Find Academic Supervisors

• Structural Engineering
• Bridge Engineering
• Earthquake Engineering
• +5 more

Christopher Higgins is a Professor in the School of Civil and Construction Engineering at Oregon State University (OSU), part of the College of Engineering. He has been at OSU since 2000 and previously held positions at Clarkson University and industry roles with firms like Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates. His research focuses on structural engineering, bridge engineering, and earthquake engineering, with particular expertise in experimental mechanics and infrastructure testing. Higgins holds a B.S.C.E. from Marquette University (1988), M.S. from The University of Texas at Austin (1990), and Ph.D. from Lehigh University (1997). He is a licensed Professional Engineer in New York and has extensive consulting experience with organizations such as the Army Corps of Engineers and Pacific Stair Co. His research interests include testing structures under seismic, wind, and ocean wave loads, evaluating structural materials (steel, concrete, composites), and improving bridge design and assessment. Notable achievements include saving Oregon taxpayers $500 million through reinforced concrete bridge research and developing tools for steel truss bridge inspection. Higgins has authored over 40 refereed journal articles and numerous conference proceedings, with funding from NSF, FHWA, and industry partners totaling over $6 million. He teaches advanced courses in structural analysis, seismic design, and bridge engineering, mentoring 32 M.S. and 6 Ph.D. students. Awards include the 2018 OSU Alumni Professor Award and the 2011 College of Engineering Research Award. He leads the Structural Engineering Research Laboratory at OSU, directs the Oregon Transportation Research and Education Consortium (OTREC), and has advised visiting researchers from Japan, Thailand, and South Korea. His work spans infrastructure resilience, retrofitting vintage structures, and acoustic emission monitoring for structural health.

Mahmoud HefnyView profile

Lecturer

• Geophysics
• Environmental Engineering
• Fluid Dynamics
• +4 more

Dr. Mahmoud Hefny is a Lecturer at the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences (D-EAPS) at ETH Zurich. He is affiliated with the Geothermal Energy & Geofluids (GEG) group and the Institute of Geophysics. His research focuses on interdisciplinary geology and geophysics, particularly fluid flow modeling in porous media across scales, CO2 storage, and geothermal energy systems. He holds a Ph.D. from ETH Zurich (2020) and has professional experience including roles as an IT Assistant at ETH and a Teaching Assistant at South Valley University, Egypt. Education: Ph.D. in Rock Physics, ETH Zurich (2015–2020) M.Sc. in Geological Sciences, South Valley University (2009–2013) B.Sc. in Geological Sciences, South Valley University (2004–2008) Research Interests: Fluid flow modeling in reservoir rocks, geothermal energy, CO2 sequestration, rock mechanics, and multi-scale computational modeling. He uses advanced imaging techniques like synchrotron X-ray tomography and neutron imaging for pore-scale analysis. Key Projects: NubiaStore Project (2018–present): Investigates CO2 storage in Nubian Sandstone. Development of predictive models for geothermal systems and CO2-enabled Enhanced Oil Recovery. Labs: Conducts experiments at the ETH Rock Physics and Mechanics (RPM) laboratory, focusing on high-pressure geo-mechanical behavior under crustal conditions.

