Rocky Taylor

Dr. Rocky Taylor is an Associate Professor and Interim Associate Dean Research in the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science at Memorial University of Newfoundland. He holds B.Eng., M.Eng., and PhD degrees in mechanical and ocean/naval architectural engineering, all from Memorial University. He is the CARD Chair in Ice Mechanics, leading research programs on ice failure mechanics, offshore structure design, and Arctic shipping safety. His work focuses on ice load estimation, fracture processes, and probabilistic modeling, supported by industry partnerships like C-CORE and Statoil.

Dr. Taylor’s research emphasizes ice dynamics, including high-pressure zone failure, freeze-bond strength, and SAR-based iceberg detection. He has led initiatives funded by RDC IgniteR&D and NSERC, advancing ice engineering practices. His academic contributions include teaching undergraduate/graduate courses and supervising student projects in structural engineering and Arctic systems.

His research integrates experimental methods (e.g., medium-scale indentation tests) with computational models (finite element analysis, machine learning algorithms) to address challenges in polar regions. Key areas include ice-structure interactions, risk management for Arctic shipping, and environmental consequence modeling. Dr. Taylor collaborates extensively with industry and international researchers to develop innovative solutions for cold ocean engineering challenges.

As Interim Associate Dean Research, he fosters interdisciplinary collaboration and graduate training while maintaining a strong focus on applied research with real-world industry applications. His work bridges academic innovation and practical engineering solutions for harsh marine environments.