Professor Jonathan T. H. Wu
Dr. Jonathan T. H. Wu, Professor of Civil Engineering, University of Colorado Denver (CU Denver), Director of Reinforced Soil Research Center, and Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Transportation Infrastructure Geotechnology, has been teaching and conducting research after earning his Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from Purdue University.
Dr. Wu's research interest is in the use of innovative physical and numerical modeling techniques to develop design methods and construction guidelines of sustainable earthwork systems, and to solve problems associated with earth structures. Since being awarded a Research Initiation Grant on “Pullout Failure Mechanism of Geosynthetic Reinforced Earth Structures” by the National Science Foundation at the beginning of his academic career, he has devoted a vast majority of his research effort in the development and applications of Geosynthetic Reinforced Soil (GRS) (a emerging technology bearing a name coined by him) earthwork system. CU Denver is known by many as a leading research institute in reinforced soil, especially in the area of GRS. His research effort has made strong impacts and lead to many original contributions to the development and applications of GRS. It has been estimated that the GRS technology, when fully implemented, would save the nation over $1 billion annually.
Professor Wu loves to challenge his students to become independent thinkers and be innovative. His homework problems have been known by many as “challenges of mind.” In his own words: "Teaching adds great joy to my life and expands my mind. I especially enjoy teaching courses such as advanced soil engineering, groundwater and seepage, and design and construction of GRS, courses that are fundamental in nature or have heavy dosages of innovative applications..."