The Thornton Tomasetti Foundation is pleased to announce the recipient of its prestigious Student Innovation Fellowship for the current academic year.
Jinming Zhang, a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Civil Engineering and Engineering Mechanics at Columbia University, has been selected as the 2025-26 recipient of the Thornton Tomasetti Student Innovation Fellowship.
Zhang received $5,000 to support his research advancing rapid, physics-informed methods for detecting internal defects in structural components. His work integrates high-speed, mesh-free simulations using the inclusion-based boundary element method, or iBEM, with advanced neural network architectures to identify subsurface defects from sparse sensor measurements. This interdisciplinary framework enables near real-time structural diagnostics, offering a transformative approach to monitoring and maintaining critical infrastructure.
Zhang’s research has the potential to significantly enhance nondestructive evaluation, enable earlier detection of material degradation and support more sustainable, data-driven maintenance strategies, ultimately strengthening resilience across the built environment.
“Through this fellowship, we aim to support projects that push the boundaries of structural engineering and applied mechanics, especially those that bring together computation, design and innovation.”
– Ray Daddazio, Thornton Tomasetti Foundation Chair
Now in its 10th year, the Student Innovation Fellowship provides funding for projects that advance innovation in structural engineering, applied mechanics and related fields. This year’s submissions were reviewed by Thornton Tomasetti Associate Principal Juan Londono, Managing Principal and Forensics Practice Co-Leader Elisabeth Malsch, and Robert DeScenza, former president, and Robert Nacheman, former principal.
The Thornton Tomasetti Foundation takes pride in nurturing the talent and ambition of emerging leaders in the field. Through the Student Innovation Fellowship, the foundation aims to support research that will bring meaningful progress to structural engineering and applied mechanics.
About The Thornton Tomasetti Foundation
The Thornton Tomasetti Foundation, a tax-exempt, nonprofit organization established in February 2008, is focused on funding fellowships, scholarships and internships for undergraduate students and those planning to pursue graduate studies in building engineering, design, or technology. It also provides financial support for individuals and organizations pursuing philanthropic activities related to building engineering, design, or technology. Key elements of the program are college scholarships, traveling internships and grants to and partnerships with nonprofit organizations.