Jovanca Smith
  • Home
  • Philosophy
  • REFLECTIONS
  • Self-Assessment
    • Effective Teaching
    • Professional Development
  • Distinctive UWI Grad

Professional Development


Activities to Improve my Teaching and Learning

Continuous profession development is a vital component of my teaching and learning experience. It is important for me to stay abreast of new possibilities that can be used to improve the student experience. Courses in feedback and advising have been quite instrumental in creating a supportive climate for students. Additionally, I have assisted the Department in choosing relevant workshops to be offered to lecturers to diversify teaching technology. Below lists activities I have completed over the last two years.

UWI Coaching Program
Academic Advising and Mentoring Training Workshop
Seismic Design Approach for Reinforced Concrete Buildings
Teaching Portfolio Development Workshop
Conceptions of Teaching and Learning
Building the Classroom with Brain-Based Teaching Strategies
Application of Brain-based Learning to Tertiary Education
Create Your Professional Image
Post Graduate Cert. University Teaching and Learning
Teaching Portfolio Workshop
First Aid/CPR/AED Training
Health and Safety in the Workplace


My Curriculum Vitae

Download copy here.
SPECIALISATION     Concrete Forensics, Structural Engineering, Fracture Mechanics, Solid Mechanics
 
QUALIFICATION & GRANTING INSTITUTION
                                   University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad                                       
                                    PG.Cert., University Teaching and Learning                                                  Graduation: August 2017
 
                                    Northwestern University, Evanston, IL                                     
                                    Ph.D., Civil Engineering                                                                                             Graduation: June 2014
 
                                    Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY                              
                                    M.S., Civil Engineering                                                                                               Graduation: August 2011
 
                                    Morgan State University, Baltimore, MD                                   
                                    B.S., Civil Engineering, Summa Cum Laude                                                   Graduation: May 2009
 
SKILLS                    First Aid/CPR/AED Certified, Linux, MTS Testing, Digital Image Correlation, Paraview, ASTM
 
DISTINCTIONS, HONOURS, SCHOLARSHIPS AND AWARDS
  • UWI/Guardian Group Premium Teaching Award
  • GEM Scholar
  • NSF Scholar
  • GK12 NSF Scholar
  • 2nd Place GEM Conference 2012
  • Chair Award
  • Highest Academic Achievement Award
  • Reagent Scholar
 
 
REFEREED PUBLICATIONS        
  • Smith J, Rampit R, Parey R. “Characterization of Vibration Effects on the Internal Structure and Strength of Regular and High Strength Recycled Concrete” (2018) 6th International Conference on Durability and Concrete Structures.
  • Smith J, Cusatis G. “Numerical Analysis of Projectile Penetration and Perforation of Plain and Fiber Reinforced Concrete Slabs” (2016) Int. Journal for Num. and Analytical Methods in Geomechanics. doi: 10.1002/nag.2555
  • Smith J, Jin C, Pelessone D, Cusatis G. “Dynamic Simulations of Concrete and Concrete Structures through the Lattice Discrete Particle Model” (2015) ASCE Structures Congress. pp 63–74. doi: 10.1061/9780784479117.006
  • Wendner R, Vorel J, Smith J, Bažant Z, Cusatis G. “Characterization of Concrete Failure Behavior: A Comprehensive Experimental Database for the Calibration and Validation of Concrete Models.” (2015) Materials and Structures. pp 3603–3626 48 (11). doi 10.1617/s11527-014-0426-0.
  • Smith J. “Characterization of Ultra-High Performance Concrete for Impact Resistant Structures.” (2014) Doctoral Thesis, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL.
  • Smith J, Cusatis G, Pelessone D, Landis E, O’Daniel J, Baylot J. “Discrete Modeling of Ultra High Performance Concrete with Application to Projectile Penetration” (2013) Int. Journal of Imp. Eng. pp 13–32 (65). doi 10.1016/j.ijimpeng.2013.10.0.
  • Smith J, Cusatis G, Pelessone D, O’Daniel J. “Discrete Modeling of Projectile Penetration of Ultra-High Performance Concrete.” (2013) Electronic Proceedings (CD) of the International Symposium on the Interaction of the Effects of Munitions with Structures (ISIEMS), Potsdam, Germany
  • Smith J, Cusatis G, Pelessone D, O’Daniel J, Baylot J. “Calibration and Validation of the Lattice Discrete Particle Model for Ultra High-Performance Fiber-Reinforced Concrete.” (2011) ASCE Structures Congress. 20th Analysis and Computation Specialty Conference. pp. 394–405. doi: 10.1061/9780784412374.035.
  • Smith J. “Discrete Modeling of Ultra High-Strength, Fiber-Reinforced Concrete.” (2011) Master’s Thesis, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY.
 
