People | umcaselab

Team Members

Gustavo AGUILAR

Ph.D. Candidate 2026

Gustavo, a South Florida local, received his B.Sc. in Civil Engineering (2021) and M.Sc. in Structural Engineering (2022) from the University of Florida. Since Fall 2022, he is a University of Miami PhD candidate focusing on the effects of the combined action of hurricane-generated winds, storm surge, and waves on coastal structures with the aim to mitigate these natural hazard risks.

Sandesh LAMSAL

Ph.D. Candidate 2026

Originally from Nepal, Sandesh graduated from the National College of Engineering, Tribhuvan University in 2018 with a B.Sc. in Civil Engineering, and started a M.Sc. in Structural Engineering at Texas Tech University before joining the University of Miami where he has been focusing on the form finding, analysis, and design of hybrid coral reefs.

Claudia DEVEAUX GARRIDO

Ph.D. Candidate 2027

Claudia, originally from the Dominican Republic, graduated from the Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra (PUCMM) with a B.Sc. in Civil Engineering in 2019 and a M.Sc. in Earthquake Engineering in 2022. She also worked in structural engineering and disaster risk management in both private and public sector respectively in her country from 2019 to 2023. Since Spring 2024, she is a University of Miami PhD student focusing on nature-based solutions for coastal protection.

Samantha NOWAK

B. in Architecture 2025

Originally from Connecticut, Samantha is an undergraduate student pursuing a Bachelor of Architecture and a Minor in Sustainable Business. She is now applying her knowledge as a research assistant to better understand the effects of wind loads and wave loads on South Florida structures and the potential of various building typologies.

Kayla THOMPSON

Bs. in Civil Engineering and Environmental Engineering 2025

Originally from Jupiter, Florida, Kayla is an undergraduate student in the College of Engineering pursuing her Bachelor of Science in two majors: Civil Engineering and Environmental Engineering. Her interests lie in coastal design, protection, and restoration, and she is now working as an undergraduate research assistant, focusing on the design and integration of civil structures within the natural environment and the urban fabric.

Terreonn HENRY, E.I.

Ms. in Civil Engineering 2024

Originally from the island of Tobago of the country of Trinidad and Tobago. Terreonn attained his B.Sc. in Civil Engineering at the University of South Florida in 2022. He is currently pursuing his M.Sc. in Structural Engineering at the University of Miami with a focus on timber structures, coastal and hillside structures.

Chiara SIMONCINI

Visiting Ph.D. Student

Originally from Italy, Chiara graduated from the School of Architecture, University of Florence in 2021 with a M.Sc. in Architectural design and since January 2022 is a Ph.D. candidate in Architectural Design at University of Florence. She will be joining University of Miami in Fall 2022 to focus on a historical analysis of the urban fabric in coastal communities aiming towards a more sustainable and resilient future.

Tara HABIBI

Ph.D. Candidate 2024

Originally from Iran, Tara graduated from the Amirkabir University of Technology (Tehran Polytechnic) in 2019 with a M.Sc. in Structural Engineering and since February 2020 is a Ph.D. candidate in Structural Engineering at EPFL. Her research focuses on developing FRP bending-active load-bearing structures for temporary or permanent building roof structures, vertical axis wind turbines, rockfall and avalanche barriers.