Sébastien MerkelView profile

Professor

• Geophysics
• Deep Earth
• Mineral Physics
• +10 more

Sébastien Merkel is a Professor in the Department of Physics at the Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Lille, where he is affiliated with the Materials and Transformations Unit (UMET, CNRS UMR 8207). He leads the ERC HotCores project and co-leads the ANR Min-Dixi and former ANR-DFG TIMEleSS projects, focusing on Earth and planetary materials under extreme conditions. His research interests lie at the intersection of geophysics, mineral physics, and materials science, with a focus on texture, microstructures, seismic anisotropy, plasticity, and high-pressure/high-temperature experimentation using synchrotron X-ray diffraction. His work investigates the physical properties of Earth's mantle, D" layer, and planetary cores, particularly through multigrain crystallography and deformation studies in diamond anvil cells. His recent publications reveal a strong trend in in-situ high-pressure experiments on mantle minerals like pyrolite, wadsleyite, and bridgmanite, analyzing phase transitions, deformation mechanisms, and their seismic signatures. He frequently collaborates on experiments at large-scale facilities such as the European XFEL and synchrotrons, advancing techniques in X-ray diffraction and thermal measurements under extreme conditions. Scientific Awards: Junior Member, Institut Universitaire de France (2014–2019) Research Excellence Medal, European Mineralogical Union (2011) Mineral and Rock Physics Outstanding Student Award, American Geophysical Union (2002) Blaustein Invited Professor, Stanford University (2020) Advising and Grants: He actively supervises PhD students and postdoctoral researchers, including recent and current advisees such as Jeffrey Gay, Estelle Ledoux, and Léo Carin. He leads major funded projects including the ERC HotCores (2022–2027), ANR Min-Dixi (2023–2027), and previously the ANR-DFG TIMEleSS project (2018–2022). He has also held leadership roles in professional societies, including serving as president of the Mineral and Rock Physics section at the American Geophysical Union. Labs and Teams: He is a key member of the Terrestrial and Planetary Materials Research team at UMET and leads the High Pressure Lab at the University of Lille. His work involves the European XFEL, synchrotron facilities, and advanced data analysis tools like MAUD and multigrain XRD software.

• Structural Engineering
• Earthquake Engineering
• Seismic Retrofitting
• +5 more

Santiago Londono Lopez is a Ph.D. candidate in Civil and Environmental Engineering at the Polytechnic University of Turin (2023-2026 cycle) and serves as a PartTime Lecturer at the Department of Structural, Geotechnical and Building Engineering (DISEG). He teaches in the Master of Science program for Earthquake Engineering and Urban Resilience within the Building Engineering curriculum for academic years 2024/25 and 2025/26. Education: M.Sc. in Structural Engineering B.Sc. in Civil Engineering His research specializes in sustainable structural and energy retrofitting for aging post-WWII buildings, addressing Italy's seismic risks and energy scarcity through advanced computational methods. Key focus areas include seismic protection systems, structural monitoring, and the integration of metaheuristic algorithms, machine learning, and artificial intelligence into structural design processes. His work prioritizes BIM-enabled workflows for enhanced project accuracy and seismic resilience in steel/concrete superstructures. Recent publications analyze high-damping rubber bearings for seismic isolation, emphasizing model calibration and production variability impacts. These studies reflect his cross-disciplinary approach combining structural dynamics, materials science, and computational optimization to develop resilient building envelopes. As a teaching assistant, he contributes to course development in earthquake engineering while applying his industry experience in residential/industrial structural design. His professional practice integrates regulatory standards with sustainable retrofitting techniques to address climate change challenges in the built environment.

• Earthquake Engineering
• Numerical Modelling and Simulation
• Structural Design and Safety
• +7 more

Ward Alarab Safarani is a PhD candidate at the Polytechnic University of Turin, researching Cold-formed steel moment resisting connections for multi-storey buildings. He serves in multiple academic roles at the institution: External Collaborator for the Department of Structural, Geotechnical and Building Engineering (DISEG) External Collaborator for International Affairs (INCAM) External Collaborator for Student, Education and International Affairs (STUDI) Teaching collaborator for 'Theory and design of steel and composite structures' in Civil Engineering program Ward's educational background includes: PhD candidate in Civil and Environmental Engineering, 38th cycle (2022-2025) Master of Science in 'Civil Engineering - Structures and Infrastructures' Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering, University of Damascus (graduated with Distinction, top 1%) His research spans multiple specialized areas of structural engineering: Earthquake Engineering and structural seismic response Numerical Modeling of structural systems Steel connections analysis with focus on cold-formed systems Modular construction techniques Dynamic analysis of structures and bridges Ward's recent publications demonstrate a focused research trajectory on computational and numerical analysis of cold-formed steel connections. Both his 2024 conference papers address moment-resisting connections, showing his specialization in this critical area of structural engineering for multi-story buildings. His notable achievement is the prestigious Italian Government Scholarship MAECI: Italian Government Scholarship MAECI (2019/20-2020/21) With two years of practical experience as a Civil/Structural Engineer prior to his doctoral studies, Ward brings valuable industry knowledge to his academic work. His professional experience focused on steel and reinforced concrete structures, providing practical context for his current research. Though not advising graduate students, he contributes to academic instruction as a teaching collaborator for structural engineering courses across multiple academic years (2022/23 through 2025/26).

