RWU Timber Research Group
Ongoing Projects
Salt Spray Effect on Timber Biodegradation
This project aims to study in-situ and accelerated salt spray corrosion tests on Cross-laminated and Glued-laminated Timber members.
Start Date: Fall 2024
Moisture Intrusion in Mass Timber Elements
This project investigates the moisture intrusion in different depths of Cross-laminated and Glued-laminated Timber members by executing in-situ wind-driven and free-water pooling tests
Start Date: Fall 2024
UV-Exposure Decolorification of Mass Timber Elements
Mold-Mildew growth in the lamina of Mass Timber Elements.
Start Date: Spring/Summer 2025
Recent News
Our team presented the first step of the work on coastal climate environmental impacts on Mass Timber construction at the International Mass Timber Conference in Portland, OR in March 2024.
Our group just installed the vacuum press machine in SECCM, SELB 104. The press will be used to fabricate the CLT panels which then will be cut to size for different projects.
Our team was awarded by USDA Wood Innovation Grant FY24 in May 2024 to pursue the environmental impacts of coastal climate on Mass Timber Elements for two years.
Upcoming Events
RWU is hosting a Rothoblaas Timber Connection event
Oct. 1
5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Roger Williams University
Mary Tefft White Cultural Center
University Library
Students/Staff/Faculties can attend free.
Other professionals please use this link to RSVP
Meet the Team
Shay Kurzinski, Ph.D.
Shay is an Assistant Professor of Construction Management at Roger Williams University. She has been involved in the Mass Timber industry since 2019. She completed her Ph.D. from SUNY ESF with a subject on Diagonal-Cross-laminated Timber Product Development. She worked for Timberlab (Swinerton) and Wood Partners as a Project Engineer and Project Estimator before joining RWU. She currently teaches Construction Methods and Materials; CNST 200 and CNST 201 and associated labs to Freshmen and Sophomores.
Molly York
Molly is a junior student in the Civil Engineering program minoring in Construction Management and Mathematics. She is a member of RWU's honors program, Women in Construction, Society of Women Engineers, and Women's Ice Hockey and spends her free time skateboarding, snowboarding, and playing sports with her 3 dogs. She has interests in commercial design and construction, specifically in the mechanics of materials and is excited to create the bridge between material engineering and performance.
Bryce Riccitelli
Bryce is a Senior student in the Construction Management program from Monroe, Connecticut who also minors in Business and Real Estate with a core concentration in Sustainable Building. At RWU, he participates in two competition teams; VDC and Design-Build, and is a member of the Construction Management Club. In his free time, he enjoys the outdoors and ski, hike and kayak. He has three brothers, two dogs, and some chickens! He is looking forward to working on the ever growing industry of Mass Timber.
Andrew Mungovan
Andrew is a rising senior at Roger Williams University studying construction management. Over the past four years, he has worked as a carpenter focusing on wooden gates and fencing. He furthered his skills at school and learned how to mortise and tenon timber frame structures. Outside the classroom, Andrew participated on the Roger Williams swim team, receiving the “Master of Communication” award as decided by his teammates. Andrew was also selected to be a part of the Academic All-District Team. He was recognized for holding a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher.
Let's Collaborate
Contact us at: rwutimbergroup@gmail.com