Rowan University logoRowan UniversityDepartment of Civil and Environmental Engineering
GeoSMARTGeosystems Sensing, Modeling, Adaptation, Resilience, and Technology LaboratoryCheng Zhu's Research Group

Team

Principal Investigator

Principal Investigator
Dr. Cheng Zhu

Dr. Cheng Zhu, P.E.

Associate Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Rowan University

  • 2023-Present: Associate Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Rowan University
  • 2017-2023: Assistant Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Rowan University
  • 2016-2017: Postdoc in Bureau of Economic Geology, University of Texas at Austin
  • 2012-2016: Ph.D. in Civil Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology
  • 2012-2014: M.S. in Civil Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology
  • 2009-2012: M.Eng. in Civil Engineering, Nanyang Technological University
  • 2005-2009: B.Eng. in Civil Engineering, 1st Class Honor, Nanyang Technological University

Selected Honors and Awards

  • Early Career Educator Award, United States Universities Council on Geotechnical Education and Research (USUCGER), 2026
  • National High Value Research - AASHTO Honorable Mention Award in Supplemental Maintenance, Management and Preservation, 2025
  • Researcher of the Year, ASCE New Jersey Section, 2022
  • NSF I-Corps National Award, Rowan University, 2021
  • Wall of Fame, Rowan University, 2020
  • Frances R. Lax Faculty Development Award, Rowan University, 2018

Graduate Students

Graduate Student
Ma. Dezalene Gaurano Cierte

Ma. Dezalene Gaurano Cierte

  • 2025-Present: M.S. student, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Rowan University
  • 2020-2024: B.Sc. in Civil Engineering, Cum Laude, University of the Philippines Los Baños
  • Research Topic: Geophysical characterization of frozen soils in cold regions
  • Start: Fall 2025
  • Email: cierte26@rowan.edu
  • Award: Delaware Valley Geo-Institute Student Scholarship, 2026.
Graduate Student
Mingye Tang

Mingye Tang

  • 2026-Present: M.S. student, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Rowan University
  • 2021-2025: B.Sc. in Civil Engineering, Department of Civil Engineering and Smart Cities, Shantou University
  • Research Topic: Application of Machine Learning in Frozen Soil Research in Cold Regions
  • Start: Fall 2026
  • Email: tangmi10@rowan.edu

Undergraduate Students

Class of2027
  • Aidan Engle
  • Andrew Hunt
Class of2028
  • Joshua Figueroa
  • Samuel Mensah
  • Devyn Boyle
  • Jonathan Pearlman
  • Hiroshi McIntosh
  • Eric Paseler

Alumni

Former Graduate and Postdoctoral Members
  • Kaniz Roksana (Ph.D. 2025): Efficiency of Enzyme Induced Carbonate Precipitation (EICP) by Crude Extract Urease for Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering.
  • Shaini Aluthgun Hewage (2021-2024, Postdoctoral Fellow): Bio-remediated geotechnics, Soil-climate interaction
  • Weiling Cai (M.S. 2024): Geomaterials Characterization using the High-Frequency Electromagnetic Induction Technique. Awards: Best CEE Graduate Student Award, 2024; USUCGER Travel Grant, United States Universities Council on Geotechnical Education and Research, 2024; NSF travel award, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, 2023.
  • Chenchen Huang (Ph.D. 2024): Numerical Analyses of Construction Materials at Different Scales for Improved Resilience and Sustainability of Civil Infrastructures.
  • Rui Liu (Ph.D. 2023): Evaluating frozen soil properties with electrical resistivity measurement and electro-magnetic induction methods. Award: Best CEE Graduate Student Award, 2023.
  • Zhuang Zhuo (Ph.D. 2021): Design and analysis of flexible insulated pavement for cold region applications. Award: Best CEE Graduate Student Award, 2021.
  • Mark Vail (M.S. 2020): Bio-cementation of granular materials for sustainable infrastructures. Award: Best CEE Graduate Student Award, 2020.
  • Danilo Zeppilli (M.S. 2019): Finite element analysis of fluid-injection induced earthquakes. Award: Chateaubriand Fellowship from the Embassy of France in the United States, 2019.
Former Undergraduate Members

Class of 2025

  • Sean McQuilkin
  • Ryan Fuchs
  • Audrianne Jane De Guzman

Class of 2024

  • Jonathan Sjaastad
  • Seretni Uchi, Agatha
  • Barna, Matthew
  • Shaner, Garrett
  • Pradhanang, Luniva

Class of 2023

  • Luke Marsicano
  • Zhihao Lin
  • Casey Baquero
  • Damian Smith
  • Lauren Mulvihill
  • Jacob King
  • Thai Ho
  • Peter Demirjian
  • Daniel Horner
  • Husain Ali
  • Nicolas Zugaib
  • Tyler Ziesse
  • Kayla King
  • Manjeet Deol
  • Logan Greif
  • Colin Hubler
  • Luniva Pradhanang
  • Anthony Freglette
  • Sean Denny
  • Matthew Barna
  • Agatha Julie Seretni Uchi
  • Tyler Hubbs
  • Megan Downey

Class of 2022

  • Cheyenne Spencer
  • Kara Banks
  • Michael Mroz
  • Ryan Eno
  • Flynt Tuller
  • Sarah Herchenroder
  • Jacob Christy
  • Marc Ignarri
  • Jochy Perez
  • Garrett Kleinknecht
  • Jonathan Wos
  • Cheyne Bradley
  • Jacob Bohn
  • Kayla Fericy

Class of 2021

  • Stephania Bocanegra
  • Victoria Santerello
  • Tom Vedeika
  • Jiwon Yang
  • Marybeth Sanford
  • Samuel Mossop

Class of 2020

  • Luke Anderson
  • Victoria Barry
  • Travis Bate
  • Quinn Collins
  • Ryan Gordon
  • Chris Haugland
  • Nathaniel Maute
  • Michael Moroski
  • Elana Amir
  • Harry Duffield
  • Abigail Goger
  • Gabrielle Howell
  • John Laranjeira
  • Michael Lionikis
  • Anthony Morici
  • Shawn Seroka
  • Matthew Young

Class of 2019 and 2018

  • Kylee Applebaum
  • Jason DeMuro
  • Taylor Groves
  • Kirsten Hack
  • Christian Naugle
  • Sean Plunkett
  • Nicolaus Rippman
  • John Simmons
  • Kevin Tress
  • Luke Benato
  • Robert Principato
  • Thomas Sedlack
  • Will Sjaastad