Assist. Prof. Dr. Chukwuebuka Nweke | Hazard Analysis | Best Researcher Award

Assist. Prof. Dr. Chukwuebuka Nweke, University of Southern California, United States

Dr. Chukwuebuka C. Nweke is an Assistant Professor in the Sonny Astani Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Southern California (USC). He specializes in geotechnical earthquake engineering, with research interests spanning site-specific and region-specific ground motion site effects, physics-based earthquake simulation, non-invasive site characterization, bio-cemented soil behavior, and the impact of earthquakes on infrastructure systems. Dr. Nweke earned his Ph.D. in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley, where his dissertation focused on the constitutive modeling of weakly cemented sands. He also holds M.S. and B.S. degrees in the same discipline from UC Berkeley and UC Davis, respectively. At USC, he leads multiple research projects funded by the United States Geological Survey, the Southern California Earthquake Center, and the California Department of Conservation. His work enhances seismic hazard modeling and simulation platforms, advancing site response analyses in sedimentary basins and earthquake-prone regions. With professional experience that includes roles as a postdoctoral fellow at UCLA and staff engineer at ENGEO Inc., Dr. Nweke brings a strong blend of academic, research, and industry expertise to the field of geotechnical engineering.

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🏆 Summary of Suitability: Best Researcher Award

Dr. Chukwuebuka C. Nweke is a rising leader in geotechnical earthquake engineering whose impactful research, academic excellence, and commitment to seismic hazard mitigation position him as a highly deserving candidate for the Best Researcher Award. His work bridges theoretical advancements with real-world seismic risk applications, particularly through physics-based ground motion modeling, site-specific hazard assessment, and non-invasive geotechnical methods.

🎓 Education

• Ph.D. in Civil and Environmental Engineering (Geotechnical)
  University of California, Berkeley, 2017
  Dissertation: Constitutive Modeling of Weakly Cemented Sands
  🔹 Minors: Geomorphology, Numerical Analysis/Finite Element Modeling
  🔹 Advisors: Dr. Nicholas Sitar (Chair), Dr. Juan Pestana

• M.S. in Civil and Environmental Engineering (Geotechnical)
  University of California, Berkeley, 2013

• B.S. in Civil and Environmental Engineering
  University of California, Davis, 2012

🧑‍🏫 Work Experience

• Assistant Professor
  📍 University of Southern California (USC), Los Angeles, CA
  🗓️ August 2021 – Present
  Sonny Astani Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

• Staff Engineer
  📍 ENGEO Incorporated
  🗓️ August 2020 – April 2021

• Postdoctoral Research Fellow
  📍 University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
  🗓️ October 2017 – July 2020

• Graduate Student Researcher / Instructor
  📍 University of California, Berkeley
  🗓️ August 2012 – August 2017

🏆 Achievements, Awards, and Honors

• 🧪 Secured over $220,000 in Research Funding as Principal Investigator (PI) at USC for cutting-edge research on:

  • Ground motion simulation and site response modeling

  • Earthquake hazard analysis in sedimentary basins

  • Integration of nonlinear dynamic soil behavior in hazard assessments

• 📊 Multiple Funded Projects with prestigious agencies including:

  • United States Geological Survey (USGS)

  • Southern California Earthquake Center (SCEC)

  • California Strong Motion Instrumentation Program (CSMIP)

  • Cascadia Region Earthquake Science Center

• 🏅 Collaborative Research with UCLA and Caltech on seismic modeling and earthquake effects on infrastructure.

• 🛠️ Website & Knowledge Dissemination:
  Actively shares research and updates through his academic

• 🧠 Interdisciplinary Expertise in:

  • Physics-based earthquake simulation

  • Non-invasive site characterization

  • Bio-cemented soil dynamics

  • Emergency response and hazard data management

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