I lead the Earth Materials and Processes for Sustainable Development (EM-π) research group at IGE. My team's mission is to develop knowledge on the experimental and computational mechanics of earth materials (Hard Soils and Soft Rocks, Rocks) as well artificial materials inspired by nature in order to achieve the NET ZERO Goals (green energy storage, sustainable cities, zero waste and circular economy) and mitigate the risks of climate change. The research group has a keen interest in community engagement via informal science learning and interaction with community groups, as well as policy.

My team is working on: 

• New materials in civil engineering. 
• Understadning of the mechanics (thermo-hydro-mechanical coupling) in geomaterials and in particular hard soils, soft rocks, rocks. 
• Soil-plant root interactions and links to neture-based solutions.
• Discrete Element Methods and Finite Element Methods to tackle energy applications. 
• Single and two-phase flow within naturally and lab-induced deformed rocks.
• Conditions for fault creation and fault re-activation. Critical stress state. Instability/sliding phenomena. Frictional behaviour (focus on stable sliding and stick-slip sliding modes). Fractures and faults interactions.
• Laboratory versus Field: Understanding induced seismicity due to fluid and gas flows. Understanding the role of pore pressure, fluid/gas flow and temperature variations on the creation and/or re-activation of micro-faults at the laboratory scale.
• Localised deformation in rocks and sediments. Nucleation and evolution of deformation bands, such as dilation bands, dilatant and compactant shear bands and shear-enhanced and compaction bands at the laboratory scale.  Transition from brittle to ductile behaviour.
• Application of a range of experimental methods with different resolution and sensitivity such as: a) X-ray Computed Tomography (static and time-resolved), b) Neutron Radiography and Tomography (static and time-resolved), c) 4D Digital Volume Correlation, d) Passive wave monitoring (e.g. Ultrasonic Tomography), e) Active wave monitoring (e.g. Acoustic Emission monitoring), f) Source Mechanisms and Moment Tensor Analysis, g) Microstructural analysis based on optical and scanning electron microscopy.
• Pore-scale characterisation, pore network extraction and fluid flow front propagation and fluid flow simulations.
• Shear experiments on 2D (analogue) granular materials. Investigation of the impact of different shape of grains on the mechanical behaviour of a granular material. Comparison of experimental results with numerical simulations using Discrete Element Method (Molecular Dynamics). 

I'm an affiliated member of the Gamification & System Thinking Lab (Edinburgh University):  People | GST Lab (ed.ac.uk) , where I contribute towards communities and policy understanding in civil and energy engineering climate change challenges. Additionally, I’m also a member of the Developmental Interest Group (SoSS, HWU), where I contribute towards sustainability and children development research. 

I'm currently acting as the Assistant Executive Dean for Equality-Diversity-Inclusion (EDI) within EGIS. I'm also a Research Culture Champion for Heriot-Watt University and an Academic Lead for Community Engagement. 

Teaching currently: 

• D29GA (SCQF L9) - Geotechnics A (2025-)
• D29GS (SCQF L9) - Geology and Soil Properties (2024-)
• D29SP (SCQF L9) - Geology and Soil Properties -GA (2024-)
• G11GE (SCQF L11) - Geothermal Energy: Induced Seismicity (2022-)
• G11GR (SCQF L11) - Reservoir Geomechanics: Geomechancis and Geothermal Operations (2021-)
• G11GM (SCQF L11) - Geomechanics and Flow Mechanics: Geomechanics  (2019-)
• D20ZA/ZB/ZC/ZD (SCQF L10) - Dissertations (Civil Engineering)- (2026-)
• G11IP (SCQF L11) - Dissertations (Geoenergy Engineering)-(2018-)

Teaching previously: 

• G11RG (SCQF L11) - Rock Mechanics, Geomechanics and Geophysics: Rock Mechanics, Geomechanics (2019-2024)
• G11FA (SCQF L11) - Flame Appraisal: Petroleum Geology and Geophysics (2017-2022)
• G10UG (SCQF L10) - Introduction to Petroleum Engineering: Geology and Geophysics (2016-2021)
• G11DP (SCQF L11) - Design Project: tutorials and presentation skills  (2016-2020)
  
• G11EP (SCQF L11) - Field Evaluation Project: presentation skills (2018-2020)
  
• G11TP (SCQF L11) - Field Exploration Project: presentation skills (2018-2020)
• G11IP (SCQF L11)- Individual Projects: presentation skills  (2018-2020)
  
• G11IN: (SCQF L11)- Integrated Team Project: Reservoir Geomechanics (2022-2024)
• Presentation skills for PE, APG, REM, SES, MFM MSc (2018-2026)

PhD Supervision: During the years my PhD students (me as 1st, 2nd, or external supervisor) have studied earth materials and deformation in tocks and soils, simulated and digitised subsurface green energy risks, studied root-soil systems along with their physics and mechanics to tackle urban flooding and landslides, and turned these geological and ecological challenges into actionable climate governance policies.  

