Maryam Tabatabaei
Associate Professor, Department of Civil Engineering Technology
Education
Ph.D., Structural Engineering Sharif University of Technology
M.S., Civil Engineering Mechanics of Structures and Materials Sharif University of Technology
B.S., Civil Engineering Sharif University of Technology
Teaching Overview
As an instructor, Dr. Tabatabaei teaches a range of core civil engineering technology courses, including:
- CIVL 1024: Civil Materials (with Lab)
- CIVL 1013: Portland Cement Concrete (with Lab)
- CIVL 6113: Environmental Technology Concepts
- CIVL 2154: Quality Control of Construction Materials (with Lab)
- CIVL 4133: Soil Mechanics (with Lab)
- CIVL 6123: Mechanical and Electrical Systems
- CIVL 4043: Construction Management
Professional Experience
Assistant Research Professor The Pennsylvania State University (PSU) | Apr 2021 Jan 2023
- Conducted advanced research on geothermal energy systems, cementitious composites, and wellbore integrity.
- Mentored graduate and undergraduate students in experimental materials research.
- Key Contributions:
- Developed surface-treated nanoparticles to enhance cement durability and performance under geothermal conditions.
- Published 2 patents and 5 peer-reviewed journal articles
- Research findings presented at major international conferences, including the SPE Annual Technical Conference.
Postdoctoral Researcher The Pennsylvania State University (PSU) | Aug 2018 Apr 2021
- Conducted research on nanoparticle wettability optimization and mechanical performance of cementitious composites.
- Mentored undergraduate capstone projects on cemented shale gas well integrity.
- Key Achievements:
- Published 17 peer-reviewed journal articles.
- Delivered guest lectures for graduate-level courses in petroleum engineering and geomechanics.
Postdoctoral Research Associate Texas Tech University (TTU) | Nov 2016 Jul 2018
- Developed computational frameworks for modeling cellular micro-architected materials.
- Supervised visiting scholars in advanced computational mechanics.
- Key Achievements:
- Published 2 book chapters and 4 journal articles.
Research
- Cementitious composites and concrete durability Developing and testing advanced cement-based materials for improved strength and longevity.
- Nanoparticle and polymer nanocomposites Using nano-engineered additives and polymers to enhance material performance (e.g. improving cement durability and resiliency).
- Computational modeling and structural mechanics Simulation of material behavior and structural systems (e.g. modeling micro-architectured materials and solid mechanics problems).
- Geothermal energy and wellbore integrity Research on sustainable energy infrastructure, including geothermal well cementation and integrity of subsurface structures.
Publications and Events
New measurement method for the tensile strength of cement sheath. Journal of Engineering Mathematics 153 (1): 1 (2025).
Surface-modified graphite-based polymer nanocomposites for geothermal applications. Polymer Composites 45 (16): 14715-14730 (2024).
US Patent No. 11,618,843 B2: Enhancing cement durability (2023).
US Patent 18/698,567: Fabrication of elastomer-based nanocomposites (2024).
US Patent 18/695,840: Apparatus utilizing shape-memory and self-assembly to plug relatively wide remote fractures (2024).
Google Scholar:
Service
Curriculum Coordinator for the B.S. Civil Engineering Technology program
Member, Academic Integrity Committee
Faculty Advisor, ASCE (American Society of Civil Engineers) Student Chapter
Honors and Awards
- Applied Learning Grant, September 2025
- Student Travel Grant Awarded to Kyle Ingersol (Undergraduate Mentee), December 2024
- Professional Development Grant, August 2024
- Applied Learning Grant, August 2024
- Service Scholarship Release Time Award, Spring 2024