Before joining CCNY, he worked as graduate research assistant at Texas A&M University, where he received his Ph.D. degree in Civil Engineering. Dr. Yazdanbakhsh's primary research is in the areas of cement-based materials and mechanical performance of reinforced concrete members, with an emphasis on the development of sustainable concrete, nano-modification of cementitious materials, durability of concrete, and experimental mechanics. He has authored several technical publications on these topics. Dr. Yazdanbakhsh is the principal investigator of a project titled as "Utilization of recycled concrete in new building construction" awarded by the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) in 2013.