Dr. John Mccartney

Professor

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Biography

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 encompass unsaturated soil mechanics, geosynthetics engineering, and energy geotechnics. McCartney focuses on characterizing the thermohydromechanical behavior of soils and the design analysis of thermally active geotechnical systems, including energy foundations. His work addresses the dynamic response of unsaturated soils to surface vibrations and earthquake shaking, alongside performance-based design strategies for geotechnical systems. McCartney is recognized for his fundamental research on constitutive relationships governing the interactions of thermal, hydraulic, and mechanical processes in unsaturated soils. His contributions have earned him several prestigious awards, such as the Walter L. Huber Research Prize from ASCE in 2016 and the CAREER Award from NSF in 2011. He has also served in leadership roles, including President of the North American Chapter of the International Geosynthetics Society and editor for prominent journals in his field. McCartney is dedicated to developing simple understandings of complex geotechnical phenomena through innovative modeling and monitoring techniques.

Research Interests

Requirements for University of California, San Diego

Doctorate Program
Requirements
GPA Requirement
Required:3
TOEFL
Total
Required:85
IELTS
Overall
Required:7
Duolingo
Overall Score
Required:120
Overall
Required:120
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree in physical, biological, or earth sciences, mathematics, or engineering. Differential and integral calculus. One year of calculus-based physics with laboratory. One year of chemistry with laboratory.
Application Checklist
  • Statement of Purpose (max 2 pages)
  • Unofficial transcripts
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • Curriculum Vitae (CV)
  • Application fee ($135 domestic / $155 international)
Specialization Notes

Administered by the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Curricular groups include Climate-Ocean-Atmosphere (COAP), Geosciences (GEO), and Ocean Biosciences (OBP).