From Computational Research to Geotechnical Numerical Modelling
My doctoral and postdoctoral research was conducted in engineering modelling, porous media, biomechanics, material behaviour, mechanical characterisation and deformation mechanisms. Although much of this research was situated in a biomedical engineering context, the core technical methods are directly transferable to geotechnical engineering.
PhD Research
My PhD in Civil Engineering at the University of Melbourne (2019–2023) developed computational and numerical modelling methods to study material behaviour, deformation mechanisms and porous media response. The work required formulating mechanics-based models, deriving and interpreting material parameters, and validating model predictions against experimental data — the same discipline that underpins reliable geotechnical numerical modelling. The research was recognised with a Melbourne Research Scholarship (2019–2023) and the 2023 PhD Write-Up Award.
Biomedical Engineering Research
The applied context for much of this doctoral and postdoctoral work was biomedical engineering, including the mechanical characterisation and modelling of biological soft tissue and porous biological structures. This research addressed questions of material behaviour, deformation under load, and fluid-solid interaction within porous media — problems that, while biological in origin, share their underlying mechanics with soil and rock behaviour.
Computational Modelling Capability
Across this research programme, I developed capability in finite element analysis, model formulation, parameter interpretation, sensitivity analysis, model validation, scientific programming and data interpretation, together with experience preparing peer-reviewed technical publications and supervising undergraduate and postgraduate students.
Transferability to Geotechnical Engineering
Although my doctoral research was conducted in a biomedical engineering context, the core technical methods — finite element analysis, material behaviour modelling, porous media concepts, mechanical characterisation, validation against experimental data and sensitivity analysis — are directly transferable to complex geotechnical problems involving soil-structure interaction, seepage, deformation, slope stability and embankment behaviour. In practice, this means I approach geotechnical numerical modelling with a research-trained discipline: questioning model assumptions, testing sensitivity to input parameters, and being explicit about what a model can and cannot reliably predict.
| Research Method | Geotechnical Application |
|---|---|
| Finite element analysis | Settlement, deformation, excavation stability, tunnel behaviour, ground-structure interaction |
| Porous media theory | Seepage analysis, consolidation, pore pressure response |
| Material behaviour modelling | Soil and rock constitutive behaviour under load |
| Model validation against experimental data | Calibration of geotechnical models against site and laboratory data |
| Sensitivity analysis | Understanding the influence of parameter uncertainty on design outcomes |
| Scientific programming (MATLAB, Python) | Automation, data processing and interpretation of modelling outputs |
Selected Publications
Peer-reviewed publications arising from this research programme are listed on my Google Scholar and ResearchGate profiles. A curated summary of the most relevant publications for geotechnical and computational modelling audiences can be provided directly — see Contact.