Our Team
Jonathan Assefa
Postdoctoral Researcher
Muhammad Naeem Owais
Phd Candidate
Piragash Manmatharasan
Phd Candidate
Moustafa Naiem
NSERC Associate, Western University | Sessional Faculty, McMaster University
Eyoel Hailemariam
MESc Student
Theodoros Aragie
MESc Student
Micah Van Der Ley
MESc Student
Abebe Fantaw
Phd Student
Jifar Hunde
Phd Candidate
Alessia Piazza
Phd Candidate
Tesfatsyon Ochono
Phd Candidate
Anwar Hassen
Visiting Researcher
Tsigereda Eshete
PhD. Candidate
Dagimawi Eneyew
Postdoctoral Researcher
Muna Younis
Postdoctoral Researcher
Christopher Howlett
PhD Candidate
Kimberley Adamek
PhD Candidate
Tsinuel Geleta
Postdoctoral Researcher
Anwar Awol (PhD)
Postdoctoral Researcher
Post-Doctoral Fellows
Ph.D. Students
MSc. Students
MEng. Students
BSc. Students
Summer Students
Post-Doctoral Fellows
| Post-Doctoral Fellows (In progress=5; Complete = 11; Total = 16) |
|---|
| Dr. Muna Younis Western University/WindEEE Research Institute, In Progress, PhD from Western University (2024) |
| Dr. Tsinuel Geleta Western University/WindEEE Research Institute, In Progress (May 2024 – April 2026), PhD from Western University (2024) |
| Dr. Anwar Awol, Western University (In progress). CFD model development for wind engineering and building science applications. |
| Dr. Dagimawi Eneyew, Western University Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, In Progress (Feb 2024-Feb 2026), Phd from Western University (2024) |
| Dr. Moustafa Naiem Abdel-Mooty Western University (NSERC PDF), In Progress (January 2024 – December 2026), PhD from McMaster University |
| Tibebu Birhane Western University, Completed (March 2023 – March 2024), PhD from Western University (2022) |
| Dr. Meseret Kahsay, Western University (In progress), Urban microclimate modeling for sustainable building design. (PhD received from Western University). |
| Dr. Ahmed Ibrahim, 2018-2018 Western University (Complete). Downburst simulation. Current Position: Senior Engineer AECOM, New York, NY. (PhD received from Western University). |
| Dr. Zaid Boutanios, 2018-2018 Western University (Complete). Computational Wind Engineering. Current Position: Principal Engineer, Binkz Incorporated, Montreal. (PhD received from Zagreb University). |
| Dr. Ahmed Elshaer, 2017-2018 Western University (Complete). Computational Wind Engineering. Current position: Assistant Professor, Lakehead University. (PhD received from Western University). |
| Dr. Bodhisatta Hajra, 2014-2015 Western University (Complete). Large scale testing for wind. Current Position. Senior Engineer, Ennova facades/Contract Glaziers Corp, Windsor. (PhD received from Concordia University). |
| Dr. Ahmed Elatar, 2014-2015 Western University (Complete). Aerodynamic optimization. Current Position, Research Scientist, Oakridge Laboratory, USA. (PhD received from Western University). |
| (a) Dr. Aly Mousaad Aly Sayed, 2012-2013 Western University (Complete). Wind load on green and energy infrastructures, Current Position, Assistant professor at Louisiana State University. |
| (b) Dr. Aly Mousaad Aly Sayed, 2009-2011 Florida International University (Complete). Full-scale testing of low-rise buildings for a hurricane (Wall of Wind). Co-Supervisor: Dr Arindam Chowdhury. Current Position: Assistant professor at Louisiana State University. (PhD received from Milan Poly-technique). |
| Dr. Teshome Jiru, 2010-2010 Florida International University (Complete). Natural ventilation, Co-supervisors: Dr Yong Tao and Dr Yimin Zhu. Current Position: Assistant professor at Oregon Institute of Technology. (PhD received from Concordia University). |
| Dr. Peng Huang, 2008-2009 Florida Integrational University (Complete). Full-scale testing of low-rise buildings for a hurricane. Co-Supervisor: Dr Arindam Chowdhury. Current position: Associate professor at Tongji University. (PhD received from Tongji University). |
Ph.D. Students
| Alessia Piazza Western University and University of Genoa joint program, In Progress (November 2023 – expected October 2027), Urban wind flow and thermal modeling |
| Yonas Solomon Western University, In Progress (September 2023 – expected August 2027), Tornadic wind load evaluation |