• Big Data Analytics
• Particle Physics
• Deep Learning
• +7 more

Johannes Erdmann is a University Professor and leads the Research and Teaching Area of Big Data Analytics in Physics at RWTH Aachen University. He is affiliated with the Department of Physics within the Faculty of Mathematics, Computer Science and Natural Sciences. His research integrates advanced data science techniques with fundamental physics investigations. His research focuses on leveraging big data and machine learning methods to solve complex problems in particle and astroparticle physics. Key areas include the physics of the Higgs boson, data analysis at the CMS experiment at CERN, and the development of deep learning techniques for high energy physics. He also contributes to gravitational wave physics, particularly in noise suppression strategies for the future Einstein Telescope. The recent publications highlight a strong trend toward methodological innovation, especially in deep learning applications for particle physics simulations and data analysis. His team is actively developing novel neural network architectures, fast simulation tools, and automated quality assurance systems, all aimed at enhancing the precision and efficiency of large-scale physics experiments. Heisenberg-Professur funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) Prof. Erdmann supervises research projects and leads a research group focused on data-intensive physics. He is actively involved in securing and managing research grants, particularly those supporting computational and methodological developments in experimental physics. His group collaborates with international teams at CERN and within the Einstein Telescope consortium. His research group, part of the Big Data Analytics in Physics unit, works on cutting-edge challenges in data processing for particle and gravitational wave physics. The team develops deep learning models, simulation frameworks, and data quality tools, contributing to major international collaborations such as CMS and the Einstein Telescope project.

• High Pressure Mechanics
• Phase Field Modeling
• Materials Science
• +3 more

Valery I. Levitas is the Anson Marston Distinguished Professor in Engineering and Murray Harpole Chair in Engineering at Iowa State University , with primary appointments in the Department of Aerospace Engineering and courtesy appointments in Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science and Engineering . He is a Faculty Scientist at Ames Laboratory and a Fellow of ASME and IAAM . Levitas earned his Dr.-Eng habil (1995) and Doctor of Science (1988) in Continuum Mechanics , along with a Ph.D. in Materials Science (1981) and M.S. in Mechanical Engineering (1978) from institutions in Hannover, Moscow, Kiev, and Ukraine. His research interests include high-pressure mechanochemistry , four-scale theory and simulations (atomistic to macroscale), in situ synchrotron radiation experiments with rotational diamond anvil cells , and phase field approaches to martensitic transformations , dislocations , and material instabilities . He pioneered concepts like virtual melting below thermodynamic temperatures, melt-dispersion mechanisms for aluminum particle reactions , and pressure self-focusing effects . Scientific awards include the Khan International Medal (2017), European Academy of Sciences and Arts election (2023), and ASME Fellow (2007). His publications span 487 works (304 journal papers, 3 books) with a Google Scholar h-index of 71 . He has secured over $14.9M in grants (including 22 federal grants from NSF, ARO, ONR, etc.).

