ProfCholachat Rujikiatkamjorn

Dr Cholachat Rujikiatkamjorn joined UTS as a Professor of Geotechnical Engineering at the Transport Research Centre in 2020. With a focus on real-world outcomes, Cholachat has extensive experience in developing and managing collaborative infrastructure research projects that have made public transport safer in Australia while improving efficiencies and cost outcomes for industry partners including SMEC, Global Synthetics, TfNSW and Douglas Partners.
Cholachat received his B Eng (1st Class Honours) from the Khonkaen University in Thailand in 2000 and completed his Masters (M Eng) at the Asian Institute of Technology in Thailand in 2002. He moved to Australia for his PhD in Geotechnical Engineering from the University of Wollongong (UOW) in 2006 and received the Australian Geomechanics Society Thesis Award that same year.
After completing his PhD, Cholachat kick-started his thriving academic career by accepting the role of Research Associate at UOW and leading an ARC Discovery Project in the fundamentals of granular mechanics for rail infrastructure. In 2008, he was promoted to Senior Lecturer and by 2011 had secured an Early Career Researcher Award from ARC.

In 2013, Cholachat was promoted to Associate Professor and in 2019 was appointed the Research Director for UOW’s School of Civil, Mining and Environmental Engineering. During this time, he was also one of the core team members responsible for the successful bid for ARC’s Industrial Transformation Training Centre (ITTC) for Rail.

Cholachat has received honours and awards for his work including the Wollongong Trailblazer Award in 2006, two Outstanding Paper Awards from the International Association for Computer Methods and Advances in Geomechanics in 2009 and he received the 2012 DH Trollope award and the 2013 ISSMGE Young Member award for academic achievements and outstanding contributions to the field of geotechnical engineering.

While maintaining a strong focus on quality teaching and post graduate supervision, he has secured over $2 million in research funding. This includes a large grant from the ARC’s Industrial Transformation Training Centre (ITTC) for Rail in 2017.

Cholachat has published over 270 articles in international journals and conferences. His research achievements, consultation activities and involvement in industry projects were the main driving force in the introduction of new Australian Standards (AS8700) on Vertical Drains in Soft Soils. He was also instrumental in the 2023 publication of Guidelines for the application of recycle rubber and geotextile for railway which has both national and international application.

Incredibly passionate about his work, Cholachat’s ultimate aim is to improve track design for his industry partners with the subsequent impact of helping improve public rail transportation across the state of NSW, while minimising service interruptions for rail users.