Graduated Students

Mr. Chatura Dodangoda

Project Title: Hydrogen storage in geological formations
Graduated Year: 2026

Supervision Role: Main Supervisor
Completed degree: PhD by Research

Ms. R.D.G. Fiona Harshini

Project Title: Understanding of fracture stimulation for geothermal energy recoveries, Renewable energy
Graduated Year: 2026

Supervision Role: Main Supervisor
Completed degree: PhD by Research

Mr. Treshan Nimasha Perera

Project Title: Investigation of new rock breaking technology for future mining
Graduated Year: 2026

Supervision Role: Main Supervisor
Completed degree: PhD by Research

Mr. Bo Zhang

Project Title: Foam flow in pores and fractures, Foam based hydrofracking, Material point method, Finite element method
Graduated Year: 2025

Supervision Role: Main Supervisor
Completed degree: PhD by Research

Ms. Janethri Parana Liyanage

Project Title: Hydration and uniform energy distribution of SREMA in effective mining purposes
Graduated Year: 2025

Supervision Role: Main Supervisor
Completed degree: PhD by Research

Mr.Yuqi Songmage

Project Title: Experimental study and discrete element numerical simulation of sand production
Graduated Year: 2024

Supervision Role: Main Supervisor
Completed degree: PhD by Research

Ms. Guorui Yang

Project Title: Introducing green cement for subsurface applications under high-temperature high-pressure conditions.
Graduated Year:

Supervision Role: Main Supervisor
Completed degree: PhD by Research



Dr. Jun Zhou

Project Title: Geological CO2 storage, Subsurface fluids flow
Graduated Year: 2023

Supervision Role: Main Supervisor
Completed degree: PhD by Research

Dr. Shashika Madhusanka Gajanayake

Project Title: Methane gas hydrates and gas replacement, Molecular dynamic simulations, Mechanical behaviour of hydrate-bearing sediments.
Graduated Year: 2023

Supervision Role: Main Supervisor
Completed degree: PhD by Research

Dr. Balinee Balachandran

Project Title: Introducing a green cement for construction applications
Graduated Year: 2023

Supervision Role: Main Supervisor
Completed degree: PhD by Research

Dr. Udeshini Manatunga

Project Title: Adoption of Soundless Cracking Demolition Agent(SCDA) for rock fragmentation in deep geological rock formations.
Graduated Year: 2023

Supervision Role: Main Supervisor
Completed degree: PhD by Research

Dr. David Lall 

Project Title: Natural gas hydrates, Fluid flow in porous media.
Graduated Year: 2023

Supervision Role: Main Supervisor
Completed degree: PhD by Research

Dr. Manoj Samarakoon

Project Title: Development of a new generation cement: Insights into the deep wells
Graduated Year: 2021

Supervision Role: Main Supervisor
Completed degree: PhD by Research

Dr. Lie Kong

Project Title: Mechanism of rock damage evolution in enhanced geothermal systems
Graduated Year: 2021

Supervision Role: Main Supervisor
Completed degree: PhD by Research

Dr. Dinesha Jayasekara

Project Title: CO2 geosequestration and long-term stability of caprock
Graduated Year: 2021

Supervision Role: Main Supervisor
Completed degree: PhD by Research

Dr. K.M. Adheesha Shashibhanu Bandara

Project Title: Investigation of proppant crushing and embedment mechanisms in reservoir rocks
Graduated Year: 2021

Supervision Role: Main Supervisor
Completed degree: PhD by Research

Dr. B.L. Avanthi Isaka

Project Title: Utilization of supercritical carbon dioxide as the working fluid in enhanced geothermal systems
Graduated Year: 2021

Supervision Role: Main Supervisor
Completed degree: PhD by Research

Dr. Anup Kumar Shahii

Project Title: Study of Gas Hydrate using Effective Medium Theory and Rock Physics Modelling, Subsurface Geophysical Imaging
Graduated Year: 2021

Supervision Role: Main Supervisor
Completed degree: PhD by Research

Dr. Zhaoyang Ma

Project Title: Geothermal Energy Exploration, Waterless Fracturing Technology.
Graduated Year: 2021

Supervision Role: Main Supervisor
Completed degree: PhD by Research

Dr. Guanglei Zhang 

Project Title: Micro-scale response of coal with respect to CO2 sequestration in deep coal seams
Graduated Year: 2020

