Biography
Kyle Rollins received his BS degree from Brigham Young University and his Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from the University of California at Berkeley. After working as a geotechnical consultant, he joined the Civil Engineering faculty at BYU in 1987 following after his father who was previously a geotechnical professor. His research has involved geotechnical earthquake engineering, deep foundation behavior, bridge abutments, collapsible soils, and soil improvement techniques. He has published over 190 technical papers and supervised over 130 graduate students. He was recognized as the engineering educator of the year by the Utah State Engineers Council and received a Governor's Award for Science and Technology in 2017. ASCE has recognized his work with the Huber research award, the Wellington prize, and the Wallace Hayward Baker Award. In 2009, he was the Cross-Canada Geotechnical lecturer for the Canadian Geotechnical Society and in 2013 he received the Jorj Osterberg Award for innovation in foundation testing from the Deep Foundation Institute.
Research Interests
Earthquake Engineering, Liquefaction, Deep Foundations, Collapsible Soils, Ground Improvement, Bridge AbutmentsTeaching Interests
Soil Mechanics, Soil Behavior, Deep Foundation Design, Lateral earth supportHonors and Awards
- Excellence in Scholarship Award, Fulton College of Engineering (2024 - 2024)
- H. Bolton Seed Medal and Lecture, Geo-Institute of American Society of Civil Engineers (2024 - 2024)
- Cross-USA Geotechnical Lecturer, American Society of Civil Engineers Geo-Institute (2023 - 2024)
- Invited Conference Speaker, 2nd Croatian Conference on Earthquake Engineering (2023 - 2023)
- State-of-the-Practice Speaker, ASCE Geo-Institute (2022 - 2022)
- Best Technical Presentation, Northwest Geotechnical Workshop (2021 - 2021)
- Visiting Professorship, University of Chieti-Pescara (2021 - 2021)
- King Hussein Professorship, BYU Civil & Environmental Engineering Dept. (2018 - 2021)
- Wallace Hayward Baker Award, GeoInstitute, American Society of Civil Enginers (2018 - 2018)
- Governor's Award for Science & Technology, State of Utah (2017 - 2017)
- Keynote Speaker, Indian Geotechnical Society (2016 - 2016)
- Jorj O. Osterberg Memorial Lecture & Award, Deep Foundations Institute (2014 - 2014)
- Sowers Symposium State-of-the-Practice Lecture, ASCE Georgia Geo-Institute Chapter and the Georgia Tech CEE Geosystems Group (2014 - 2014)
- Excellence in Citizenship Award, BYU Fulton College of Engineering and Technology (2013 - 2013)
- James Cooper Best Paper Award, 7th National Seismic Conf. on Bridges (2013 - 2013)
- Research Trailblazer Award, Utah Department of Transportation Research Division (2012 - 2012)
- Best Paper Award ASCE GeoFlorida Conference , ASCE GeoInstitute (2010 - 2010)
- Cross-Canada Geotechnical Lecturer, Canadian Geotechncal Society (2009 - 2009)
- James Cooper Best Paper Award-Geotechnical, 6th National Seismic Conf. on Bridges (2008 - 2008)
- Karl G. Maeser Research and Creative Arts Award, Brigham Young University (2008 - 2008)
- Global Travel Fellowship, College of Engineering and Technology (2006 - 2006)
- International Faculty Scholar at Indian Institute of Technology-Madras, Indian National Program for Earthquake Engineering Education (2006 - 2006)
- Scholarly Productivity Award, BYU College of Engineering & Technology (2000 - 2000)
- Utah Engineering Educator of the Year, Utah Engineers Council (2000 - 2000)
- Utah Engineering Educator of the Year, Utah Section, American Society of Civil Engineers (1999 - 1999)
- Walter Huber Research Prize, American Society of Civil Engineers (1999 - 1999)
- Arthur M. Wellington Prize, American Society of Civil Engineers (1996 - 1996)
- Outstanding Young Faculty Award, American Society for Engineering Education (1991 - 1991)
- Navy Research Fellow, US Navy-American Society for Engineering Education (1990 - 1990)
Memberships
- Deep Foundations Institute (2005 - Present)
- Earthquake Engineering Research Institute (2005 - Present)
- ADSC (1989 - Present)
- American Society of Civil Engineers (1980 - Present)
Professional Citizenship
- Reviewer, Ad Hoc Reviewer, Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenviromental Engineering (2018 - 2026)
- Committee/Council Member, TRB Committee on Seismic Design of Bridges (2015 - 2026)
- Committee/Council Member, Utah Liquefaction Advisory Group (2014 - 2026)
- Committee/Council Chair, TRB Sub-Committee on Geoseismic Issues in Bridge Design (2019 - 2026)
- Committee/Council Member, ASCE Ground Improvement Technical Committee (2017 - 2026)
- Guest Speaker, ASCE Geo-Institute (2023 - 2024)
- Board Member, U.S. Universities Council on Geotechnical Education & Research (2018 - 2022)
- Editorial Review Board Member, Ground Improvement Journal -Institute of Civil Engineers (2017 - 2021)
- Reviewer, Ad Hoc Reviewer, Homi Bhabhbha National Institute-Center for Atomic Research (2019 - 2019)
- Committee/Council Member, TRB Committee on Geoseismic Design (2014 - 2019)
- Reviewer, Ad Hoc Reviewer, NSF-RAPID Research Center Site Review (2018 - 2018)
- Other, 2nd US-Russia Geotechnical Engineering Symposia (2018 - 2018)
- Reviewer, Ad Hoc Reviewer, New Zealand Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employmemnt (2017 - 2017)
- Committee/Council Chair, GEER-2016 Ecuador Earthquake Recon Team Member (2016 - 2017)
- Reviewer, Ad Hoc Reviewer, NSF - RAPID Research Center Site Review (2017 - 2017)
- Committee/Council Chair, ASCE Ground Improvement Technical Committee (2010 - 2016)
- Committee/Council Member, ASCE GI Conference Coordination Committee (2010 - 2014)
- Editor, Associate Editor, American Society of Civil Engineers (2010 - 2011)