Jason T. DeJong

Jason T. DeJong is a Professor of Civil & Environmental Engineering at the University of California, Davis, and Director of the Center for Geotechnical Modeling. He earned a B.S.C.E. from UC Davis and an M.S.C.E. and Ph.D. from Georgia Tech. His research focuses on soil characterization, bio-mediated geotechnics, earthquake engineering, and sustainability, with over $40M in grants and 250+ publications. He chairs ISSMGE TC102 (In situ Testing) and advises civil infrastructure projects globally.

Education:

• B.S.C.E., University of California, Davis
• M.S.C.E., Georgia Institute of Technology
• Ph.D., Georgia Institute of Technology

Research Interests:

• Soil liquefaction mitigation via MICP (microbially induced calcite precipitation)
• Bio-inspired engineering for anchorage systems
• Geotechnical sustainability and life cycle assessment (LCA)
• Dynamic behavior of coarse-grained soils
• Advanced field testing techniques (e.g., CPT, vane shear)

Recent Research Trends: His 2023–2025 work emphasizes bio-cementation applications, hypergravity testing for permafrost thawing, and optimizing MICP treatment for soil improvement. Articles highlight interdisciplinary methods combining DEM modeling, centrifuge testing, and LCA frameworks to address geotechnical challenges.

Awards:

• ASTM International Hogentogler Award (2018, 2021)
• ASCE Huber Research Prize (2019)
• ICE TK Hsieh Prize (2020)
• ASCE Fellow (2022)

Grants & Advising: Dr. DeJong oversees ~$40M in funded projects and actively mentors students in geotechnical earthquake engineering, dam safety, and sustainable infrastructure. He leads the NSF ERC for Bio-mediated and Bio-inspired Geotechnics, fostering collaboration between academia and industry.

Labs & Teams: Directs the UC Davis Center for Geotechnical Modeling and co-leads the NHERI centrifuge facility. Collaborates with global partners on bio-geo projects and advanced testing methodologies.