About
John McCartney
John S. McCartney is a Professor in the Department of Structural Engineering at the University of California San Diego, specializing in Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering. His research interests include unsaturated soil mechanics, geosynthetics engineering, and energy geotechnics. He has received several research awards, including the Walter L. Huber Research Prize from ASCE in 2016, the Arthur Casagrande Professional Development Award from ASCE in 2013, the J. James R. Croes medal from ASCE in 2012, the 2019 R.M. Quigley award from CGS in 2020, the DFI Young Professor Award in 2012, the NSF Faculty Early Development (CAREER) Award in 2011, and the IGS and Young IGS Awards from the International Geosynthetics Society in 2018 and 2008, respectively. His teaching efforts were recognized by the 2012 Shamsher Prakash Prize for Excellence in Teaching of Geotechnical Engineering and the 2018 Outstanding Faculty Advisor from ASCE Region 9. For his service on ASTM Committee D18 on Soil and Rock, he received the President’s Leadership Award in 2013 and the Richard S. Ladd D18 Standards Development Award in 2011. He is currently the chair of the ASCE GeoInstitute Committee on Unsaturated Soils. He is the co-Editor-in-Chief of Computers and Geotechnics, an associate editor of Canadian Geotechnical Journal, and serves on the editorial boards of ASTM Geotechnical Testing Journal (GTJ), Geosynthetics International, and Geomechanics for Energy and the Environment. He received BS and MS degrees in Civil Engineering from the University of Colorado Boulder in 2002 and a Ph.D. degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin in 2007.
Academic Appointments
Professor (2018-present), University of California San Diego, Department of Structural Engineering
Associate Professor (2014-2018), University of California San Diego, Department of Structural Engineering
Visiting Professor (2014-2016), UENF, Brazil, Geotechnical Centrifuge Center
Lyall Faculty Fellow (2013-2014), University of Colorado Boulder, CEAE Department
Associate Professor (2013-2014), University of Colorado Boulder, CEAE Department
Assistant Professor (2008-2013), University of Colorado Boulder, CEAE Department
Barry Faculty Fellow (2008-2012), University of Colorado Boulder
Assistant Professor (2007-2008), University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, Civil Eng. Department
Teaching Assistant (2006), University of Texas at Austin, CE387R: Geoenvironmental Engineering
Graduate Research Assistant (2003-2007), University of Texas at Austin
Graduate Research Assistant (2000-2003), University of Colorado Boulder
Undergraduate Research Assistant (1999-2000), University of Colorado Boulder
Administrative Appointments
Department Chair (2018-2023), University of California San Diego, Department of Structural Engineering
Professional Licensure
Professional Engineer License 44350, Colorado. Since 2010
Honors:
Fellow, ASCE (2018)
Research Awards:
2019 R.M. Quigley Award, Canadian Geotechnical Society (2020)
The Japanese Geotechnical Society Best Research Paper Award (2019)
IGS Award, International Geosynthetics Society (2018)
Walter L. Huber Civil Engineering Research Prize, ASCE (2016)
2014 International Award for Best Journal Paper by an Early Career Researcher in Unsaturated Soil Mechanics in the Category of “Application”, ISSMGE TC 106 (2014)
Award for Best Theme Paper (Energy Related Geoenvironmental Technology), International Conference on Environmental Geotechnics, ISSMGE (2014)
Arthur Casagrande Professional Development Award, GeoInstitute of ASCE (2013)
J. James R. Croes Medal, ASCE (2012)
Young Professor Paper Award, Deep Foundations Institute (2012)
NSF Faculty Early Development (CAREER) Award (2011)
Best Paper of 2010 in Geosynthetics International (2011)
Young Researcher Award, University of Colorado Boulder, CEAE Department (2010)
Honorable Mention for Best Paper in Proceedings, GeoFlorida 2010 (2010)
Young IGS Award, International Geosynthetics Society (2008)
University of Texas at Austin Thrust Fellowship (2003-2007)
National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship (2002-2005)
Teaching Awards:
Shamsher Prakash Foundation Prize for Excellence in Teaching (2012)
Outstanding Faculty Advisor Award, ASCE San Diego Chapter (2017)
ASCE Faculty Advisor Award, ASCE Region 9 (2018)
Service Awards:
ASCE Associate Editor Award, for service as Editor on the Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering (2022)
Outstanding Reviewer Award, Geomechanics for Energy and the Environment, Elsevier (2016, 2018)
Outstanding Reviewer Award, Computers and Geotechnics, Elsevier (2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019)
Outstanding Reviewer Award, Canadian Geotechnical Journal, CGS (2015, 2017)
ASTM D18 Special Service Award, ASTM (2017)
Outstanding Young Alumni, CAEE Department, University of Texas at Austin (2016)
ASTM International President’s Leadership Award, ASTM (2013)
ASTM D18 Special Service Award, ASTM (2013)
Associate Editor of the Year, Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering, ASCE (2012)
Richard S. Ladd D18 Standards Development Award, ASTM (2011)
Eagle Scout Award, Boy Scouts of America, Denver Colorado (1998)
Educational Awards and Scholarships:
Association for Drilled Shaft Contractors (ADSC) Graduate Scholarship (2001-2002)
Ketchum Award, University of Colorado Boulder, CEAE Department (2001)
Colorado Engineering Council Certificate of Merit (2001)
ASCE Outstanding Senior Award, University of Colorado Boulder (2001)
Mackinson Writing Award, Honorable Mention, University of Colorado Boulder (2001)
Ernest and Bernice Shultz Scholarship, University of Colorado Boulder (2001)