Ko, Kil-Wan

Asst. Prof

Geotechnical Earthquake and GeoHazards Lab (GEHL) studies geotechnical earthquake engineering and geohazards to evaluate and predict the impact of earthquakes on infrastructure and urban areas. Our goal is to contribute to the development of more resilient urban systems against natural disasters. GEHL focuses on key topics: dynamic soil-foundation-structure interaction, soil liquefaction during earthquakes, the effects of fault rupture on levees and dams, and site amplification. To address these challenges, we utilize a range of research methods, including centrifuge modeling, numerical simulations, probabilistic approaches, and earthquake case history analysis.

Education
∙ B.S. Civil and Environmental Engineering, KAIST (2015)
∙ M.S. Civil and Environmental Engineering, KAIST (2017)
∙ Ph.D. Civil and Environmental Engineering, KAIST (2020)
Career
∙ 2015-2020 Graduate Research Assistant, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, KAIST
∙ 2020-2021 Postdoctoral Scholar, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, KAIST
∙ 2021-2023 Visiting Scholar, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Berkeley
∙ 2022-2023 Postdoctoral Scholar, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Southern California
∙ 2023-2025 Postdoctoral Scholar, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Davis
∙ 2025-present Assistant Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, KAIST
Main Research Field
∙ Dynamic Soil-Foundation-Structure Interaction
∙ Soil Liquefaction during Earthquakes
∙ Cracking and Concentrated leak Erosion of Dams/Levees due to Surface Rupture
∙ Physical Modeling in Geotechnics using Geo-Centrifuge Testing
Medals and Awards
2022 Bright Spark Lecture Award, International Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering