Bijay Nepal Receives the 2026 ASCE St. Louis Mike Alizadeh / Geotechnology Scholarship — AwardSeptember 26, 2026Bijay Nepal wins the ASCE St. Louis Alizadeh / Geotechnology ScholarshipBijay Nepal, E.I.T., M.S. student in the Geo-CARE Lab at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, has been named the third-place recipient of the 2026…Read story →

GeoCARE Lab members standing together outdoors by Campus Lake at SIU

Bijay Nepal Awarded 2026 DFI Educational Trust At-Large Scholarship — AwardAugust 2026Bijay Nepal wins the 2026 DFI Educational Trust At-Large ScholarshipBijay Nepal, E.I.T., M.S. student in the Geo-CARE Lab at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, has been selected as a recipient of the 2026 At-Larg…Read story →

Visiting students learn about a geotechnical load frame during a GeoCARE Lab tour

Geo-CARE Lab Receives SIU Sustainability Funding to 3D-Print Erosion Barriers from Campus Waste — ResearchApril 22, 2026Geo-CARE Lab funded by SIU Sustainability to 3D-print erosion barriers from campus wasteIn honor of Earth Day, the SIU Sustainability Office recognized the Geo-CARE Laboratory among nearly a dozen campus projects selected for funding this…Read story →

Visitors gathered in the GeoCARE Lab during SIU Day

Suvechha Dhakal Successfully Defends Her M.S. Thesis — PeopleApril 2026Suvechha Dhakal completes her M.S.Congratulations to Suvechha Dhakal, E.I.T., M.S. student in the School of Civil, Environmental and Infrastructure Engineering at SIU Carbondale, on su…Read story →

Students working on laptops during a civil engineering class

GeoCARE Lab team members in the geotechnical testing laboratory

GeoCARE Lab members sharing a meal together

Lab members watching a sample preparation demonstration at the laboratory sink

We CARE about the ground our infrastructure stands on

The Geo-CARE Laboratory, in the School of Civil, Environmental, and Infrastructure Engineering at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, develops geotechnical solutions for resilient, sustainable infrastructure, from the soils beneath roads, levees and foundations to the subsurface that supplies clean energy and critical minerals.

3D-printed soil materials
Post-wildfire geohazards
Critical minerals from geothermal brines
CO₂ sequestration
Freeze–thaw durability

Our work develops sustainable 3D printing materials from locally available soils, analyses post-wildfire geohazards, and builds integrated frameworks for extracting critical minerals from geothermal brines in support of clean energy and resource sustainability. The lab also investigates CO₂ sequestration strategies within geothermal systems to mitigate emissions and improve renewable resource utilization, alongside freeze–thaw durability in cemented soils.

We welcome motivated students, scholars, and postdoctoral researchers to join an interdisciplinary team working at the intersection of infrastructure resilience, innovative materials, and subsurface resource management. If that describes you, read through the site and write to Dr. Nitin Tiwari with your CV.

Meet the Team

Faculty, graduate researchers and alumni of the Geo-CARE Lab.

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Latest news

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AwardSeptember 26, 2026Bijay Nepal Receives the 2026 ASCE St. Louis Mike Alizadeh / Geotechnology Scholarship

AwardAugust 2026Bijay Nepal Awarded 2026 DFI Educational Trust At-Large Scholarship

ResearchApril 22, 2026Geo-CARE Lab Receives SIU Sustainability Funding to 3D-Print Erosion Barriers from Campus Waste

Research Focus Areas

Sustainable 3D printing & material design

Printable earth-based fiber and biopolymer composites

Effect of freezing on geotechnical infrastructure

Freeze–thaw damage in granular and cemented geomaterials

CO₂ sequestration & critical mineral extraction

Enhanced geothermal systems, storage and brine mineral recovery

Post-wildfire geohazards

Slope stability and debris-flow risk in burned terrain

Recent publication

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Teaching

Undergraduate and graduate courses in geotechnical engineering at SIU.

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Courses taught 6Fall 2026 current

I felt like this is my best class because he actually explains things and sets expectations properly.

CE 320Soil Mechanics

Dr. Tiwari is hands down the best professor I have ever had in my time at SIU. The amount of pride this man takes in his job is off the charts. He cares for his students more than I felt like we deserved at times. I came into his CE 320 class not super interested in his course subject, but after taking this class, I now have developed an appreciation for soil mechanics and foundation design. I truly do not think that there is anyone who loves their job (and soil) more than Dr. Tiwari. He will definitely be one of the best professors I have ever had the pleasure of meeting.

CE 421Foundation Design