EXPERIENCE +
Juan Olarte, MSc, PhD.:
Juan is a Professor in the Department of Civil Engineering at Universidad Nacional de Colombia. He earned his B.S. in Civil Engineering and his M.Sc. in Geotechnical Engineering from Universidad Nacional de Colombia and later obtained a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering with an emphasis in Structural Engineering from the University of Colorado Boulder.
After completing his M.Sc., Juan worked in consulting engineering, addressing structural and geotechnical engineering problems. He has led multidisciplinary projects involving dams, bridges, buildings, highways, power plants, water and wastewater treatment infrastructure, storage tanks, and pipeline systems.
Juan’s research and professional interests include reinforced concrete and foundation design, earthquake engineering, seismic soil–structure interaction, performance-based earthquake engineering, liquefaction analysis, seismic risk assessment, dynamic soil response, machine foundations, and structural and geotechnical vulnerability analysis. His expertise also includes static and dynamic analysis of dams, seepage and slope stability analysis, groundwater modeling, geotechnical monitoring, rehabilitation and retrofitting of structures and foundations, and geological and geomorphological assessment for environmental and geotechnical applications.
Education
Acad. Appointments and Work History
Research Interests
Ph.D. University of Colorado at Boulder (2017)
M.S. Universidad Nacional de Colombia (2009)
B.S. Universidad Nacional de Colombia (2007)
Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, Universidad Nacional de Colombia (2023–Present)
Structural and Geotechnical Consultant (June 2023–Present)
Engineer, INTEGRAL S.A., Colombia (March 2009–July 2013; February 2018–June 2023)
Structural and geotechnical earthquake engineering
Seismic soil–structure interaction and performance-based earthquake engineering
Reinforced concrete and foundation design
Seismic risk and structural vulnerability assessment
Dam engineering and geotechnical analysis
Ground response, liquefaction, and slope stability analysis
Physical and numerical modeling
Outstanding Graduate Student Scholarship for Doctoral Studies Abroad, conferred by the Colombian Administrative Department of Science, Technology, and Innovation (COLCIENCIAS), 2012.
Scholarship for Doctoral Studies Abroad, conferred by the Enlaza Mundos Program, Medellín, Colombia, 2012.
Outstanding Graduate Student Scholarship for Master’s Studies, conferred by Universidad Nacional de Colombia, 2007.
Honors and Distinctions
