Brady Cox

Geotech

Professor


Brady Cox

Contact Information

Office Location: EL 276
Phone: 435-797-0992
Email: brady.cox@usu.edu
Additional Information:

Educational Background

PhD, Civil Engineering, (Geotechnical), University of Texas, 2006
MS, Civil Engineering, (Geotechnical), Utah State University, 2001
BS, Civil Engineering, (Geotechnical), Utah State University, 2000

Licensures & Certifications

Professional Engineer, 2010

Biography

Dr. Cox is a Professor in the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department at Utah State University (USU). Prior to joining USU, he served on the faculty of The University of Texas for eight years and The University of Arkansas for six years. Dr. Cox specializes in geotechnical engineering, with emphasis on issues related to seismic design and in-situ site characterization for major construction projects. His research efforts combine experimental field testing with computational analyses and high-performance computing for subsurface imaging purposes. He has led teams deployed to collect seismic site characterization data at ground motion recording stations, soil liquefaction sites, and structural failures following significant earthquakes in the U.S. and around the world (e.g., Ecuador, Haiti, Japan, New Zealand, Peru, Turkey). He has also participated in numerous dynamic site characterization projects for the seismic design of critical facilities (e.g., nuclear power plants, U.S. DOE laboratory sites, bridges, tunnels) in the U.S. and abroad. Dr. Cox is a recipient of the prestigious Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) award from the U.S. National Science Foundation and the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientist and Engineers (PECASE), which he received in a ceremony at the White House from President Barack Obama. He has authored over 170 peer-reviewed publications and has taught eight different courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels at three different universities. He grew up the son of a tough and hard-working coal miner in Helper, Utah. His personal life is influenced by five important women (his wife and four daughters). He loves all outdoor activities, and currently spends quite a bit of time training for endurance sports, having recently completed an Ironman Triathlon and 50-mile ultra-marathon.

Teaching Interests

Foundation Design, Soil Mechanics, Soil and Rock Dynamics, Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering, In-Situ Site Characterization, Earth Retaining Structures, Computer Methods.

Research Interests

Geotechnical earthquake engineering (1D/2D/3D ground response analyses, soil liquefaction triggering, topographic amplification, etc.), subsurface imaging and material characterization (active- and passive-source surface wave testing [MASW and MAM], horizontal-to-vertical spectral ratio methods [HVSR], downhole, crosshole, etc.), high-performance computing, quantifying subsurface variability and uncertainties for use in engineering design of foundations and structures.

Awards

College of Engineering Research Excellence Award, 2025

College of Engineering, Utah State University

Research Excellence Award, 2025

CEE Department, Utah State University

Utah State University Faculty Researcher of the Year Award, 2025

Utah State University

ASCE Shamsher Prakash Award and Lecture, 2024

American Society of Civil Engineers Geo-Institute

Outstanding Graduate Research Mentor of the Year, 2024

CEE Department, Utah State University

T.H. Wu Distinguished Lecturer, 2024

The Ohio State University

Best Paper Award, 2023

Geosciences Journal - granted annually to highlight publications of high quality, scientific significance, and extensive influence (for Geosciences 2023, 13(3), 63).

Mariam & Izzat M. Idriss Endowed Fund for Geotechnical Engineering Education Guest Scholar, 2020

University of California at Davis

ASTM Geotechnical Testing Journal Award for Outstanding Article on the Practice of Geotechnical Testing, 2019

ASTM

Erskine Visiting Fellow, 2017

University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand

International Society of Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering (ISSMGE) Young Researcher Award , 2017

Technical Committee-203 on Earthquakes

Shamsher Prakash International Geotechnical Engineering Research Award, 2015

Network for Earthquake Engineering Simulation (NEES) Outstanding Contributor Award – Most Influential , 2014

Geotechnical Research Project

John L. Imhoff Award for Research, College of Engineering, 2012

University of Arkansas

National Science Foundation (NSF) Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Award, 2012

Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers, 2012

Hogentogler Award for ASTM Geotechnical Testing Journal “paper of outstanding merit”, 2010

Outstanding Researcher in Civil Engineering, 2010

University of Arkansas

George H. Mitchell Award for Excellence in Graduate Research, 2005

University of Texas

Earthquake Engineering Research Institute (EERI) Graduate Fellow, 2004

Eagle Scout, 1993

Boy Scouts of America


Publications | Journal Articles

Academic Journal

An asterisk (*) at the end of a publication indicates that it has not been peer-reviewed.

