Ronald S. Harichandran, Ph.D., P.E., F.ASCE

Ronald Harichandran Headshot
Dean / Vice Provost for Research

Tagliatela College of Engineering
Education

Ph.D. in Civil Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

M.S. in Civil Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

B.E. in Civil Engineering, University of Canterbury, New Zealand

Licensed Professional Engineer, Michigan

About Ronald

Ron Harichandran was appointed Dean of the Tagliatela College of Engineering at the University of New Haven in August 2011. In April 2019 he was also named Vice Provost for Research. Prior to that he was a professor of civil and environmental engineering at Michigan State University (MSU) and served as the department chair for 16 years. He received a B.E. from the University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand, in 1979, and an M.S. and Ph.D. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1981 and 1985, respectively. Dr. Harichandran’s technical specialty is structural engineering, he has performed research on earthquake, pavement, bridge and fire engineering and engineering education, and has published over 160 journal and conference proceedings papers and technical reports. He has taught a broad range of courses in structural analysis, design, dynamics, and probabilistic methods.

As Dean of Engineering and Vice Provost for Research at the University of New Haven he is working to strengthen academic programs, research and scholarship. The University is one of only 22 U.S. institutions designated as a Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Operations by the NSA. Dr. Harichandran has stimulated curricular innovations in all engineering and computer science programs by serving as PI on two major projects/grants: (1) the Project to Integrate Technical Communication Habits; and (2) Developing Entrepreneurial Thinking in Engineering Students by Utilizing Integrated Online Modules and Experiential Learning Opportunities. He is also a co-PI on a $4 million Scholarship for Service grant from NSF. He has coordinated senior design projects across all engineering and computer science programs to facilitate interdisciplinary projects.

Dr. Harichandran was elected into the Connecticut Academy of Science and Engineering in 2015 and elected as a Fellow of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) in 2005. He received the 2011 Withrow Exceptional Service Award from the College of Engineering, and a 1992 Teacher-Scholar Award from Michigan State University. He has chaired the ASCE Department Heads Council, has served on the ASCE Body of Knowledge II Committee charged with refining the body of knowledge for future civil engineers, and on several other technical committees of professional societies.

Click here for Dr. Harichandran's full curriculum vitae.

Awards and Honors

Member, Connecticut Academy of Science and Engineering, 2014.

Withrow Exceptional Service Award, College of Engineering, Michigan State University, 2011.

Executive Leadership Academy, Michigan State University, 2009-10.

ASCE Department Heads Council Executive Committee, chair (2008-10), secretary (2006-08), member (2003-10).

Fellow, American Society of Civil Engineers, 2005.

ASCE Body of Knowledge II Committee, 2005-07.

Michigan Transportation Research Board, Founding chair, 2005-10.

CIC Academic Leadership Fellow, Michigan State University, 1996-97.

Teacher-Scholar Award, Michigan State University, 1992.

Selected Publications

Breitinger, F., Tully-Doyle, R., Przyborski, K., Beck, L., and Harichandran, R. S. (2021). “First year students' experience in a Cyber World course – an evaluation.” Education and Information Technologies, 26(1), 1069–1087.

Harichandran, R. S., Erdil, N. O., Carnasciali, M-I., Nocito-Gobel, J., and Li, Q. (2018). “Developing an entrepreneurial mindset in engineering students using integrated e-learning modules.” Advances in Engineering Education, 7(1).

Nossoni, G., Harichandran, R. S. (2014). “Electrochemical-mechanistic model for concrete cover cracking due to corrosion initiated by chloride diffusion.” Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering, ASCE, 26(6).

Tarinejad, R., Ahmadi, M. T., and Harichandran, R. S. (2014). "Full-scale experimental modal analysis of an arch dam: the first experience in Iran." Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering, 61-62, 188-196.

Tarinejad, R., Fatehi, R., and Harichandran, R. S. (2013). "Response of an arch dam to non-uniform excitation generated by a seismic wave scattering model." Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering, 52, 40-54.

Nossoni, G., Harichandran, R. S. (2012). "Current efficiency in accelerated corrosion testing of concrete." Corrosion, 68(9), 801-809.

Gong, A., and Harichandran, R. S. (2012). "Wood-cement particleboard: impact behavior and potential appli­cation in crash barriers." Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering, ASCE, 24(1), 134-140.

Zhang, G., Harichandran, R.S., and Ramuhalli, P. (2011). "Application of noise cancelling and damage detection algorithms in NDE of concrete bridge decks using impact signals." Journal of Nondestructuve Evaluation, 30(4), 259-274.

Iqbal, S., and Harichandran, R.S. (2010). "Capacity reduction and fire load factors for LRFD of steel members exposed to fire." Journal of Structural Engineering, ASCE, 136(12), 1554-1562.

Hong, S., and Harichandran, R. S. (2005). "Sensors to monitor CFRP/concrete bond in beams using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy." Journal of Composites for Construction, ASCE, 9(6), 515-523.

Chen, M.-T., and Harichandran, R. S. (2001). "Response of an earth dam to spatially varying earthquake ground motion." Journal of Engineering Mechanics, ASCE, 127(9), 932-939.

Harichandran, R. S., Mahmood, T., Raab, A., and Baladi, G. Y. (1993). "A modified Newton algorithm for back­calculation of pavement layer properties." Transportation Research Record, 1384, 15-22.

Harichandran, R. S., Yeh, M-S., and Baladi, G. Y. (1990). "MICH-PAVE: a nonlinear finite element program for the analysis of flexible pavements." Transportation Research Record, 1286, 123-131.

Harichandran, R. S., and Vanmarcke, E. (1986). "Stochastic variation of earthquake ground motion in space and time." Journal of Engineering Mechanics, ASCE, 112(2), 154-174, and 113(8), 1271-1273.

Recent Grants

Davis Educational Foundation, "Project to integrate technical communication habits," with co-PIs Michael Collura, Jean Nocito-Gobel, John Saris and Amir Esmailpour, July 2012-July 2015.

Kern Family Foundation, "Developing entrepreneurial thinking in engineering students by utilizing integrated online modules and experiential learning opportunities, with co-Pls: Maria-Isabel Carnasciali, Jean Nocito-Gobel, Nadiye Erdil and Cheryl Li. Feb. 2015-Aug. 2018.

Kern Family Foundation, "Developing entrepreneurial thinking in engineering students by utilizing integrated online modules and a leadership cohort, with co-Pls: Maria-Isabel Carnasciali and Jean Nocito-Gobel. June 2014-May 2015.

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