Spring 2026 Ph.D. Graduate Research Assistant Position in Civil/Structural Engineering at UNLV
A financially supported Ph.D. position is available in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Construction at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), beginning in the Spring 2026 semester. The selected candidate will conduct research in structural and earthquake engineering, with a specific focus on vibration protective systems such as seismic isolation and damping technologies. This research will involve the design and analysis of structures equipped with these systems, utilizing computer simulations to model structural behavior under dynamic loads.
Position Details and Expectations
- Funding: The position is supported by a Graduate Assistantship (GA). Continued support is subject to satisfactory research progress.
- Program Duration: The typical duration for completing a PhD in structural engineering at UNLV is 4 to 5 years.
Required Qualifications
Applicants must hold undergraduate and master’s degrees in Civil Engineering, Architectural Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field. Experience with structural analytical software is preferred. Programming skills in MATLAB or Python are desirable. All applicants must have valid GRE scores. International applicants are required to provide proof of English proficiency. For detailed admission requirements, please visit the PhD in Civil & Environmental Engineering program page (https://www.unlv.edu/degree/phd-civil-environmental-engineering).
How to apply
To be considered for the Spring 2026 semester (starting in January), candidates must apply for admission to UNLV by November 15, 2025. Applications can be submitted through the UNLV Graduate College website: https://www.unlv.edu/admissions/graduate/apply. Inquiries may be directed to the potential supervisor, Dr. Shoma Kitayama, at shoma.kitayama@unlv.edu. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply.
About the Supervisor
Dr. Shoma Kitayama is an Assistant Professor in Structural Engineering at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). At UNLV, he is actively involved in academic research and teaching, delivering undergraduate and graduate structural engineering courses. He supervises PhD students, along with MSc and undergraduate students, on their research projects. His publications are available at the Research Gate website (https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Shoma-Kitayama) and the Google Scholar website (https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=gqeU_3MAAAAJ&hl=en).
