Zapata's research focuses on unsaturated and expansive soils, soil behavior under static/repeated loads, fluid flow and volume change modeling, environmental impacts, and soil improvement.

Khodadadi Tirkolaei's research interests include Geotechnical Engineering, Biogeotechnical Engineering, Biogeotechnologies for Mining & Critical Minerals, and Circular Materials for Geoinfrastructure

Salifu integrates geotechnics, biology, and environmental systems to develop climate-responsive, nature-inspired solutions for resilient infrastructure and sustainable landscapes.