Minh Canh Tran | Soil Physics | Research Excellence Award

Published on by Soil Scientist

Dr. Minh Canh Tran | Soil Physics | Research Excellence Award

National Center for Earthquake Engineering | Taiwan 

Dr. Minh Canh Tran has established a focused research profile supported by 34 citations, an h-index of 2, and 6 published documents, reflecting steady scholarly growth in geotechnical engineering. His research spans soil mechanics, soil–structure interaction, liquefaction behavior, and advanced physical and numerical modeling, contributing to the understanding of how soils respond under seismic and complex loading conditions. Through a combination of centrifuge modeling and simulation-based investigations, he provides valuable insights into pore pressure development, ground deformation, and foundation performance on challenging soil deposits. His publications demonstrate methodological depth and emphasize practical solutions for enhancing infrastructure resilience. The citation record highlights the relevance and applicability of his work within the scientific community, while the h-index indicates consistent influence across multiple studies. The collection of documents collectively advances knowledge on seismic soil behavior, mitigation strategies, and geotechnical system performance, positioning Dr. Tran as an emerging contributor whose research supports safer engineering practices.

Profiles : Scopus | Orcid 

Featured Publications

Hung, W.-Y., Tran, M.-C., & Ha, T.-Q. (2025). Centrifuge modelling lateral loading test of battered-piled-raft system in sand. Journal of the Chinese Institute of Engineers. Advance online publication.

Hung, W.-Y., Chiang, K.-H., Chen, C.-H., Ha, T.-Q., Tran, M.-C., & Castaldo, P. (2025). Centrifuge modeling of soil loss effects on adjacent pile foundations induced by tunnel excavation. Advances in Civil Engineering, 2025, Article 7569758.

Tran, M.-C. (2025). Assessing influence of waves on riverbank stability: A centrifuge modeling approach. Geomechanics and Engineering, 40(1), 1–15.

Chiang, K.-H., Hung, W.-Y., Tran, M.-C., & Ha, T.-Q. (2024). The vertical loading tests of single and group piles by centrifuge modelling. International Journal of Geotechnical Engineering. Advance online publication.

Hung, W.-Y., Tran, M.-C., & Bui, V.-K. (2022). Seismic response of anchored sheet pile walls by centrifuge modelling tests. International Journal of Civil Engineering.

Hung, W.-Y., Tran, M.-C., Yeh, F.-H., Lu, C.-W., & Ge, L. (2020). Centrifuge modeling of failure behaviors of sandy slope caused by gravity, rainfall, and base shaking. Engineering Geology, 270, 105609.

Ana Barros | Soil Physics | Best Researcher Award

Published on by Soil Scientist

Prof. Dr. Ana Barros | Soil Physics | Best Researcher Award

Ana Barros | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | United States

Ana P. Barros is the Donald Biggar Willett Distinguished Chair of Engineering and Professor and Head of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, United States. Her research focuses on hydrology, hydrometeorology, and environmental physics, with pioneering contributions to AI and machine learning applications in precipitation, flood, and drought prediction. She is a member of the U.S. National Academy of Engineering and a Fellow of AGU, AMS, ASCE, and AAAS, recognized globally for advancing water-cycle science, extreme event forecasting, and climate resilience.

Profiles

Scopus

Orcid

Summary

Dr. Barros has made landmark contributions to hydrological and environmental sciences through innovative methodologies that integrate observational data, remote sensing, computational modeling, and artificial intelligence. Her leadership in research, academia, and international scientific organizations highlights her as a thought leader in climate change resilience, flood prediction, and water-cycle science.

Education

Dr Ana P Barros holds a PhD in Civil Engineering with a major in Hydrology and a minor in Atmospheric Sciences from the University of Washington Seattle She earned an MSc in Environmental Science and Engineering from the Oregon Graduate Institute of Science and Technology OHSU She also completed an MSc in Hydraulics with a specialization in Ocean Engineering from the University of Porto Portugal and obtained a Diploma in Civil Engineering with a double major in Structures and Hydraulics from the University of Porto Portugal.

