Nonlinear Structural Dynamics Group
Elias DIMITRAKOPOULOS · Professor · Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering · HKUST
Professor
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Room 3587, Academic Building
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST)
Clearwater Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 2358 5975
Email: ilias@ust.hk
Curriculum Vitae (October 2026) · Google Scholar · ORCID · ResearchGate · Scopus · HKUST Research Portal
MPhil candidate
Carlo earned his Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering with a specialization in Structural Engineering from De La Salle University, Manila, Philippines, graduating Cum Laude. He joined my research group in February 2026 to pursue his MPhil degree. His research focuses on bamboo structures.
PhD candidate
Aliyu holds dual bachelor's degrees: one in Mechanical Engineering from Ahmadu Bello University, Nigeria and another in Traffic Equipment & Control Engineering from Central South University, China. He also obtained his master's degree in Transportation Engineering with a concentration in Vehicle Engineering. He joined my research group in September 2024, where his research focuses on vehicle-bridge-interaction.
PhD candidate
Sudip obtained his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the Institute of Engineering, Tribhuvan University, Nepal, in 2018. He earned his master’s degree in Structural Engineering from Kathmandu University, Nepal, in 2022, where he was awarded the Chancellor’s Gold Medal. He joined my research group in February 2024. His research focuses on the seismic analysis of bridges, nonsmooth dynamics, and nonlinear finite element analysis.
PhD candidate
Giorgio earned his Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Santo Tomas, Manila, Philippines, graduating Magna Cum Laude. In September 2024, he joined my research group as a PhD student and was awarded the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme. His research focuses on bamboo structures.
PhD candidate
Stefan obtained his Bachelor Degree in Civil Engineering from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology in 2022. He joined my research group in September 2022, focusing his research on the application of machine learning methods in rocking dynamics.
PhD candidate
Jason obtained his Bachelor Degree (Major in Civil Engineering, Minor in Robotics, Minor in Physics) from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology in 2021. He joined my research group in September 2021.
PhD Fall 2022 - Summer 2026
Thesis: Analytical, Modeling, and Experimental Investigations of Bamboo Structural Members and Connections: Approaching Design Standardization
Nahid obtained her Bachelor degree in Civil Engineering with first-rank graduation from Shahid Chamran University. She continued her academic journey at Sharif University of Technology, the top-ranked university in Iran, where she pursued an MPhil degree in Structural Civil Engineering. In September 2022, Nahid joined my research group as a PhD student, focusing her research on bamboo structures.
PhD, Fall 2021 - Jan 2026
Thesis: Investigation of Vehicle-Bridge Interaction in Railway Bridges under the Effect of Earthquake Excitation: An Analytical and Numerical Approach
Hossein obtained his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Bu-Ali Sina University, Iran, in 2016. In 2018 he obtained a master’s degree in Structural Civil Engineering from Sharif University of Technology. He joined my research group as a dual PhD student between Sharif and HKUST in February 2022. Hossein successfully defended his PhD thesis on 20/1/2026.
PhD, Fall 2019 - Spring 2022; MPhil, 2017-2019
Thesis: Bamboo structural member behavior: culm flexure and bolted connections
Theodora obtained her 5-year Diploma in Civil Engineering from the National Technical University of Athens, Greece, in 2014. In 2016 she obtained a 2-year MSc degree in Analysis and Design of Structures from the same university. She joined the research group in 2017 and is working on characterization of bamboo as a structural material via analytical and numerical modeling and experimental tests. Theodora successfully defended her PhD thesis on 7/6/2022.
PhD, Spring 2017 - Jan 2022
Thesis: Characterization, Analysis and Design of Multi-culm Bamboo Axial Members with Dowel-type Connections for Use in Truss Structures
Nischal obtained his Bachelor Degree from National Institute of Technology Warangal, India. He joined my group as an MPhil/PhD student in February 2017. Nischal successfully defended his PhD thesis on 5/1/2022.
