Civil & Environmental Engineering

College of Engineering

About Me

Mien Jao, Ph.D.
Professor

jao

Areas of Expertise

  • Foundation design and analysis
  • Numerical modeling in geotechnical engineering
  • Soil testing/evaluation/improvement
  • Slope stability analysis

Education

  • Ph.D. in Geotechnical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, 1995
  • M.E. in Geotechnical/Structural Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, 1991
  • B.S. in Civil and Hydraulic Engineering, Chung-Yuan Christian University, Taiwan, 1985

Experience

  • Assistant Professor/Associate Professor/Professor, Civil Engineering department, Lamar University, Beaumont, Texas, 1998 – Present
  • Project Engineer/Geotechnical Engineer, GTS Technologies, Inc. Harrisburg, PA / Fairfax, VA, 1995 – 1998
  • Graduate Assistant/Lab Instructor, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 1990 – 1994
  • Project Engineer, South Link Railway Engineering Project Office, Department of Transportation, Pingtung, Taiwan 1987-1988
  • Civil Engineer, Giasan Engineering Project Office, Hualian, Taiwan, 1985 - 1987

Teaching Awards

  • Chi Epsilon, National Civil Engineering Honor Society, James M. Robbins Excellence-in-Teaching National Award, 2003
  • Chi Epsilon, National Civil Engineering Honor Society, James M. Robbins Excellence-in-Teaching Award for the Southwest District, 2003
  • University Merit Award, Lamar University, 2003

Selected Publications with Students*

  • Jasmin Kurt, T Thuy Minh Nguyen, Zachariah Payne, Paul Bernazzani, Xianchang Li and Mien Jao, “Improvement of Dredged Material using a Novel Bioenzyme and Portland Cement”, accepted for publication and presentation in GeoAsai7 & IGS First Young Engineers Conference, Oct. 31- Nov. 4, 2022
  • Saeed Rabbanifar, T. Thuy Minh Nguyen, Chun-Wei Yao, Qin Qian, Paul Bernazzani, and Mien Jao, “Adding Value to Dredged Material Using Lime and Ash Products” Proceedings, Recent Trends in Geotechnical Geo-Environmental Engineering and Education RTG2EE International Conference, Online, ISBN-13: 978-0-6489449-0-4, pp. 94-98, Brisbane, Australia, 10-11, September 2020
  • Thuy Minh Nguyen, Saeed Rabbanifar, Nicholas A. Brake, Qin Qian, Kyle Kibodeaux, Harold E. Crochet, Soheil Oruji, Remington Whitt, Joshua Farrow, Brandon Blaire, Paul Bernazzani, and Mien Jao, “Stabilization of Silty Clayey Dredged Material” Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering, ASCE, Vol 30, Issue 9, September 2018
  • Jao, F. Ahmed*, G. Sudani*, S. Gudavally*, T.T.M. Nguyen, and M. C. Wang, “Interaction between Strip Footings and Sheetpile Walls”, Electronic Journal of Geotechnical Engineering, Bundle 6, 2017http://www.ejge.com/2017/Ppr2017.0160ma.pdf
  • Gassan Sudani*, Nicholas Brake, and Mien Jao, “Stability of Footings Adjacent to Pile Walls”, International Journal of Geomechanics, ASCE, Vol. 15, No.2, December, 2015
  • Nutan Palla*, Suresh Gudavalli*, Liang Chao, Jao, and M.C. Wang, “Numerical Analysis of Texas Cone Penetration Test”, International Journal of Applied Science and Technology, Vol.2, No.3, pp. 1-6, March 2012
  • Jao, F. Ahmed*, G. Muninarayana*, M. C. Wang, “Behavior of Eccentrically Loaded Footings on Slopes”, Journal of Geomechanics and Geoengineering, Vol. 3, No. 2, June 2008, pp. 107-111
  • Gudavalli*, N. Palla*, C. Vipulanadan, A. J. Puppala, M. Jao, X. Fang, S. Yin, and M.C. Wang, “Development of Correlation between TCP Blow Count and Undrained Shear Strength of Low Plasticity Clay”, Geotechnical and Geophysical Site Characterization, April 2008 Taylor & Francis Group, London, pp. 1401-1404
  • M. Jao, M. C. Wang, H. C. Chou*, and C. J. Lin, “Behavior of Interacting Parallel Strip Footings” Electronic Journal of Geotechnical Engineering, Vol. 7, 2002

