Dr. Serge Desjardins is Associate Professor and interim Chair of the Civil Engineering Department at the Université de Moncton. Holding a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering (Structures) from Carleton University, his research focuses on structural health monitoring using long-term vibration responses and automated operational modal analysis. As a member of the Ottawa-Carleton Bridge Research Institute, he has contributed to advancing vibration-based monitoring techniques, notably for the Confederation Bridge. Serge is Fellow of the Canadian Society for Civil Engineering; he is a long-serving executive member of the local CSCE section (Eastern NB) and has served as the faculty advisor of the CSCE student chapter for the past decade and as the faculty advisor to the CSCE concrete canoe team since 2021. Serge has more than 20 years of combined academic and industry experience. His industry experience includes working as structural design engineer on projects like the Ottawa International Airport expansion, the Croix-Bleue Medavie Stadium on the Université de Moncton campus, and several bridge rehabilitation and replacement projects in New-Brunswick.
Dr. Gérard J. Poitras is Professor in the Civil Engineering Department and Dean of the Faculty of Engineering at the Université the Moncton. He completed his Doctorate studies in Engineering Sciences at the Université de Poitiers, France in 2002. His research interest includes wind-structure interaction, optimization of structures and dynamics of structures. He has more than 40 years of combined academic and industry experience in structural engineering. Professor Poitras is Fellow of Engineers Canada, Fellow of the Canadian Society for Civil Engineering (CSCE), and a past chair of the Canadian Society for Civil Engineers South-East NB section. In 2009, he received the Université de Moncton Award of Excellence in Teaching, and in 2014, the Outstanding Educator Award from the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientist of New Brunswick.
Dr. Mazdak Nik-Bakht is Associate Professor of Construction Engineering and management in the Department of Building, Civil, and Environmental Engineering at Concordia University, Montréal. He earned his first PhD and MSc in Structural Engineering and BSc in Civil Engineering. He received his second PhD in Construction Engineering and Management from the University of Toronto in 2015. Dr. Nik-Bakht’s scholarly works have been focused on automation and digital transformation of the built environment. His areas of expertise include digital twinning of the built environment, big data analytics for smart building and infrastructure, social network analysis and knowledge management for construction and operation of buildings, applied artificial intelligence in the AEC/FM (Architecture, Engineering, Construction & Facility Management) industry, and circular economy for construction and operation of the built environment. As the Chair of the Construction Division of the Canadian Society of Civil Engineering (CSCE), Mazdak chaired the CSCE Construction Specialty conference, joint with ASCE Construction Research Congress (CRC) in 2021 and 2023.