George Zalachoris, Ph.D.
Principal and Technical Lead
Dr. George Zalachoris is an accomplished geotechnical and earthquake engineer whose career bridges cutting-edge research and engineering practice, with extensive international experience in the design and assessment of critical infrastructure.
At MPERA, Dr. Zalachoris draws on his expertise in seismic hazard assessment, advanced numerical modeling, soil–structure interaction, and geotechnical design to address complex engineering challenges. His experience spans major transportation and energy infrastructure, including bridges, tunnels, underground structures, and deep foundations, as well as the assessment and mitigation of natural hazards.
His career is distinguished by impactful research, international collaborations, and a commitment to translating scientific advances into practical engineering solutions. Combining technical excellence with creative problem-solving and a collaborative approach, Dr. Zalachoris contributes to MPERA's mission of delivering innovative, reliable, and resilient infrastructure solutions.
Education
Ph.D., Civil Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, 2014
M.Sc., Civil Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, 2010
Diploma (B.Sc.), Civil Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Greece, 2007
Awards & Honors
Grant for Young Researchers, Center for Urban Earthquake Engineering, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 2013
Academic Fellowship, The University of Texas at Austin, 2008 and 2009
Academic Scholarship for Excellence, State Scholarships Foundation, Greece, 2002
Invited journal reviewer: Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, Earthquake Spectra, ASCE Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering, Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering
Select Projects
East Ship Canal CSO Project | King County Wastewater Treatment Division, Seattle, WA (MPERA)
King County’s East Ship Canal CSO Project will limit overflows at the University and Montlake regulator stations to no more than one per year, protecting the Lake Washington Ship Canal and Portage Bay. Working with Jacobs, MPERA leads the seismic assessment for the Phase 1 alternatives analysis, developing seismic design parameters, lateral spreading and settlement estimates, and the seismic differentiators that shape alternative selection, and supports the geotechnical and tunneling scope.
Sea Breeze Cipriani Tower | Nardaran Invest, Baku, Azerbaijan (MPERA)
Site-specific probabilistic seismic hazard analysis (PSHA) and site-specific ground response analysis for a 65-story, approximately 323-meter residential tower on the Caspian coast, following IBC 2024 and LATBSDC 2024 tall building standards to define design spectra and ground-motion suites for nonlinear response history analysis.
Lisbon Subway Red Line, Campo de Ourique Station | Lisbon, Portugal
Lead geotechnical and earthquake engineer for the design of a new station with a 30-meter-deep shaft, a 19-meter-wide main station tunnel, and transverse and access tunnels. Optimized excavation support and construction phasing using 3D finite-element soil–structure interaction models to control settlements in a highly seismic urban setting.