Dr. Palmquist's area of specialty is in structural engineering and in performance of concrete and cementitious composites. Some of the courses he teaches include: structural analysis, design of reinforced concrete structures, steel design, and senior project. His current research includes developing a new testing set-up and apparatus for rapid determination of compressive strength of masonry block and developing a type of engineered cementitious composite with greater ductility than normal concrete. Dr. Palmquist is also investigating how modal properties affect a structure's stiffness and flexibility. Dr. Palmquist has received a collaborative funded grant to investigate how to improve bridge structures for extreme fire related events.