Erasmus Mundus Scholar | Civil Engineer | Structural Engineering Graduate

Hi, I'm Sisaynew Tesfaw Admassu. Structural Engineering Master's Student & Civil Engineer.

I specialize in resilient structural systems, seismic-resistant design, computational modelling, BIM-enabled workflows, and sustainable infrastructure. I am currently pursuing an Erasmus Mundus Joint Master in Europe with academic mobility across Spain, Italy, and Lithuania.

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About Me

Structural engineering, research, and academic leadership shaped by international study.

Professional Headshot

I am a Civil Engineer from Ethiopia with an M.Sc. in Structural Engineering from the University of Pecs, Hungary, and a B.Sc. in Civil Engineering from Jimma University. My work focuses on sustainable and resilient structural systems, including reinforced concrete, steel and timber structures, seismic engineering, structural dynamics, and computational modelling.

My current Erasmus Mundus experience strengthens my international perspective on heritage, urban environments, advanced solid mechanics, and infrastructure resilience. I am also interested in digital twins, Life Cycle Assessment, BIM technologies, and data-driven structural health monitoring for future smart infrastructure.

Current LocationTorino, Italy
Research FocusResilient structural systems
ExperienceLecturer, dean, and project manager

Academic Journey

A path from civil engineering foundations to advanced structural and Erasmus research.

2026 | Ongoing

Erasmus Mundus Joint Master - Architectural and Urban Contemporary Heritage

University of the Basque Country, Politecnico di Torino, and Kaunas University of Technology

International Erasmus program focused on architectural and urban contemporary heritage, adaptive reuse, circular heritage, conservation of existing buildings, industrial heritage interpretation, and European academic mobility.

2024/25 Academic Year

European Master's in Advanced Solid Mechanics - STRAINS

Universite de Lille, ULouvain, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, NTUA, and University of Calabria

Erasmus Mundus Joint Master pathway focused on advanced mechanics, structural behavior, computational methods, and international engineering collaboration.

2018 - 2020

Master of Science in Structural Engineering

University of Pecs, Hungary | CGPA: 4.75/5

Awarded the Stipendium Hungaricum Scholarship by Tempus Public Foundation, Budapest. Recognized as top scorer among 2020 Master's Structural Engineering graduates at the University of Pecs.

2015

Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering

Jimma University, Ethiopia | CGPA: 3.51/4

Built a civil engineering foundation in structural analysis and design, reinforced concrete, steel structures, geotechnical engineering, transportation, hydraulics, and construction practice.

ARURCOHE Focus

Contemporary heritage work grounded in adaptive reuse, conservation, and circular transformation.

Core Ideas

  • Read existing buildings through heritage value, structural behavior, material condition, and urban context.
  • Transform industrial and contemporary heritage through adaptive reuse rather than demolition-first thinking.
  • Connect conservation, sustainability, accessibility, public use, and circular economy principles.

Technical Toolkit

  • Digital documentation with Metashape, CloudCompare, Revit/BIM, LiDAR, and QGIS.
  • Heritage conservation support through NDT methods, damage assessment, infrared thermography, and rebar locator surveys.
  • Programming support using Python, MATLAB, and SQL for documentation, analysis, and data workflows.

Lalibela Curriculum Initiative

  • Led integration of indigenous knowledge of the Rock-Hewn Churches of Lalibela into undergraduate civil engineering, construction management, and architecture curricula.
  • Connected UNESCO World Heritage knowledge with technical education, cultural preservation, and future engineering practice.

Project Portfolio

Selected structural engineering, adaptive reuse, research, and infrastructure projects.

Comparative Evaluation of Bracing Systems for Lateral Loads

M.Sc. thesis analyzing a ten-story medium-rise steel building under lateral loads, comparing concentric V, chevron, K, and eccentric diagonal bracing systems for displacement control and story drift performance.

ETABS 2016EurocodesEBCS

Combined Piled Raft Foundation for High-Rise Buildings

M.Sc. course project covering geotechnical assessment and design of piled raft foundation systems for high-rise building case studies, with attention to foundation performance and soil-structure interaction.

GeotechnicsFoundation DesignELPLA

Structural Retrofitting Techniques

Evaluated retrofitting strategies, including jacketing and added shear walls, to improve resistance capacity, structural safety, and preservation of existing building geometry.

Seismic SafetyRC RetrofittingShear Walls

Structural Design of a G+6 Mixed-Use Building

B.Sc. senior project involving analysis and design of slabs, staircases, roof truss, frame members, seismic loads, wind loads, and square footing foundations using EBCS 1995 standards.

SAP2000EBCS 1995RC Design

Woldia University Main Campus Landscape Project

Project manager for a completed university landscape project with a total budget of 8.55 million ETB, coordinating project delivery, campus infrastructure priorities, and stakeholder expectations.

Project ManagementBudget ControlDelivery

Community Bridge Design Projects

Contributed to community service bridge design awards, including a 25 m bridge on Tirari River and a 16 m bridge on Weynye River in North Wollo, Ethiopia.

Bridge DesignCommunity ServiceInfrastructure

Ivrea Marxer Pharmaceutical Industry Adaptive Reuse Design Course

Ongoing ARURCOHE design course work focused on industrial heritage documentation, structural condition reading, conservation strategy, and circular transformation of the Marxer pharmaceutical site in Ivrea.