Publications | Other

An asterisk (*) at the end of a publication indicates that it has not been peer-reviewed.

Teaching

CEE 6340 - In-Situ Site Characterization, Fall 2025
CEE, CEE 5380, 6380 - Earthquake Engineering, Spring 2025
CEE, CEE 5930, 6320 - Independent Study, Spring 2025
CEE 6350, 5350 - Foundation Analysis and Design, Fall 2024
CEE, CEE 5350, 6350 - Foundation Analysis and Design, Fall 2024
CEE 6320 - Deep Foundations, Spring 2024
CEE 5380, 6380 - Earthquake Engineering, Spring 2024
CEE, CEE 5380, 6380 - Earthquake Engineering, Spring 2024
CEE 6340 - In-Situ Site Characterization, Fall 2023
CEE 6320 - Deep Foundations, Spring 2023
CEE 5380, 6380 - Earthquake Engineering, Spring 2023
CEE, CEE 5380, 6380 - Earthquake Engineering, Spring 2023
CEE 6340 - In-Situ Site Characterization, Fall 2022
CEE 6320 - Deep Foundations, Spring 2022
CEE 5380, 6380 - Earthquake Engineering, Spring 2022
CEE 6340 - In-Situ Site Characterization, Fall 2021
CEE 6320 - Deep Foundations, Spring 2021
CEE 5380, 6380 - Earthquake Engineering, Spring 2021
(U. Texas) CE 357 - Introduction to Geotechnical Engineering, Spring 2020
(U. Texas) CE 360K - Foundation Engineering, Fall 2019
(U. Texas) CE 397 - In-Situ Site Characterization, Spring 2019
(U. Canterbury) ENEQ 682 - In-Situ Site Characterization, Spring 2017
(U. Texas) CE 387R5 - Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering, Fall 2015
(U. Texas) CE 311K - Introduction to Computer Methods, Spring 2015
(U. Texas) CE 397 - Design and Construction of Underground Openings, Fall 2013
(U. Texas) CE 387R - Soil and Rock Dynamics, Spring 2013
(U. Arkansas) CVEG 4143 - Foundation Engineering, Spring 2012
(U. Arkansas) CVEG 4821 - Geotechnical Design Project, Spring 2012
(U. Arkansas) CVEG 5193 - Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering, Fall 2011
(U. Arkansas) CVEG 5153 - Earth Retaining Structures, Fall 2010
(U. Arkansas) CVEG 3133 - Soil Mechanics, Spring 2010
(U. Arkansas) CVEG 5113 - Soil Dynamics, Fall 2009

Graduate Students Mentored

Joseph Vantassel (UT-Austin), Civil & Environmental Engr, January 2020
Michael Yust (UT-Austin),
Mohamad Hallal (UT-Austin),
Aser Abbas, Civil & Environmental Engr, August 2020 2024
Ugar Arslan (UT-Austin), - December 2020
Jodie Crocker (UT-Austin), - May 2020
Tianjian Cheng (UT-Austin), - May 2020
Mohamad Hallal (UT-Austin), - May 2019
Joseph Vantassel (UT-Austin), - May 2018
Michael Yust (UT-Austin), - May 2018
Andrew Stolte (UT-Austin), - May 2018
Davie Teague (UT-Austin), - August 2017
Kaleigh McLaughlin (UT-Austin), - May 2017
Shawn Griffiths (UT-Austin), - August 2015
David Teague (UT-Austin), - May 2014
Clinton Wood (UT-Austin), - August 2013
Taylor Goldman (UA-Fayetteville), - December 2011
Shawn Griffiths (UA-Fayetteville), - May 2011
Christina Trowler (UA-Fayetteville), - May 2010
Jeremy Brooks (UA-Fayetteville), - December 2009
Clinton Wood (UA-Fayetteville), - May 2009
Andrew Beekman (UA-Fayetteville), - August 2008