| Tesfatsyon Ochono Western University, In Progress (September 2023 – expected August 2027), CFD, Machine Learning and Building Energy Simulation integration strategies for net zero building design |
| Sophie Christine Breitkopf Technical University of Dortmund, In Progress (May 2023 – August 2023, visiting research student), Accuracy of wind-load determination based on CFD for the design building structures |
| Tsigereda Getachew Western University, In Progress (January 2021 – expected December 2025), Aeroelasticity and aerodynamic instability analysis of solar solar trackers |
| Yealemnigus Waktola Western University, In Progress (January 2024 – expected December 2027), Performance based design framework for tornado |
| Ahmed El Sayed Farouk Western University, In Progress (May 2024 – expected April 2028), Performance based climate design for tall buildings |
| Jifar Mekonnen Western University, In Progress (September 2024 – expected August 2024), Digital twining the built environment |
| Piragash Manmatharasan Western University, In Progress (September 2024 – expected August 2027), Machine Learning enabled modeling for climate resilient and sustainable buildings |
| Abebe Getachew Western University, In Progress (September 2025 – expected October 2029), Sustainable data center design approaches |
| Muhammad Owais Western University, In Progress (January 2024 – expected December 2027), Modeling impact of trees in urban thermal performance |
| Dr. Dagimawi Eneyew Western University, Completed (September 2019 – December 2023), Towards smart-building digital twin: Data integration, and probabilistic framework for reliable virtual sensing and continuous model calibration, Co-supervisor: Dr. Miriam Capretz, Current position: Postdoc, UWO |
| Dr. Anant Gairola Western University, Completed (September 2017 – February 2024), Numerical modeling of tornadic flow structure and roughness effect, Current position: Research Wind Engineer, Boundary Layer Wind Tunnel Laboratory, UWO |
| Dr. Muna Yonis Western University, Completed (January 2018 – February 2024), BIM integrated sustainable and resilient building design framework for Northern Architecture, Current position: Postdoc, UWO |
| Dr. Tewodros Alemayehu Western University, Completed (May 2018 – June 2023), Autonomous 3D urban and complex terrain geometry generation and micro-climate modelling using CFD and deep learning |
| Christopher Howlett, 2017-present (In progress). Aerodynamic and dynamic optimization of tall buildings. |
| Dr. Tsinuel Geleta Western University, Completed (May 2017 – April 2024), Computational wind load evaluation for low rise buildings, Current position: Postdoc, UWO |
| Dr. Eric Rowland Lalonde Western University, Completed (September 2017 – February 2022), A computational fluid dynamics-based surrogate wind turbine blade aerodynamic model for hybrid simulation, Current position: Research Wind Engineer, Boundary Layer Wind Tunnel Laboratory, UWO |
| Kimberley Adamek Western University, In Progress (September 2016 – present): Framework for multi-scale design of sustainable and resilient communities |
| Dr. Abiy Fantaye Melaku Western University, Completed (May 2016 – January 2023), A computational framework for aerodynamic and aeroelastic modeling of wind loads on tall buildings, Current position: Postdoctoral researcher, SIM Center, UC Berkeley |
| Dr. Barelilo Nighana Western University, Completed (January 2016 – September 2021), Optimization of advanced building integrated photovoltaic and thermal system with dual working fluid, Current position: Building Envelope Specialist, Entuitive, Calgary, AL |
| Dr. Matiyas Ayalew (Bezabeh) UBC/Western University, Completed (May 2014 – December 2020), Performance based wind design frame work for tall mass timber buildings, Current position: Assistant Professor, McGill University |
| Dr. Tibebu Birhane Western University, Completed (May 2013 – October 2022), An explicit model for simplified flutter analysis of long-span bridges, Current position: Research Scientist, WindEEE Research Facilities, Western University |
| Dr. Anwar Awol Western University, Completed (May 2013 – December 2019), Numerical and Semi-Analytical Estimation of Convective Heat Transfer Coefficient for Buildings in an Urban-Like Setting, Current position: Post Doc, WindEEE Research Institute, UWO |
