Students
Prospective Students
Graduate Research Assistantship are available for
students interested in pursuing M.S. and Ph.D.
programs in structural engineering!
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MSU Graduate program is nationally ranked in the top 50 programs in the U.S. according to the News & World Report: America's Best Graduate Schools.
The fields of research include but are not limited to high temperature material characterization, structural fire engineering, performance based fire safety design and application of finite element analysis for fire engineering.
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Interested students should send a cover letter stating qualifications, relevant experience and research interests, resume or CV, and a copy of their transcripts to Dr. Kodur (kodur@egr.msu.edu). Highly motivated individual with an earned master’s degree and strong academic backgrounds are encouraged to apply.
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Note: We receive a large number of emails from prospective applicants inquiring about the availability of research assistant-ship positions. Due to large number of emails, we can not respond to all queries. When a position is available, and the applicant has suitable qualifications, the candidate will be contacted.
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Candidates are encouraged to submit the formal application for graduate studies, by visiting the department website: https://www.egr.msu.edu/cee/

Summary of Advising Activities

Current Visiting Scholars
Visiting Scholar

Sherif Yehia (2025--Now)
Professor,
Department of Civil Engineering,
American University of Sharjah, UAE
Research topic:
Fire Response of FRP-strengthened Concrete Structures
Visiting Scholar

Kusum Saini (2024--2025)
Postdoctoral Fellowship,
Research topic:
Bio-based polymer composites for construction applications
Current PhD Students

Manish Kumar Sah (2023--Now)
PhD Student – Michigan State University
Advisor : Professor Venkatesh Kodur
Research topic:
Strategies for Enhancing Fire Performance of Polymer Concrete

Ankush Jha (2022--Now)
PhD Student – Michigan State University
Advisor : Professor Nizar Lajnef
Co-advisor : Professor Venkatesh Kodur
Research topic:
Enhancing Situational Awareness for Emergency Evacuation in High Rise Buildings

Varan Recep (2024--Now)
PhD Student – Michigan State University
Advisor : Professor Venkatesh Kodur
Research topic:
Fire Response of Concrete Structures following Seismic Events

Ebisa Tilahun Daba (2022--Now)
PhD Student – Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi
Advisor : Professor Vasant Matsagar
Co-advisor : Professor Venkatesh Kodur
Research topic:
Agriculture Waste Fibers as Reinforcement Materials for Sustainable Concrete Structures

Rajender R (2022--Now)
PhD Student – Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bangalore
Advisor : Professor C. S. Manohar
Co-advisor : Professor Venkatesh Kodur
Research topic:
Computational modeling of the safety of engineering structures acted upon by fire- induced loads
Current MS Students

Tejeswar Rayala (2023--Now)
MS Student – Michigan State University
Advisor : Professor Venkatesh Kodur
Research topic:
Fire response of FRP-strengthened Prestressed Concrete Flexural Members

Mark Gronek (2021--Now)
MS Student – Michigan State University
Advisor : Professor Venkatesh Kodur
Research topic:
Fire Performance of Mass Timber

Xiaoxu Shen (2022--Now)
MS Student – Michigan State University
Advisor : Professor Venkatesh Kodur
Research topic:
Fire Response of Steel Columns following Seismic Damage
Current - PhD, MS, Undergraduate Students, PDF and Visiting Scholars (VS)

Completed (Graduated )– MS, PhD, Undergraduate Students and PDF and Visiting Scholars (VS)

