I am an Associate Professor at Auburn University, where my research and teaching focuses on landslides, dams, advanced site characterization, and geotechnical earthquake engineering. I joined Auburn in 2015 after completing my doctorate in Civil Engineering from the University of California, Davis. I am a member of several professional associations including the American Society of Civil Engineers, International Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, United States Society on Dams and the American Geophysical Union.
We are always looking for talented graduate students who are interested in geotechnical engineering to join our group. Please see the graduate admission page for more information. All applications will be considered for funding, but offers can only be made after all applications have been reviewed.
research
Our research group is focused on designing and improving methods to analyze the response of geotechnical infrastructure systems (e.g., dams, slopes, levees, transportation networks, pipelines) to natural hazards. We use a combination of field monitoring, laboratory testing, and numerical modeling in our work. Our work has been funded by the National Science Foundation, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and Alabama Department of Transportation.
Current group members:
- Mengwei Xuan, Ph.D. student
- Olaniyi Afolayan, Ph.D. student
- Leila Rahimikhameneh, Ph.D. student
- Josh McLeod, Ph.D. student
- Anna Lancaster, undergraduate researcher
Current Research Projects
- "Efficient Methods for Determining Seismic Sit Class for Alabama Bridges." Alabama Department of Transportation - July 2023-June 2025.
- "Automated Detection of Ground Deformation on Alabama Highways using Remote Sensing." Alabama Department of Transportation - June 2023-May 2025.
- "Development of a Soil-Structure-Interaction Framework in Support to Enhance Regulatory Oversight for Small Modular Reactors." United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission - October 2021-September 2024.
- "CAREER: From Pore to Pipe: A multiscale experimental and numerical study of piping in unsaturated soil." National Science Foundation - August 2021-July 2026.
- "Geotechnical Health Monitoring and Assessment of Landslides." Alabama Department of Transportation - June 2021-May 2024.
Teaching
I have taught a variety of geotechnical engineering courses at Auburn. Each course is designed to help students connect to the fundamental concepts in the material while encouraging critical thinking and problem solving. My courses include:
- CIVL3310 Geotechnical Engineering I
- CIVL5330/6330 Landfills
- CIVL7340 Soil Dynamics
- CIVL7360 Earth Slopes and Dams
- CIVL7970 Advanced Site Characterization
- CIVL 7970 Geotechnical Modeling
Geotechnical engineering is just one of many civil and environmental engineering specializations offered at Auburn University.
outreach
We are actively involved in fostering the next generation of geotechnical engineers through outreach activities and the Auburn Geotechnical Society. Outreach activities include the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering's annual E-Day open house, demonstrations at science and engineering camps, and undergraduate research opportunities. The Auburn Geotechnical Society provides professional development opportunities to geotechnical students through networking, community outreach, and research presentations.