HELLO, I'M
Gabriela Yáñez.
Civil Engineering Ph.D. Candidate
About Me
Hola!
My name is Gabriela Yáñez González. I am a PhD Candidate with a bachelor's and master's degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Puerto Rico - Mayagüez and the University of Nebraska - Lincoln, respectively. The topics of the field that I'm most interested in are seismic and wind response and functional recovery of vulnerable communities. I continue exploring these topics at the University of Nebraska - Lincoln, where I am pursuing a Ph.D. in Structural Engineering.
As an undergraduate student, I have participated in many extracurricular activities that have helped me develop personal and professional skills. These activities include research opportunities, being a UPRM Steel Bridge Team member, and being President of the ASCE-UPRM student chapter, among many others.
In my free time, I enjoy creating outreach activities about civil engineering and construction for the youth. I also advocate for women in the civil engineering, construction, and civil works industry through the non-profit organization Girls in Civil, Inc., of which I am a co-founder.
Education
December 2026 (Expected)
Ph.D. (Expected), Civil Engineering, Specialization in Structural Engineering
University of Nebraska - Lincoln
Dissertation title: "Vulnerability and Recovery of Agricultural Structures and the Implications for Community Resilience"
May 2024
Master of Science in Civil Engineering, Specialization in Structural Engineering
University of Nebraska - Lincoln
Jun 2021
Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering
University of Puerto Rico - Mayagüez
Scholarship: Program for Engineering Access, Retention, and LIATS Success (ePEARLS)
May 2016
High School Diploma
Sergio Ramírez de Arellano - Hostos, Specialized Bilingual School
Academic Excellence
Technical Skills & Languages
Office 365 & Google Workspace
Oral and Written Communication
QGIS
ArcGIS
Sap2000
SolidWorks
Python
MATLAB
AutoCAD Civil 3D
English
Spanish
Honors, Awards, & Fellowships
Professional Credentials & Certifications
William Averette Anderson Fund
Fellowship
2023 - Present
College of Engineering Professional Development Fellowship
Fellowship
2023-2024
Chancellor's Fellowship, University of Nebraska - Lincoln
Fellowship
2021 - 2023
Program for Engineering Access, Retention and LIATS Success (ePEARLS)
Scholarship
2018 - 2021
Hispanic Scholarship Fund
Scholarship
2020 - 2021
ASCE Region 5 Civil Engineering Student of the Year
Winner
2020
State of Nebraska Board of Engineers and Architects
Engineer Intern
Emergency Management Institute (FEMA)
IS-2700: National Mitigation Framework, An Introduction
Certification
Emergency Management Institute (FEMA)
IS-922.A: Applications of GIS for Emergency Management
Certification
Emergency Management Institute (FEMA)
IS-273: How to Read a Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM)
Certification
National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying
Fundamentals of Engineering Exam - Civil
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
30 Hour Construction Safety and Health
Certification
Collaborate Institutional Training Initiative (CITI)
Responsible Conduct of Research for Engineers - Stage 1
Certification