Ben Leshchinsky

Ben Leshchinsky is a Professor and Richardson Chair in the Department of Forest Engineering, Resources & Management at Oregon State University's College of Forestry. He specializes in geotechnical engineering with focuses on landslide hazards, slope stability, and geosynthetic applications. His research integrates numerical modeling, remote sensing, and field monitoring to address natural hazard challenges in forested and coastal environments.

Education:

• Ph.D., Civil Engineering, Columbia University (2012)
• M.Phil, Civil Engineering, Columbia University (2010)
• M.S., Civil Engineering, Columbia University (2008)
• B.S., Civil Engineering, University of Delaware (2007)

Research Interests:

• Landslide dynamics and mitigation
• Coastal erosion forecasting
• Wildfire-landslide interactions
• Geotechnical infrastructure resilience
• Numerical modeling of slope failure mechanisms

His recent publications emphasize landslide susceptibility modeling, coastal highway vulnerability assessment, and post-wildfire geohazard analysis. He leads the Landslide Hazards Research Lab, advancing interdisciplinary approaches to natural hazard mitigation. Advises graduate students and teaches courses on soil mechanics, geosynthetics, and slope stability analysis.

Key Contributions:

• Developed the RegionGrow3D algorithm for 3D landslide source characterization
• Pioneered real-time landslide displacement monitoring techniques
• Advocated for climate-resilient transportation infrastructure planning