Catherine O'Sullivan
{{Short description|Environmental engineer and Professor}}
{{Infobox scientist
| name = Catherine O'Sullivan
| workplaces = Imperial College London
University College Dublin
| alma_mater = University of California, Berkeley
University College Cork
| thesis_title = The application of discrete element modelling to finite deformation problems in geomechanics
| thesis_url = https://search.worldcat.org/en/title/892830039
| thesis_year = 2002
}}
Catherine O'Sullivan is an Irish environmental engineer who is Professor of Particulate Soil Mechanics and Head of the Geotechnics Section at Imperial College London. She uses discrete element modelling to understand fundamental processes in sand and soils.
Early life and education
O'Sullivan is from Ireland. She was an undergraduate at University College Cork, and started a master's degree in soil mechanics. She spent six months working in a geotechnical engineering consultancy.{{Cite web |title=Professor Catherine O'Sullivan |url=https://thomasyoungcentre.org/about-tyc/equality-diversity-and-inclusion/women-at-the-tyc/professor-catherine-osullivan/ |access-date=2024-09-09 |website=Thomas Young Centre|language=en-GB}} She was awarded a scholarship to complete a master's degree in geotechnical engineering completed her doctorate at the University of California, Berkeley, where she developed discrete element methods to model granular materials.{{Cite web |title=The application of discrete element modelling to finite deformation problems in geomechanics {{!}} WorldCat.org |url=https://search.worldcat.org/en/title/892830039 |access-date=2024-09-09 |website=search.worldcat.org |language=en}} After graduating she moved to University College Dublin, where she spent two years as a College Lecturer.{{Cite web |title=Catherine O'Sullivan – Bio |url=https://profiles.imperial.ac.uk/cath.osullivan |access-date=2024-09-09 |website=profiles.imperial.ac.uk}}{{Cite web |title=Professor Catherine O'Sullivan |url=https://www.imperial.ac.uk/civil-engineering/prospective-students/current-and-recent-student-profiles/professor-catherine-osullivan/ |access-date=2024-09-09 |website=Imperial College London |language=en-GB}}
Research and career
In 2004, O'Sullivan joined Imperial College London as a lecturer. She was promoted to Professor in 2017. Her research considers the behaviour of granular materials, including soil and sand.{{Cite web |date=2020-03-06 |title=Women of Civil Engineering: A Snapshot {{!}} Imperial News {{!}} Imperial College London |url=https://www.imperial.ac.uk/news/195958/women-civil-engineering-snapshot/ |access-date=2024-09-09 |website=Imperial News |language=en}}
In 2023, O'Sullivan became the first woman to be editor of the Journal of Geotechnical & Geoenvironmental Engineering.{{Cite journal |last=Salgado |first=Rodrigo |date=October 2023 |title=Journal Leadership |url=https://ascelibrary.org/doi/10.1061/JGGEFK.GTENG-12004 |journal=Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering |language=en |volume=149 |issue=10 |doi=10.1061/JGGEFK.GTENG-12004 |issn=1090-0241}} She is enthusiastic about sustainability, and was involved with the development of a graduate course in geotechnical engineering for offshore renewables.{{Cite web |date=2024-08-12 |title=Imperial College London launches new offshore renewables MSc |url=https://www.geplus.co.uk/opinion/imperial-college-london-launches-new-offshore-renewables-msc-12-08-2024/ |access-date=2024-09-09 |website=Ground Engineering |language=en}}
Awards and honours
- 2016 Shamsher Prakash Research Award{{Cite web |title=Catherine O'Sullivan |url=https://www.chops2024.ed.ac.uk/invited_speakers/plenary/catherine_o_sullivan.html |access-date=2024-09-09 |website=CHoPS 2024 |language=en}}
- 2021 Imperial College London President's Awards for Teaching Innovation{{Cite web |title=Past Winners {{!}} About {{!}} Imperial College London |url=https://www.imperial.ac.uk/about/leadership-and-strategy/provost/vice-provost-education/presidents-awards-for-excellence-in-education/past-winners/ |access-date=2024-09-09 |website=www.imperial.ac.uk}}
Selected publications
- {{Cite book |last=O'Sullivan |first=Catherine |url=https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/9781482266498 |title=Particulate Discrete Element Modelling: A Geomechanics Perspective |date=2011-04-06 |publisher=CRC Press |isbn=978-0-429-07751-7 |edition=0 |language=en |doi=10.1201/9781482266498}}
- {{Cite journal |last1=Cavarretta |first1=I. |last2=Coop |first2=M. |last3=O'Sullivan |first3=C. |date=June 2010 |title=The influence of particle characteristics on the behaviour of coarse grained soils |url=https://www.icevirtuallibrary.com/doi/10.1680/geot.2010.60.6.413 |journal=Géotechnique |language=en |volume=60 |issue=6 |pages=413–423 |doi=10.1680/geot.2010.60.6.413 |bibcode=2010Getq...60..413C |hdl=10044/1/14113 |issn=0016-8505|hdl-access=free |url-access=subscription }}
- {{Cite journal |last1=Altuhafi |first1=F. |last2=O’Sullivan |first2=C. |last3=Cavarretta |first3=I. |date=August 2013 |title=Analysis of an Image-Based Method to Quantify the Size and Shape of Sand Particles |url=https://ascelibrary.org/doi/10.1061/%28ASCE%29GT.1943-5606.0000855 |journal=Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering |language=en |volume=139 |issue=8 |pages=1290–1307 |doi=10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0000855 |issn=1090-0241|url-access=subscription }}
References
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Category:Alumni of University College Cork
Category:University of California, Berkeley alumni
Category:Academics of Imperial College London