| Dr. Meseret Kahsay Western University, Completed (January 2014 – May 2019), Optimization of window configuration in buildings for sustainable thermal and lighting performance, Current position: Building Scientist, Exp, Toronto, ON |
| Dr. Ahmed Elshaer, 2013-2017 (Complete). Numerical aerodynamic optimization and wind load evaluation framework for tall buildings. Co-Supervisor: Dr Ashraf El Damatty from Western University. Current position: Assistant professor at Lakehead University. |
| Dr. Zoheb Nasir, 2012-2017 (Complete). Numerical modeling of a tornado-like vortex and its interaction with bluff bodies. Current position: Senior Wind Engineer at Air World-wide, Boston. |
| Dr Mohammad Delavar, 2012-2017 (Complete). BIM assisted automation of Pre Engineered Buildings. Co-supervisor: Dr John Dickenson from Western University. Current position: Instructor at Fanshawe College. |
| Dr. Haitham Aboshosha, 2010-2014 (Complete). Effect of downbursts on transmission line structures. Co-supervisor: Dr. Ashraf El Damatty. Current position: Assistant Professor at Ryerson University. |
| Dr. Daniel Abdi, 2010 -2013 (Complete). Numerical evaluation of aerodynamic roughness for the built environment and complex terrain. Current position: NRC Postdoctoral fellow at Naval Postgraduate School, California. Received his MSc from IIT Roorkee and BSc from Addis Ababa University. |
| Dr. Workamaw Warsido, 2009 -2013 (Completed from FIU). Reducing uncertainties in the estimation of wind effects on tall buildings using aerodynamic wind tunnel tests. Current position: Senior Engineer at CPP Wind consultant, Fort Collins, Colorado. Received his MSc from FIU and BSc from Addis Ababa University. |
| Dr. Amanuel Tecle, 2008-2011 (Completed from FIU). Evaluation of internal pressure in low-rise buildings. Current Position: Senior Research Scientist in Wind Engineering at Core Logic (formerly EQECAT Inc.), Oakland, California. Received his MSc from Stockholm Royal Institute of Technology and BSc from Asmara University. |
| Dr. Agerneh Dagnew, 2007-2012 (Completed from FIU). Computational evaluation of wind loads on buildings. Current Position: Self-employed analytics consultant after 6 years of Senior Wind Engineer carrier with Air Worldwide in Boston. Received his MSc from IIT Roorkee and BSc from Jimma University. |
| Samuel Cuerrier Auclair Western University, Withdrawn (May 2020 – January 2022), Wind performance of mass timber structures, Current position: Timber Engineer, FPInnovations |
MSc. Students
| Theodoros Kassa Aragie Western University, In Progress (September 2024 – expected October 2026), AI integrated digital twin for building energy consumption modeling |
| Eyoel Hailemariam Western University, In Progress (September 2024 – expected October 2026), AI based aerodynamic wind load prediction |
| Fatma Abdul Hameed Western University (May 2023 – August 2025), Sustainable building design |
| Matthew Vandewiel Western University, Completed (May 2020 – February 2023), CFD and deep learning based natural ventilation analysis in buildings, Current position: Building Scientist, Building Enclosure Labs Inc., London, ON |
| Cody Van Der Kooi Western University, Completed (May 2019 – April 2021), Considerations for the tornado-resilient structural design of low-rise buildings, Current position: Structural EIT, Hatch Ltd., Toronto, ON |
| Hadil Abdallah Western University, Completed (September 2018 – May 2021), Implication of city growth on wind-induced loads for cladding and structural design, Current position: Building Sciences Consultant, WSP, Hamilton, ON |
| Hang You Western University, Completed (September 2018 – March 2021), Effects of city growth on tall building cladding fatigue, Current position: Wind Engineer E.I.T, RWDI Inc., Guelph, ON |
| Shea Laventure Western University, Completed (May 2018 – June 2020), Identification of aerodynamic damping for flexible structures using wind-induced response, Current position: Scientist (Noise, Acoustics, and Vibration), RWDI Inc., Mississauga, ON |
