James W Giancaspro
Assoc. Professor

Position and Research Expertise
James Giancaspro is an Associate Professor and the Graduate Program Director in the Department of Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering (CAE) at the University of Miami’s College of Engineering. His expertise is in the areas of civil engineering materials and mechanics, while his research aims to improve STEM education by developing novel instructional technology.
Teaching and Mentoring
Giancaspro teaches courses on both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Among the current courses taught include solid mechanics (statics and mechanics of materials) and advanced design of concrete structures. Additional teaching experience includes: behavior of structural systems, advanced structural analysis, and advanced structural mechanics. He advises and mentors students of all levels as well as junior faculty on tenure-track.Education
2004 | Ph.D. Civil and Structural Engineering Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey |
2002 | M.S. Civil and Structural Engineering Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey |
2000 | B.S. Civil Engineering Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey |
Career Summary
Giancaspro earned all of his degrees at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey. His Ph.D. study was sponsored by a fellowship from the Federal Aviation Administration. He began his professional career in the aerospace industry at Boeing Commercial Airplanes. There, he performed damage assessment of composite materials for use on the 787 Dreamliner. He was also a course instructor to new Boeing engineers and is an inventor credited with two patents related to algorithms related to testing composite structures. He has been a faculty member at the University of Miami for 14 years. As a researcher, he has been a principal investigator on several NSF grants and has published over 50 scientific products related to structural engineering materials and mechanics.