Department level)

  8. Mahsa Khosrojerdi (PhD student)

    • Max and Joan Schlienger Graduate Scholarship in Engineering, College of Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, 2018 (College level)
    • International Association of Foundation Drilling (ADSC) scholarship award, 2017 (National level)
    • Leo P. Russell Graduate Fellowship in Civil Engineering, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, 2017 (Department level)
    • Second place, for paper presentation in College of Engineering Research Symposium (CERS), Penn State, 2017 (College level)

  9. Benjamin Adams (PhD student)

    • ASCE Central Pennsylvania Section award, 2014 (Regional level)