Andrew Whittle

Andrew Whittle is the Edmund K. Turner Professor at MIT's Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE), part of the School of Engineering. His research focuses on geotechnical engineering, constitutive modeling of geomaterials, ground improvement techniques, and environmental sensing in water distribution systems. He has pioneered advancements in clay mechanics, bridge abutment analysis, and infrastructure resilience against climate change. Whittle teaches courses such as 1.031 Introduction to Geotechnical Engineering and 1.364 Advanced Geotechnical Engineering, emphasizing theoretical soil mechanics and practical applications.

His awards include National Academy of Engineering membership (2010), multiple ASCE accolades (e.g., Middlebrooks Award), and early-career distinctions like the Skempton Prize. His research group (AJW-Group) develops innovative models for soil behavior, borehole heat exchangers, and biofilm dynamics in water networks. Recent work addresses climate adaptation for transit infrastructure, shale softening mechanisms, and computational frameworks linking nano- to macro-scale geomechanics.

• Education:
  • B.Sc., Imperial College of Science and Technology (1981)
  • Sc.D., MIT (1987)
• Labs/Teams:
  • Whittle Group (AJW-Group) focusing on geotechnical and environmental systems
• Grants:
  • J-WAFS Solutions Grants (2023) for water treatment innovations

Publications span 40 years, with recent emphases on clay nano-aggregate mechanics, bridge seismic resilience, and microbial biofilms in water infrastructure. His work bridges fundamental geomechanics with real-world applications like tunneling-induced ground movements and climate-resilient urban systems.