George Deodatis

George Deodatis

Vice Dean for Research, School of Engineering and Applied Science; Santiago and Robertina Calatrava Family Professor of Civil Engineering and Engineering Mechanics; Professor of Earth and Environmental Engineering

George Deodatis uses probabilistic methods and uncertainty quantification for the study of civil infrastructure systems subjected to natural and technological hazards.

He conducts research to determine the safety and reliability of structures and to perform risk assessment and risk management of structural systems. He also studies the effects of climate change and extreme weather on the civil infrastructure with the goal of establishing adaptation and mitigation strategies. Much of his research is based on introducing novel techniques for simulation of stochastic processes and fields to model uncertain earthquake, wind, and wave loads, as well as material and soil properties, for applications in earthquake engineering, offshore engineering, wind engineering, environmental engineering, materials science, atmospheric science, oceanography, finance, and other fields. 

Deodatis received a five-year Diploma in Civil Engineering from the National Technical University of Athens, Greece, in 1982. He holds M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Civil Engineering from Columbia University, received in 1984 and 1987, respectively. He started his academic career at Princeton University where he served as Assistant Professor and Associate Professor (with tenure). He moved to Columbia University in 2002 where he served as Associate Professor and Professor, before becoming the Santiago and Robertina Calatrava Family Professor in 2007. He served as the Chair of the Department of Civil Engineering and Engineering Mechanics from 2013 to 2019. Since 2022, he also holds a joint appointment as Professor of Earth and Environmental Engineering. He currently serves as the Vice Dean for Research in the School of Engineering and Applied Science. 

In 2009, Deodatis was elected President of the International Association for Structural Safety and Reliability for a 4-year term. In 2017, he was elected President of the Engineering Mechanics Institute of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) for a 2-year term. His many honors and awards include the ASCE Alfred M. Freudenthal Medal in 2024, election as Distinguished Member of ASCE in 2023, election as Fellow of the Engineering Mechanics Institute of ASCE in 2014, the Great Teacher Award from the Society of Columbia Graduates in 2011, Columbia University’s Presidential Award for Outstanding Teaching in 2009, the ASCE Walter L. Huber Civil Engineering Research Prize in 1998, the International Association for Structural Safety and Reliability Junior Research Prize in 1997, Princeton University’s Presidential Award for Distinguished Teaching in 1995, and the National Science Foundation Young Investigator Award in 1992.

Research Areas

  • Multi-Hazard Risk Assessment and Mitigation
  • Safety & Reliability
  • Structural Engineering
  • Resilience and Risk Analysis
  • Sustainable Infrastructure
  • Climate Change Mitigation & Adaptation 

Additional information

  • Professional Experience
    • Vice Dean for Research, School of Engineering and Applied Science, 2024 – present, Columbia University.
    • Santiago and Robertina Calatrava Family Professor of Civil Engineering and Engineering Mechanics, 2007 – present, Columbia University. 
    • Interim Chair of Earth and Environmental Engineering, July 2023 – December 2023, Columbia University.
    • Professor of Earth and Environmental Engineering, 2022 – present, Columbia University. 
    • Department Chair of Civil Engineering and Engineering Mechanics, 2013 – 2019, Columbia University.
    • Professor of Civil Engineering and Engineering Mechanics, 2002 – 2007, Columbia University. Associate
    • Professor (with tenure) of Civil Engineering and Engineering Mechanics, January 2002 – June 2002, Columbia University. 
    • Associate Professor (with tenure) of Civil Engineering, 1997 – 2001, Princeton University. 
    • Assistant Professor of Civil Engineering, 1991 – 1997, Princeton University. 
    • Research Associate, 1988 – 1991, Princeton University. 
    • Post-Doctoral Research Scientist, June 1987 – January 1988, Columbia University.
  • Honors & Awards
    • Alfred M. Freudenthal Medal, American Society of Civil Engineers, 2024
    • American Society of Civil Engineers, Distinguished Member, 2023.
    • Engineering Mechanics Institute of the American Society of Civil Engineers, Fellow, 2014.
    • Society of Columbia Graduates Great Teacher Award, Columbia University, 2011.
    • Columbia University’s Presidential Award for Outstanding Teaching, 2009.
    • Columbia University’s Engineering School Alumni Association Distinguished Faculty Teaching Award, 2003
    • Princeton University's E-Council Lifetime Achievement Award for Excellence in Teaching, 2001.
    • American Society of Civil Engineers Walter Huber Civil Engineering Research Prize, 1998.
    • International Association for Structural Safety and Reliability Junior Research Prize, 1997.
    • Princeton University's President's Award for Distinguished Teaching, 1995.
    • National Science Foundation Young Investigator Award, 1992.
       
  • Education
    • PhD, 1987, Civil Engineering, Columbia University.
    • MS, 1984, Civil Engineering, Columbia University.
    • Diploma, 1982, Civil Engineering, National Technical University of Athens.