Supervision Role: Main Supervisor
Completed degree: PhD by Research

Dr. Dinesh Panneerselvam

Project Title: Flow and Pollutant Transport through Fractured Porous Media
Graduated Year: 2021

Supervision Role: Main Supervisor
Completed degree: PhD by Research

Dr. Xiaogang Zhang

Project Title: Mechanism of carbon dioxide sequestration in deep coal seams
Graduated Year: 2020

Supervision Role: Main Supervisor
Completed degree: PhD by Research

Dr. Radhika De Silva

Project Title: Rock fracture stimulation using a slow energy releasing fracturing compound for permeability enhanced in-situ leaching
Graduated Year: 2019

Supervision Role: Main Supervisor
Completed degree: PhD by Research

Dr. Mohammed Faizal

Project Title: Axial and radial thermal responses of field-scale energy piles
Graduated Year: 2019

Supervision Role: Main Supervisor
Completed degree: PhD by Research

Dr. Md Rouf

Project Title: Unsaturated behaviour and gas transport through geosynthetic clay liners (GCL) and geomembrane (GMB)/GCL composite liners
Graduated Year: 2018

Supervision Role: Main Supervisor
Completed degree: PhD by Research

Dr. Bankim Mahanta

Project Title: Investigation and assessment of physicomorphological and thermomechanical responses of few sedimentary rocks 
Graduated Year: 2018

Supervision Role: Main Supervisor
Completed degree: PhD by Research

Dr. Decheng Zhang

Project Title: Mechanical and flow properties of unconventional reservoir rocks and the influences of water on them
Graduated Year: 2018

Supervision Role: Main Supervisor
Completed degree: PhD by Research

Dr. Yunlong Tang

Project Title: Influence of Proppant Behaviour on Hydraulic Fracturing Conductivity in Deep Reservoirs
Graduated Year: 2018

Supervision Role: Main Supervisor
Completed degree: PhD by Research

Dr. Chengpeng Zhang

Project Title: Development of New Methodologies for Fracturing of Shale Using Non-viscous Fluid
Graduated Year: 2018

Supervision Role: Main Supervisor
Completed degree: PhD by Research

Dr. Pabasara Kumari

Project Title: Stimulation of heat extraction from the hot dry rocks – Geothermal Energy
Graduated Year: 2018

Supervision Role: Main Supervisor
Completed degree: PhD by Research

Dr. Ayal Wanniarachchi

Project Title: A New Stimulation Methodology for Extraction of Natural Gas from Deep and Tight Geological Formations
Graduated Year: 2018

Supervision Role: Main Supervisor
Completed degree: PhD by Research

Dr. Nikhil Sirdesai

Project Title: Numerical and experimental study of rocks under very high temperature conditions: underground coal gasification
Graduated Year: 2018

Supervision Role: Main Supervisor
Completed degree: PhD by Research

Dr. Yanlong Zheng

Project Title: Fracturing of hard rocks by microwave treatment and potential applications in mechanized tunnelling
Graduated Year: 2017

Supervision Role: Main Supervisor
Completed degree: PhD by Research

Dr. Dilanth de Silva

Project Title: Geosequestration of Carbon Dioxide in Deep Saline Aquifers: Hydro-Chemical Considerations
Graduated Year: 2017

Supervision Role: Main Supervisor
Completed degree: PhD by Research

Dr. Ashani Ranathunga

Project Title: Investigation of long term safe storage of carbon dioxide in deep coal seams with enhanced methane recovery
Graduated Year: 2017

Supervision Role: Main Supervisor
Completed degree: PhD by Research

Ms. Xue Le

Project Title: Strength and minearlogical developments in magnesia-GGBS stabilised biochar-sequestered acid sulphate soils
Graduated Year: 2017

Supervision Role: Main Supervisor
Completed degree: MSc by Research

Dr. Tharaka Rathnaweera

Project Title: Geological sequestration of carbon dioxide in deep saline aquifers: coupled flow-mechanical considerations
Graduated Year: 2016

Supervision Role: Main Supervisor
Completed degree: PhD by Research

Dr. Shishi Shao

Project Title: Coupled thermo-hydro-mechanical (THM) behaviour of rock relevant to the geothermal industry
Graduated Year: 2015

Supervision Role: Main Supervisor
Completed degree: PhD by Research

Dr. Ka Yu

Project Title: Numerical and experimental investigations into thermal aspects of geothermal energy piles 
Graduated Year: 2015

