Education:

• Post-doctoral Fellow, Center for Non-destructive Evaluation, Materials Science and Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University (1998-1999)

• Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering, University of Palermo, Italy (1997)

• M.S. and Fulbright Scholar, Engineering Mechanics, Michigan State University (1996)

• Laurea (M.S.), Summa cum Laude, Mechanical Engineering, University of Palermo, Italy (1993)

Research Activities:

• Non-Destructive Evaluation (NDE) and Structural Health Monitoring (SHM)

• Experimental Mechanics

• Material Characterization and Structural Testing

• Linear and Nonlinear Wave Propagation

• Ultrasonic Testing and Ultrasonic Imaging

• Acoustic Emission Testing

• Infrared Thermography

• Laser Metrology, Strain Measurements

• Digital Signal Processing, Data Analysis

• Recent applications to railroad tracks, prestressed concrete bridges, composite aerospace structures, wind turbines blades, biological materials

Courses Typically Taught:

• Smart Structures (SE87) - undergraduate seminar

• Solid Mechanics I (SE110A) and Solid Mechanics II (SE110B) - undergraduate

• Non-Destructive Evaluation (SE163/263) - undergraduate and graduate

• Experimental Mechanics and NDE (SE252)- graduate

Honors and Awards (selected):

• ASME Nondestructive Evaluation, Diagnosis and Prognosis Division (NDPD)'s Founders Award for "exemplary achievement in NDE and engineering," 2022

• NDE Lifetime Achievement Award, the International Society for Optics and Photonics (SPIE), for  “significant contributions to the field of NDE and instrumental role in the growth of the field,” 2020.

• Fellow of the Society for Experimental Mechanics (SEM) for "contributions to the fields of non-destructive evaluation and structural health monitoring, particularly ultrasonic testing, acoustic emission testing and infrared thermography for quantitative damage detection," 2018.

• Fellow of the Acoustical Society of America "for contributions to the theory and applications of ultrasonic guided waves," 2016.

• Fellow of American Society of Nondestructive Testing (ASNT) “for outstanding service in the field of nondestructive testing in research and development, application, teaching and management,” 2016.

• Best Teacher Award, Department of Structural Engineering, UCSD - voted by graduating seniors, 2010/11 and 2017/2018.

• Expert Panelist on Rail Safety Technologies, US Government Accountability Office - Physical Infrastructure for US Congressional Committee on Rail Transportation, 2010.

• Structural Health Monitoring "Person of the Year Award" for "Outstanding Contributions to Structural Health Monitoring," Editorial Board of International Journal of Structural Health Monitoring, 2007.

• O-1 U.S. Immigration Status for "extraordinary ability in science" (1999-2006).

• Hellman Faculty Fellowship, University of California San Diego, 2000/01 and 2002/03.

• Italian Department of New Technology, Energy and Environment (ENEA) award for academic excellence, Rome, Italy, 1996.

• Fulbright Scholarship, U.S. Institute of International Education,1995-1996.

Editorial/Review Activities (selected):

• Associate Editor, ASME Journal of Nondestructive Evaluation, Diagnostics and Prognostics of Engineering Systems, 2017-present.

• Editor, Experimental Mechanics, Society for Experimental Mechanics, 2014-present.

• Associate Editor, International Journal of Structural Health Monitoring, 2008-present

• Associate Editor, Research in Nondestructive Evaluation, American Society for Nondestructive Testing, 2001-present

• Associate Editor, Journal of Intelligent Materials Systems and Structures, 2007-present

• Associate Editor, International Journal of Structural Longevity, 2009-2010

• Reviewer for several journals in the areas of civil, aerospace and mechanical engineering

• Proposal Reviewer for US National Science Foundation (Civil and Mechanical Systems Division, Sensors Program, etc..), US National Institute of Health (Ultrasound Imaging Program), US Air Force Office of Scientific Research (Structural Mechanics Program), US Department of State (Science and Technology Center Program - ex-Soviet Union Nuclear Weapons Antiproliferation Initiative), US Army Research Office (ARL Director's Research Initiative), Italian CARIPLO Foundation

Professional Memberships (selected):

• Member, Railway Infrastructure Design and Maintenance Committee (AR050) of the US National Transportation Research Board (2022-present)

• Member, Expert Panel on Non-Destructive Evaluation Technologies for CFRP Automotive Components and Structures for the Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation of the American Chemistry Council (IACMI/ACC Institute) (2017-present).

