Barney H. Miao

Assistant Professor

Dr. Barney H. Miao is an Assistant Professor in Civil Engineering at the University of Calgary. He received his PhD in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Stanford University in 2026 with a PhD minor in Computer Science. He earned an MS in Structural Engineering from Stanford University in 2023 and a BSc in Civil Engineering in 2021 from the University of Calgary.

Opportunities

🚀 Joining the Research Group

Status [Aug 2026]: I am recruiting 1–2 MSc/PhD students to join the SbM Lab for Fall 2027. For domestic students, there may also be an opportunity to start as early as Winter 2027.

We are building an interdisciplinary team focused on sustainable construction materials, bio-based composites, smart sensing, and artificial intelligence. If you are passionate about reducing the carbon footprint of the built environment and developing next-generation civil engineering technologies, we want to hear from you.

Recruitment Announcement PDF

For full position details and eligibility information, you can view or download our official recruitment flyer below:

Research Areas & Qualifications

We are looking for students with background, experience, or strong interest in one or more of our core research pillars:

Smart by Design: Low-carbon and bio-based materials
Smart by Manufacturing: AI, sensing, and non-destructive testing (NDT)
Smart throughout Lifetime: Life-cycle assessment (LCA) and infrastructure resilience

General Qualifications & Preferences:

Academic background in Civil & Environmental Engineering, Materials Science, Computer Science, Chemistry, Forestry, or related disciplines.
Minimum GPA of 3.5 / 4.0 (or equivalent).
Proficiency in Python programming.
Experience with laboratory experiments, material characterization (e.g., SEM, micro-CT, FTIR), or related field testing is considered a strong asset.
For Ph.D. applicants, prior peer-reviewed publication experience is preferred.

How to Express Interest

To help streamline the review process and ensure your application stands out, please follow these steps before reaching out:

Review our work: Take a look at our Publications to ensure your research interests align with our group's focus.
Prepare your documents:
- Your CV.
- Unofficial transcripts.
Submit your application: Complete our Recruitment Interest Form or email your PDF documents (as a single PDF) to smartbmlab@gmail.com with the subject line [Prospective Student] - Your Name - Term (e.g., Fall 2027). Please also indicate what position you would like to apply for (e.g., MSc, PhD, etc.).