• Civil Engineering
• Geotechnical Engineering
• Structural Analysis
• +3 more

Dr. Kenneth Imo-Imo Israel Eshiet is a Senior Lecturer in Civil Engineering at the University of Wolverhampton, UK, affiliated with the Faculty of Science and Engineering and the School of Architecture and Built Environment . He holds a PhD in Civil Engineering from the University of Leeds and postgraduate qualifications in Management and Computational Fluid Dynamics. Chartered Engineer (UK) Corporate Member of Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) Fellow of Advance Higher Education (Advance HE) Research interests focus on computational modeling of subsurface systems, stochastic risk assessment, structural analysis, and computational fluid dynamics. His work bridges civil, geotechnical, and environmental engineering with applications to energy systems and CO2 storage. Publications emphasize numerical methods (DEM, XFEM, CFD), fracture mechanics, reservoir geomechanics, and environmental impact studies. Key themes include subsurface fracturing, sand production, and optimization of energy projects. Scientific awards include University of Leeds Teaching Awards (ULTA-1 and ULTA-2) and recognition as a Chartered Engineer and Fellow of Advance HE. He has executed major projects on underground coal gasification , CO2 storage , and hydraulic fracturing in collaboration with institutions like the University of Leeds and Sustainable Energy Environmental and Educational Development (USA).

• Computational Geomechanics
• Numerical Analysis in Geotechnical Engineering
• Soil Constitutive Modelling
• +7 more

Lidija Zdravkovic is a Professor of Computational Geomechanics in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Imperial College London, Faculty of Engineering. She is also the Head of Geotechnics, leading research and academic activities in geotechnical engineering. Her work is deeply integrated with the Imperial College Finite Element Program (ICFEP) and the Imperial Centre for Geohazards, reflecting her strong commitment to advancing numerical methods in geotechnical applications. Her research interests are centered on computational geomechanics, with a focus on: Numerical analysis in geotechnical engineering Soil constitutive modeling and boundary conditions Advanced soil behavior, including unsaturated and thermo-hydro-mechanical (THM) coupling Offshore wind foundation systems Soil-structure interaction (SSI) and dynamic soil behavior She has pioneered developments in finite element solution algorithms and constitutive models for complex geotechnical problems. The recent publications (2023–2025) demonstrate a consistent trend in advancing numerical methodologies for geotechnical challenges, particularly in large deformation analysis (e.g., material point methods), uncertainty quantification, THM coupling, and offshore wind foundations. Her work bridges theoretical development with practical applications in infrastructure, energy, and environmental geotechnics. Scientific honors and professional contributions include: Delivered the Geotechnique Lecture in 2013 Editorial Board Member, Computers and Geotechnics (since 2010) Member, Geotechnique Advisory Panel (2003–2006) UK Representative, ISSMGE TC103 on Numerical Analysis Executive Committee Member, British Geotechnical Association (2010–2013) Lidija Zdravkovic has supervised numerous PhD and postdoctoral researchers, though specific names are not listed. She has secured research funding through major infrastructure projects such as Crossrail, Shard of Glass, Heathrow Terminal 5, and Rome Metro, where her numerical modeling expertise was applied. She co-authored two books on finite element analysis in geotechnical engineering and has over 100 academic publications. She is actively involved in the Geotechnics research group at Imperial, contributing to the development of the ICFEP code and mentoring the next generation of computational geomechanics researchers. Her lab focuses on high-fidelity numerical simulation of geotechnical systems under complex loading and environmental conditions.

Carlos VenturaView profile

Professor

• Earthquake Engineering
• Structural Dynamics
• Structural Health Monitoring
• +5 more

Dr. Carlos Ventura is a Professor of Structural & Earthquake Engineering at the University of British Columbia (UBC), serving as Director of the Earthquake Engineering Research Facility (EERF). With over 30 years of experience, his research focuses on structural dynamics, seismic retrofit of buildings, and infrastructure resilience. He has published over 400 papers and led projects for seismic safety guidelines in schools and bridges. Research Interests: Earthquake engineering Structural vibration testing Performance-based design Regional seismic risk assessment Structural health monitoring Awards: Lieutenant Governor’s Award of Excellence (2013) Fellow, Canadian Academy of Engineering (2010) Champions of Earthquake Resilience Award (2015) Multiple best paper awards in international journals Labs & Projects: Director of UBC Earthquake Engineering Research Facility (EERF) Lead researcher in BC School Seismic Retrofit Program Principal investigator in structural health monitoring networks Contributions to bridge and dam safety evaluations

