Dr. Robert Kayen

Biography

Robert Kayen is an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of California, Berkeley, and a retired senior scientist from the United States Geological Survey. He has substantial expertise in earthquake geotechnical engineering and has contributed to various fields within this discipline including Terrestrial Laser Scanning-LIDAR, Structure-From-Motion geomatics, and engineering geophysics. He has a long-standing research interest in seismic soil liquefaction and hazard risk assessment. Kayen’s professional journey includes serving as a member of the steering committee for the National Science Foundation's Geotechnical Extreme Events Reconnaissance (GEER) initiative. His significant academic contributions include over 350 research publications in geotechnical engineering and related subjects. He earned his Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley in 1993. Kayen's research has led to advancements in the understanding of soil properties and behavior during seismic events, utilizing methods such as non-invasive surface wave-dispersion analysis. He has received numerous accolades, including the Middlebrooks Award from the American Society of Civil Engineers and recognition from NASA for his contributions to earthquake hazards research. Additionally, Kayen's pioneering work in applying LIDAR and photogrammetric techniques has transformed approaches to mapping and modeling geosystems.

Research Interests

Courses