Faculty Profiles

Colleges and Departments

Dr. Wilson F Espinoza Chavez

  • Assistant Professor - Department of Engineering Technology
Portrait of Dr. Wilson F Espinoza Chavez

Biography and expertise


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

Education

Doctorate Degree

PhD in Civil Engineering

Georgia Institute of Technology, 2021

Master's Degree

MS in Civil Engineering

Purdue University Main Campus, 2016

Teaching Interests

Research Interests

  • 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, $255697. (Funded: September 2026 - August 2028). Grant.
  • Espinoza Chavez, Wilson F (Principal). EMBRACE-EAR-Growth: Rock degradation - microscale approach mineral by mineral (RDM2 ), National Science Foundation, Federal, $399922. (Funded: August 2025 - Present). Grant.
  • 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 - June 2026). 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.
View all grants
  • Espinoza Chavez, W. F., Kneafsey, T., Pereira, J.-M., Yun, A., & Dai, S. (2026). Mineral interphases control the thermal weakening and strengthening of granite. Advances in Geo-Energy Research.
  • 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/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/10.1016/j.gete.2022.100348
  • Salsabiyl, A., & Espinoza Chavez, W. F. (2026). Effects of PCM and Glass on the physicomechanical properties and thermal regulation of cement mortar. Journal of Building Engineering. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jobe.2026.116082
  • Gholami Hossein Abadi, G., Okechi, I. K., Aguayo, F. M., Torres, A. S., Sai Nitesh, K. J. N., Mankar, A. R., … Moro, C. (2026). Reducing Carbon Footprint Through Binder Content Optimization in Durable Performance-Based Concrete Overlays. Materials and Structures, 59. https://doi.org/10.1617/s11527-026-03050-3
View all scholarly/creative works
  • 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
  1. Other

    Rock Mechanics Technical Committee (ASCE Geo-Institute)

  2. Other

    2026 TXST STEM Conference From Lab to Landscape: Building a Bigger, Better Texas

  3. CoSE Undergraduate Scholarship committee

  4. Member

    Postdoctoral Development Working Group

  5. Other

    Ecuadorian Association of Georgia and the Southeast of the United States

  6. Other

    Ecuadorian Association of Scholars and Practitioners (EASP)

  7. View all activities