Evidence of Student/Scholar Recognition
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Venkatachary Svetha - Best Poster Award at the 2022 Engineering Graduate Research Symposium, College of Engineering, MSU, April 2022
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Gill Augusto - Best Poster Award at the 2022 Engineering Graduate Research Symposium, College of Engineering, MSU, April 2022
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Venkatachary S. – MSU “Dissertation Completion Fellowship” - 2022
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Kumar P. – MSU “Dissertation Completion Fellowship” - 2021
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Kumar P. and Kodur V.K.R.– The ‘Charles C. Zollman Award’ for “the best state-of-the-art precast and prestressed concrete paper” in Prestressed Concrete Institute Journal - PCI - 2020
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Zhang G. and Kodur V.K.R. - “Outstanding Paper Award” - 6th Int. Conf. Applications in Structural Fire Engg., Singapore, 2019
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P. Kumar - Best Poster Award at the 2019 Engineering Graduate Research Symposium, College of Engineering, MSU, March 2019
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R. Solhmirzaei –"CEE Best Teaching Assistant Award" - 2019
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A. Agrawal – Second Best Poster Award at the 2018 Graduate Research Poster Symposium, College of Engineering, MSU, 2018
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A. Agrawal –"CEE Outstanding Graduate Student (PhD) Award" - 2018
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M. Naser –"CEE Best Graduate Student (PhD) Award" - 2016
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R. Kognati Chaudhry –"CEE Best Graduate Student (MS) Award" - 2016
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A. Shakya – Nominated to "MSU-CEE Best Graduate Student Award" - 2015
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A. Esam – Third Best Poster Award at the 2015 Graduate Research Poster Symposium, College of Engineering, MSU, 2015
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M. Naser – Honorable Mention, , "MSU-CoE Fitch Beach Competition for the Best Graduate Student in the College" - 2015
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P. Pakala - Honorable Mention, "MSU-CoE Fitch Beach Competition for the Best Graduate Student in the College" - 2014
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A. Esam - Best Poster Award at the 2nd Graduate Research Poster Symposium. College of Engineering, MSU, 2012
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B. Yu - Won Dissertation Completion Fellowship, 2012
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P. Pakala - Won Dissertation Completion Fellowship, 2012
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P. Pakala - Best Poster Award at the 1st Graduate Research Poster Symposium. College of Engineering, MSU, 2011
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W. Khaliq - Won Dissertation Completion Fellowship, 2011
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R. Fike - "MSU-CoE Fitch Beach Award for the Best Graduate Student in the College" - 2011
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R. Fike – "MSU-CEE Best Graduate Student Award" - 2011
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P. Pakala, M. Dwaikat and V. Kodur –2nd Best Poster Award at the 6th Int. Conf. on Structures in Fire, East Lasing, MI - 2010
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M.A.S. Dwaikat and V. Kodur – 3rd Best Poster Award at the 6th Int. Conf. on Structures in Fire, East Lasing, MI – 2010
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A. Ahmed and V. Kodur – 3rd Best Poster Award at the 6th Int. Conf. on Structures in Fire, East Lasing, MI – 2010
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Rustin Fike - Won Dissertation Completion Fellowship, 2010
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M.A.S. Dwaikat – "MSU-CEE Best Graduate Student Award" - 2010
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M.A.S. Dwaikat - Won Dissertation Completion Fellowship, 2009
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A. Ahmed and Kodur – Best Student Paper Award at the Composite & Polycon, American Composites Manufacturers Association, Tampa, FL, - 2009.
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M. Dwaikat - "MSU-CoE Fitch Beach Award for the Best Graduate Student in the College" - 2009.
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M. Dwaikat - Won Dissertation Completion Fellowship, 2008
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M. Dwaikat - "CEE Best Graduate Student Award" - 2008.
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R. Fike - Received "Rasmussen Doctoral Recruitment Award" - 2007.
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R. Fike - Received "AISC/Great Lakes Fabricators and Erectors Association Fellowship" - 2006.
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L. Bisby – Best presentation and poster Awards ISIS conference - 2003, 2004.
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B. Williams - Best poster Award at ISIS and CSCE conferences - 2004, 2005.
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E. Chaudhry - Best poster Award at ISIS and CSCE conferences - 2004, 2005.
Advisory Committee/External Examiner of Ph.D. and M.Sc. Students
