Faculty Profile for Dr. Wilson F Espinoza Chavez
Dr. Wilson F Espinoza Chavez
Assistant Professor — Department of Engineering Technology
RFM 2240
phone: (512) 245-2137
Biography Section
Biography and Education
Ph.D. Civil Engineering
- Georgia Institute of Technology
M.S. Civil Engineering
- Purdue University
MDI - Real Estate and Project Management
- Universidad San Francisco de Quito
B.S. Civil Engineering
- Pontificia Universidad Catolica del Ecuador
Teaching Interests
Geotechnical Engineering, Civil Engineering Materials, Statics, Residential Construction
Research Interests
Geotechnical engineering, resilient and sustainable energy extraction technologies, energy storage systems, multi-physical subsurface processes, smart materials for a resilient built environment, and connections among multiscale geotechnics.
Selected Scholarly/Creative Work
- Espinoza Chavez, W. F., Pereira, J.-M., Kneafsey, T., & Dai, S. (2023). Mechanical and creep properties of granitic minerals of albite, biotite, and quartz at elevated temperature. Geomechanics for Energy and the Environment. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gete.2023.100465
- Espinoza Chavez, W. F., Zhang, F., & Dai, S. (2022). Impacts of temperature on the mechanical properties of Longmaxi shale outcrops using instrumented nanoindentation. Geomechanics for Energy and the Environment. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gete.2022.100348
- Rahmani, F., & Espinoza Chavez, W. F. (2025). Characterization of mechanical properties of shale via Nanoindentation Scratch Test. In Nanoscale fracture toughness of Shale (Journal Paper).
- Espinoza Chavez, W. F., Moposita, R., Torres, A. S., & Moro Martinez, C. (2025). Characterizing marble strength and elasticity: Insights from destructive and non-destructive techniques on El Laurel formation (Ecuador). Construction and Building Materials, 468, 140340. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2025.140340
- Rahmani, F., & Espinoza Chavez, W. F. (2024). Microscale mechanical anisotropy of shale. In Microscale mechanical and creep anisotropy of shale(Journal Paper).
Selected Awards
- Award / Honor Recipient: Idea Pitch Showcase at Ignite 2.0 program (2nd place), Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. November 8, 2024 - November 10, 2024
- Award / Honor Recipient: CEE Gateways to France, Georgia Institute of Technology. 2019
- Award / Honor Recipient: Outstanding Graduate Fundamental Research Award, Georgia Institute of Technology. 2018
- Award / Honor Recipient: Future Faculty Fellows, Georgia Institute of Technology. 2020
- Award / Honor Recipient: Scholarship for Advanced Education in Science, Technology and Innovation. 2016
Selected Grants
- Moro, Carlos (Principal), Torres, Anthony S (Co-Principal), Espinoza Chavez, Wilson F (Co-Principal). Refinement of Reinforced Concrete Box Culvert Installation Guidelines, South Dakota Department of Transportation, Federal, $125000. (Funded: March 2024 - September 2025). Grant.
- Torres, Anthony (Principal), Aguayo, Federico (Co-Principal), Shi, Xijun (Co-Principal), Moro, Carlos (Co-Principal), Espinoza, Wilson (Co-Principal). Developing a Performance-Based Concrete Overlay Mix Design for Improved Resistance to Early-Age Cracking and Increased Durability, Texas Department of Transportation, State, $700370. (Funded: September 2023 - August 2026). Grant.
- Torres, Anthony S (Principal), Trueba, Luis, Espinoza Chavez, Wilson F. Remote Assessment of Austere Landing Sites – Phase 1 (Proof of Concept), AFRL Minority Leaders Research Collaboration Program, $225000. (Funded: September 2024 - August 2026). Grant.
- Espinoza Chavez, Wilson F (Principal). TEXO award for equipment and student education, TEXO, $20000. (Submitted: November 2022, Funded: September 1, 2023 - Present). Grant.
Selected Service Activities
Awards Chair
Rock Mechanics Technical Committee (ASCE Geo-Institute)
March 2025-Present
Member
Postdoctoral Development Working Group
February 2023-Present
(Youth council/Member)
Ecuadorian Association of Georgia and the Southeast of the United States
2019-Present
Founder
Ecuadorian Association of Scholars and Practitioners (EASP)
2018-Present
Editorial Review Board Member
Frontiers in Built Environment : Synergistic Convergence of Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, and Geotechnical Engineering: Pioneering Innovations for Unraveling Earthquake Resilience and Geomechanical Analysis
August 14, 2023-August 15, 2025