Dr Chrysothemis Paraskevopoulou

Profile

Chrysothemis is currently an Associate Professor at the University of Leeds and a Mining Engineer (MEng) with post-graduate studies (MSc) in Tunnelling & Geological Engineering from NTUA (GR). In 2016, she completed her PhD in tunnelling which involved working in a joint Research Project between Queen’s University and ETH Zurich. In 2017 she was appointed Assistant Professor at the University of Leeds (UK) to teach rock mechanics tunnelling and geotechnical related courses where in 2019 she got her tenure (permanent chair). She has been also appointed as visiting Lecturer at Warwick University in the UK and Adjunct Professor at Queen’s University in Canada. Her research deals with geo-engineering innovative design, resilient and sustainable geo-structure & infrastructure and their societal impact. She has published more than 65 papers in international journals and conferences She also works as an Independent Private Consultant and in the past as Geotechnical Engineer. In September 2022 Chrysothemis became the Director of the prestigious MSc Engineering Geology at the University of Leeds. 

She is an active member of the British and Greek Tunnelling Society Young Members Group. She is also the past Vice-chair of the Young Member’s Group (Early Careers Young Professionals) of the International Tunnelling Association, a member of the ITACUS and ITA-CET committees. In 2020 she completed her MBA at Leeds University Business School as she is a strong believer in life-long training (and other reasons). 

In Greek, my first name (Chrysothemis) means Golden (-chryso) Natural Law - Justice (-themis), in case you were wondering.

Other Roles:

Editorial Board Member | Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology | Elsevier | IF: 6.9

Editorial Board Member | Underground Space Open Access International Journal (US) | Elsevier | IF: 6.4

Guest Editor | Special Issue on Machine Learning and Numerical Modelling in Geotechnical Engineering | Applied Science Open Access Journal by MDPI | IF: 2.5

Editorial Board Member | Rock Mechanics Letters | Vance Press

Assistant Editor | Geomechanics and Geoengineering Int Journal (Prof Hai Su-Yu Editor in Chief) | Taylor & Francis Online | IF: 1.3

Guest Editor | Special Issue on Advanced Numerical Modelling and Analysis in Geotechnical Engineering | Geosciences Open Access Journal by MDPI | IF: 2.7 (Past)

Editorial Board Member | Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology and Hydrogeology (QJEGH) | The Geological Society of London | IF: 1.4 (Past)

ITA-AITES | Steering Board Member | ITACUS – AG2 Urban Sustainability Leader

ITA-AITES | Steering Board Member | ITA-CET (Education and Training)

GTS | General Secretariat | Greek Tunneling Society

ITA-AITES | Vice-Chair & Steering Board Member | ITA Young Members Group (Past)

BTS | Steering Board Member (Schools and Universities) | BritishTunnelling Society Young Members (Past)

Responsibilities

• Rock Mechanics/Engineering Geology and Geotechnical (RMEGG) Laboratories Manager/Director
• Rock Mechanics/Engineering Geology, Geotechnical and hydrogeology (RMEGH) Research Group Leader

Research interests

My main areas of research interest are:

• Time-dependent behaviour of geo-materials, self-sealing processes on fractures;
• Stability assessment for sustainable and resilient underground and geo-structure using AI
• Long-term strength estimation and prediction in geo-materials and progressive failure;
• Predicting the geomechanical properties of rocks using data mining and machine learning;
• Modelling induced vibrations around tunnels (ground-support) and delayed behaviour in complex ground and rock burst hazard (seismic-induced time-dependent behaviour);
• Advanced numerical modelling and analysis on rock engineering and design methodologies in geotechnical engineering (tunnelling, slope stability, foundations) and analysis of mechanical behaviour of complex ground conditions;
• Geological engineering and design methodologies for underground tunnel and mine design and Geological and engineering characterisation of rock and rock mass systems (rock and structure);
• Development of laboratory and in-situ testing techniques on rock materials;
• Risk assessment and cost estimation of engineering projects in geo-engineering;
• Utilising the subsurface for Geo-thermal energy and holistic analysis of geo-assets;
• Improved methodologies and techniques on laboratory and field assessment;
• Urban Sustainability & Underground Space and SDGs & Geosciences.

In general, I am intrested in anything that has to deal with the interaction between the ground (rock and soil) and man-made structures. I am also a big believer of the undergound space and its potential use. 

Having said this I am always open to ideas that can trigger fruitful discussions and turn into research.

Qualifications

• MBA, University of Leeds, UK
• PhD, Queen's University, Canada
• MSc, National Technical, University of Athens
• MEng, National Technical, University of Athens

Professional memberships

• British Tunnelling Society (BTS)
• British Geotechnical Association (BGA)
• Greek Tunnelling Society (GTS)
• International Society of Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering (ISRM)
• Technical Chamber of Greece (TEE)
• Tunnelling Association Canada (TAC)
• Academy of Athens Scholars Association (AASA)
• Leventis Scholars Association (LSA)

Student education

Teaching at MSc and BSc Level courses: 

Master Level (MSc) 

SOEE5045M Tunnelling & Rock Engineering/Mechanics | MSc of Engineering Geology | University of Leeds, UK

SOEE5017M Geological Investigation and Characterisation & Engineering Geology – Field Courses (in the UK and international) | MSc of Engineering Geology | University of Leeds, UK

SOEE5050M Engineering Geology Dissertation Projects | MSc of Engineering Geology| University of Leeds, UK

CIVL5164M Transport Infrastructure Strategy | MSc of Geotechnical Engineering | University of Leeds, UK

Undergraduate Level (BSc) 

SOEE3135/5195M Engineering Geology | BSc of Geology (3rd and 4th year) | University of Leeds, UK

SOEE2940M Applied Geosciences | BSc of Geology (2nd year) | University of Leeds, UK (Past)

Supervising PhD and MSc students Jack Smith, Tom Berry, Pebble Arrambi Diaz, Harry Holmes (Past)

Acting as an Academic Tutor to MSc students

Research groups and institutes

• Institute of Applied Geoscience
• Rock mechanics, Engineering geology and hydrogeology

Current postgraduate researchers

• Pebble Arrambi Diaz
• Jack Smith
• Tom Berry