"Tunnels are awesome regardless of what some people think."
Hometown: Athens, Greece
Graduate Research Focus:
My research is focusing on the generation of fracture networks by applying numerical techniques to investigate the conditions under which cracks can initiate, propagate and interact with the existent fracture network in order to avoid transfer of nuclear waste to the upper surface from a geological repository in the case of a possible leakage.
Why I chose to do graduate studies:
I wanted to enhance and deepen my knowledge in underground structures, rock mechanics and geology as well as having the opportunity to do state-of-the-art research.
Why Queen’s?:
Having the opportunity to collaborate with Dr. Nicholas Vlachopoulos and Dr. Mark S. Diederichs was the main reason for me coming to Queen’s.
Student involvement/extracurricular activities I am involved with:
- Queen’s Hellenic Student Association
- Canadian Geotechnical Society Kingston Section
- Greek Tunneling Society YMG.
The professor(s) or course which has influenced me the most:
That would be my supervisors back in Athens Dr. Paul Marinos and Dr. Vassili Marinos for making me love geotechnical engineering and geology (despite not being a geologist or a geological engineer myself). Their influence on me during my early days as an undergrad brought me where I am today.
After I graduate, I plan to:
Stay in Canada and work as an engineer for the industry at first I guess, but I wouldn’t like to abandon academia that easily. It’s a tough call!
One big goal I’d like to accomplish during my lifetime:
Travel around the world and experience different cultures.