Catherine O'Sullivan

Prof. Catherine O'Sullivan is a Professor of Particulate Soil Mechanics at Imperial College London's Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, part of the Faculty of Engineering. She leads the Geotechnics Section and serves as Editor-in-Chief of the ASCE Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering. Her research focuses on particulate soil mechanics, employing Discrete Element Modelling (DEM) and micro-CT imaging to study sand behavior, reservoir sandstones, and internal erosion. Notable recognitions include the 2016 Shamsher Prakash Research Award and the 2021 President’s Teaching Innovation Award.

Education:

• PhD in Civil Engineering, University of California, Berkeley (2002)
• MEngSc in Civil Engineering, University College Cork (Ireland)
• BEng (Civil Engineering), University College Cork (Ireland)

Research Interests: Prof. O'Sullivan's work integrates computational and experimental methods to explore granular material behavior. Key areas include DEM validation, μCT analysis, and pore network modeling. Her group collaborates across disciplines, involving physicists and mechanical engineers alongside civil engineers.

Awards & Recognition:

• 2015 Geotechnique Lecture
• Student Choice Supervision Award (nominated twice)
• 2023 Alert Geomechanics Special Lecture

Advising & Grants: She supports PhD and postdoctoral researchers through Imperial scholarships and fellowships. Her students often explore particulate soil behavior, with many securing prestigious awards.

Labs & Teams: Leads the Geotechnics Section at Imperial, fostering interdisciplinary research in geomechanics and computational modeling.