Congratulations to Ph.D. student Eduardo Montalto for winning first place in the student paper competition on Structural Stability at the ASCE Engineering Mechanics Institute (EMI) 2023 Conference! The conference was held in Atlanta, GA, from June 6-9. Eduardo's winning paper, "Buckling of short beams considering warping with application to fiber-reinforced elastomeric isolators," was recognized by EMI's Stability Committee. The competition allows students to showcase their research and innovation in engineering mechanics.
The EMI is a leading institute worldwide that promotes research and the application of scientific and mathematical principles to address pressing engineering and societal challenges. Eduardo's current research interests focus on developing and implementing innovative earthquake-resistant design technologies that can affordably enhance structural performance and resilience. Specifically, he studies the mechanical behavior of fiber-reinforced elastomeric isolators, a low-cost isolation system viable for implementation in developing countries and ordinary structures.
Eduardo is currently a Ph.D. student in the SEMM Program and is advised by Professor Dimitrios Konstantinidis, and he also received his M.S. degree in 2020 from the same program. Before joining UC Berkeley, he earned a B.S. degree in Civil Engineering at the University of Costa Rica, where he participated in research regarding the structural health monitoring of bridges using ambient vibration tests, among others. He also worked as a structural designer, being involved in new design, seismic assessment, and retrofit of residential and commercial buildings, and industrial facilities. At Berkeley, Eduardo leads a mentoring program that connects graduate students with professionals from academia and the industry professionals to aid them in their early-career decisions. He has also served as an advisor for UC Berkeley's undergraduate Seismic Design Team.