Supervision Role: Main Supervisor
Completed degree: PhD by Research

Dr. Banambar Singh

Project Title: An experimental study of creation of optimal fracture networks for heat extraction from engineered geothermal reservoirs
Graduated Year: 2015

Supervision Role: Main Supervisor
Completed degree: PhD by Research

Dr. Nadeesha Lakmali Ukwattage

Project Title: Study of the accelerated carbonation of coal fly ash for carbon dioxide sequestration and soil amendment
Graduated Year: 2015

Supervision Role: Main Supervisor
Completed degree: PhD by Research

Dr. William Darlington

Project Title: The effect of scale and defect planes on the failure process and strength of rock with applications in open pit mining
Graduated Year: 2014

Supervision Role: Main Supervisor
Completed degree: PhD by Research

Dr. Md. Shahidul Islam

Project Title: Strength and mineralogical behaviour of lime-GGBS-treated acid sulphate soils
Graduated Year: 2014

Supervision Role: Main Supervisor
Completed degree: PhD by Research

Dr. Mohamed Nasvi Mohamed Careem

Project Title: Geopolymer as well cement for geological sequestration of carbon dioxide
Graduated Year: 2014

Supervision Role: Main Supervisor
Completed degree: PhD by Research

Dr. Benjamin Shannon

Project Title: Fracture propagation of cohesive soils under tensile loading and desiccation
Graduated Year: 2014

Supervision Role: Main Supervisor
Completed degree: PhD by Research

Dr. Piyal Wasantha Liyanage

Project Title: On the coupled hydro-mechanical behaviour of jointed rock masses: an application to mine slope stability
Graduated Year: 2014

Supervision Role: Main Supervisor
Completed degree: PhD by Research

Dr. Kunal Kumar Singh

Project Title: Investigations of permeability of fractured, steep and deep rock slopes with high groundwater pressures
Graduated Year: 2014

Supervision Role: Main Supervisor
Completed degree: PhD by Research

Dr. Bishwajit Chowdhury

Project Title: Mechanical behaviour of lime-slag treated Coode Island Silt
Graduated Year: 2013

Supervision Role: Main Supervisor
Completed degree: PhD by Research

Dr. Verma Dhananjai

Project Title: Investigation of influence of scale effects of strength and failure modes of deep open cut slopes
Graduated Year: 2013

Supervision Role: Main Supervisor
Completed degree: PhD by Research

Dr. Vikram Vishal

Project Title: An investigation on carbon dioxide sequestration in Indian coal seams
Graduated Year: 2013

Supervision Role: Main Supervisor
Completed degree: PhD by Research

Mr. David Barry-Macaulay

Project Title: An investigation on the thermal and thermo-mechanical behaviour of soils
Graduated Year: 2013

Supervision Role: Associate Supervisor
Completed degree: MSc by Research

Dr. Samintha Perera

Project Title: Investigation of the effect of carbon dioxide sequestration on the hydro-mechanical properties of coal
Graduated Year: 2012

Supervision Role: Main Supervisor
Completed degree: PhD by Research

Dr. Richa Shukla Potdar

Project Title: Study of reservoir rock and caprock integrity in geo-sequestration of carbon dioxide
Graduated Year: 2012

Supervision Role: Main Supervisor
Completed degree: PhD by Research

Dr. Wai Chong

Project Title: Lateral load capacity of single piles socketed into Melbourne mudstone
Graduated Year: 2011

Supervision Role: Main Supervisor
Completed degree: PhD by Research

Dr. Deepika Singh

Project Title: A study of CO2 sequestration in basalt formation
Graduated Year: 2011

Supervision Role: Main Supervisor
Completed degree: PhD by Research

Dr. Navinda Kishan de Silva

Project Title: An investigation of mechanical properties and permeability of coal with respect to CO2
Graduated Year: 2011

Supervision Role: Main Supervisor
Completed degree: MSc by Research

A/Prof. Mohan Yellishetty

Project Title: Achieving environmental stewardship in iron and steel sector through application of life cycle assessment
Graduated Year: 2010

Supervision Role: Main Supervisor
Completed degree: PhD by Research

Dr. Balamurali Raju

Project Title: Geo-sequestration of cardon dioxide in coal seams
Graduated Year: 2010

Supervision Role: Main Supervisor
Completed degree: PhD by Research

Mr. Binu Stanley

Project Title: Engineering and microstructural behaviour of lime-slag treated pyrite bearing coode island silt
Graduated Year: 2010

