Barbara Chang

Barbara Chang, a Ph.D. candidate in Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of California at San Diego, has been selected as the 2007-2008 NEHRP Graduate Fellow in Earthquake Hazard Reduction. The Earthquake Engineering Research Institute awards this fellowship each year in a cooperative program with the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program. The award is given to foster the participation of capable individuals in furthering the goals and practice of earthquake hazard mitigation. The fellowship provides $12,000 for a nine-month stipend and $8,000 for tuition, fees, and research expenses.

Chang was chosen from a group of five extremely well qualified applicants. The applications were reviewed by Ellen Rathje, Associate Professor at the University of Texas at Austin and Chair of the EERI Student Activities Committee; Ian Buckle, Professor, University of Nevada-Reno; Marc Eberhard, Professor, University of Washington; Ken Elwood, Assistant Professor, University of British Columbia; and Scott Olson, Assistant Professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The candidates were drawn from structural and geotechnical engineering students at universities in California, Kansas, and Michigan.

Chang comes to earthquake engineering with an undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering and several years in practice. Returning to graduate study, Chang obtained her masters degree in civil engineering at the University of California, Irvine, and is currently carrying out final work towards her doctoral degree under the direction of Associate Professor Tara Hutchinson at UCSD. Chang is interested in determining the optimal properties of shallow foundations that will minimize building system damage during seismic loading. Professor Hutchinson points out that the findings from Chang’s research on the effects of soil structure interaction will have important implications on methods of performance–based earthquake engineering and be “extremely beneficial to practicing engineers.”

Barbara Chang plans to embark on a career in academia upon completion of her PhD. Evaluations of her experience as a teaching assistant praise her enthusiasm and outstanding teaching ability, and devotion to her students.

 EERI is a national, nonprofit, technical society of engineers, geoscientists, architects, planners, and social scientists. EERI members include researchers, practicing professionals, educators, government officials, and building code regulators. The objective of EERI is to reduce earthquake risk by advancing the science and practice of earthquake engineering, by improving understanding of the impact of earthquakes on the physical, social, economic, political and cultural environment, and by advocating comprehensive and realistic measures for reducing the harmful effects of earthquakes. For more information about EERI or the EERI/FEMA NEHRP Fellowship Program, contact Susan K. Tubbesing, Executive Director, at the address below.