We are pleased to announce that Dr. Riwaj (Ribu) Dhakal has joined the Department of Civil Engineering as an Assistant Professor. Dr. Dhakal brings expertise in Geotechnical and Earthquake Engineering, with a research focus on soil liquefaction, seismic foundation behavior, and advanced site characterization.
He received his Bachelor of Civil Engineering with first-class honours from the University of Canterbury (New Zealand) in 2018 and completed his PhD in Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering in 2022 through a joint program with the University of Canterbury and the University of California, Berkeley. His doctoral research advanced methodologies for assessing liquefaction and its impacts on infrastructure, building on case studies such as the 2016 Mw7.8 Kaikōura earthquake and the severe liquefaction-induced damage at CentrePort in Wellington, New Zealand.
His work integrates simplified approaches, laboratory testing, and advanced nonlinear dynamic analyses to improve the evaluation of liquefaction hazards and the seismic performance of shallow and deep foundations. He has also conducted comprehensive in-situ investigations, including over 100 Cone Penetration Tests, and advanced laboratory testing of undisturbed soil samples to refine existing assessment frameworks.
Dr. Dhakal’s ongoing research continues to develop refined liquefaction assessment methodologies to better capture the complexities of soil behavior under seismic loading. His contributions will further strengthen the department’s expertise in geotechnical earthquake engineering and advance resilient infrastructure in seismic regions.
Please join us in welcoming Dr. Dhakal to UBC Civil Engineering.