Adrian Brügger

Sen. Adrian Brügger is Director of the Robert A. W. Carleton Strength of Materials Laboratory, a Columbia University center with a trifold mission of teaching, research, and materials testing. The Carleton Laboratory is the preeminent experimental research center of the Department of Civil Engineering and Engineering Mechanics. Dr. Brügger graduated from Columbia University with a B.S. and an M.S. in civil engineering, both with a concentration in structural engineering. He received his Ph.D. in civil engineering, with a focus on mechanics of materials and health monitoring.

Dr. Brügger's research interests are in the quantification of the internal mechanics of multibody systems in failure-critical structures. He uses neutron diffraction and imaging as a particle physics probe to penetrate deeply into bulk materials without disturbing the internal mechanics of the sample. Dr. Brügger is active in various field projects focusing on major infrastructure health monitoring, damage detection, and damage mitigation; this effort includes vibration instrumentation and condition assessments on various large bridges and sensitive structures.

On the University Senate, Dr. Brügger serves a co-vice-chair of the Research Officers Committee and co-chairs the Campus Planning and Physical Development Committee. Further, Dr. Brügger co-chairs the Joint Subcommittee of the Commission of Diversity, Campus Planning and Physical Development, and Student Affairs Committees for the Creation of Dedicated Space for Columbia University’s First-Generation, Low-Income (FLI) Students.