Research

My research crosses different scientific disciplines while maintaining the core of geosciences and mechanics. Specifically, I am actively engaged in two main research thrusts: engineering seismology and bio-geo-technology.

In research, I am balancing between basic and applied research, oriented to reduce geological and environmental hazards. Both research thrusts, novel and unique in Israel, required the establishment of new research groups and cooperation with colleagues both in Israel and around the world.

The basic research studies the interactions between different components of natural and complex systems: geology and seismology, geochemistry and biology. Seismic modeling and monitoring of complex sedimentary basins are aimed to gain a basic understanding of the basin effect on ground motions and to improve the estimation of seismic ground hazard in regions of low seismic rate and partial spatial coverage. I am actively involved in research of bio-stimulated Microbially Induced Calcite Precipitation (MICP) as a ground modification technique, with applications ranging from mitigation of liquefaction to desert crust stabilization.

Concurrently, I am continuing my research on the mechanics of geological materials, which encompasses the development and validation of numerical schemes, laboratory testing, and field monitoring.