Oladoyin Kolawole
Oladoyin Kolawole
Assistant Professor, Civil & Environmental Engineering
233 Colton Hall (COLT)
About Me
Dr. Oladoyin Kolawole is an Assistant Professor of Geomechanics and Geotechnical Engineering in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT), and also the Faculty Coordinator for the Geosystems Minor program at NJIT. He is the director of the Geomechanics for Geo-Engineering and Sustainability (GGES) Lab. Prior to joining NJIT, Dr. Kolawole was a Postdoctoral Research Associate at Texas Tech University, before later working as a Visiting Assistant Professor (Faculty Fellow) at Hope College, Michigan. He pioneered the “biogeomechanics” concept, which studies the mechanical response of rocks due to biological-induced reactions. His interest is in experimental and computational studies to fundamentally understand and predict the multiscale deformation behavior and physical attributes of rocks and soils to address problems related to natural and built infrastructure, earth systems, energy, and hazard mitigation and remediation. Additionally, He studies how earth materials respond mechanically to biologically induced processes, applying our findings to mitigating rock failure and collapse, post-hazard remediation, and energy resources. Dr. Kolawole is a recipient of the 2022 Future Leader Award and the 2021 Distinguished Service Award from the American Rock Mechanics Association (ARMA). He currently serves on the Committee on Geological and Geotechnical Engineering (COGGE) at the U.S. National Academies. He has authored and co-authored several peer-reviewed journal and conference papers on geomechanics and geotechnical engineering. He is an Editorial Board Member of Springer Nature’s Discover Civil Engineering journal, and volunteers as a peer reviewer for reputable rock mechanics and geotechnical engineering journals, in addition to mentoring undergraduate and graduate students.
Education
Ph.D.; Texas Tech University; Petroleum Engineering - Geomechanics; 2021
M.S.; University of Miskolc; Petroleum Engineering; 2018
B.S.; Rivers State University; Petroleum Engineering; 2012
M.S.; University of Miskolc; Petroleum Engineering; 2018
B.S.; Rivers State University; Petroleum Engineering; 2012
Awards & Honors
2022 Future Leader Award, American Rock Mechanics Association (ARMA)
2020 Distinguished Service Award, American Rock Mechanics Association (ARMA)
2020 Distinguished Service Award, American Rock Mechanics Association (ARMA)
Website
2025 Spring Courses
CE 491 - RESEARCH EXPER-CIVIL ENGR
CE 725 - INDEPENDENT STUDY I
CE 726 - INDEPENDENT STUDY II
CE 790A - DOCT DISSERTATION & RES
CE 701B - MASTER'S THESIS
CE 701C - MASTER'S THESIS
CE 490 - CIVIL ENGR PROJECTS
CE 662 - DEEP UNDERGROUND ENGINEERING
CE 727 - INDEPENDENT RESEARCH III
CE 792 - PRE-DOCTORAL DISSERTATION
CE 725 - INDEPENDENT STUDY I
CE 726 - INDEPENDENT STUDY II
CE 790A - DOCT DISSERTATION & RES
CE 701B - MASTER'S THESIS
CE 701C - MASTER'S THESIS
CE 490 - CIVIL ENGR PROJECTS
CE 662 - DEEP UNDERGROUND ENGINEERING
CE 727 - INDEPENDENT RESEARCH III
CE 792 - PRE-DOCTORAL DISSERTATION
Teaching Interests
Rock Mechanics
Applied Engineering Geology
Deep Underground Engineering
Energy Geotechnics and Sustainability
Applied Engineering Geology
Deep Underground Engineering
Energy Geotechnics and Sustainability
Past Courses
CE 644: APPLIED ENGINEERING GEOLOGY
CE 645: ROCK MECHANICS
CE 702: ST: ENERGY FROM UNDERGROUND RESOURCES
CE 791: GRADUATE SEMINAR
CE 645: ROCK MECHANICS
CE 702: ST: ENERGY FROM UNDERGROUND RESOURCES
CE 791: GRADUATE SEMINAR
Research Interests
Dr. Kolawole’s research aims to develop a fundamental understanding and predict the multiscale attributes of earth materials (rocks and soils) to address problems related to geosystems and urban infrastructural systems. Additionally, He couples thermo-hydro-chemo-mechanical (THCM) processes in geomaterials with applications to geo-energy and geohazard mitigation. He also studies mechanical responses due to rock interactions with biological-induced and bio-mediated processes and their applications in mitigating rock failure and collapse.
