ASCE has honored Michael G. Gomez, Ph.D., A.M.ASCE, with the 2025 Arthur Casagrande Professional Development Award for the advancement of biogeotechnics through innovative and rigorous research that has detailed engineering improvements, techniques in treatment methods, and fundamental scientific understanding of governing mechanisms.
Gomez is an emerging leader in geotechnical engineering, particularly in the innovative field of biogeotechnics. His research focuses on biocementation, a technique known as microbially induced calcite precipitation (MICP), which uses natural processes to strengthen and stabilize soils. He has made significant contributions by advancing our understanding of how biocementation improves soil properties and can be used to mitigate natural hazards like soil liquefaction during earthquakes. His work is distinguished by a thorough investigation of the underlying scientific processes, ensuring long-term durability and chemical resilience of biocemented soils.
Gomez’s research encompasses experimental, analytical, and numerical approaches, which have yielded significant advancements in predicting soil behavior, developing new techniques for field implementation, and conducting large-scale experiments. His groundbreaking findings are driving the adoption of biocementation technology for real-world geotechnical applications. In addition to his research, Gomez has demonstrated exceptional commitment to education and outreach, mentoring a diverse group of students and actively promoting engineering education to younger generations.
Through his dedicated efforts in research, teaching, and service to the profession, Gomez is paving the way for biogeotechnics to be recognized as a transformative solution in geotechnical engineering.
The Arthur Casagrande Professional Development Award is presented in recognition of outstanding accomplishments as evidenced by completed works, reports, or papers in the field of geotechnical engineering. The award was established to provide professional development opportunities for outstanding young practitioners, researchers, and teachers of geotechnical engineering.