PhD, Fall 2015 - Summer 2021
Thesis: Subspace Identification of Bridge Frequencies Utilizing Dynamic Response of Traversing Vehicles
Postdoctoral Researcher at Shenzhen Urban Public Safety and Technology Institute, China since 2021
Nan obtained her Double Bachelor Degree (Civil Engineering, Computer Science and Technology) from the Tianjin University and her Master Degree (Structural Engineering) from the Institute of Engineering Mechanics, China Earthquake Administration. She joined my group as a PhD student in August 2015. Nan successfully defended her PhD thesis on 26/8/2021 .
PhD, Fall 2017 - Spring 2021
Thesis: Analytical and Numerical Examination of the Vehicle–Bridge Interaction Problem in Railway Bridges
Postdoctoral Researcher at ETH, Switzerland since 2022
Charikleia obtained her 5-year Diploma from the National and Technical University of Athens in 2015. She started her PhD in the research group in Fall 2017 and was awarded a Hong Kong PhD Fellowship. Her PhD research examines the vehicle-bridge-interaction problem. Charikleia successfully defended her PhD thesis on 21/5/2021.
MPhil, Fall 2018 - Summer 2020
Thesis: Crowd-Sensing Based Bridge Modal Identification via Matrix Completion with Smoothness Regularizer
Wing Cheong obtained his Bachelor Degree from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology in 2018. He joined the research group in September 2018 and acquired his MPhil in Civil Engineering in 2020.
PhD, Spring 2015 - Spring 2018; MPhil, Spring 2013 - Spring 2015
Thesis: Seismic Response Analysis of Rocking Structures: Hybrid Behavior, Contact Phenomenon and Critical Earthquake Characteristics
Lecturer in Structural Engineering at the Department of Civil Engineering, University of Auckland (New Zealand) since Sep 2023
Anastasios joined my group in February 2013, and he acquired his MPhil in Civil Engineering in February 2015 and his PhD in Civil Engineering in July 2018.
PhD, Fall 2012 - Summer 2016
Thesis: Analysis and Simulation of the Vehicle-Bridge Interaction in Horizontally Curved Railway Bridges
Assistant Professor in Civil Engineering, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Harbin Institute of Technology, Shenzhen (HIT SZ), China since 2019
Qing obtained his Bachelor Degree from Beijing Jiaotong University in 2011. He obtained his Master Degree at HKUST in 2012 and joined my group at HKUST as a PhD student in Aug 2012. He obtained his Doctor Degree at August 2016 and held a Post-Doctoral research position until 2018. PhD Thesis: Dr. ZENG Qing “Analysis and Simulation of the Vehicle-Bridge Interaction in Horizontally Curved Railway Bridges”
Postdoctoral fellow
Cheng Ning has been my postdoctoral fellow since September 2022. We have collaborated extensively on fundamental research in the mechanics of fractal structures, including the modal dynamics of fractal trees, the static stability of evolving inter-fractal beams and two-dimensional media, analytical modal solutions for lumped stiffness-mass systems, and the non-smooth seismic response of rocking structures. More recently, we have been developing AI-agentic workflows to automate structural engineering processes, such as structural modelling, finite-element analysis, and code-compliant design. He is also a recipient of both the RGC Postdoctoral Fellowship Scheme and the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme.
Postdoctoral fellow
Lecturer, School of Engineering, Edith Cowan University, Australia, since Jan 2019
Dr. Paraskeva received her Bachelor degree (structural engineering), her M.Sc. degree (earthquake structural engineering) and her Ph.D (bridge engineering) from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, in Greece. She joined my group as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in September 2014.
Postdoctoral fellow
Shenzhen Urban Public Safety and Technology Institute, Futian, Shenzhen, China, since 2017
Dr. Shi obtained his Bachelor Degree from Henan University of Science and Technology and his M.Eng and D.Eng. from Kyushu Insititute of Technology, Japan. He joined my group as a Post-Doctoral Fellow at HKUST in April 2015.