| Matthew Sparks Western University, Completed (September 2017 – August 2019), Effects of building scale parameters on pressure equalization capacity of roof paver systems, Current position: PhD Student, University of Waterloo |
| Thomas Boekels Technical University of Munich and Western University, Completed (January 2017 – December 2019), Numerical and experimental wind load evaluation for tall building (conducted CFD and wind tunnel tests for two semester under my supervision at UWO), Current position: Structural Engineer, SBP, New York, NY |
| Kate Current Western University, Completed (May 2021 – September 2023), Experimental evaluation of ABL and downburst wind loads on elevated buildings, Current position: Canada’s national athlete, UWO |
| Chandana Padillam Dev Western University, Completed (January 2022 – June 2023), CFD based natural ventilation analysis for low income neighborhoods in New Delhi (One semester research project), Current position: Wind Engineer EIT, RWDI Inc., Guelph, ON |
| Anant Gairola, 2015-2017 (Complete). Generic numerical tornado model for a common interpretation of existing experimental simulators. Current position: PhD student at Western University. |
| Alessia Piazza University of Genoa, Completed (January 2021 – October 2023), Experimental estimation of aerodynamic characteristics and dynamic response of a tree model with a range of crown porosity |
| Daniel Berhane Araya, 2014-2016 (Complete). Anomaly detection in smart buildings. Co-Supervisor: Dr Miriam Capretz. Current position: Risk analyst and Data Scientist at BMO in Toronto. |
| Zeineb Samani, 2014-2016 (Complete). Wind load on solar panel – comparisons between full-scale pressure and force balance aerodynamic data. Co-Supervisor: Dr Horia Hangan. Current position: Maternal leave. |
| Aditi Jog, 2012 -2013 (Complete). Numerical evaluation of downburst interaction with a bluff body. Current position. Engineer with Kiewit Construction, Alberta, Canada. |
| Johann Barata, 2010-2012 (Completed at FIU). Evaluation of wind loads on single solar panel and arrays. Current position: Senior Engineer at Samsung and CCE, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. |
| Workamaw Warsido, 2009-2010 (Completed at FIU). Evaluation of wind loads on tall buildings. Current position: Senior Engineer at CPP Wind consultant, Fort Collins, Colorado. |
| Serge Fueze Lekem, 2009-2011 (Completed at FIU). Wind load on roof ridge and field tiles. Current Position: Completed his PhD from Virginia Tech and works as a Senior Engineer with Ministry of transportation, Maryland DC. |
| Humma Khan, 2008-2010 (Completed at FIU). Flow management devices for small scale 12-fan Wall of Wind. Current Position: Quality Control Manager, Odebrecht Construction, Inc., Miami, FL. |
| Dhawal Sambare, 2007-2009 (Completed at FIU). Full-scale assessment of roof secondary water barrier for wind. Current position: Structural Engineer at Pentacle consultants Pvt. Ltd. India. |
MEng. Students
| MEng Project (i.e. one semester thesis) (In progress=0; Complete = 12; Total = 12) |
|---|
| Ameyu Tolera, 2017-2018 (Complete). Structural optimization of tall buildings under wind loads. Current position: PhD student at Florida International University. |
| Muna Younis, 2017-2018 (Complete). BIM integrated sustainable building design framework. Current position: PhD student at Western University. |
| Khaled Mahmoud, 2016-2017 (Complete). Sustainable design of mid-rise wood buildings. Co-Supervisor: Dr Ahmed Hamada. Current position:Project Engineer with Fox Contracting Ltd. Toronto. |
| Saif Haddadin, 2015-2016 (Complete). Wind loading on solar panel- a numerical study. Co-supervisor: Dr Ayman El Ansary. Current Position: Project Engineer with Stantec, London, On |
| Bader Mohammad, 2015-2016 (Complete). Life cycle cost analysis of sustainable building enclosure. Co-Supervisor: Dr Ayman El Ansary. Current Position: Project Engineer with blueprint2build, Toronto, ON. |
| Daniel J Rodriguez, 2010-2012 (Completed at FIU). Double Façade Systems. Current position: Professor at Miami Dade College, Miami, FL. |
| Esther Calle, 2010-2011 (Completed at FIU). Designing for natural ventilation. Current Position: Senior Engineer with M2M Engineering, FL. |
