Education
Doctoral Studies Oct 2022 – Sep 2026
Civil Engineering (Geomechanics), AGH University of Krakow Poland
Master’s Degree Oct 2017 – Feb 2020
Tunnel and Underground Space Engineering, Tehran Polytechnic Iran
Bachelor’s Degree Oct 2013 – Sep 2017
Mining Engineering (Rock Mechanics), Hamedan University of Technology Iran
Skills
Geomechanics; Geotechnical Engineering; Geohazards; Laboratory Testing; Geomaterials.
Multi-scale Numerical Simulation [FEM | XFEM | DEM | SPH | Peridynamics]
Research and Teaching Experience
Ph.D. Researcher, AGH University of Krakow, Poland 2022 – present
Experimental and Numerical studies in Geomechanics
Visiting Ph.D. Researcher, University of A Coruña, Spain Apr 2026
Rock fracture testing (WST, pCT) and Digital Image Correlation (DIC)
Visiting Ph.D. Researcher, Ruhr University Bochum, Germany 2024- 2025
Rock fracture testing (pCT, SCB, NBD, SR) and numerical simulations (FEM, Peridynamics)
Visiting Ph.D. Researcher, Istanbul Technical University, Turkey 2024
Lab-scale sand dynamic compaction testing and numerical simulations (FEM, SPH, SPG, DEM)
Teaching Assistant, Tehran Polytechnic, Iran 2016-2019
Mechanics of Materials I, Steel and Concrete Structures
Honors and Awards
Top 10 PhD Student Award, NAWA STER Competition 2023-2025
Ranked 6th in 2024 and 4th in 2025 among ~ 900 PhD students.
Increased Scholarship for Best Doctoral Students, IDUB Competition 2023-2025
Awarded for two consecutive years.
Best PhD Student of the Faculty 2024-2026
Awarded for two consecutive years.
Research Visit Grant, NAWA STER Program 2025
Ranked 2nd in a university-wide competition.
Research Visit Grant, NAWA PROM Program 2026
Ranked 2nd after shortlisting and interview, EU-funded.
Academic Service & Professional Training
Peer Reviewer for International Journals, Elsevier and Springer Nature 2025 - Present
Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering | Scientific Reports | Simulation Modelling Practice and Theory | Granular Matter | Discover Applied Sciences | Mechanics of Time-Dependent Materials.
Transport in Porous Media: Modeling, Simulation and Application, AGH University of Krakow, Poland 25-28 November 2025
Series of invited lectures and workshops by Prof. Qingquan Liu on numerical modelling of transport processes in porous media, including fluid flow, heat transfer, coupled processes, and COMSOL Multiphysics applications.
Numerical Modelling and Field Validation in Geotechnics, University of Split, Croatia 31 August - 4 September 2026
Summer School, 20 hours, 2 ECTS
Geotechnical design and stability analysis of tunnels, foundations, excavations, and slopes in soil and rock media using FEM and LEM, with model calibration and validation against field observations and monitoring data. Software: Rocscience suite, including RS2, RS3, Slide2, Settle3, and RocSupport.
Conferences
Hajivand Dastgerdi, R.*, Salimi, M., Wichtmann, T., & Malinowska, A. "Peridynamic simulation of rock cutting under a TBM disc cutter". In Computational Methods and Information Models in Tunneling (EURO:TUN 2025) Conference, TU Wien, Vienna, Austria, 22-25 September 2025. [Proceedings & Presentation]
Hajivand Dastgerdi, R.*, A. Moayedi Far, Balkaya, M, Malinowska, A. “Installation of a Space Safety Targeted Shield on the Lunar and Martian Surfaces”. 8th Space Resources Conference: Path to Lunar Sustainability. AGH UST, Krakow, Poland. 21–23 May 2025, [Poster]
Hajivand Dastgerdi, R.*, Sarfarazi, V., & Malinowska, A., “A New Loading Fixture for Direct Rock Fracture Toughness Determination Using pCT and Short Rod Specimens” 44th Solid Mechanics Conference (SolMech 2026), Kraków, Poland, 7-10 September 2026. [Proceedings & Presentation]
JCI-Indexed Publications
Hajivand Dastgerdi, R.*, Salimi, M., Wichtmann, T., Sarfarazi, V., & Malinowska, A. (2026). "A simple loading fixture for Mode I rock fracture toughness testing using pCT specimens". Geotechnical and Geological Engineering. [Q1]