• Member, Expert Evaluation Panel on "Future and Emerging Technologies -FET," Horizon 2020 - the EU Framework Program for Research and Innovation, European Research Council (2016-present).

• Member, Expert Evaluation Panels for National Science Foundation and Air Force Office of Scientific Research (2004-present).

• Member, Technical Advisory Committee of the National University Rail (NURail) Center, led by University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (2013-present).

• Member, Railway Maintenance Committee (AR060) of the US National Transportation Research Board (2005-present)

• Member, Expert Panel on Rail Safety Technologies for US Government Accountability

•  Office (GAO) for presentation to US Congressional Committee on Rail Transportation (2010).

• Member, International Scientific Committee, Centro Studi e Ricerche per l'Identificazione dei Materiali e delle Strutture "Michele Capurso," Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, Italy (2004-present)

• International Expert, evaluation of research program in "Multiscale Dynamics Theories for Characterizing Slight Damage in Structures," Department of Engineering Mechanics, Hohai University, China (2014).

• Member, International Scientific Board on Research on Advanced Materials (Ricerca Scientifica e Tecnologica sui Materiali Avanzati), CARIPLO FOUNDATION, Milan, Italy (2008-2011)

• Member, International Jury for "Bridges to Italy: Cervelli in Movimento," Italy-USA Bridges to Italy International Business Association (2011-present)

Conference Committees (selected):

• Chair, Mini-symposium "Waves in Solids," International Conference of Eurodyn, La Sapienza University, Rome, 2017

• Presiding Officer, Special Session on "New Technologies for Track Condition Assessment and Management," 95th Annual Meeting of the Transportation Research Board Annual Conference, Washington DC, 2016

• Member, International Advisory Board, 5th International Conference on Smart and Multifunctional Materials, Devices and Structures (CIMTEC), Symposium P, Embodying Intelligence in Structures and Integrated Systems, Perugia, Italy, 2016

• Program Committee Member, International Workshops on Structural Health Monitoring, Stanford University, CA, 2007 to Present

• Program Committee Member, NDE/NDT for Highways and Bridges: Structural Materials Technology (SMT) Conferences, 2006 to 2008

• Program Committee Member, Conference on NDE for Health Monitoring and Diagnostics, SPIE Int'l Symposia, San Diego, CA, 2002 to Present

• Program Committee Member, Smart Structures and NDE Joint Conference: Sensors and Smart Structures Technologies for Civil, Mechanical and Aerospace Systems, San Diego, CA, 2006 to Present

• Program Committee Member, Conference on NDE and Health Monitoring of Aerospace Materials and Composites, SPIE Int'l Symposia, San Diego, CA, 2002 to 2005

University Committees (selected):

• Member, UCSD Academic Senate - Academic Integrity Review Board (2019-2020)

• Member, UCSD Academic Senate Graduate Council Committee (2017-2019)

• Member, UCSD Next-Generation Network Advisory Committee (2012-2016)

• Member, UCSD School of Engineering Dean's Search Committee (2002 and 2013)

• Member, UCSD Structural Engineering Dept. External Relations Committee (2015-present)

• Chair, UCSD Structural Engineering Dept. Committee on Teaching (2015-present, Member 2014-2015)

• Member, UCSD Structural Engineering Dept. Graduate Affairs Committee (2007-present, Chair 2004 to 2007)

• Member, UCSD Structural Engineering Dept. Powell Labs Committee (2015-2017)

• Member, UCSD Hellman Faculty Fellows Selection Committee (2006)

• Member, UCSD Master of Engineering Degree Committee (2005-2006)

• Member, UCSD Aerospace Engineering Program Committee (2002)

Full Curriculum Vitae

List of Publications