| Zakaria Lata, 2009-2011 (Completed at FIU). Mitigation of wind effects on vegetated roofs. Current Position: Principal Engineer with Plan Z Designs, FL. |
| Dr. Juan Londono, 2009-2011 (Completed at FIU). Wind turbine placement optimization. Current Position: Senior Research Engineer with Thornton Thomasetti-Weidlinger Applied Science, NY. Received his PhD from Columbia University. |
| Gonzalez, Adria Gonzalez, 2008-2011 (Completed at FIU). Wind loads on solar panels: a code approach. Current Position: Senior Structural Engineer with Jacobs Engineering, Miami, FL. |
| Amelia Sifres, 2009-2010 (Completed at FIU), Wind engineering for wind energy application. Current Position: Manager at Constructora CSN, SRL, Dominican Republic. |
| Elsa Bilbao, 2008-2010 (Completed at FIU). Vegetative roofing systems. Current Position: Civil Engineer with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville, FL. |
BSc. Students
| BSc Thesis (In progress=0; Complete =5; Total =5) |
|---|
| Benjamin Vischschraper (Complete) Evaluating the Accuracy and Performance of Artificial Neural Networks as Surrogate Wind Load Models for Wind Turbine Blades. |
| Kate Current (Complete). Numerical modelling of downburst loading on low rise buildings. Current position, joining MSc program at UWO. |
| Michael Hockin, 2017 (Complete). Wind load evaluation on tall buildings. Current Position: Junior Structural Designer, Jablonsky, Ast & Partners, Don Mills, ON. |
| Lama El Naggar, 2016 (Complete). Aerodynamics of Roof Pavers. Current Position: Civil Engineer, Kleinfelder, NC, USA |
| May El Damatty, 2015 (Complete). The effect of assumptions in structural modeling on design wind loads. Current Position: Structural Engineer, Read Jones Christoffersen Ltd. (RJC), Toronto. |
Summer Students
| Summer undergraduate research (In progress=1; Complete = 17; Total = 18) |
|---|
| Anuar Saenger Gomez (In progress): Air quality and social distancting resrach. |
| Kate Current, Summer of 2019. CFD based downburst wind characterization. |
| Fatima Abdul Hameed, Fall of 2017. Thermal performance of buildings. Funded through Western University work-study program. |
| Aya El Mallah, Fall of 2017. Sustainable building design. Funded through Western University work-study program. |
| Merva El-Gharably, Fall of 2017. Tornado loading on buildings. Funded through Wester work-study program. |
| Aya El Mallah, Summer of 2017. Tornado damage assessment. |
| Merva El-Gharably, Summer of 2017. Tornado damage assessment. |
| Louie-Alexander Pianta Summer of 2017. Wind load and wind induced stress evaluation: A CFD and FEM based evaluation. Funded through NSERC USRA. |
| Benjamin Hyland, Summer of 2012. WindEEE wind field measurement instruments and CFD modeling of flow around a low-rise building. Funded through NSERC USRA. Current position: Structural engineer with Strik, Baldinelli, Moniz, Ltd., London, ON. |
| Anurup Ganguli, Summer of 2012. Wind load on a wind turbine structure, visiting undergraduate student from IIT-Rajasthan. Completed his MSc from IIT Madras. |
| May El Damatty, Summer of 2012. Wind load on transmission tower structure Structural Engineer at RJC engineers, Toronto. Completed her MEng from the University of Toronto. |
| Vincent Crepel, Summer of 2012. Scale effects on wind loading of solar panels. Visiting student from ENSEIRB-MATMECA Bordeaux, France. |
| Hugo Altimari (FIU), 2010-2011. Construction & instrumenting of large-scale building models. Completed his MSc in Civil Engineering from the University of Florida. |
| Dania Castillo (FIU), 2010-2011. Wall of Wind construction documentation. |
| Evelyn Rodriguez (FIU), 2009-2009. Undergraduate project: Google sketch-up for sustainable building design teaching. Current Position: Senior structural Engineer with EAC Consulting, Miami, FL. |
| Zakaria Lata (FIU), 2009-2009. Wall of Wind flow management development. |
| Alfredo Miralles (FIU), 2008-2009. LIDAR image processing for aerodynamic roughness estimation. Completed his MSc in Civil Engineering from Stanford University, California. |
| Alvaro Quinonez (FIU), 2008-2009. Large-scale testing of a low-rise building for a hurricane. Completed his MSc in Civil Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana Champagne, IL |