Education
Ph.D., 1996, University of California, Berkeley
M.S., 1992, University of California, Berkeley
B.S., 1990, University of California, Berkeley
Research Interests
My primary research interests are in geotechnical earthquake engineering and engineering seismology, with emphases on seismic soil-structure interaction, earthquake ground motion characterization, seismic ground failure, and the seismic performance of earth structures including structural fills and levee embankments. My research has involved: interpretation of earthquake strong motion data to gain insight into soil-structure interaction effects, characterize site effects, and to produce practical models for the prediction of ground motion intensity measures; cyclic field testing of earth structures and full-scale foundation components including shallow foundations, drilled shafts, and bridge abutment walls; advanced dynamic testing of soils in the laboratory; and case history studies of the seismic field performance of infrastructure in California, Taiwan, Turkey, Japan, Greece, Italy, and India. Results from my research group are widely utilized in engineering practice, including a 2012 NIST guidelines document for soil-structure interaction, ground motion prediction equations used for the
USGS National Seismic Hazard Model, ASCE-7 (for new structures), ASCE-41 (existing structures) and additional guidelines documents for landslide risk and tall building design.
I am a registered P.E. in California and maintain an active consulting practice to assist engineering firms and government agencies with problems in geotechnical engineering and earthquake engineering.
Selected Awards and Honors
- Elected Member, National Academy of Engineering, 2024
- Academy of Distinguished Alumni, University of California, Berkeley, Civil & Environmental Engineering Department, 2024
- Erskine Fellowship, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand, 2020
- Outstanding Paper Award for Vol. 33 (2017) of Earthquake Spectra, EERI, 2019 (with Kioumars Afshari and Christine Goulet)
- Bruce Bolt Medal, Cosmos, EERI, and SSA, 2018
- William B. Joyner Lecture Award, EERI and SSA, Lecture Video, 2016
- Distinguished Teaching Award, UCLA Academic Senate, 2012
- Elected Fellow, ASCE, 2009
- Walter L. Huber Civil Engineering Research Prize, ASCE, 2008
- Outstanding Paper Award for Vol. 21 (2005) of Earthquake Spectra, EERI, 2007 (with Yoojoong Choi)
- Shamsher Prakash Research Award, Shamsher Prakash Foundation / Geo-Institute, 2006
- Fulbright Scholarship, Senior Lecturer in Italy, United States Department of State, 2005
- Northrop-Grumman Excellence in Teaching Award, UCLA Samueli Engineering, 2003
- Arthur Casagrande Professional Development Award, ASCE, 2001
- Favorite Professor Award, UCLA Student Chapter of ASCE, 1999, 2001, 2010, 2011, 2014
- Faculty Early Career Development Award, NSF, 1998
- Graduate Fellow in Earthquake Hazard Reduction, EERI, 1995