Thanh Son Nguyen is an Associate Professor in the Department of Civil Engineering within the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Ottawa. He also holds an associate professor position at McGill University since 1996 and has been affiliated with the University of Ottawa since 2008. Professionally, he serves as a senior geoscience specialist at the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC), where he has worked since 1982. His educational background includes a PhD in Civil Engineering and Applied Mechanics from McGill University (1995), and both M.Sc.A and B.Sc.A in Applied Science (Civil Engineering) from the University of Sherbrooke (1982 and 1979, respectively). Dr. Nguyen's research focuses on the application of physics, mathematics, and experimentation to problems in geomechanics and hydrogeology , particularly in the context of nuclear waste management. Key areas include: Finite element modeling of Thermo-Hydro-Mechanical-Chemical (THMC) coupling in geological formations Development of constitutive models for unsaturated swelling clays and sedimentary/crystalline rocks using plasticity and damage mechanics Multiphase flow and contaminant transport in engineered and geological barriers Soil and structural dynamics Although no specific publications are listed, his research output centers on theoretical and experimental studies related to the long-term safety of deep geological repositories. He collaborates extensively with international bodies such as the Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA), International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), French Institute for Radiological Protection and Nuclear Safety (IRSN), and the German Geological Survey. He co-supervises graduate and postdoctoral researchers and actively seeks motivated candidates in engineering science and computational modeling for doctoral and postdoctoral positions. His work is supported by collaborative research programs between CNSC and academic institutions. Dr. Nguyen is perfectly bilingual in English and French, reflecting Canada’s official languages. He regularly presents seminars and is frequently consulted internationally on geoscientific aspects of radioactive waste disposal.