[10] Mr Sushil Pokhrel (2026-): 'Assessing the role of woodland restoration in managing hillslope hydrology for landslide hazard reduction.' - Second supervisor.

[9] Ms Ebikenyen Theresa Uti (2025-): 'Innovative management in emission reduction: case studies of Nigeria's oil and gas sector.' - Second supervisor (PTDF , Nigerian Government).

[8] Dr Maddie Geddes-Barton (2025-): 'Vegetated urban rain gardens for the management of hydroclimatic stressors' - First supervisor (EPSRC-DTP).

[7] Ms Birhanmeskel Haddis Woldemichael (2024-): 'Effective management of induced seismicity for the Ner Zero energy transition.'  - Second Supervisor.

[6] Mr Tomiwa Aderemi (2023-):  'Controls of the subsurface fractures on the mine-water storage efficiency by combining full-field methods with machine learning.' - First supervisor (EPSRC-DTP).

[5] Mr Jinci Chen (2023-): 'From geo-resources to energy storage: how do underground lithologies respond to thermo-mechanical coupling?' - First Supervisor (IAPETUS2 NERC-CDT).

[4] Ms Maria-Eleni Taxopoulou (2020-2024): 'Microstructures and geomechanical properties of low-porosity sandy carbonates.' - External Supervisor (UPPA, France). Now working at Total.

[3] Dr Hosein Doryanidaryuni (2017-2022): 'Experimental and theoretical study of gas and condensate flow and fluid confinement in unconventional reservoirs.' - Second Supervisor.

[2] Dr Mohammad Madankan (2017-2021): 'Neutron and x-ray 3D and 4D imaging of fluid transport within natural and lab-deformed carbonate rocks.'  - First Supervisor. Now working at the Research Centre for Carbon Solutions (RCCS) at Heriot-Watt University.

[1] Dr Ilaria Soriano (2015-2019): 'Bands of localised deformation in weakly cemented sands: the example of Bedoin (southern France).' https://www.ros.hw.ac.uk/handle/10399/4182 - First Supervisor. Now working at the CBG Consultants (building physics and sustainable design; https://cbgc.com/about-us/team/). 

MSc Supervision

[10] Mr Somieibi Jaja (2026): ' Discrete Element Modelling of Stanton Moor Sandstone: Grain-Scale Effects on Bulk Behaviour and Implications for Underground Energy Storage' - First Supervisor.

[9] Mr Ronald Kaggwa (2025): 'Assessment of reservoir heterogeneity using hydraulic flow units in Kaiso-Tonya, Albertine Graben - Western Uganda' - First Supervisor.

[8] Ms  Firangi Akhundova (2023): 'Earth Pressure Coefficient
X field reservoir anticline structure case study' - First Supervisor.

[7] Mr Adetomiwa Adesiyan Aderemi (2022): 'Porosity and Permeability Calculations in a Biolithite' - First Supervisor.

[6] Mr Otubu Olalekan (2021): 'Deriving rock properties from core images using digital image analysis techniques' - First Supervisor.

[5] Mr Yousuf Almahrouqi (2020): 'Geomechanical workflow and elastic properties in carbonates and shales in Oman North’ - First Supervisor.

[4] Ms Nektaria Panou (2019): 'Assessment of residual oil in coquina samples by means of Neutron Tomography' - First Supervisor.

[3] Mr Vivek Singh (2019): 'Effects of Fracturing Fluids on Unconventional Shale Mechanical Properties and Proppant Embedment' - First Supervisor.

[2] Mr Berry Paul (2018) : 'Laminaria Oilfield: Wellbore stability data review' - First Supervisor.

[1] Mr Gjini Eldi (2015) : 'Shear and Compaction Band impact on the Fluid Flow within Vosges Sandstone' - Second Supervisor.

UG Supervision

[1] Mr Gareth Welsh (2025-2026): 'Construction Guidance for the Greywackes of Scotland' - First Supervisor.

Teaching Administration:

• Senior Course leader (Edinburgh, Dubai, Malaysia) for Geology and Soil Properties (D29SG- SCQF L9, 2025-) [Course leader since 2024 -]
• Senior Course leader (Edinburgh) for Geology and Soil Properties (D29SP- SCQF L9, 2025-)
• Course leader (Edinburgh) for Reservoir Geomechanics (G11GR- SCQF L11, 2021-2022) 
• Course leader (Edinburgh) for Geothermal Energy (G11GE - SCQF L11, 2019-2020)
• Course leader (Edinburgh, Malaysia and IDL) for Flame Appraisal (G11FA - SCQF L11, 2017-2022)