Steel Bridge Research, Inspection, Training, and Engineering Center
Our Team
Robert Connor
Title
Jack and Kay Hockema Professor in Civil Engineering and Director of CAI and S-BRITE
Contact info
(765) 496-8272
Bio
Robert Connor, Ph.D., PE, is the Jack and Kay Hockema Professor of civil engineering at Purdue University and Director of the Steel Bridge Research, Inspection, Training, and Engineering (S-BRITE) Center. Dr. Connor is nationally recognized as an expert in fatigue and fracture of steel bridges and sign structures.
Thomas Bradt
Title
Lead Research Engineer
Contact info
(317) 727-7843
Bio
Tom Bradt is a lead research engineer at the S-BRITE Center at Purdue University and Robert L. and Terry L. Bowen Laboratory for Large Scale Civil Engineering Research. Mr. Bradt has performed numerous field instrumentation and laboratory testing on various steel bridge types. With over a decade of experience in structural engineering, he specializes in the resilience and longevity of critical infrastructure.
Cem Korkmaz
Title
Senior Research Engineer
Contact info
Bio
Cem Korkmaz, PhD, is a Senior Research Engineer at the S-BRITE Center and the Robert L. and Terry L. Bowen Laboratory for Large-Scale Civil Engineering Research at Purdue University. Dr. Korkmaz is an expert in finite element modeling for the evaluation of steel structures, including railroad bridges, highway bridges, and sign structures under hazardous conditions. His expertise includes fatigue, fracture, corrosion, the consequences of damage, and the development of retrofit solutions.
Charles Kieffer III
Title
Research Engineer
Contact info
(763) 220-3821
Bio
Charles (Chaz) Kieffer III, PE, is a Research Engineer at the S-BRITE Center at Purdue University and Robert L. and Terry L. Bowen Laboratory for Large Scale Civil Engineering Research. Mr. Kieffer has experience in bridge design, load rating and inspection and has performed numerous field instrumentation and laboratory testing on various steel bridge types
Amit Varma
Title
Karl H. Kettelhut Professor in Civil Engineering and Director of Bowen Laboratory
Contact info
(765) 496-3419
(517) 974-0936