Houtan Jebelli, Ph.D.

Dr. Houtan Jebelli is Chair of the ASCE Global Center for Excellence in Computing and an Assistant Professor in Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He previously held faculty positions in Construction and Mechanical Engineering at Penn State. He earned his Ph.D. and a Master’s in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (Machine Learning & Robotics) from the University of Michigan, and also holds Master’s degrees in Structural Engineering and in Construction Engineering and Management. Dr. Jebelli directs the Robotic, Automation, and Intelligent Sensing (RAISE) Lab at UIUC, where his research focuses on construction robotics, automation, and physiological computing. His work aims to improve safety and collaboration between workers and robots on construction sites through human-aware robotic systems. He has authored four books, over 150 peer-reviewed publications, and secured more than $4.5 million in research funding from NSF, CDC, and NIOSH. His awards include the Charles M. Eastman Top Ph.D. Paper Award and multiple fellowships. He is also an active mentor and contributor to ASCE’s DSA and VIMS committees.