Staff profile

Milad is a PhD researcher in Civil, Geotechnical, and Environmental Engineering at the Department of Engineering under the supervison of Professor Karen Johnson, Dr. Sravan Muguda Viswanath, and Dr. Ciara Keating. He obtained his Master's degree in Geotechnical Engineering from Isfahan University of Technology and has approximately five years of professional, hands-on experience working with leading construction companies as a Geotechnical Designer and Research and Development Specialist. His doctoral research, fully funded by the EPSRC Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP), focuses on exploring the mechanics of hydrophobic soils while simultaneously developing an innovative passive fire protection strategy aimed at safeguarding infrastructure, reducing environmental impact, and enhancing the soil microbiome. Aligned with key UK policies, including the net zero carbon target, waste management, and the circular economy, Milad’s research is expected to make a significant contribution to sustainable engineering practices.

Achievements

2026 - Co-Lead, IHRR Seedcorn Fund Award, Institute of Hazard, Risk and Resilience - Awarded for “Fireproofing Soil Carbon for a Warming World"

2025 - Best Poster Presentation Award (Annual PGR Conference sponsored by Thermal Vision Research) 

2024 - Fully-funded Studentship for PhD programme - EPSRC Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP) 

• Climate Change Mitigation
• Hydrophobic Soils
• Soil Microbiome and Health
• Earthquake Geotechnical Engineering

Journal Article

• Combined Effect of End-of-Life Rubber and a Hydrophobic Polymer on Coastal Saturated Sand: A Multiaspect Investigation
  
  Safari, M., Rowshanzamir, M., Hejazi, S. M., & Banitalebi-Dehkordi, M. (2023). Combined Effect of End-of-Life Rubber and a Hydrophobic Polymer on Coastal Saturated Sand: A Multiaspect Investigation. Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering, 35(3). https://doi.org/10.1061/%28asce%29mt.1943-5533.0004616
• Application of superabsorbent geotextiles to decontaminate and improve crude oil-contaminated soil
  
  Rezaei, A., Rowshanzamir, M., Mahdi Hejazi, S., & Banitalebi-Dehkordi, M. (2023). Application of superabsorbent geotextiles to decontaminate and improve crude oil-contaminated soil. Transportation Geotechnics, 38, Article 100910. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trgeo.2022.100910
• A multi-aspect application of microwave radiation on rehabilitating and improving the geotechnical properties of polluted-sand-clay mixture
  
  Sadighi, H., Rowshanzamir, M., & Banitalebi-Dehkordi, M. (2022). A multi-aspect application of microwave radiation on rehabilitating and improving the geotechnical properties of polluted-sand-clay mixture. Journal of Contaminant Hydrology, 249, Article 104040. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jconhyd.2022.104040
• Mitigating the impact of the static and cyclic loading on loose coastal saturated sands utilizing a waterproof and super-fast curing polymer
  
  Banitalebi Dehkordi, M., Rowshanzamir, M., Hejazi, S. M., Pishehvarzad, N., & Hashemolhosseini, H. (2021). Mitigating the impact of the static and cyclic loading on loose coastal saturated sands utilizing a waterproof and super-fast curing polymer. Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering, 148, Article 106838. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soildyn.2021.106838

Patent

• A suction-frequency method to accelerate saturation time of dense specimens without the aid of CO2; artificial suction and intermittent bursts of frequency
  
  Banitalebidehkordi, M. (2023). A suction-frequency method to accelerate saturation time of dense specimens without the aid of CO2; artificial suction and intermittent bursts of frequency (Patent).
• Hydrophobized high-strength saturated soils resistant to dynamic loading; an alternative to cement in DSM method
  
  Banitalebidehkordi, M., Rowshanzamir, M. A., & Hejazi, S. M. (2021). Hydrophobized high-strength saturated soils resistant to dynamic loading; an alternative to cement in DSM method (Patent).