Reginald DesRoches

Each year, the United States experiences thousands of earthquakes and, on average seven earthquakes per year that have a magnitude of 6.0 or greater, enough to result in damage in many parts of the country.   The economic damage and potential deaths resulting from a large magnitude earthquake are considerable.  Specifically, damages from a single large metropolitan earthquake could result in hundreds of billions of dollars in direct and indirect losses.   Reducing the risk of loss from earthquakes requires predictive models of structural performance during earthquakes, and the development of innovative mitigation technologies to reduce those losses. 

 Professor DesRoches’ research, service, and professional interests center on development of mitigation strategies to reduce the risks from earthquakes, particularly, earthquakes in the central and southeastern United States.  His specific research interests include seismic resistant design and retrofit of bridges, protective systems for buildings and bridges, performance of transportation networks, and structural applications of smart materials.  He is currently the deputy director of the NEESR-Grand Challenge Project, “Seismic Risk Mitigation for Port Systems”. He is the Chair of the ASCE Seismic Effects Commitee, and is on the Executive Committee for the ASCE Technical Council for LIfeline Earthquake Engineering.   Professor DesRoches has been on the Board for Infrastructure and the Constructed Environment for the National Academy of Engineering since 2002, and currently serves on the NRC panel reviewing the plans for protecting coastal Louisiana..  Professor DesRoches was a 2001 National Science Foundation “CAREER” award recipient, and was awarded the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) in 2002.  He is a two-time invitee to the National Academy of Engineering Frontiers of Engineering Program (2002 & 2004).  He is a recipient of the 2007 Walter L. Huber Civil Engineering Research Prize, and the Georgia Tech ANAK Award (2007).  The ANAK award is considered the highest honor the undergraduate student body can bestow on a Georgia Tech faculty.