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Dr. Minhyeok Ko, Assistant Professor of Civil Engineering at the University of Texas at Tyler, is seeking a motivated and qualified graduate student for one-two partially funded Graduate Teaching and Research Assistant (GTA/GRA) position (MS in Civil Engineering) starting as early as Spring or Fall 2026.

Position Overview

The selected candidate will contribute to teaching and research activities in the areas of structural engineering, digital twin development, physics-informed machine learning, and probabilistic uncertainty quantification. This position is ideal for students interested in pursuing advanced studies in structural health monitoring (SHM), resilient infrastructure systems, and data-driven engineering applications.

Responsibilities

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  Support teaching activities in undergraduate courses related to structural engineering and mechanics.

  
  


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  Conduct research on topics such as digital twin frameworks, structural state estimation, and uncertainty quantification.

  
  


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  Perform computational modeling, data analysis, and laboratory testing of structural systems.

  
  


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  Assist in the preparation of technical reports, research papers, and conference presentations.

  
  


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  Participate in general lab activities and support collaborative research projects with faculty and students.

  
  

Qualifications

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  Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering or a closely related field (required).

  
  


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  Strong background in structural engineering, mechanics, mathematics, statistics or computational modeling.

  
  


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  Experience with programming (Python, MATLAB, etc.) and/or finite element modeling (Abaqus, OpenSees, or similar) is highly preferred.

  
  


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  Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

  
  


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  Prior research experience and publications (if available) will be considered an asset.

  
  


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  Must meet the English language proficiency requirements of UT Tyler Graduate School.

  
  


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  GRE score is desirable but not required.

  
  

Funding

This is a partially funded position, providing a monthly stipend for the first year. Tuition support is not guaranteed in the first year.

Application Instructions

Interested applicants should compile the following documents into a single PDF file:

1. 
   

   Cover letter

   
   


2. 
   

   Statement of Purpose (SOP)

   
   


3. 
   

   Curriculum Vitae (CV)

   
   


4. 
   

   Academic transcripts (unofficial is acceptable for initial review)

   
   


5. 
   

   Standardized test scores (e.g., TOEFL, GRE, etc.)

   
   

Please email your application to Dr. Minhyeok Ko at mko@uttyler.edu with the subject line:

GRA/GTA Application – [Your Full Name]

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Only shortlisted candidates will be notified.