Dr Chrysothemis Paraskevopoulou

Profile

I am a Geotechnical/Tunnel/Mining Engineer with post-graduate studies on the Design and Construction of Underground Works. In September 2016, I completed my doctorate (PhD) studies under Dr. Mark Diederichs supervision at Queen’s University in Canada and Dr. Matthew Perras at ETH (the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology). My research work is associated with the time-dependent behaviour of rock materials and the implications associated with tunnelling. In April 2014, I started working in a joint Research Project between Queen’s University and ETH (the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology) on time-dependent laboratory testing which required travelling between Canada and Switzerland. In February 2017, I was appointed Lecturer (Assistant Professor outside the UK) to teach MSc level and undergraduate courses on Applied Rock Mechanics and Tunnelling Engineering and Engineering Geology at the University of Leeds (UK). My professional background involves working currently as Independent Consultant on rock engineering (tunnelling and geotechnical) projects and in the past as an Engineer in both private and the public sector through engineering positions. Currently, I am acting as consulting in geotechnical, mining and tunnelling projects. In April 2018, I was elected to be in the International Tunnelling Association, ITA Young Professionals steering committee representing the UK.

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

Other Roles:

Assistant Editor | Geomechanics and Geoengineering, International Journal (Taylor & Francis Group)

ITA-AITES | Steering Board Member | ITA Young Members Group

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

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

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

Responsibilities

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

Research interests

My main areas of research interest are:

• Time-dependent behaviour of rocks and rockmass (rock and structure)
• Long-term strength estimation and prediction in rock materials
• Advanced numerical modelling and analysis in geotechnical engineering (tunnelling, slope stability, foundations)
• Improved methodologies and techniques on laboratory and field assessment
• Data analysis for laboratory and in situ testing
• Cost estimation and rick assessment of engineering projects in geotechnical and rock engineering
• Reliability in the design methods of geotechnical/tunnelling projects
• Instrumentation and Monitoring - Remote Sensing
• Geothermal and Geomechanical behaviour of rock masses in mining
• Undergound Space and Underground Sustainability

In general, I am intrested in anaything 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 alaways 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: 

• Rock Engineering/Mechanics at the MSc of Engineering Geology
• Engineering Geology Field Course (in the UK and in Cyprus), at the MSc of Engineering Geology
•  Engineering Geology at the BSc of Geology

Supervising PhD and MSc students: Harry Holmes, Pebble Arrambi Diaz

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
• Harry Holmes
• Jack Smith
• Tom Berry