Biography
Amal Elawady is an Associate Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and a Fellow of FIU’s Extreme Events Institute. She serves as a co-Principal Investigator for two NSF national centers at FIU: the NHERI Wall of Wind Experimental Facility and the IUCRC Wind Hazard and Infrastructure Performance Center.
Elawady’s research focuses on the impact of hurricanes and thunderstorms on the built environment and urban trees. Her pioneering work at the Wall of Wind expanded the facility’s capabilities to simulate thunderstorm downbursts in addition to hurricane winds. She has authored more than 40 peer-reviewed journal papers and numerous conference publications and presentations.
To date, Elawady has secured over $2 million in research funding as Principal Investigator from federal, state and industry agencies, in addition to several multi-million-dollar awards as co-PI. She is also a recipient of the National Science Foundation’s 2022 Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Award.
Awards & Honors
- FIU Faculty Senate Award for Excellence in Research & Creative Activities: A university wide award that recognizes faculty who demonstrates exceptional performance in research or creative activities, 2025
- FIU Top Scholar (Category: Research and Creative Activities)---Junior Faculty with Significant Grants (Humanities and Sciences): Top scholars are recognized in the areas of teaching, research, and service. Nominations from deans, chairs and colleagues identify individual faculty who have excelled in respected category. Top Scholars are selected by a committee of peers, the provost, and the president, 2024
- College of Engineering and Computing, Faculty Awards for Service, FIU: The award recognizes applicants who demonstrated significant service to the department, college, university, professional organizations, and the wider community, 2023
- College of Engineering and Computing, Faculty Awards for Research, FIU: The award recognizes excellence in research and creative activities, contributions that enhance the discipline and the mission of the college and university through international and national community value, 2022
Education
- Faculty Advisor Award, Chi Epsilon, The National Civil Engineering Honor Society, 2025
- MS, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Ain Shams University, Egypt, 2012
- BS, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Ain Shams University, Egypt, 2008