Our Team

Dr. Masoud Gheisari is the Director of Graduate Programs & Research and an Associate Professor in the M.E. Rinker, Sr. School of Construction Management at the University of Florida. He leads the Human-Centered Technology in Construction (HCTC) research lab. His research focuses on the theoretical and experimental investigation of human-robot interaction in construction and technology-supported education innovation. He earned his Ph.D. in Building Construction (2013) from the Georgia Institute of Technology. To date, he has authored more than 150 peer-reviewed papers in the fields of virtual/augmented/mixed reality (VR/AR/MR) and safe human-drone/robot interaction in construction.

His work has received support worth over $3m in grants from external funding agencies, including the National Science Foundation (NSF), U.S. Department of Labor, NIOSH’s Center for Construction Research and Training (CPWR), National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER), and ELECTRI International. Dr. Gheisari’s contributions to research and teaching have earned him numerous awards, including the Associated Schools of Construction (ASC) International Outstanding Researcher Award (2021), ENR Southeast’s Top Young Professional (2020), Russell J. Alessi ELECTRI International Early Career Award (2018), and ASCE ExCEEd Fellowship (2015), among others. He is also an Associate Editor for ASCE’s Journal of Computing in Civil Engineering and serves as the Secretary of the Education Committee within the ASCE Computing Division. Curriculum Vitae.

Ajit is a Ph.D. student in the M.E. Rinker, Sr. School of Construction Management at the University of Florida. He is interested in AI and drone technologies and their applications in construction work and education. Ajit holds a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from Pokhara University in Nepal (2015) and a Master’s degree in Structural Engineering from Asian Institute of Technology in Thailand (2019).

Parth is a Ph.D. student at the University of Florida’s M.E. Rinker, Sr. School of Construction Management. His research focuses on computer vision, digital twinning, and immersive technologies. Parth holds a bachelor’s degree in architectural design and building science from the Malaviya National Institute of Technology in India (2019), as well as a master’s degree in civil engineering with a specialization in building technology and construction management from the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (2021). He has practical experience as a deputy manager at the engineering and construction unit of Shapoorji Pallonji group in India (2021-23), where he successfully led digital technology initiatives and implemented lean practices on various construction projects.

Ali is a Ph.D. student in the M.E. Rinker, Sr. School of Construction Management at the University of Florida (co-advised with Prof. Idris Jeelani). His research focuses on using autonomous robots, computer vision, and AI to enhance safety performance in construction projects. Ali holds a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from Amirkabir University of Technology in Iran (2019), and a Master’s degree in Construction Management from the University of Tehran in Iran (2022).

Rohantha is currently pursuing his Ph.D. at the M.E. Rinker, Sr. School of Construction Management, University of Florida, under the co-supervision of Prof. Gabriel Castelblanco. His research is focused on AI and BIM frameworks, sustainable practices within the AEC industry, and the application of Virtual Reality (VR) and Large Language Models (LLMs) for personalized, immersive learning experiences. He holds an M.Eng. in Civil Engineering from the University of the West of England, Bristol (2019), and an M.Sc. in Civil Engineering from the University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka (2022).

Amirpooya is a Ph.D. student at the M.E. Rinker, Sr. School of Construction Management at the University of Florida (co-advised with Prof. Idris Jeelani and Aladdin Alwisy). His research focuses on safety in automated robotic systems for industrialized construction. He holds a B.S. in Civil Engineering from the University of Tehran (2021) and an M.S. in Construction Engineering and Management from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln (2024).

Tamanna is a Ph.D. student in the M.E. Rinker, Sr. School of Construction Management at the University of Florida. Her research focuses on leveraging mixed reality technologies to enhance construction education and training. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Building Engineering and Construction Management from Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (KUET), Bangladesh, in 2022. Before starting her doctoral studies, she also served for more than two years as a lecturer at KUET, where she taught construction-related courses.

Taha is a Ph.D. student in the M.E. Rinker, Sr. School of Construction Management at the University of Florida (co-advised with Prof. Idris Jeelani). His research interests are in the application of AI and computer vision for enhancing construction site management. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from the National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), Islamabad, Pakistan, where he also worked as a Research Assistant on various construction management research projects.