Congratulations to Dr. Keshav Bhuckory, a member of the non-academic staff at UdM, who has just earned his PhD in Geotechnical Engineering, a specialisation within Civil Engineering. His achievement is a testament to perseverance, passion, and the pursuit of knowledge. We are proud to see our staff members reaching new academic heights and inspiring others to aim higher.
- What was the focus of your PhD research?
My PhD. is in the field of Geotechnical Engineering, which a specialisation of Civil Engineering and pertains to the behaviour of earth materials (soils and rocks), using the principles of soil mechanics to solve problems and enhance base constructions, soil excavations and also prevent disasters such as landslides among others. My thesis focussed on the sustainable stabilisation of soils to prevent landslides.
- What inspired you to pursue a PhD in Geotechnical Engineering?
Following my first 2 diplomas, my undergraduate degree, my masters degree, and getting chartered, I have always worked in the industry involved with excavation, base construction and landslide prevention. I have worked for the Japan International Coorperation Agency (JICA) under the outsourcing company Kokusai Kogyo Co. Ltd. as the Project Coordinator for Landlside Prevention in Mauritius under a bi-lateral agreement between the Government of Mauritius and the Government of Japan. During this time I had the opportunity to work wiith Japanese Doctors, who are world-leading experts in Geotechnical Engineering and have further pushed me towards this field which is in high demand in the world.
- What was the most challenging part of your PhD studies?
The most challenging part of my studies was keeping my productivity up in terms of sample collection and laboratory experiments during the COVID-19 pandemic lock-down. Some equipment were not available at the university and I had to look for external laboratories. I also had to find the funding for buying some of the equipment. I had to import equipment from China, but most ports from China were closed during the pandemic, causing me delay in my research. Moreover, I had to learn new skills in the field of electronics to modify the apparatus coming from China since they use different electric frequencies as compared to Mauritius. Fortunately, I was the first student of the Université des Mascareignes to secure a full scholarship from the Higher Education Commission of Mauritius (HEC), which allowed me to be financially worry-free.
- How does your work contribute to solving real-world civil engineering problems
As my thesis focusses on the sustainable stabilisation of soils to prevent landslides, I have developped new techniques of stabilising landslide-prone areas, using by-products such-as bitumen and waste products such as crushed glass in an attempt to save lives and property, while reducing the burden of landfill disposal. This new method proved to be 14.3 times more efficient than some traditional stabilisation methods. This makes it a fully sustainable solution to lanslide prevention in terms of financial, social and environmental impact and in accordance with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations.
- What are your next steps after earning your PhD?
Since there are many materials that have yet to be researched in the field of Geotechnical Engineering, I intend to do more academic research concerning the same. I also wish to help the Government and private sector in terms of consultancy in Geotechnical Engineering, given the scarcity of qualified resource person in this field.
- What advice would you give to students considering a PhD in civil or geotechnical engineering?
A PhD is a great journey with many ups and downs. My advice to aspiring doctorate students is to never give up. It is not necessary to complete the PhD in the shortest time possible. A PhD, especially in the Engineering sector, varies in complexity. It is better to take some more time, but do the research well and excel in that field of study.
![[INTERVIEW] Dr Keshav Bhuckory](https://udm.ac.mu/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/keshav_-2.jpg)
11 August 2025
Congratulations to Dr. Keshav Bhuckory, a member of the non-academic staff at UdM, who has just earned his PhD in Geotechnical Engineering, a specialisation within Civil Engineering. His achievement is a testament to perseverance, passion, and the pursuit of knowledge. We are proud to see our staff members reaching new academic heights and inspiring others to aim higher.
- What was the focus of your PhD research?
My PhD. is in the field of Geotechnical Engineering, which a specialisation of Civil Engineering and pertains to the behaviour of earth materials (soils and rocks), using the principles of soil mechanics to solve problems and enhance base constructions, soil excavations and also prevent disasters such as landslides among others. My thesis focussed on the sustainable stabilisation of soils to prevent landslides.
- What inspired you to pursue a PhD in Geotechnical Engineering?
Following my first 2 diplomas, my undergraduate degree, my masters degree, and getting chartered, I have always worked in the industry involved with excavation, base construction and landslide prevention. I have worked for the Japan International Coorperation Agency (JICA) under the outsourcing company Kokusai Kogyo Co. Ltd. as the Project Coordinator for Landlside Prevention in Mauritius under a bi-lateral agreement between the Government of Mauritius and the Government of Japan. During this time I had the opportunity to work wiith Japanese Doctors, who are world-leading experts in Geotechnical Engineering and have further pushed me towards this field which is in high demand in the world.
- What was the most challenging part of your PhD studies?
The most challenging part of my studies was keeping my productivity up in terms of sample collection and laboratory experiments during the COVID-19 pandemic lock-down. Some equipment were not available at the university and I had to look for external laboratories. I also had to find the funding for buying some of the equipment. I had to import equipment from China, but most ports from China were closed during the pandemic, causing me delay in my research. Moreover, I had to learn new skills in the field of electronics to modify the apparatus coming from China since they use different electric frequencies as compared to Mauritius. Fortunately, I was the first student of the Université des Mascareignes to secure a full scholarship from the Higher Education Commission of Mauritius (HEC), which allowed me to be financially worry-free.
- How does your work contribute to solving real-world civil engineering problems
As my thesis focusses on the sustainable stabilisation of soils to prevent landslides, I have developped new techniques of stabilising landslide-prone areas, using by-products such-as bitumen and waste products such as crushed glass in an attempt to save lives and property, while reducing the burden of landfill disposal. This new method proved to be 14.3 times more efficient than some traditional stabilisation methods. This makes it a fully sustainable solution to lanslide prevention in terms of financial, social and environmental impact and in accordance with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations.
- What are your next steps after earning your PhD?
Since there are many materials that have yet to be researched in the field of Geotechnical Engineering, I intend to do more academic research concerning the same. I also wish to help the Government and private sector in terms of consultancy in Geotechnical Engineering, given the scarcity of qualified resource person in this field.
- What advice would you give to students considering a PhD in civil or geotechnical engineering?
A PhD is a great journey with many ups and downs. My advice to aspiring doctorate students is to never give up. It is not necessary to complete the PhD in the shortest time possible. A PhD, especially in the Engineering sector, varies in complexity. It is better to take some more time, but do the research well and excel in that field of study.