 
NON-REFEREED PUBLICATIONS
  • Smith J, Bishop J. “A Comparison of the Lattice Discrete Particle Model to the Finite-Element Method and the K&C Material Model for Simulating the Static and Dynamic Response of Concrete.” (2013) SAND Report
 
 
WORK NOT YET PUBLISHED
  • Cusatis G, Smith J, Pelessone D, Mencarelli A. “Lattice Discrete Particle Model (LDPM) for Fracture Dynamics and Rate Effect in Concrete: Theory, Calibration, and Applications.” International Journal of Solids and Structures (In review)
  • Smith J, Gay D. “An Investigation of Prior Education Research on Engineering Student Performance.” American Society for Engineering Education (For submission)
  • Smith J, Rampit R. “Effect of Consolidation on the Internal Structure and Strength of Regular Strength and High Strength Recycled Concrete.” Cement and Concrete Composites (In progress)
  • Smith J. “On the Normalization of Bimodal Distribution Class Performance Using a Blended Learning Technique” European Journal of Engineering Education (In progress)
  • Smith J, Arjoon K, Hansraj A. “Evaluation of Strength Parameters of a Recycled Concrete Blend” Cement and Concrete Composites (In progress)
 
 
PRESENTATIONS
  • “Characterization of Vibration Effects on the Internal Structure and Strength of Regular and High Strength Recycled Concrete.” International Conference on Durability of Concrete Structures, July 2018, Leeds, UK (Presentation)
  • “Characterization of the Micro-Mechanics of Ultra-High Performance Concrete Fiber-Matrix Interaction.” Sigma Xi Conference, November 2013, Raleigh, NC (Poster session)
  • “The Effect of Penetration on Ultra High-Performance Concrete.” Engineering Mechanics Institute Conference, August 2013, Chicago, IL (Presentation)
  • “Calibration and Validation of the LDPM for Ultra High-Performance Fiber Reinforced Concrete.” 20th Analysis and Computation Specialty Conference, March 2012, Chicago, IL (Presentation)
  • “Numerical Modeling of Concrete with the Lattice Discrete Particle Model.” GEM Annual Conference, August 2012, San Francisco, CA (Presentation)
  •  “Simulation of the Multi-Axial Loading Behavior of Fiber-Reinforced Concrete” Second RILEM International Conference on Strain Hardening Cementitious Composites, Dec 2011, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (Presentation)
  • “The Lattice Discrete Particle Model (LDPM)” National Science Foundation (NSF) Civil, Mechanical and Manufacturing Innovation Research Conference (CMMI), January 2011, Atlanta, GA (Poster session)
  • “Man-Made hazard Mitigation of Reservoir Dams: Multi-Scale Modeling of Concrete and Accurate Fluid-Structure Interaction” National Science Foundation (NSF) Civil, Mechanical and Manufacturing Innovation Research Conference (CMMI), January 2011, Atlanta, GA (Poster session)
 
 
PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITY
  • Strength Testing and Inspection of Prestressed Concrete Electrical Poles, PI – Jovanca Smith. (In deliberation)
  • Reducing Shrinkage Cracks in Concrete Composites: An Experimental Investigation, PI – Jovanca Smith. Award $37, 310.00
 
 
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIP
  • Association of Professional Engineers of Trinidad and Tobago (Member)
  • American Concrete Institute (Member)
  • American Society of Civil Engineers (Associate Member)
  • The Institution of Structural Engineers (Graduate Member)
 
 
POSTGRADUATE RESEARCH AND SUPERVISION
  • Rampit Rekha. M. Phil

  • Randy Parey. M.Sc. Characterization of Vibration Effects on Internal Structure and Strength of Regular Concrete and High Strength Concrete. (Completion 12/2017)