His research is broadly focused on:
- Mechanics of Geomaterials and Coupled Processes
- Natural and Built Infrastructure
- Energy Systems
Check out Dr. Kolawole’s Geomechanics for Geo-Engineering and Sustainability (GGES) Lab Group website to see how he is working at the intersection of geomechanics, geotechnical engineering, and geo-engineering: https://www.gges-lab.com
His research is broadly focused on:
- Mechanics of Geomaterials and Coupled Processes
- Natural and Built Infrastructure
- Energy Systems
Check out Dr. Kolawole’s Geomechanics for Geo-Engineering and Sustainability (GGES) Lab Group website to see how he is working at the intersection of geomechanics, geotechnical engineering, and geo-engineering: https://www.gges-lab.com
Journal Article
O. Olorode, Oladoyin Kolawole, C. Igweonu, H. Rashid. 2025. “Taking bio-induced precipitation to the field for sustainable geo-energy storage: Experimental and numerical studies of leakage mitigation.” Journal of Energy Storage, vol. 112, pp. 115474.
M. C. Ngoma, J. Lin, Oladoyin Kolawole, V. O. Ogunro. 2025. “Potential of Plastic-Based Waste in Geomaterial Stabilization, Grouting, and Geotechnology Applications: Retro and Prospective Insights.” Discover Civil Engineering, vol. 2, no. 1.
F. Oppong, Oladoyin Kolawole. 2025. “Novel nanomagnetic-based slurry for grouting fractured rocks.” Discover Civil Engineering, vol. 2, no. 1.
M. C. Ngoma, Oladoyin Kolawole, Y. Lu. 2024. “Unveiling Nanomechanical and Pore-Structural Evolution of Bio-Precipitate Arrays in Heterogeneous Granular Media.” Results in Engineering, vol. 24, pp. 103313.
M C Ngoma, Oladoyin Kolawole. 2024. “Porosity and Bedding Controls on Bio-Induced Carbonate Precipitation and Mechanical Properties of Shale and Dolomite Rocks: EICP vs MICP.” Biogeotechnics, vol. 2, no. 4, pp. 100102.
M. C. Ngoma, J. Lin, Oladoyin Kolawole, V. O. Ogunro. 2025. “Potential of Plastic-Based Waste in Geomaterial Stabilization, Grouting, and Geotechnology Applications: Retro and Prospective Insights.” Discover Civil Engineering, vol. 2, no. 1.
F. Oppong, Oladoyin Kolawole. 2025. “Novel nanomagnetic-based slurry for grouting fractured rocks.” Discover Civil Engineering, vol. 2, no. 1.
M. C. Ngoma, Oladoyin Kolawole, Y. Lu. 2024. “Unveiling Nanomechanical and Pore-Structural Evolution of Bio-Precipitate Arrays in Heterogeneous Granular Media.” Results in Engineering, vol. 24, pp. 103313.
M C Ngoma, Oladoyin Kolawole. 2024. “Porosity and Bedding Controls on Bio-Induced Carbonate Precipitation and Mechanical Properties of Shale and Dolomite Rocks: EICP vs MICP.” Biogeotechnics, vol. 2, no. 4, pp. 100102.
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Conference Paper
“Experimental Study of the Effect of Porosity on EICP Biomineralization in Dolostone and Shales Under Uniaxial Compressive Stress Condition”
58th U.S. Rock Mechanics/Geomechanics Symposium, June 2024.
“Investigation of the Failure Mechanisms for Inducing Rock Slope Hazard in New Jersey, United States”
58th U.S. Rock Mechanics/Geomechanics Symposium, June 2024.
“Rock Mechanical Characterization of Epoxy-Based Grouted Sandstone”
58th U.S. Rock Mechanics/Geomechanics Symposium, June 2024.
“Impact of Geomechanics on the Development of Hydrothermal Fluid Pathways in Enhanced Geothermal Systems: A Review”
57th U.S. Rock Mechanics/Geomechanics Symposium, June 2023.
“Sub-Core Scale Characterization of Microbial Invasion Impact in Carbonates: Implications for Mechanical Alteration”
57th U.S. Rock Mechanics/Geomechanics Symposium, June 2023.
58th U.S. Rock Mechanics/Geomechanics Symposium, June 2024.
“Investigation of the Failure Mechanisms for Inducing Rock Slope Hazard in New Jersey, United States”
58th U.S. Rock Mechanics/Geomechanics Symposium, June 2024.