Experience

Dr Barros is the Donald Biggar Willett Distinguished Chair of Engineering and Professor and Head of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign She is also the Founding Director of the Center for Secure Water at UIUC and a Fellow at NOAA CIROH Previously she served as the Edmund T Pratt Jr School Distinguished Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Duke University where she also held roles as James L Meriam Professor and Professor of Earth and Ocean Sciences She has been on the faculty of Harvard University Penn State University and the University of Porto She has served in numerous leadership and advisory roles including the Space Studies Board the Water Science and Technology Board the Board of Atmospheric Sciences and Climate and the US National Committee for the UNESCO International Hydrology Program.

Research Focus

Dr Barros’s research is centered on climate change hydrology hydrometeorology and extreme event prediction with emphasis on multiscale water cycle processes and land atmosphere interactions She investigates orographic precipitation processes precipitation microphysics aerosol cloud precipitation dynamics vegetation soil water interactions and regional climate variability Her work integrates field and laboratory experimentation remote sensing computational and data driven modeling AI based forecasting and environmental sustainability solutions She is deeply engaged in advancing risk assessment tools for extreme precipitation floods and droughts and in developing strategies for climate change adaptation and resilient infrastructure.

Skills

Her expertise spans hydrology hydrometeorology and environmental physics with advanced skills in satellite based remote sensing computational modeling AI and machine learning applications and environmental informatics She is recognized for pioneering early AI and ML applications for precipitation flood and drought estimation as well as long lead forecasting She has strong skills in developing coupled AI and physical modeling frameworks for predicting extreme precipitation floods and drought risk in complex terrain regions.

Awards

Dr Barros is a member of the US National Academy of Engineering and a Fellow of the American Geophysical Union American Meteorological Society American Society of Civil Engineers and the American Association for the Advancement of Science She is a senior member of IEEE and has received major honors including the AIH Ray K Linsley Award the ASCE Ven Te Chow Award the Borland Hydrology Award the NASA Group Achievement Award the NASA Robert H Goddard Award the NSF CAREER Award and the NASA New Investigator Award She has also been recognized with the Lorenz G Straub Award the AMS Sigma Xi Distinguished Lectureship and the Prize Foundation A Almeida for top national student in Civil Engineering.

Publications

  • Toward optimal rainfall for flood prediction in headwater basins – improving soil moisture initialization to close the water budget within observational uncertainty
    Authors: Mochi Liao; Ana P. Barros
    Journal: Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies (2025)

  • Modeling Celerity‐Discharge Behavior and Riverbank Storage for Improving Flood Simulations in Headwater Basins
    Authors: Mochi Liao; Ana P. Barros
    Journal: Water Resources Research (2025)

  • Thank You to Our 2024 Reviewers
    Authors: Alberto Montanari; Ana Barros; Thorsten Becker; Marc Bierkens; Sharon Billings; M. Bayani Cardenas; Eric Davidson; Nicolas Gruber; Eileen Hofmann; Mary Hudson; et al.
    Journal: AGU Advances (2025)

  • Multi‐Physics Data Assimilation Framework for Remotely Sensed Snowpacks to Improve Water Prediction
    Authors: Prabhakar Shrestha; Ana P. Barros
    Journal: Water Resources Research (2025)

  • The role of root dynamics on the climate sensitivity of ecohydrological processes of over- and understory in a semi-arid groundwater-dependent ecosystem
    Authors: Qiyue Liu; Ana P. Barros
    Journal: Frontiers in Environmental Science (2024)

  • Thank You to Our 2023 Peer Reviewers
    Authors: Ana Barros; Thorsten Becker; M. Bayani Cardenas; Eric Davidson; Nicolas Gruber; Eileen Hofmann; Mary Hudson; Tissa Illangasekare; Sarah Kang; Alberto Montanari; et al.
    Journal: AGU Advances (2024)

  • Toward Building a Virtual Laboratory to Investigate Rainfall Microphysics at Process Scales
    Authors: Lihui Ji; Ana P. Barros
    Journal: Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences (2024)

Conclusion

Dr. Ana P. Barros stands out as an exemplary candidate for the Research for Best Researcher Award. Her pioneering scientific achievements, leadership in global hydrological research, and commitment to advancing knowledge for societal benefit strongly align with the award’s vision. While opportunities exist to strengthen cross-disciplinary engagement and policy translation, her impact on the field is both profound and far-reaching, making her highly deserving of this recognition.