  • Kathryn Arjoon. M.Sc. Evaluation of the Structural Behavior of Concrete with Recycled Concrete Aggregate and Tyre Chips. (Estimated completion 08/2018)                                                                 

  • Salene Bridgal. M.Sc. An Investigation in the Use of Recycled Concrete Aggregate in Hot Mix Asphalt Design as a Sustainable Solution for Low to Medium Trafficked Roads. (Estimated completion 12/2018)
 
 
TEACHING AND RELATED EXPERIENCE
Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of the West Indies                                      St. Augustine, Trinidad
Lecturer
  • Courses: Introduction to Engineering Mechanics, Structural Design I,                       
             Structural Design II, Structural Analysis, Info Tech for Engineers, Project Design
  • Research of cement and cementitious materials
  • Numerical modeling and fracture
  • Supervise undergraduate and post-graduate research students to degree completion

NSF GK12–Reach for the Stars, Northwestern & Chute Middle School                                Evanston (IL), USA
Student Fellow                                                                                                                                                            
  • Advanced communication and teaching skills by training computational thinking to K-12 students and instructors
  • Develop inquiry based course material for the research process to be used by K-12 educators
  • Pedagogy training at Northwestern University
 
Civil and Environmental Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute                               Troy (NY), USA
Teaching Assistant                                                                                                                                                   
  • Courses: Project Design, Introduction to Engineering Analysis, Concrete Design, Structural Analysis
  • Lead discussions in tutorials, mentor, advise, grade assignments, communicate clear instructions, prepare and proctor exams, enforce code of ethics, practice active listening, manage time efficiently
 
 
CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE DEPARTMENT
  • Faculty OHSE
  • Departmental Curriculum Committee
  • Department Unit Safety Committee
  • Concrete/Materials Lab Coordinator
  • Structures Lab Coordinator
  • Project Design Coordinator
 
 
PUBLIC SERVICE
Consultant, Memorial Moravian Church Building Committee (Trinidad) 09/15–Present
 
 
OTHER PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE    
Civil and Environmental Engineering, Northwestern University                                                Evanston (IL), USA
Research Assistant                                                                                                                                                    
  • Implemented the Lattice Discrete Particle Model (LDPM) to analyze dynamic effects in concrete
  • Oversaw numerical analysis of the penetration and perforation phenomenon in ultra-high performance fiber-reinforced concrete under ideal and non-ideal impact conditions
  • Managed laboratory experimentation of tensile, compressive and fiber pullout tests to characterize the micro-mechanical failure in steel fiber-reinforced high performance concrete
  • Governed research timeline and analyzed the micro-mechanical fiber interaction of ultra-high performance concrete numerically with the LDPM and enhanced fiber law
  • Managed lab facility, supervised and trained Master of Science students from beginning to successful degree completion, and directed project on size effect analysis of concrete at Northwestern University
  • Directed engineering education and outreach in K-12 education through oral presentation and excursion
 
Sandia National Laboratories                                                                                                                            Albuquerque (NM), USA
Sandia Intern                                                                                                                                                              
  • Demonstrated the effectiveness of discrete vs. continuous numerical models for quasi-brittle materials
  • Analyzed, interpreted and communicated the effects of asymmetric projectile perforation of concrete
  • Gained knowledge in numerical techniques by participating in courses offered in the workplace
 
Civil and Environmental Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute                              Troy (NY), USA
Research Assistant                                                                                                                                                  
  • Investigated fracture of concrete using various compression, bending and tensile tests with the LDPM.
  • Developed NSF Virtual Center for Resilient and Sustainable Infrastructures to promote eng. education
 
Clark Construction                                                                                                                                                   Bethesda (MD), USA
Project Management Intern                                                                                                                             
  • Coordinated with subcontractors to implement structural design and ensure conformance to design specifications for the Johns Hopkins Hospital.
  • Posted drawings, created schedule of values, inspected project site
  • Demonstrated excellent team-work and interpersonal skills to meet company’s objective

Contact

Copyright © 2018
  • Home
  • Philosophy
  • REFLECTIONS
  • Self-Assessment
    • Effective Teaching
    • Professional Development
  • Distinctive UWI Grad