Yazhou (Tim) Xie

Bio:

Yazhou (Tim) Xie is an Associate Professor and William Dawson Scholar in the Department of Civil Engineering at McGill University. Xie currently directs the Hazard Mitigation & Infrastructure Resilience Lab at McGill. His research inquiries are pursued through the development of advanced modeling schemes, innovative protective devices, smart design solutions, and cutting-edge data science tools around three key themes: (1) seismic fragility, risk, and resilience of individual and regional bridge infrastructures; (2) seismic risk mitigation through the optimal use of innovative materials, devices, and systems; and (3) the development of machine/deep learning to address critical challenges in earthquake engineering.

Xie received his Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from University of California, Los Angeles (2017), followed by working as a Postdoctoral Research Associate at President Reginald DesRoches's group at Rice University (2017-2019). Xie's expertise contributes to the research and practice of promoting a hazard-resilient and sustainable built environment. As the leading author, Xie has published 68 papers in top-tier journals in earthquake engineering. Several of his recent publications are among highly cited papers in Essential Science Indicators (ESI) and the top downloaded in the Journal of Earthquake Engineering and Structural Dynamics (2018-2019). In 2020, Xie published a machine learning paper that is among the top downloaded, highly cited (1st rank), and editors' monthly picks from Earthquake Spectra. 

Xie is currently leading more than 20 research projects funded by NSERC, CFI, MITACS, Natural Resources Canada, National Research Council Canada, FRQNT, and ACI. His work has signicant impact on industry and society, with exemplary partnerships spanning leading government agencies and premier industry partners. Xie has given 29 invited seminars in dierent research institutions and centers (e.g., UBC, Concordia, Tongji, IVADO). He is the Technical Sub-Committee Member for CSA S6:30, Canadian Highway Bridge Design Code (Section 5 - Methods of Analysis; Section 2.3 - Hydrologic & Hydraulic Design). Xie is also an active member of the technical committees for ASCE Multihazard Mitigation, ACI Committee 341 on Performance-Based Seismic Design of Concrete Bridges, and the Centre d'etude interuniversitaire des structures sous charges extremes (CEISCE). 

Additionally, He serves as the Technical Topic Lead for Transportation & Lifelines in EERI's 13th U.S. National Conference on Earthquake Engineering, as well as the Co-Chair of the Committee on New Generation Seismic Design Theory and Methodology for Bridge Resilience at the World Transport Convention. Xie is the Associate Editor for ASCE OPEN: Multidisciplinary Journal of Civil Engineering and Earthquake Spectra, which uphold the highest peer-review standards from ASCE and EERI in U.S. for interdisciplinary research in Civil and Earthquake Engineering. He has been the registered Professional Engineer at Professional Engineers Ontario since 2022. Xie has been recognized through honors such as the 2014 Martin Rubin Scholarship and the 2017 UCLA Dissertation Year Fellowship Award. At McGill, Xie received the 2023 U2 Professor of the Year Award from the department and the 2023 Engineering Class of 1944 Teaching Award from the Faculty of Engineering.