ELENA VAZQUEZ
Elena Vazquez is a Master of Science candidate at the Stuckeman Center for Design Computation at Penn State University. Elena holds a Fulbright scholarship and is a Teaching Assistant at for second year Design Studio in at Penn State. Her research focus on material computation, digital fabrication, and generative design. Before coming to Penn State, she obtained her professional degree in Architecture in the Asuncion National University. She worked as an architect and in several architecture firms in Paraguay, and was the associate architect in the design and construction of several housing projects. She also has experience as a violin teacher, an interior designer and in construction management. The topic of her Master is: "Perforated Masonry Walls: An analysis of the performance and shape optimization using Shape Grammars and Simulation"
JULIO DIARTE
Julio Diarte is from Asuncion, Paraguay. He obtained his Master Degree in Architectural Design at the Barcelona School of Architecture in 2009. He has worked as a professional architect in Spain, Romania, and Paraguay. Since 2011 he is part of the Research Department at the Architecture, Design, and Arts School at the National University of Asuncion where he worked in different research projects, organizing seminars, workshops, exhibitions, and representing the school in international networks. In 2015 was selected as a Fulbright Scholar and he is currently a Ph. D. student in architecture and teaching assistant of the 1st. year Studio Design at the Stuckeman School of Architecture at Penn State. His main research interest is about architectural design, digital fabrication, traditional building methods, and reuse of waste materials in architecture.
BENAY GÜRSOY TOYKOÇ
Benay Gürsoy Toykoç’s research and teaching focus on computational making and material computation, craft theory, shape studies, basic design education, and cognitive studies of the design process. Benay has lectured and taught workshops in several universities in Turkey, and United States. From 2010 to 2016, she taught first year design studios, geometry and design computing courses at Istanbul Bilgi University, Faculty of Architecture. She has also instituted undergraduate level elective courses including a course on “hacking materials and production methods”. Since Fall 2016, she is working as an Assistant Professor at Penn State University, Department of Architecture. Her current position includes teaching undergraduate level studios and courses, and advising graduate students. Benay has completed her PhD studies in Architectural Design Computing Program at Istanbul Technical University in June 2016. Her PhD thesis focuses on understanding how material manipulation in design can become an integral part of the computational design process.
