Riwaj (Ribu) Dhakal
Riwaj (Ribu) Dhakal
Assistant Professor
Department of Civil Engineering
Assistant Professor
Department of Civil Engineering
University of British Columbia Vancouver
University of British Columbia Vancouver
(+1) 604 822 6948
Embedded Files
Department of Civil Engineering
Dr. Riwaj (Ribu) Dhakal is an Assistant Professor of Civil Engineering at the University of British Columbia. He earned his Bachelor’s and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Canterbury (New Zealand) specializing in geotechnical earthquake engineering, followed by several years of Postdoctoral Fellowship and professional practice as a geotechnical engineer focusing on soil liquefaction. His accolades include a Fulbright scholarship to UC Berkeley, the prestigious Otto Glogau Award from NZSEE, and several best paper and presentation awards and research grants. His research centers on liquefaction assessment using simplified, laboratory, and advanced numerical methods; seismic performance of shallow and deep foundations; and soil and site characterization in geotechnical design. He has contributed to projects involving bridge foundations, highways, and buildings, and has consulted on topics related to engineering seismology, liquefaction assessment, and numerical modelling. Dr. Dhakal also contributed to updates in New Zealand’s national seismic loading technical standard.
Dr. Riwaj (Ribu) Dhakal is an Assistant Professor of Civil Engineering at the University of British Columbia. He earned his Bachelor’s and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Canterbury (New Zealand) specializing in geotechnical earthquake engineering, followed by several years of Postdoctoral Fellowship and professional practice as a geotechnical engineer focusing on soil liquefaction. His accolades include a Fulbright scholarship to UC Berkeley, the prestigious Otto Glogau Award from NZSEE, and several best paper and presentation awards and research grants. His research centers on liquefaction assessment using simplified, laboratory, and advanced numerical methods; seismic performance of shallow and deep foundations; and soil and site characterization in geotechnical design. He has contributed to projects involving bridge foundations, highways, and buildings, and has consulted on topics related to engineering seismology, liquefaction assessment, and numerical modelling. Dr. Dhakal also contributed to updates in New Zealand’s national seismic loading technical standard.
Recorded Full-Length Talks
Living with Earthquakes: Building on Uncertain Ground (2026; Fulbright NZ Good Works Webinar)
Clips and News Media
CBC News feature - The crowded, muddy reality of Alberta’s new pipeline route (2026)
Ribu Dhakal UC Geotech damage at Wellington ports (2022)
Research reveals what lies beneath Wellington's reclaimed land (2022)
Engineer's Wellington waterfront research provides seismic treasure trove (2022)
Keeping Wellington's waterfront safe in the event of an earthquake (2022)
Three UC graduates win Fulbright scholarships to study in US (2019)
Student Profile: Assessing reclaimed land for liquefaction risks (2019)
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse