Faculty Directory
Alessandro Rotta Loria

Louis Berger Associate Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering

Contact

2145 Sheridan Road
Tech A120
Evanston, IL 60208-3109

847-467-1340Email Alessandro Rotta Loria

Website

Research Website

Departments

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Education

Ph.D. in Mechanics, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL) – 2018

M.Sc. in Architectural Engineering, Politecnico di Torino – 2013

B.Sc. in Architectural Engineering, Politecnico di Torino – 2011


Research Interests

Subsurface innovation via science and engineering. My work lies at the intersection of Mechanics, Energy, and Electrochemistry, focusing on the subsurface. By harnessing theoretical, computational, and experimental studies, I address temporal problems lasting from seconds to decades and spatial problems ranging from soil particles to cities. My overarching objective is to develop a fundamental understanding of the impacts of energy transfers on the structure-property relationship of geological and granular materials, which form the backbone of the subsurface. This work aims to address pressing challenges and opportunities for cities and territories: from subsurface urban heat islands to sea-level change, and from geological energy harvesting and storage to sustainable construction and preservation of infrastructure. Through these efforts, I strive to foster the renewable energy transition, decarbonize the construction sector, innovate infrastructure, and conserve the natural and built environments with underground solutions.


Significant Recognition

  • Crain’s Chicago Business’ 40 Under 40 Award, Crain’s Chicago Business, 2023
  • Scott Sloan Best Paper Award, Computers and Geotechnics, 2023
  • Curriculum Innovation Award, The Alumnae of Northwestern University, 2022
  • CAREER Award, The National Science Foundation, 2021
  • World Innovator Under 35, Top 100 Global List, MIT Technology Review, 2021
  • Promising Investigator Award, International Association for Computer Methods and Advances in Geomechanics, 2021
  • Bright Spark Lecture Award, International Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, 2020
  • Project Awardee for ”CHICAGO: Cooling and Heating Interventions in Chicago Achieved via Geothermal Opportunities,” Seoul Biennale of Architecture and Urbanism, 2021
  • Award for Excellence in Environmental Sustainability Research, Zeno Karl Schindler Foundation, 2019
  • DFI Young Professor Award, Journal of the Deep Foundations Institute, 2018
  • Earth Sciences and Engineering Best Paper Award, 2017, EPFL
  • Excellence in Scientific Research Award, 2016, EPFL

Significant Professional Service

  • Founder and organizer, Northwestern Sustainability Lecture Series
  • Secretary, Energy Geotechnics Task Force, American Society of Civil and Environmental Engineers
  • Task Force Leader, Academia-Industry Partnership for Innovation on Energy Geotechnics, International Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering
  • Editorial Associate, Geomechanics for Energy and Environment
  • Reviewer for international journals, funding agencies, and evaluation committees
  • Member of 10+ technical and scientific societies
  • Instructor of 10+ continuing education courses
  • Reviewer for 20+ international scientific journals in the fields of geomechanics, structural mechanics, energy, and physics

Selected Publications

Rotta Loria, Alessandro F. Underground Climate Change. Oxford University Press, 2026.

Laloui, Lyesse, and Rotta Loria, Alessandro F. Analysis and design of energy geostructures: theoretical essentials and practical application. Academic Press, 2019.