Dr. Matthew Perras

Biography

Matthew Perras is an Associate Professor in the Department of Civil Engineering at York University, part of the Lassonde School of Engineering. His research interests focus on Geotechnical Geological Engineering, particularly the behavior of brittle rocks and the environmental factors influencing fracture mechanics and crack growth near excavation sites. He completed his Bachelor of Science at Queen's University, with a specialization in Geotechnical Engineering, and began his career with the Geotechnical Department of Hatch Ltd. in 2005, contributing to several notable projects including the award-winning Shikwamkwa Replacement Dam Project and the Niagara Tunnel Project. His experience with sedimentary rocks in Southern Ontario inspired his part-time MSc research on the anisotropic behavior of these materials in relation to underground excavations. He later pursued a PhD at Queen's University, supported by research from the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) and NSERC-IPS, which helped him improve predictive models for excavation damage zones. Since joining York University in 2017, Matthew has continued to bridge the gap between geological engineering practice and research, with his work reflected in over 30 conference and journal publications.

Research Interests