Jonathan Black

Jonathan Black is a Senior Lecturer in Geotechnical Engineering at the University of Sheffield, a position he has held since 2015 after joining the university in 2008. He completed his undergraduate degree and PhD at Queen's University Belfast, where he also served as a Lecturing Assistant, and previously lectured briefly at the University of Plymouth.

His research focuses on geotechnical energy infrastructure and resilience, with core interests in:

• Foundation systems for offshore wind turbines under cyclic loading
• Climate change impacts on geotechnical infrastructure like embankments and flood defences
• Soil-structure interaction in buried utility networks
• Physical modelling using centrifuge facilities and transparent soils
• Mechanically stabilised soil reinforcement techniques

He directs the Centre for Energy & Infrastructure Ground Research, housing Sheffield's 4-metre geotechnical beam centrifuge, and serves as co-investigator for the UKCRIC National Distributed Water Infrastructure Facility. Jonathan represents the UK on the International Society for Soil Mechanics Technical Committee 104 and has held editorial roles for Géotechnique and ICE Geotechnical Engineering journals.

He developed the Soil Interaction Learning & Teaching Suite (SILTS), utilizing a 1-metre teaching centrifuge to enhance student experimentation in geotechnical design.