Prof. Pooneh Maghoul’s research focuses on the intersection of geotechnical engineering and sustainable development by addressing the challenges posed by climate change in cold and permafrost regions.
At UNU-INWEH, she leads initiatives on Sustainable Infrastructure in Cold Regions, covering topics such as infrastructure resilience, circular economy, smart cities, digital twins, responsible extraction, aging infrastructure, and inclusive decision making. She collaborates with communities in cold, permafrost, and Northern regions to develop community-based policy frameworks that address specific vulnerabilities in cold regions to ensure that local voices are heard in the policy-making process.
Professor Magoul has been at the forefront of developing cutting-edge solutions and technologies to address critical challenges related to the resilience and sustainability of civil and mining infrastructure in the face of climate and disaster risks (thawing permafrost, landslides, earthquakes, wildfires). Her knowledge mobilization and technology transfer contributions include pioneering the use of digital twin technology for smart infrastructure asset management, evaluating sustainable and low-carbon materials, and implementing nature-based solutions to mitigate permafrost carbon feedback.
She is a Professor of Geotechnical Engineering at Polytechnique Montréal and a recipient of several international and national awards, including the Outstanding Young Geotechnical Engineer award from the International Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering. Her work on enhancing the understanding of infrastructure resilience under the pressures of climate change has received recognition and funding from major institutions, including the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA).