Principal Investigator

Dr. Botong Zheng is Hartz Family Professor and Assistant Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and the Department of Architectural Engineering, at The Pennsylvania State University.

He received his Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from the University of Houston in 2016. He then worked at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University for five years, first as a postdoctoral researcher and later as a Research Assistant Professor. In 2022, he joined the University of Southern California, where he served as a Research Assistant Professor and Technical Manager of the Structures and Materials Research Laboratory.

Botong Zheng

Research Themes

  • Resilient Infrastructure

    We develop structural systems for buildings and transportation infrastructure that can resist extreme demands, including earthquakes, severe weather, deterioration, and coupled environmental loading.

  • Automated Construction

    We explore robotic and automated construction methods that expand where, what, and how we can build. From Earth-based infrastructure to future construction in extreme and remote environments, automation gives structures new possibilities.

  • Materials and Mechanics

    We study how existing materials can be used in new ways by linking microstructure, mechanics, fabrication, and structural integration. Our work combines fibers, alloys, polymers, cements, and in-situ deposited materials to create the properties needed for next-generation structures.

Spring 2027 · Penn State, University Park

Join My Research Group

Two fully funded PhD opportunities: one in materials and one in structures. Both focus on hands-on experimental research.

1 position · Fully funded

Experimental materials

Develop, fabricate, and test advanced materials. Study how material properties and processing affect mechanical performance.

1 position · Fully funded

Experimental structures

Design and run structural experiments, including instrumentation, data acquisition, and testing of structural components and systems.

How to apply

Prepare the following PDFs for the group screening form:

  • CV: education, research experience, and technical skills.
    LastName_FirstName_CV.pdf
  • Research interests (up to 2 pages): your preferred position, relevant experience, and fit with the group.
    LastName_FirstName_SRI.pdf

Review Penn State graduate admission requirements.

Apply