Supervision Role: Main Supervisor
Completed degree: MSc by Research

Mr.Yuqi Songmage

Project Title: Physico-Chemical Interaction of CO2-Water-Rock under Extreme Geo-Thermal-Mechanical Conditions
Graduated Year: 2009

Supervision Role: Main Supervisor
Completed degree: PhD by Research

Mr. Derek Chun Chuen Chan

Project Title:  Performance of Water and Gas Pipes Buried in Reactive Soil
Graduated Year: 2008

Supervision Role: Main Supervisor
Completed degree: MSc by Research

Dr. Dileeka Jasinge

Project Title: A Study of Geomechanical Properties of Coal with Application to Enhanced Coal Bed Methane Recovery and CO2 Sequestration
Graduated Year: 2007

Supervision Role: Main Supervisor
Completed degree: PhD by Research

Dr. Matthew John Wightwick

Project Title:
Graduated Year: 2006

Supervision Role: Associate Supervisor
Completed degree: PhD by Research

Past Visiting PhD Students

Ms. Yameng He

Visiting Postgraduate Student

Email: heyamengstdu@163.com
Phone:  0414666102

Research Interest:

Mechanisms damage of wellbore cement in CO2 geological storage, permeability and resistivity properties of rocks and rock-like materials under coupled multiphysics fields.

Ms. Mi Wang

Visiting Postgraduate Student

Email: wang_mi@csu.edu.cn
Phone:  0466108245

Research Interest:

Dynamic mechanical behavior and failure mechanism of rocks.

Ms. Xiaoli Su

Visiting Postgraduate Student

Email: lilysu@csu.edu.cn
Phone:  0466124582

Research Interest:

Geotechnical Engineering, ​microwave-assisted rock breaking and multi-field coupling simulation.

Mr. Guojun Zhao

Visiting Postgraduate Student

Email: Guojun.Zhao@monash.edu
Phone:  +61 0466790967

Research Interest:

Multi-phase flow in porous media; Hydrate seal; Marine hydrate exploitation; CO2 geological storage

Ms. Lingling He

Visiting Postgraduate Student

Email: helingling001@163.com
Phone:  

Research Interest:

Evaluation of underground space, Engineering geology.

Mr. Yongjun Chen

Visiting Postgraduate Student

Email: Yongjunchen@monash.edu
Phone:  +61 4784393789

Research Interest:

Deep and high temperature rock mechanics.

Mr. Zhanming Shi

Visiting Postgraduate Student

Email: Zhanming.Shi@monash.edu
Phone:  +61 432961241

Research Interest:

Fracture damage behavior of hot dry rocks; Fatigue properties of rocks; Discrete element numerical simulation.

Ms. Beixiu Huang

Visiting Postgraduate Student

Email: huangbeixiu@mail.iggcas.ac.cn
Phone:  +61 474138764

Research Interest:

Multiscale layering structures, Rock mechanics, Reservoir heterogeneity and anisotropy.

Mr. Zhennan Zhu

Visiting Postgraduate Student

Email: ZhuZN@cug.edu.cn
Phone:  +8615927476381

Research Interest:

Rock mechanics, Exploitation of deep geothermal energy

Mr. Yang Hao

Visiting Postgraduate Student

Email: Yang.Hao@monash.edu
Phone:  +61431063493/ +8618636136908

Research Interest:

Rock mechanics, mining engineering, roadway supporting, geothermal energy

Mr. Pengfei Yin

Visiting Postgraduate Student

Email: Pengfei.Yin@monash.edu
Phone:  61-0481187328, 86-15262012936
Office: 422, State Key Laboratory for Geomechanics & Deep Underground Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology

Research Interest:

Deep underground engineering, rock mechanics

Mr. Jizhao Xu

Visiting Postgraduate Student

Email: jizhao_xu@cumt.edu.cn; jizhao_xu@126.com; jizhao.xu@monash.edu
Phone:  +61 421099949; +86 15996935210
Office: School of Safety Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology

Research Interest:

CO2 enhanced CBM recovery; crack characterization; fluid flow in porous media

Mr. Yi Ding

Visiting Postgraduate Student

Email: dingswpu@foxmail.com
Phone:  +8613408084373
Office: Southwest Petroleum Universityy

Research Interest:

Wellbore stability; Rock mechanics; Hydraulic fracturing

Ms. Duan Yongting

Visiting Postgraduate Student

Email: 1335053667@qq.com
Phone:  86-18852146979

Research Interest:

Rock failure mechanism; meso-damage evolution; CT images characterize

Mr. Zhuo Zheng

Visiting Postgraduate Student

Email: 413708318@qq.com; 201620377@mail.sdu.edu.cn; Zhuo.Zheng@monash.edu
Phone:  +61 424690330

Research Interest:

Grouting theory; Flowing regularity of particle suspensions; Hydraulic fracturing

Mr. Zhenyu Han

Visiting Postgraduate Student

Email: Zhenyu.han@csu.edu.cn / Zhenyu.Han@monash.edu
Phone:  +61 4 687 02607

Research Interest:

Rock dynamics; DIC application in rock mechanics; Hydraulic fracturing.

