Team

Qizhi ("KaiChi") He

Assistant Professor, Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geo- Engineering
  - Structural Engineering Area
  - Mechanics and Physics of Solids & Fluids Area
Affiliated Faculty, UMN Data Science Initiative (DSI)
Faculty Scholar, Center for Transportation Studies (CTS) 

Ph.D., Structural Engineering & Computational Science, UC San Diego (2018)

Google Scholar | ResearchGate | About Me

Contact
Office: CivE 240 | 500 Pillsbury Dr SE | Minneapolis, MN 55455
Email: qzhe 'at' umn.edu
Phone: 612-624-0063

Honghui Du
Ph.D. student (2022 - Present)
M.S., Engineering Mechanics, Xiamen University

I got my Master's degree with a speciality in Engineering Mechanics at Xiamen University (China) in 2022. I have been fascinated by computational mechanics with a focus on the development of numerical methods including Finite Element and Meshfree Methods. My current research lies in the improvement, combination, and application of deep learning and numerical tools for multiscale modeling. I usually hit the gym to spend my spare time.

​Published work:
1. Du, H., Zhao, Z. Cheng, H., Yan, J., He, Q. (2023) Modeling density-driven flow in porous media by physics-informed neural networks for CO2 sequestration, Computers and Geotechnics. 
2. Du, H., & He, Q. (2024). Neural-Integrated Meshfree (NIM) Method: A differentiable programming-based hybrid solver for computational mechanics. Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering, 427, 117024.
3. Du, H., Guo, B., He, Q. (2024) Differentiable Neural-Integrated Meshfree Method for Forward and Inverse Modeling of Finite Strain Hyperelasticity, Engineering with Computers, 1-21.

Honors and Awards: CEGE Fellowship (2022-2023); Hsiao Shaw-Lundquist Fellowship (2024); ASME Robert M. and Mary Haythornthwaite Foundation Student Travel Award (2024)

Internships: Google, Meta Platforms, Inc. (2025 Summer), Pasteur Labs

Binyao Guo
Ph.D. student (2023 - Present)
M.Sc., Structural Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 
B.E., Civil Engineering, University of Leeds/Southwest Jiaotong University

I am a Ph.D. student in Civil Engineering, I am passionate about leveraging new technologies to address challenges in the engineering and mechanics domain. Currently, my research centers on harnessing AI for optimization and material design. Outside the academic realm, I love hiking, driving, and am dedicated to fitness. (Personal website: binyaoguo.wordpress.com)

​Published work:
1. Du, H., Guo, B., He, Q. (2024) Differentiable Neural-Integrated Meshfree Method for Forward and Inverse Modeling of Finite Strain Hyperelasticity, Engineering with Computers, 1-21.
2. Guo, B., Lin, Z., He, Q. (2025). History-Aware Neural Operator: Robust Data-Driven Constitutive Modeling of Path-Dependent Materials. Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering.

Honors and Awards: ADC Graduate Fellowship (Data Science Initiative 2025)

Zihan Lin
PhD student (2023 - Present)
M.S., Civil Engineering, University of Minnesota
B.E., Civil Engineering, Jilin University

I joined the group as a Master’s student in 2023 and transitioned into the Ph.D. program in 2025. My research focuses on developing machine learning–based inverse modeling techniques for geo/solid materials. Outside the lab, I find joy in cooking and find peace in the calming embrace of the pool.

​Published work:
1. Guo, B., Lin, Z., He, Q. (2025). History-Aware Neural Operator: Robust Data-Driven Constitutive Modeling of Path-Dependent Materials. Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering.
2. Feng, D., Tan, Z., Lin, Z., Xu, D., Yu, C. W., & He, Q. (2025). A comparative study of physics‐informed and data‐driven neural networks for compound flood simulation at river‐ocean interfaces: A case study of Hurricane Irene. Journal of Geophysical Research: Machine Learning and Computation, 2(4), e2025JH000758.

Niketha Sabesan
Graduate student (2024 - Present)
Master of Science in Computer Science, University of Minnesota

I am a Computer Science graduate student with a strong interest in Artificial Intelligence (AI), Natural Language Processing (NLP), Machine Learning (ML), and cloud technologies. I enjoy designing solutions that are both practical and user-friendly, from building applications to creating impactful tools. My current research is focused on developing AI-based environmental and climate models and exploring advanced neural networks for predictive modeling. In my free time, I love exploring scenic places, traveling, and reading.
(Joined: 09/2025)

Niamh Wachholz
Undergraduate student (2022 - Present)
Bachelor of Geo-Engineering, University of Minnesota

I am interested in structural engineering, where developing a firm understanding of Earth’s geological processes, aided by machine learning, to design structures that incorporate data-driven models for long-term sustainability, beauty, and optimization enters the center stage of engineering. In my free time, I love to read philosophical fiction, run, collect books & sketch.
(Joined: 09/2023)

Ayan Ahmed
Undergraduate student (2023 - Present)
Bachelor of Civil Engineering , University of Minnesota

I am a second-year Civil Engineering student planning to specialize in structural engineering. I have a strong interest in topology optimization, additive manufacturing, and sustainable design!
(Joined: 01/2025)

Krivan Semlani
Undergraduate student in Computer Science, University of Minnesota