“Rock Mechanical Characterization of Epoxy-Based Grouted Sandstone”
58th U.S. Rock Mechanics/Geomechanics Symposium, June 2024.
“Impact of Geomechanics on the Development of Hydrothermal Fluid Pathways in Enhanced Geothermal Systems: A Review”
57th U.S. Rock Mechanics/Geomechanics Symposium, June 2023.
“Sub-Core Scale Characterization of Microbial Invasion Impact in Carbonates: Implications for Mechanical Alteration”
57th U.S. Rock Mechanics/Geomechanics Symposium, June 2023.
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Chapter
O Ozotta, Oladoyin Kolawole. 2024. “Nanoscale investigation of CO2-induced geomechanical alterations in shale reservoirs.” SEG Global Meeting Abstracts pp. 306-310. , United States: Society of Exploration Geophysicists, 2024.
S Rehmatullah, Oladoyin Kolawole, V Shah. 2024. “Investigating the Influence of Water Salinity Concentrations on Thermal Conductivity of Soils for Buried Infrastructure Systems Reliant on Heat Transfer.” In T.M. Evans, N. Stark, & S. Chang (Eds.), GSP 351: Soil Improvement, Sustainability, Geoenvironmental, and Cold Regions Engineering pp. 582 - 590. , United States : American Society of Civil Engineers, 2024.
Oladoyin Kolawole, Rayan Hassane Assaad, M C Ngoma, O Ozotta. 2023. “An Artificial Neural Network Model for Predicting Microbial-Induced Alteration of Rock Strength.” In E. Rathje, B.M. Montoya, & M.H. Wayne (Eds.), GSP 340 - Geotechnical Characterization pp. 243 - 251. , United States: American Society of Civil Engineers, 2023.
S Rehmatullah, Oladoyin Kolawole, V Shah. 2024. “Investigating the Influence of Water Salinity Concentrations on Thermal Conductivity of Soils for Buried Infrastructure Systems Reliant on Heat Transfer.” In T.M. Evans, N. Stark, & S. Chang (Eds.), GSP 351: Soil Improvement, Sustainability, Geoenvironmental, and Cold Regions Engineering pp. 582 - 590. , United States : American Society of Civil Engineers, 2024.
Oladoyin Kolawole, Rayan Hassane Assaad, M C Ngoma, O Ozotta. 2023. “An Artificial Neural Network Model for Predicting Microbial-Induced Alteration of Rock Strength.” In E. Rathje, B.M. Montoya, & M.H. Wayne (Eds.), GSP 340 - Geotechnical Characterization pp. 243 - 251. , United States: American Society of Civil Engineers, 2023.
Conference Proceeding
“Assessing the Effect of Thermal Maturation on the Mechanical Properties of Organic Matter in Bakken Shale Using Atomic Force Microscopy”
AGU Fall Meeting, December 2021.
“Characterization of the Elastic Properties of Bakken Shales Using Nanoindentation and Homogenization Methods”
AGU Fall Meeting 2021, December 2021.
“Compensation Effect in Source Rock Kinetics: Influence of Bitumen Formation”
Geological Society of America, October (4th Quarter/Autumn) 2021.
“Effect of Biogeomechanical Altered Properties on Geologic Carbon Storage in Unconventional Reservoirs”
AGU 2020 Fall Meeting, December 2020.
“Impact of Maturation Processes on Organic Matter in Shales: Implication for Geologic Carbon Sequestration”
Geological Society of America, October (4th Quarter/Autumn) 2020.
“Optimization of Hydraulic Fracturing Design in Unconventional Formations: Impact of Treatment Parameters”
SPE, October (4th Quarter/Autumn) 2019.
AGU Fall Meeting, December 2021.
“Characterization of the Elastic Properties of Bakken Shales Using Nanoindentation and Homogenization Methods”
AGU Fall Meeting 2021, December 2021.
“Compensation Effect in Source Rock Kinetics: Influence of Bitumen Formation”
Geological Society of America, October (4th Quarter/Autumn) 2021.
“Effect of Biogeomechanical Altered Properties on Geologic Carbon Storage in Unconventional Reservoirs”
AGU 2020 Fall Meeting, December 2020.
“Impact of Maturation Processes on Organic Matter in Shales: Implication for Geologic Carbon Sequestration”
Geological Society of America, October (4th Quarter/Autumn) 2020.
“Optimization of Hydraulic Fracturing Design in Unconventional Formations: Impact of Treatment Parameters”
SPE, October (4th Quarter/Autumn) 2019.