Mr. Xin Li

Visiting Postgraduate Student

Email: Xin.Li1@monash.edu
Phone:  +61 4 698 55628

Research Interest:

CO2 Geological model of reservoir development and dynamic variation law of geofluid system.

Mr. Miao Chen

Visiting Postgraduate Student

Email: cm0557@163.com
Phone:  86-18852146979
Office: State Key Laboratory for Geomechanics & Deep Underground Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology

Research Interest:

CO2 Deep underground engineering and reinforcement technique, Experiment and DEM simulation of fracture evolution of rock containing flaws

Mr. Zhenlong Song

Visiting Postgraduate Student

Email: Zhenlong.Song@monash.edu
Phone:  +61 0481 736 023

Research Interest:

CO2 Rock mechanics, Rock seepage

Mr. Chengkai Fan

Visiting Postgraduate Student

Email: chengkaivan@163.com
Phone:  +61 422 274 832

Research Interest:

CO2 geological storage, fiber optic monitoring technology applied to fluid percolation and rock deformation

Mr. Jiang Xu

Visiting Postgraduate Student

Email: Jiang.Xu@monash.edu
Phone:  +61 4 3124 4986

Research Interest:

CO2 anchorage foundation, seepage of deep excavation, monitoring of deep excavation.

Mr. Beining Zhang

Visiting Postgraduate Student

Email: zhangbeining0075@link.tyut.edu.cn
Phone:  +86 15135157205

Research Interest:

CO2 sequestration in coal beds, enhanced coalbed methane recovery. 

Mr. Zhentao Li

Visiting Postgraduate Student

Email: Zhentao.Li@monash.edu
Phone:  +61 426290909

Research Interest:

Pore-fracture system characterization; gas adsorption-diffusion in coals; gas flow.

Mr. Yi Xue

Visiting Postgraduate Student

Email: yi.xue@monash.edu
Phone:  +61 410892965

Research Interest:

Engineering rock mechanics, Coupled analysis of flow, stress and damage in rock failure.

Mr. Jianjian Zhao

Visiting Postgraduate Student

Email: Jianjian.Zhao@monash.edu
Phone:  +61 415061786

Research Interest:

Engineering rock mechanics, fracture propagation of rock under dynamic load.

Mr. Milind Patil

Visiting Postgraduate Student

Email: milind.patil@monash.edu
Phone:  +61 414295892

Research Interest:

Tunneling and underground structures in soft soil, Numerical modeling, Earthquake geotechnical engineering, Computational geomechanics

Mr. Nan Jiang

Visiting Postgraduate Student

Email: nan.jiang@monash.edu
Phone:  +61 426280622

Research Interest:

Rock fracture, Rock mechanics

Mr. Pingsheng Wang

Visiting Postgraduate Student

Email: Pingsheng.wang@monash.edu
Phone:  +61 452591109

Research Interest:

Strata-structure interaction, Frozen ground mechanics

Mr. Qiao Lyu

Visiting Postgraduate Student

Email: lvqiao@whu.edu.cn
Phone:  +86 15172476669

Research Interest:

Jet flow, rock mechanics, shale gas exploitation

Mr. Peng Liu

Visiting Postgraduate Student

Email: peng.f.liu@monash.edu
Phone:  +61 450233012

Research Interest:

Hydraulic fracture propagation pattern in heterogeneous formation, preferential flow in porous media

Mr. Zongqing Zhou

Visiting Postgraduate Student

Email: Zongqing.Zhou@monash.edu
Phone:  +61 3 990 50538

Research Interest:

Mechanical mechanism, numerical simulation and risk assessment of water inrush in rock tunnels

Mr. Yi Li

Visiting Postgraduate Student

Email: yi.li@monash.edu
Phone: +61 451016855

Research Interest:

Geosequestration of carbon dioxide in deep saline aquifers, core flooding experiments