Brina Montoya

Bio

Dr. Brina Mortensen Montoya’s primary research interests involve developing bio-mediated stabilization approaches to improve the sustainability and resiliency of infrastructure. One such approach, microbial induced carbonate precipitation (MICP), improves the soil behavior by inducing carbonate precipitation through microbial metabolism, such as ureolysis. Applications of MICP on which she have focused include infrastructure subjected to natural hazards, such as earthquake-induced liquefaction and coastal/offshore erosion, and addressing anthropogenic hazards, such as stabilizing tailings impoundments and carbon sequestration. Additionally, her research group aims to understand geotechnical aspects of infrastructure resiliency, such as hurricane-induced flooding effects on transportation infrastructure and levees.