Yahya Nazhat

Dr. Yahya Nazhat is a Lecturer in the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of British Columbia (UBC), part of the Faculty of Applied Science. He joined UBC in 2014 as an instructor after 26 years of professional experience in civil and geotechnical engineering across Australia and the Middle East. His research focuses on geotechnical engineering innovations, particularly dynamic compaction and ground improvement techniques.

• Educations: BSc in Civil Engineering (University of Mosul), MSc in Sanitary/Environmental Engineering (University of Baghdad), Ph.D. in Civil Engineering (University of Sydney, 2013).

His professional career includes senior roles in engineering management for major infrastructure projects like highways, tunnels, and high-rise buildings. Nazhat is a Chartered Professional Engineer in Australia, registered with the National Professional Engineers Register since 1997, and a Fellow of the Institution of Engineers, Australia.

Research Interests: Ground improvement via dynamic compaction, soil behavior under dynamic loads, geotechnical physical modeling, and applications of high-speed photography in geotechnical analysis.

Awards: Notable recognitions include the UBC Student Appreciation Award (2019), Australian Postgraduate Research Award (2010-2012), and James Kentley Memorial Scholarship (2010).

Teaching: Instructors for courses CIVL 303 (Computational Tools), CIVL 410/411 (Foundation Engineering), and CIVL 445/446 (Civil Engineering Design Projects). He has also contributed to curriculum development in geotechnical engineering education.