• Basin Analysis
• Tectono-stratigraphic Evolution
• Salt Tectonics
• +5 more

Chris Jackson is a Visiting Professor of Basin Analysis at the Department of Earth Science & Engineering, Imperial College London, part of the Faculty of Engineering. He holds affiliations with the Applied Geodynamics Laboratory (AGL), Bureau of Economic Geology (BEG), Geological Society of London, and multiple research groups. His career spans roles from Lecturer (2004) to Equinor Professor of Basin Analysis (2018–2021), with research focused on rift basins, salt tectonics, and deep-water sedimentology. Education includes a PhD in Evolution of Rift Basins (University of Manchester, 2002) and a BSc in Geology (University of Manchester, 1998). Research interests integrate tectono-stratigraphy, sedimentology, and structural geology, often employing 3D seismic data and analogue models. Key research themes include basin-scale collapse structures, rift evolution, and CO2 storage. Articles highlight advanced techniques for analyzing fault growth, submarine landslides, and magma-sediment interactions. His work on equity in geoscience education and diversity in STEM has been influential. Awards: Bigsby Medal (2013), AAPG William E. Pratt Memorial Award (2015), GSA Thompson Distinguished Lecturer (2016). Labs/Teams: Applied Geodynamics Laboratory (AGL), British Sedimentological Research Group (BSRG). Publications bridge fundamental geoscience with applied challenges like carbon sequestration and resource exploration, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches.

• Seismic Hazard Assessment
• Ground Motion Modeling
• Site Effects Analysis
• +6 more

Dr. Afifa Imtiaz is a scientific researcher at the Swiss Seismological Service (SED), ETH Zurich, since 2019. Her work focuses on earthquake hazard and risk assessment, particularly in Basel, Switzerland. She specializes in seismic ground motion analysis, site effects, and microzonation studies. Dr. Imtiaz holds a PhD in Engineering Seismology from Grenoble Alpes University (2015) and has extensive postdoctoral experience in France and Switzerland. Education: PhD in Engineering Seismology (2015), Grenoble Alpes University MSc in Engineering Seismology (2011), Grenoble Alpes University Research Interests: Dr. Imtiaz investigates spatial variability of ground motion in active seismic regions, focusing on basin effects and near-source dynamics. She develops numerical models to predict amplification and coherence patterns, with applications to urban risk assessment. Her work integrates geophysical data (e.g., shear-wave velocity profiles) with probabilistic risk frameworks. Key Projects: ARES PRD: Earthquake risk reduction in Haiti ANR EXAMIN: Ground motion variability for industrial infrastructure IMAGE: Geothermal exploration in sedimentary basins Basel Urban Seismic Risk Model: 3D geological-seismological integration Scientific Contributions: Her research bridges seismic hazard modeling with practical risk mitigation, particularly in urban environments. She has pioneered methods for combining ambient noise data with morphometric analyses to map resonance effects. Recent work focuses on scenario-based loss assessments and probabilistic amplification mapping.

• Seismology
• Geothermal Energy
• Hydraulic Stimulation
• +3 more

Dr. Linus Villiger is a Senior Scientist at the Swiss Seismological Service (SED) at ETH Zurich. His research focuses on seismology, geothermal energy, and induced seismicity, with expertise in software/hardware development for high-frequency data acquisition and analysis of hydraulic stimulation experiments. He holds a PhD from ETH Zurich (2020) and has led research projects on geothermal reservoir stimulation and seismic monitoring. Education 2023–present: Senior Scientist at ETH Zurich/SED 2021–2022: Postdoc at ETH Zurich/SED 2016–2020: PhD in Seismology and Geothermal Engineering (ETH Zurich/SED) 2013–2015: Master's in Sustainable Energy Engineering (Chalmers University/Iceland) 2008–2011: Bachelor's in Mechanical Engineering (Northwestern Switzerland) Research Interests Dr. Villiger specializes in hydraulic stimulation experiments , geothermal energy systems , and seismic monitoring . His work integrates hardware/software development for high-frequency data acquisition, analysis of induced seismicity patterns, and characterization of fractured rock reservoirs. Key projects include the BedrettoLab underground facility and Grimsel Test Site stimulations. Grants & Advising He leads EU/CH-funded research projects and supervises student projects (Master level). His work emphasizes scalable reservoir stimulation protocols and risk assessment for geothermal development. Labs & Teams Affiliated with the Swiss Seismological Service (SED), collaborating on large-scale geoscience infrastructure like the Bedretto Underground Laboratory and Grimsel Test Site.