ARURCOHE Design CourseOngoingAdaptive Reuse

Eibar Zone05 Industrial Heritage Reuse Proposal

Analyzed a war-damaged and abandoned 20th-century industrial district near Eibar railway station, combining typology analysis, state of conservation, accessibility assessment, and mixed-use reuse proposals.

Typology AnalysisConservationReuse Planning

Irati S.A. Factory Coal Bunker Assessment

Adaptive reuse study for the Irati S.A. coal bunker, including structural assessment, pathology diagnosis, envelope repair, heritage interpretation, and a proposed riverside experience program.

Structural AssessmentNDTHeritage Conservation

Professional Experience

Academic leadership, teaching, project management, and civil engineering practice.

10/2023 - 09/2025

Structural Engineer and Project Coordinator

Asefachaw Belete General Contractor | Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

  • Coordinated and supervised building and infrastructure projects, including B+G+10 mixed-use and G+6 apartment buildings, and a 24 m span T-girder bridge.
  • Supervised reinforced concrete works, reinforcement installation, structural drawings, steel specifications, substructure works, earthworks, backfilling, quality control, and site safety.

May 2022 - August 2023

Project Manager

Woldia University Main Campus Landscape Project | Completed | 8.55 million ETB budget

  • Managed engineering operations, project documentation, stakeholder coordination, quality control, and delivery of campus infrastructure work.

April 2023 - September 2023

Executive Director, Institute of Technology

Woldia University | Acting delegation by the university president

  • Supported institutional leadership, academic coordination, technical program oversight, and quality assurance across engineering departments.

October 2020 - September 2023

Dean, School of Civil and Water Resources Engineering

Woldia University Institute of Technology, Ethiopia

  • Led academic quality assurance initiatives, coordinated technical peer-review activities, and supervised multidisciplinary project evaluations.

July 2020 - September 2023

Lecturer, Department of Civil Engineering

Woldia University Institute of Technology, Ethiopia

  • Taught and assessed civil engineering, structural engineering, mechanics, and computational modeling courses while supervising student research.

February 2016 - August 2018

Assistant Lecturer & Department Head

Woldia University Institute of Technology, Ethiopia

  • Supported teaching, departmental coordination, engineering documentation, and technical review for undergraduate civil engineering programs.

Research & Development

Published research, professional learning, and honors.

Published Research

  • Comparative Evaluation of Concentric Bracing Systems for Lateral Loads on Medium-Rise Steel Building Structures. DOI link
  • High Strength of Concrete by Using Foundry Sand as Fine Aggregate, exploring foundry sand as a partial fine aggregate replacement for sustainable concrete.

Certificates & Online Courses

  • Technology Leadership and Entrepreneurship - Peter the Great St. Petersburg University
  • Autodesk Certified Professional: Civil 3D for Infrastructure Design Exam Prep
  • Introduction to Artificial Intelligence - IBM
  • Successful Negotiation - University of Michigan
  • Research Proposal: Initiating Research - University of California, Davis
  • Introduction to GIS Mapping - University of Toronto
  • Machine Learning for All - University of London
  • Managing Project Risks and Changes; Budgeting and Scheduling Projects - University of California

Honors & Awards

  • Stipendium Hungaricum Scholarship, Tempus Public Foundation, Budapest
  • Top scorer among 2020 Master's Structural Engineering graduates at University of Pecs
  • Community service awards for bridge design projects in North Wollo, Ethiopia
  • Certificate of Appreciation, Ethiopian Civil Engineering Student Association
  • Curriculum development contribution on Rock-Hewn Churches of St. Lalibela

Technical Skills

Tools and competencies for analysis, design, modeling, and research workflows.

Analysis & Design

  • ETABS
  • SAP2000
  • ABAQUS
  • ATENA
  • AxisVM X4
  • Eurocodes and EBCS

Modeling, CAD & BIM

  • AutoCAD
  • Autodesk Revit
  • BIM workflows
  • Rhino 3D and Grasshopper
  • GiD Science

Computational, AI & Data

  • Python (intermediate user)
  • MATLAB (intermediate user)
  • SQL
  • Artificial Intelligence fundamentals
  • Machine learning foundations
  • Data analysis and processing

Heritage Documentation & Conservation

  • Metashape
  • CloudCompare
  • LiDAR documentation
  • QGIS
  • NDT methods
  • Infrared thermography
  • Rebar locator
  • Damage assessment

Geotechnical & Scientific Tools

  • Plaxis
  • ELPLA 11.3
  • Wolfram Mathematica 11
  • Maple 16
  • GIS mapping fundamentals

Core Competencies

  • Structural dynamics
  • Reinforced concrete structures
  • Steel and timber structures
  • Foundation engineering
  • Seismic engineering
  • Structural retrofitting
  • Traditional architecture
  • 20th-century contemporary built heritage architecture

Technical Research & Review

  • Finite Element Analysis (FEA)
  • Computational modeling and simulation
  • Technical fact-checking
  • Engineering calculations and verification
  • Scientific writing and documentation

Contact

Let's connect about structural engineering, research, teaching, or collaboration.