Wei Li

Principal Investigator

Assistant Professor in Civil Engineering

Address: 116 Heavy Engineering

E-mail: wei.li.6@stonybrook.edu

Office: 631-632-8882

Liquan Mai

PhD student

I am a Civil Engineer PhD student at Stony Brook University. My study area is focused on structural engineering. I am interested in understanding the differences in mechanical properties between geotechnical materials and common building materials. The research under Dr. Li’s instructions would deeply develop my acknowledgement of the mechanics properties of the geotechnical system and fulfill my curiosity

Zijin Mei

PhD student

My name is Zijin Mei and I am currently a PhD student. My research interest is in solving problems related to geosystems and geotechnical engineering through experiments and simulations. My current research focuses on flow and dissolution in a fracture network and how stress affects permeability and dissolution in fracture networks.

Shiyao Wang

PhD student

My name is Shiyao Wang. I am a PhD student in Civil Engineering at Stony Brook University. My current research interest is in Photoporomechanics. Photoporomechanics is an exciting new experimental technique to visualize and quantify effective stress in fluid-filled granular media and porous media. This technology can be used to better study landslides and induced earthquakes.

Zijie Xu

PhD student

I'm a Civil Engineering PhD student at Stony Brook University with an M.S. degree from Chongqing University. My current research centers on 3D wormhole formation in gypsum via core flood test. This work deepens my understanding of porous media behavior and is a critical part of my academic journey.

Anderson Cardona

Undergraduate Researcher

My name is Anderson Cardona, and I am currently in my junior year of undergraduate studies, majoring in Civil Engineering at Stony Brook. The interests I have in research are studying the mechanics of materials relevant to geosystems. I am conducting research with Dr. Li to study photoelasticity in frustrating structures to visualize internal stresses. Upon analyzing this, we can develop an understanding of how complex geometric structures can behave under different external loads.

Elena Esken

Undergraduate Researcher

My name is Elena Esken. I am a sophomore majoring in Civil Engineering at Stony Brook University, and I am part of the WISE Honors Program. My interest is in environmental sustainability, especially how engineering design can reduce ecological impacts and improve the resilience of built and natural systems. Currently, I am conducting research with Dr. Li to examine how phosphorus moves and is attenuated in groundwater as it passes through sand-based filtration media. Using flow-cell simulations, we study the mechanisms that influence nutrient transport and removal efficiency. This work aims to improve the design of filtration systems and support strategies that reduce nutrient pollution.

Anthony Florio

Undergraduate Researcher

My name is Anthony Florio, and I am a freshman studying Civil Engineering. With Professor Li, I am contributing to the development of a 3D force sensor designed to detect and visualize stress distribution in 3D-printed structural materials. My work involves AutoCAD 3D modeling, circuit prototyping, and photoelastic analysis, integrating mechanical and electrical concepts to better understand how stresses form and propagate in printed components. I am particularly interested in how experimental methods like photoelasticity can be applied to improve material design and structural performance in civil engineering systems.

Bhavish Garani

Undergraduate Researcher

My name is Bhavish Garani, and I am a freshman studying Computer Science at Stony Brook University. My research interests lie in the integration and programming of sensors within mechanical structures. Currently, I am responsible for developing the control algorithm of a robotic arm and coordinating the sensors that simulate human touch. I am also working on integrating the touch sensor into the gripper, enabling the arm to perceive and interact with objects more naturally. Through this project, I aim to advance my knowledge in sensor-based robotics and contribute to systems capable of ultra-gentle manipulation of soft and fragile objects.

Elizabeth Lu

Undergraduate Researcher

My name is Elizabeth Lu and I am a freshman studying Civil Engineering at Stony Brook University. My research interests lie within environmental sustainability, particularly in water quality and resource management. Currently, I am conducting research with Dr. Li, along with Dr. Mao to study phosphorous attenuation in groundwater and sand-based filtration systems through flow cell simulations. Through this research, we will be able to optimize filtration systems and mitigate environmental risks associated with nutrient pollution.

Giselle Morocho

Undergraduate researcher, Simons STEM Scholar

My name is Giselle Morocho Aguilar. I'm a freshman at Stony Brook University and I am part of the Simons STEM Scholars Program. I recently graduated from The Urban Assembly Institute of Math and Science for Young Women located in Brooklyn where I previously resided. My research interests are in structure, but my current work is in geotechnical engineering. Currently, I am analyzing the deterioration of pipes and the removal of material due to groundwater through a 2D flow cell simulation. In analyzing this, we look for how sinkholes occur, how we can fix or maintain the pipe structure to avoid sinkholes from developing, and what material can be used to minimize its removal through groundwater. 

Emily Ni

Undergraduate researcher

My name is Emily Ni, a freshman majoring in Civil Engineering at Stony Brook University. With a strong interest in environmental and material science, I am excited to join Professor Li's Geosystem Engineering Lab. I plan on exploring this opportunity with an open mind and heart to learn about the interdisciplinary subjects involved in the lab's innovative work. I am starting off by investigating the structure of trusses, creating 2D slices of a bridge with AutoCAD, and applying photomechanics to test stress in the structural design.

Myles Tucker

BS 2023, MS 2024

Currently a Graduate Tunnel Engineer at Mott MacDonald

Gabriele Covelli

BS 2024, MS 2025

Currently a Engineering in Training

Jiahao Huang

BS 2024, MS 2025

Currently a Engineering in Training at KCI

Jiawen Xu

BS 2025

Currently a Marine Structural Engineer in Training at McLaren, A Division of KCI