Fu, J., Haeri, H., Sarfarazi, V., Hajivand Dastgerdi, R. (2026). "Novel direct measurement of Mode I fracture toughness in brittle geomaterials using the Internal Edge-Notched Ring (IENR) test: Insights from coupled experimental and numerical studies". Journal of Materials Research and Technology. [Q1, TOP 10%]
Hajivand Dastgerdi, R.*, Sarfarazi, V., & Malinowska, A. (2026). "On the application of a PD-FEM approach for concrete fracture simulation using LS-DYNA". Simulation Modelling Practice and Theory. [Q1, TOP 5%]
Hajivand Dastgerdi, R.*, & Malinowska, A. (2025). "Experimental and numerical insights into the Semi-Circular Bend (SCB) test for tensile strength estimation in rock-like materials". Materials. [Q1]
Hajivand Dastgerdi, R.*, Salimi, M., Wichtmann, T., & Malinowska, A. (2025). "Peridynamic modeling of rock cutting under a TBM disc cutter using LS-DYNA". Simulation Modelling Practice and Theory. [Q1, TOP 5%]
Hajivand Dastgerdi, R.*, & Malinowska, A. (2024). "A simplified calibration procedure for DEM simulations of granular material flow". Materials. [Q1]
Hajivand Dastgerdi, R.*, Malinowska, A., & Balkaya, M. (2025). "Evaluating several meshless methods for soil impact analysis in dynamic compaction applications". Transportation Infrastructure Geotechnology. [Q2]
A. Khan, Y. Fang, Y. Jiang, R. Hajivand Dastgerdi*. (2025). “Damage Analysis of a Tunnel Under Rigid and Deformable Impactors”. Geotechnical and Geological Engineering. [Q1]
R. Hajivand Dastgerdi, M. Zamani*, D. Knez, K. Kazemi. (2023). “Comparing Several Different Numerical Approaches for Large Deformation Modeling with Application in Soil Dynamic Compaction”. Transportation Infrastructure Geotechnology. [Q2]
R. Hajivand Dastgerdi*, M. khalatbari, A. Rezaeipour, M. Faisal Waqar, A. Malinowska. (2023). “Investigating the Efficiency of Micropiles in the Stability of Soil Slopes; a Case Study”. Journal of Computational Applied Mechanics. [Q2]
R. Hajivand Dastgerdi*, N. Bahrami, K. Kazemi, M. Faisal Waqar, A. Malinowska. (2024). “Numerical Study for Optimal Design of Geosynthetic Reinforced Soil (GRS) Walls”. Engineering Transactions. [Q3]
R. Hajivand Dastgerdi*, A. Khan, K. Kazemi, M. Kowalski, A. Malinowska. (2024). “Investigation of Box Shape Effects on Soil Direct Shear Test”. Journal of Structural Mechanics. [Q4]
M. Tarafrava, A. khan, S. Shokri, B. Shokati, A. Emadi, A. Moayedi Far, R. Hajivand Dastgerdi*. (2025). “Modeling and Simulation Techniques of TBM Tunneling in Soft and Shallow Grounds: A Case Study of Tehran Metro Line 6”. Engineering and Applied Science Research journal. [Q3]
M. Mohammadi, R. Hajivand Dastgerdi*, B. shokati, D. Mohammadi. “Comparative Analysis of Support Methods for TBM Entrance Walls”. International Journal of Mining and Geo-Engineering. [Q2]
Selected Coursework
PhD Courses
Data Mining and Machine Learning for Engineering Applications; LaTeX for Scientists; Promoting Research Results.
MSc Courses
Advanced Geomechanics; Numerical Methods in Geomechanics; Mechanics of Discontinuous Media; Advanced Engineering Mathematics; Principles of Design and Analysis of Underground Openings; Field Experiments and Instrumentation; Tunnel Basin Site Investigations; Steel and Concrete Structures; Project Management in Tunnelling; Advanced Mechanics of Materials; Advanced Rock Mechanics; Foundation Engineering; Advanced Soil Mechanics.
BSc Courses
Rock Mechanics; Geotechnics; Tunnel and Shaft Construction; Rock Slope Stability; Ground Control; Underground Mining; Surface Mining; Drilling and Blasting; Surveying Engineering.
Mechanics of Materials; Engineering Mechanics; Engineering Drawing.
Fluid Mechanics; Thermodynamics; Mine Ventilation; Hydraulics and Drainage.
Engineering Mathematics; Engineering Statistics and Probability; Numerical Methods; Calculus I and II; Differential Equations.