Research Team

CSULA

Mark Tufenkjian
Program Director
Dr. Tufenkjian is a Professor of Civil Engineering at CSULA. He is in charge of the geotechnical engineering program and teaches all geotechnology related courses (lecture, lab, and design) at the undergraduate and graduate level in the Civil Engineering Department. He possesses more than 20 years of geotechnical engineering research and practice experience and is a registered civil engineer in the state of California. Dr. Tufenkjian received his Ph.D. degrees in Civil Engineering from UCLA.
Dr. Tufenkjian’s research interests cover a broad range of topics including advanced soils laboratory testing, specialized in-situ field testing techniques, soil nailing, NDT for deep foundations, and infusing engineering design content in STEM K-12.
Prior to joining academia, Dr. Tufenkjian practiced as a geotechnical engineer for several prominent geotechnical engineering firms in Southern California and has worked on a wide array of projects of varying complexity over land and water.

Roxanne Acosta
Undergraduate Student Researcher
My name is Roxanne Acosta. I am a sophomore at CSULA. I am a civil engineering student, and I am involved in several student organizations: American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), Society of Women Engineers (SWE), American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), and Society of Hispanic Engineering and Science Students (SHESS). Currently, I am on the ASCE Concrete Canoe Team as well as the Steel Bridge Team. I enjoy playing softball, paddling canoes, going to see my favorite bands, eating, laughing at life's absurdities, trying new things, and hanging out with my friends! There's much more to say, but in a few sentences, that's what I'm all about!

Sarah Manuel
Undergraduate Student Researcher
My name is Sarah Manuel, I am nineteen years old and I am a sophomore at California State University, Los Angeles. I am studying to become a Civil Engineer and plan on working for a private firm. I am the treasurer of the CSULA Student Chapter of the Society of Women Engineers (SWE), a member of the CSULA Student Chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and also a math facilitator (tutor) for the MESA Engineering Program (MEP) math workshops. On my free time, I enjoy reading, playing the guitar, bass and piano, hanging out with friends, and listening to music. I love watching movies, especially horror/suspense films. I relish in being a minority in this work field. I believe that it will make me stronger, not only as an engineer, but also a woman in today's society.

Berner Walker
Undergraduate Student Researcher
I grew up in Louisiana and moved to California when I was 13years old. I attended and graduated from Torrance High school. At CSU LA, my major is civil engineering. I intend to either specialize in structural engineering or environmental engineering. In either field of work, this project will provide me with skills and knowledge pertinent to those jobs such as taking samples of soil and analyzing them.

Joe Beaty
Graduate Student Researcher
Cary Beaty graduated high school and joined the army in 1994. After leaving the Army, he attended CSULA where he met his future wife. After graduating with Bachelors in civil engineering and minors in mathematics and geology, he started work in the geotechnical field for a company that worked with land developers on large community development project. During the housing downturn, he sought work at a public agency and now works at the Metropolitan Water District. He has recently returned to graduate school to get a Masters in civil engineering and MBA.