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Civil and Environmental Engineering

Satish Nagarajaiah

Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering

Professor of Mechanical Engineering

Fellow NAI

Member, Ken Kennedy Institute

Satish Nagarajaiah is a Professor of Civil & Environmental Engineering and of Mechanical Engineering and is affiliated with the Materials Science and Nano-Engineering Departments at Rice University, Houston, Texas. He is renowned for his research contributions in seismic isolation, structural control and monitoring, adaptive stiffness systems, smart tuned mass dampers, sparse structural system identification, and low rank methods. He is the earliest researcher who invented and developed noncontact structural strain sensing using nanomaterials. He serves as the Editor of Structural Control and Health Monitoring, Wiley. He is a fellow of the U.S. National Academy of Inventors, a fellow of ASCE, and a fellow of ASCE-SEI. He has received numerous awards, including the 2025 George W. Housner Medal, 2020 ASCE Newmark Medal, 2017 ASCE Raymond Reese Research prize, 2015 Moissieff award, and NSF CAREER award in 1998. More details on his teaching, research, service, publications, and news can be found on his website at satishnagarajaiah.rice.edu.

Public Rice profile source

Average rating

3.8

37 temporary mock ratings

Difficulty

3.4

course-linked average

Courses

10

in seeded sections

Public profile

Biography

Satish Nagarajaiah is a Professor of Civil & Environmental Engineering and of Mechanical Engineering and is affiliated with the Materials Science and Nano-Engineering Departments at Rice University, Houston, Texas. He is renowned for his research contributions in seismic isolation, structural control and monitoring, adaptive stiffness systems, smart tuned mass dampers, sparse structural system identification, and low rank methods. He is the earliest researcher who invented and developed noncontact structural strain sensing using nanomaterials. He serves as the Editor of Structural Control and Health Monitoring, Wiley. He is a fellow of the U.S. National Academy of Inventors, a fellow of ASCE, and a fellow of ASCE-SEI. He has received numerous awards, including the 2025 George W. Housner Medal, 2020 ASCE Newmark Medal, 2017 ASCE Raymond Reese Research prize, 2015 Moissieff award, and NSF CAREER award in 1998. More details on his teaching, research, service, publications, and news can be found on his website at satishnagarajaiah.rice.edu.

Research areas

Computational structural dynamic systems, seismic isolation, adaptive structures/systems & sensing, and sparse structural system identification with Machine Learning (ML)—with a current focus on the development of physics-informed methods with ML/artificial intelligence.

Courses taught

CEVE 007

Visiting Research

Research conducted by a visiting student scholars. Repeatable for Credit.

Civil and Environmental EngNone0 credits
3.45.4hAlvarez, Pedro, Gong, Kai, Li, Qilin, Nagarajaiah, Satish

CEVE 432

Concrete & Steel Laboratory

Instruction in testing and data analysis, design of concrete mix, casting concrete cylinders and reinforced concrete beams, fabrication of steel frame, testing of concrete beams and steel frame. Mutually Exclusive: Cannot register for CEVE 432 if student has credit for CEVE 407/CEVE 408.

Civil and Environmental EngNone1 credits
4.37.8hNagarajaiah, Satish

CEVE 496

System I.D. & Machine Learning

Introduction to modeling and system identification of dynamic systems with machine learning. Students in CEVE 596/MECH 566 will be required to do more advanced assignments and a project. Cross-list: MECH 466, MECH 566, CEVE 596. Mutually Exclusive: Cannot register for CEVE 496 if student has credit for CEVE 596.

Civil and Environmental EngNone3 credits
3.89.6hNagarajaiah, Satish

CEVE 499

Special Topics

Independent research and investigation, including a course toward directed research and/or a research project. Study of selected topics including individual investigations special lectures, and seminars. Student works independently with only minimal faculty direction. Offered upon mutual agreement of faculty and student. May earn varying amount of credit hours depending on the amount of time devoted and the amount of academic work associated with the course. Repeatable for Credit.

Civil and Environmental EngNone1-12 credits
4.38.5hAlvarez, Pedro, Bedient, Philip, Blackburn, Jim, Cohan, Daniel, Doss-Gollin, James, Duenas Osorio, Leonardo, Erazo, Kalil, Getachew, Beza, Gong, Kai, Li, Qilin, Loyo Rosales, Jorge, Nagarajaiah, Satish, Padgett, Jamie, Qian, Xinwu, Segner, Ed, Stadler, Lauren, Tomson, Mason, Wong, Michael

CEVE 590

Mcee Special Study

Professional master Project course involves the following (1) a project of practical relevance to the practice of Civil and Environmental Engineering, and (2) detailed project report. Students need to work with a faculty advisor. Repeatable for Credit.

Civil and Environmental EngNone2-3 credits
4.09.2hAlvarez, Pedro, Blackburn, Jim, de Blanc, Phillip, Doss-Gollin, James, Duenas Osorio, Leonardo, Erazo, Kalil, Getachew, Beza, Gong, Kai, Gori, Avantika, Li, Qilin, Loyo Rosales, Jorge, Nagarajaiah, Satish, Padgett, Jamie, Segner, Ed, Simoes Novelino, Larissa, Stadler, Lauren, Tomson, Mason

CEVE 596

System I.D. & Machine Learning

Introduction to modeling and system identification of dynamic systems with machine learning. Students in CEVE 596/MECH 566 will be required to do more advanced assignments and a project. Cross-list: MECH 466, MECH 566, CEVE 496. Mutually Exclusive: Cannot register for CEVE 596 if student has credit for CEVE 496.

Civil and Environmental EngNone3 credits
3.911.4hNagarajaiah, Satish

CEVE 651

M.S. Research And Thesis

Repeatable for Credit.

Civil and Environmental EngNone1-15 credits
3.85.6hAlvarez, Pedro, Bedient, Philip, Getachew, Beza, Li, Qilin, Nagarajaiah, Satish, Padgett, Jamie, Stadler, Lauren, Tomson, Mason

CEVE 800

Ph.D. Research And Thesis

Repeatable for Credit.

Civil and Environmental EngNone1-15 credits
3.55.8hAlvarez, Pedro, Bedient, Philip, Cohan, Daniel, Doss-Gollin, James, Duenas Osorio, Leonardo, Elimelech, Menachem, Getachew, Beza, Gong, Kai, Gori, Avantika, Li, Qilin, Lin, Shihong, Nagarajaiah, Satish, Padgett, Jamie, Qian, Xinwu, Simoes Novelino, Larissa, Spanos, Pol, Stadler, Lauren, Tomson, Mason, Wong, Michael, Yi, Sang-ri

MECH 466

System I.D. & Machine Learning

Introduction to modeling and system identification of dynamic systems with machine learning. Students in CEVE 596/MECH 566 will be required to do more advanced assignments and a project. Cross-list: MECH 566, CEVE 596, CEVE 496.

Mechanical EngineeringNone3 credits
3.38.2hNagarajaiah, Satish

MECH 566

System I.D. & Machine Learning

Introduction to modeling and system identification of dynamic systems with machine learning. Students in CEVE 596/MECH 566 will be required to do more advanced assignments and a project. Cross-list: MECH 466, CEVE 596, CEVE 496.

Mechanical EngineeringNone3 credits
3.710.9hNagarajaiah, Satish

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