Selected Funded Research Projects

  • Co-PI: “Finding an Efficient Solution to Managing Dredge Waste in Ports and Waterways”, Center for Advances in Port Management (CAPM), Lamar University, 02/01/2021 -08/30/2021, $33,000, with Thuy Minh Nguyen, Zhe Luo, XianChang Li, Qin Qian and Paul Bernazzani
  • Co-PI:” Chemical Decontamination and Stabilization of Texas Dredge Materials”, Texas Hazardous Waste Research Center, 04/01/2020 – 06/30/2021, $16,250 with Thuy Minh Nguyen, Zhe Luo and Paul Bernazzani
  • Co-PI:” Modeling and Experimental Study on the Transport of Natural Gas in Southeast Texas Soil from the Underground Pipeline Leak”, Center for Midstream Management and Science, Lamar University, 06/01/2020 – 08/30/2021, $30,000 with Drs. Ping He and Clayton Jeffryes
  • Co-PI: “Wake Wash in Sabine-Neches Waterway”, Phase _II, Sabine-Neches Waterway Navigation District10/01/2017-9/30/2018, $99,742, PI: V. Zaloom
  • Co-PI: “Evaluation and Remediation of Water Contaminants Originating from Dredge Waste“, CAWAQ Grant Program, Lamar University, 03/01/2016 – 05/30/2017, $25,000, PI: Dr. T. Thuy Minh Nguyen
  • Co-PI: “Wake Wash in Sabine-Neches Waterway”, Sabine-Neches Waterway Navigation District, 11/01/2015-06/30/2017, $99,742, PI: V. Zaloom
  • PI: “Effect of Biomaterials on the Behavior of Expansive Soils”, funded by Lamar Research Enhancement Grant, 09/1/12-08/31/13, $5,000
  • Co-PI: “Evaluation of Superheavy Load Criteria for Bridges”, Texas Department of Transportation, 09/01/09-08/31/11, $181,189/$110,395, PI: Dr. Mark Bourland
  • Co-PI: “Pavement Repair Strategies for 2R and Routine Maintenance Project”, Texas Department of Transportation, 09/01/09-08/31/10, $135,000/$30,000, with Dr. Mark Bourland
  • PI: “Correlation of Texas Cone Penetrometer Test Values and Shear Strength of Texas Soils ”, Texas Department of Transportation, 09/01/04-08/30/06, $25,000/$175,000
  • PI: “Jefferson County Highway 87 Shore Protection - Clay Sediment Characterization”, funded by Jefferson County, Texas/ Pacific International Engineering, 02/15/03-08/15/03, Dr. V. Zaloom (PD), $10,000
  • Co-PI: “Design of Confined Placement Areas for Sabine-Neches Waterway Dredged Spoils ” funded by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, $53,631, Dr. V. Zaloom (PD), 9/1/02-8/31/03
  • PI: “Sabine-Neches Waterway Feasibility Study – Pipeline/Facilities Relocation and Removals” funded by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, $38,771, Dr. V. Zaloom (PD), 9/1/01-8/31/02

Professional Activities and Affiliations

  • Faculty Advisor for Engineers Without Borders (Fall 2015 to Summer 2022)
  • Faculty Advisor for Chi-Epsilon National Civil Engineering Honor Society (Fall 1999 to Fall 2011)
  • Graduate Advisor for students majoring in civil engineering (2003-present)
  • Guest Editor for a special issue "Advances in Engineering Soil Properties and Testing for Ground Stabilization/Improvement" of the Journal of Applied Science (IF: 2.838), (2022 - 2023)
  • Lamar’s Representative on the TSPE Executive Committee of the professional Engineers in Education (PEE) Practice of the Texas Society of Professional Engineers (TSPE), (2010-2012)
  • Committee member of the Technical Advisory Panel in the area of Structural and Geotechnical Engineering for the Research Management Committee 5 (RMC-5) of the Texas Department of Transportation (1999 to present)
  • Licensed Professional Engineer in Pennsylvania, Texas, and Virginia