Wei Yuan | Geotechnical engineering | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Wei Yuan | Geotechnical engineering | Best Researcher Award

School of Transportation, Southeast University China

Wei Yuan is a dedicated PhD candidate at Southeast University’s Institute of Geotechnical Engineering, focusing on soil improvement and sustainable engineering solutions. Born and educated in China, Wei is currently engaged in advanced research to enhance ground stabilization and soil behavior under changing geological environments. In 2024–2025, he is a visiting PhD student at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, further expanding his expertise. With a strong academic background and multiple published articles in top journals, Wei actively contributes to national and international projects related to soil modification, waste reuse, and disaster mitigation. He is recognized for his technical leadership and collaboration in interdisciplinary engineering research aimed at improving infrastructure resilience and environmental sustainability.

Profile

Orcid

🎓 Education

Wei Yuan began his academic journey with a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from Jilin Architecture University (2013–2017). He then earned a Master’s degree in Civil Engineering from North China University of Water Resources and Electric Power (2018–2021), specializing in geotechnical engineering. Since September 2021, Wei has been pursuing his PhD at Southeast University, focusing on ground improvement and soil behavior. During 2024–2025, he is a visiting PhD student at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, broadening his research scope. His education has been deeply rooted in civil and geotechnical engineering, complemented by hands-on research experience and involvement in key projects addressing soil reinforcement and sustainable engineering materials.

💼 Experience

Wei Yuan’s experience includes major roles in several prestigious research projects, such as the National Key R&D Program on disaster evolution simulation beneath urban roads (2022–2024), and leading soil improvement projects for Zhuhai Hegang Expressway and Tianjin Eco-Environmental Design Institute (2021–2025). He specializes in vacuum preloading, degradable drainage boards, and phase-change preloading technologies for soft ground reinforcement. Wei has actively participated in China Geological Survey projects on land subsidence and ground fissures. He is also an academic reviewer for several civil engineering journals, demonstrating expertise and peer recognition. His work blends theoretical research with practical engineering applications to address complex geotechnical challenges.

🏅 Awards & Honors

While specific awards are not listed, Wei Yuan’s honors include serving as a technical lead on multiple high-profile research projects funded by national and international agencies such as the National Key R&D Program of China and Singapore’s Ministry of Education Academic Research Fund. His scholarly contributions are recognized by invitations to review for prestigious journals like Bulletin of Engineering Geology and the Environment and Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering. His academic journey is marked by competitive selections for visiting scholar programs and leadership in innovation-driven engineering projects, underscoring his reputation as a rising expert in geotechnical engineering.

🔬 Research Focus

Wei Yuan’s research focuses on ground improvement and soil modification, emphasizing sustainable engineering solutions using industrial waste and geosynthetic materials. His work investigates soil behavior under evolving geological environments and the development of novel testing and application techniques for biodegradable drainage boards and vacuum preloading methods. He studies mechanisms to mitigate land subsidence and enhance soft ground consolidation, contributing to infrastructure safety. His projects involve innovative technologies such as phase-change vacuum preloading and eco-friendly sediment reinforcement. Wei’s research advances practical and ecological approaches to geotechnical challenges, particularly for urban infrastructure and coastal protection applications.

Conclusion

Wei Yuan is a highly deserving candidate for the Best Researcher Award given his outstanding research achievements, leadership in cutting-edge projects, and dedication to advancing geotechnical engineering through innovative and sustainable solutions. With continued growth in research dissemination and leadership, he has the potential to become a global authority in his field. His current trajectory clearly reflects excellence and promise worthy of this prestigious recognition.

Publication

  1. Dewatering mechanisms of heating-assisted vacuum preloading of river/lake dredged sediments
    Year: 2025-06
    Authors: Wei Yuan, Qi Feng, Hongkai Huang, Kai Cao, Zi Ying, Yongfeng Deng
    DOI: 10.1016/j.enggeo.2025.108128
    Journal: Engineering Geology

  2. Engineering properties of biodegradable vertical drains for soft ground improvement
    Year: 2024-12-19
    Authors: Wei Yuan, Zi Ying, Yinqiang Su, Qiong Wang, Sheng Chen, Yongfeng Deng
    DOI: 10.1680/jgein.24.00110
    Journal: Geosynthetics International

  3. Performance of deep soft ground improved by straight-line vacuum combined with surcharge preloading: Case study
    Year: 2024-08-27
    Authors: Wei Yuan, Yinqiang Su, Zi Ying, Yongfeng Deng, Qian Yang, Sheng Chen
    DOI: 10.1080/1064119X.2024.2391879
    Journal: Marine Georesources & Geotechnology

  4. Degradation of straw-based wick drain and its effect on consolidation
    Year: 2024-05
    Authors: Wei Yuan, Yongfeng Deng, Zi Ying, Qian Yang, Yinqiang Su, Zhenshun Hong
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2024.142182
    Journal: Journal of Cleaner Production

  5. Laboratory degradation test and field application of straw drainage board
    Year: 2024-04-22
    Authors: Wei Yuan, Yongfeng Deng, Xiaobing Chen, Yinqing Su
    Journal: Journal of Southeast University (Natural Science Edition)

  6. Settlement prediction method for staged preloading on soft clay ground
    Year: 2024-03-03
    Authors: Wei Yuan, Rubtian Zhu, Yinqiang Su, Qi Feng, Yongfeng Deng
    Journal: Journal of Southeast University (English Edition)

  7. One-Dimensional Consolidation Properties of Soft Clay under Multi-Stage Loading
    Year: 2023-09-15
    Authors: Jiangfeng Wang, Wei Yuan, Xuexuan Yin, Wenjie Li, Xinya Li
    DOI: 10.3390/app131810340
    Journal: Applied Sciences