• Seismic Metamaterials
• Structural Mechanics
• Risk Assessment in Urban Infrastructures
• +6 more

Bogdan Ungureanu is a Research Fellow in the Department of Physics at Imperial College London's Blackett Laboratory. He holds a PhD in Civil Engineering and has expertise in seismic metamaterials, structural mechanics, and risk assessment for urban infrastructure. His work integrates applied mathematics, theoretical mechanics, and civil engineering to design novel metamaterials for vibration reduction and seismic protection. His research spans seismic metamaterials, elastic wave control, and metamaterial applications in urban systems. Key areas include topological crystals, subwavelength effects in structured plates, and anomalous dispersion phenomena such as negative group velocity. He has collaborated with CNRS laboratories in Marseille and Le Mans, as well as the CNRS-Imperial 'Abraham de Moivre' International Research Laboratory. Recent publications focus on ceramic metatiles for elastic wave control, seismic metamaterial performance under clamping and geometry variations, and topological effects in edge wave localization. His work often combines Comsol Multiphysics simulations with experimental validation in structural dynamics and fluid mechanics. Dr. Ungureanu's articles highlight trends in metamaterial design for seismic shielding, interaction effects in urban structures, and theoretical advances in transformation elastodynamics and Floquet-Bloch theory. His expertise in finite element analysis supports industrial applications like floating metamaterial plates for mechanical vibration reduction. No scientific awards are listed. His advising/grant activities are unspecified, though his lab affiliations include the Blackett Laboratory and interdisciplinary collaborations within Imperial College's Faculty of Natural Sciences.

• Applied Mathematics
• Mechanical Engineering
• Classical Physics
• +3 more

Richard Craster is the Dean of the Faculty of Natural Sciences at Imperial College London and a Professor of Applied Mathematics. He previously served as Head of the Department of Mathematics (2011–2017) and held a distinguished professorship at the University of Alberta (2008–2010). He leads the CNRS-Imperial 'Abraham de Moivre' UMI and contributes to the Centre for Plasmonics and Metamaterials, Energy Futures Lab, and Fluid Dynamics groups. His research focuses on applied mathematics, metamaterials, fluid mechanics, and elasticity, with notable work on acoustic metamaterials and elastic wave propagation. He co-edited pioneering books in acoustics and leads EPSRC-funded metamaterial projects. Education and Academic Roles: He has been at Imperial College since 1998, contributing to both the Mathematics and Mechanical Engineering departments. He chairs the A-level Content Advisory Board for Mathematics (Russell Group) and the advisory board of Mathematics in Education and Industry (MEI). He advises the Smith Institute and Multiwave (metamaterial SME). Research Interests: His work spans metamaterials design, wave mechanics, and fluid dynamics. Key areas include topological edge states, seismic metamaterials, and energy harvesting systems. He develops theoretical frameworks for acoustic and elastic systems, combining analytical, computational, and experimental methods. Awards and Recognition: Received the Roy Sharpe Prize (2022) for contributions to applied mathematics and metamaterials. His research has been published in high-impact journals and applied across industries and government sectors. Advisory and Grants: PI of EPSRC Programme grants on metamaterial fundamentals. Active in academic-industry collaborations, with projects funded by UK research councils and international partnerships. His leadership roles include steering national education policies and international research initiatives. Labs and Teams: Leads the CNRS-Imperial Abraham de Moivre Lab, collaborating with global researchers on mathematical physics and metamaterials. Engages in multi-disciplinary teams for experiments and simulations in elastic/acoustic systems.