Yohanna Mejia Cruz received her bachelor’s degree (2012) and master’s degree (2017) in civil engineering (CE) from Universidad del Valle, Colombia. In 2018, she received her PhD in CE from the University of South Carolina (USC), where, since 2021, she has worked as a Postdoctoral Researcher. Her research strategically combines CE principles with advancements in health technology, and she has secured funding to advance floor vibration technology to monitor Alzheimer’s patients to pave the way for broader applications in geriatric health monitoring. Her academic research plans are positioned at the nexus of three interlocking fields: future construction materials; smart and connected health through engineering; and smart structural elements. One specific goal is eliminating the need for wearable devices, allowing buildings themselves to act as health sensors that can track specific human markers for health-related applications. She is part of the inaugural class of mentors for the First-Generation Center, where she conducts monthly one-on-one meetings and plans social activities. She also organizes demonstrations for the College of Engineering and Computing Open House, aimed at sparking interest among K-12 students in engineering and computer science fields. Her vision as a faculty member is to advance research while cultivating a forward-thinking, inclusive, and impactful academic environment for students.

Research Interests

Materials, Structural Dynamics for Smart and Connected Health, Intelligent Infrastructure