  8. Performance evaluation of light-weighted cement-stabilized-clay columns for soft ground improvement using the centrifuge model test
    Year: 2023-07
    Authors: Zhenping Zhao, Zi Ying, Wei Yuan, Yongfeng Deng, Xiaoqiang Liu, Chengfu Chu, Xingwen Gu
    DOI: 10.1016/j.trgeo.2023.101034
    Journal: Transportation Geotechnics

  9. Evaluation of the Laboratory Degradation Performance of a Straw Drainage Board
    Year: 2022-12-07
    Authors: Runtian Zhu, Yinqiang Su, Cankun Wu, Wei Yuan, Yongfeng Deng
    DOI: 10.3390/su142416365
    Journal: Sustainability

  10. One-Dimensional Consolidation Analysis of Saturated Soft Clay Based on Water Content Variation
    Year: 2021-01-09
    Authors: Wei Yuan, Jiangfeng Wang
    DOI: 10.1007/s12205-020-0789-4
    Journal: KSCE Journal of Civil Engineering

  1. Influence of Stress History on Consolidation Coefficient of Saturated Soft Soil
    Year: 2020-12
    Authors: Jiangfeng Wang, Wei Yuan
    Journal: Earth Science

Ali Derakhshan | Civil Engineering Geotechnics | Best Researcher Award

Ali Derakhshan | Civil Engineering Geotechnics | Best Researcher Award

University of Science and Culture, Iran

Ali Derakhshan is a civil engineer specializing in geotechnical engineering with strong expertise in numerical modeling, foundation design, and energy-based geostructures. Holding an M.S. in Civil Engineering from the University of Science and Culture, he has conducted extensive research on soil behavior under dynamic loads and innovative geotechnical solutions like micro energy piles and aluminum foam mitigation techniques. With several international journal publications and conference presentations across Europe and Iran, he actively contributes to the advancement of seismic-resilient infrastructure. He has also served as a teaching and research assistant and worked as a professional engineer and cost estimator since 2013.

Publication Profile

Scholar

🎓 Education

Ali earned his M.S. in Civil Engineering (Geotechnics) from the University of Science and Culture, Tehran (2016–2020), with a thesis on sandy soil settlement under static and dynamic loads, and a GPA of 16.23/20. He previously completed his B.S. in Civil Engineering at Azad University of Share Qods (2011–2015), achieving a GPA of 17.08/20. During his studies, he successfully passed advanced courses like Numerical Modelling, Project Management, Soil Mechanics, and Engineering Economy. His academic background is complemented by multiple certifications in Python, AI, and machine learning from Coursera and major universities, enhancing his technical and computational abilities in solving complex geotechnical problems.

💼 Experience

Ali has held diverse roles across engineering, teaching, and research. He worked as a Design and Building Engineer at Fara Sazeh Construction Company (2013–2015), and since 2017, he has served as a Construction Engineer and Cost Estimator at View Construction Company. From 2022 to 2024, he was a Research Assistant at the Niroo Research Institute, contributing to laboratory setups and data analysis. Ali also held teaching assistantships at USC and Azad University, supporting courses in soil mechanics, steel/concrete structures, and numerical modeling. His professional strengths include cost estimation, structural design, blueprint drafting, and advanced numerical simulations.

🏆 Awards & Honors

Ali was the Salutatorian of his 2015 civil engineering cohort at Azad University and ranked among the top 10% admitted to graduate programs in Iran. He is a member of several esteemed organizations including the Iranian Society of Civil Engineering and the Young Researchers Club. He has won design contests like the Spaghetti Bridge (2014) and Small Steel Bridge (2013) competitions. His academic and extracurricular excellence, coupled with his technical proficiency, has earned him wide recognition among peers and faculty. He continues to demonstrate strong leadership and innovation in both academic and professional settings.

🔬 Research Focus

Ali’s research is centered on seismic resilience, soil-structure interaction, and sustainable geotechnical innovations. His published works explore aluminum foam for surface fault mitigation, 3D modeling of skin friction on piles, and geothermal energy solutions for foundations. He is deeply engaged in improving infrastructure safety through seismic fragility analysis, geofoam walls, and the application of machine learning in optimization. Ongoing projects include seismic simulation of slope topographies and the mechanical impacts of road salts. His broader interests span energy tunnels, passive solar systems, and the environmental challenges of urban development.

Conclusion

Ali Derakhshan is a strong candidate for the Best Researcher Award in his field, especially given his publication record, interdisciplinary contributions, technical capabilities, and global research presence. To further elevate his profile, he could work on increasing his independent research footprint, securing grants, and articulating long-term research goals.

Publication Top Notes

Title: Implementing micro energy piles: A novel geothermal energy harvesting technique for enhancing foundation safety and cooling system efficiency in electric power transformers
Cited by: 6
Year: 2024
Authors: AA Garakani, A Derakhshan

Title: Exploring the Efficacy of Aluminum Foam as an Innovative Solution to Mitigate Surface Faulting Effects on Shallow Foundations: A Numerical Investigation
Cited by: 4
Year: 2023
Authors: H Alielahi, A Tavasoli, A Derakhshan

Title: 3D numerical modeling of negative skin friction effects on tapered piles in soft soils
Cited by: 3
Year: 2024
Authors: H Alielahi, MA Rad, A Derakhshan

Title: Efficacy Assessment of Geosynthetic Liners on Seismic Response Mitigation of Slopes
Cited by: 1
Year: 2025
Authors: H Alielahi, A Derakhshan, M Kalhor

Title: Seismic fragility and resilience assessment of instrumented Cogswell concrete-faced rockfill dam using scalar and vector-valued approaches
Cited by: Not listed
Year: 2025
Authors: A Derakhshan, H Alielahi