Farnood Sobhbidari
Staff Geotechnical Scientist
Hired
- 2023
Location
- Redmond, WA
As a member of our geohazard team, Farnood specializes in the geomechanical and rock mechanics side of geotechnical engineering. He helps clients identify potential hazards like earthquakes, landslides, and rockfalls, assesses the risks, and works to mitigate them.
“My job is directly related to the safety of our communities,” Farnood says, “and that’s why I value what I do at GeoEngineers and my profession.”
Prior to joining GeoEngineers in 2023, Farnood was pursuing his passion for research as a Ph.D. student in the Earth and Environmental Sciences department at the University of Texas at Arlington. Farnood’s doctoral studies focused on the mechanical properties of organic-rich shales at the nanoscale. In addition to honing his analytical skills and understanding of geology, Farnood’s academic experience included teaching a variety of undergraduate geology courses. After earning his Ph.D., it wasn’t long before Farnood found GeoEngineers and put his skills to work.
“The working culture and diverse scope of projects at GeoEngineers were the main reasons and inspiration for me to join the company,” Farnood says.
Farnood’s experience includes fault characterization for probabilistic seismic hazard assessment analysis, assessing induced seismicity related to CO2 sequestration, and designing shoring systems for underground excavations. And when rockfalls or landslides occur, Farnood and the geohazards team develop mitigation and response strategies. With his strong background in geotechnical and geomechanical sciences—and education—Farnood brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to his role.
Outside of work, Farnood finds solace in the great outdoors. He spends time hiking, camping, and visiting national parks. He is also an avid football and soccer fan and enjoys watching as many games as possible. Ask Farnood about his favorite sport and his loyalty as a Manchester United supporter quickly shines through!
Maverick Science Graduate Research Fellowship, College of Science, UTA, May 2020
Sobhbidari, F., & Hu, Q. (2021) Recent advances in the mechanical characterization of shales at nano-to micro-scales: A review. Mechanics of Materials, 162, 104043.
Sobhbidari, F., Q.H. Hu, E. La Plante, J.C. Jiang (2021, December). “Investigating the frictional properties of Shale Organic Matter with Atomic Force Microscopy”, In AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts (Vol. 2021, pp. MR45B-0101).
