Bodhinanda (Nanda) Chandra
Postdoctoral Researcher, University of California, Berkeley

6124 ABCD Etcheverry Hall
University of California
Berkeley, CA 94720
I am a postdoctoral researcher at the Department of Mechanical Engineering at University of California, Berkeley working with Prof. Ken Kamrin. Previously, I completed my PhD in Civil Engineering also at Berkeley, advised by Prof. Kenichi Soga. Before coming to Berkeley, I obtained my bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from Kyushu University in Japan and a master’s degree in Computational Mechanics from the Technical University of Munich in Germany.
My research interests are primarily focused on multi-physics and multi-scale coupled problems in geomechanics, including their mechanical theory, modeling, and numerical simulation using high-performance computing. This encompasses geomechanics challenges across various confinement levels. Specifically, my key research areas include:
- Surficial geomechanics, with an emphasis on climate- and earthquake-resilient geostructures, particularly those subject to erosion in river or coastal environments;
- Deep geomechanics involving fluid injection and extraction, such as CO2 sequestration, energy extraction, and the stability of rock formations, addressing issues like borehole failure on a local scale and induced seismicity on a larger scale;
- Extraterrestrial soil modeling, rheology and their multiphysics interactions with human-made objects.
Throughout my research career, I have developed substantial expertise in computational solid mechanics and fluid dynamics, particle-based methods (MPM, SPH, DEM), contact and interface treatment, coupled formulations, and constitutive modeling. I am always eager to explore innovative approaches for applying mechanics and numerical methods to design safer and more efficient engineering systems and infrastructure.
In my free time, I enjoy reading, camping, hiking, and photography.
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news
Jul 05, 2025 | Attended the 4th International Conference on Computational Engineering and Science for Safety and Environmental Problems (COMPSAFE 2025) in Kobe, Japan (7/1-7/4), where I co-organized a mini-symposia on particle-based numerical methods for simulating solid-granular interactions together with Prof. Yupeng Jiang from Leibniz University Hannover. There, I also presented my postdoctoral work with Prof. Ken Kamrin on “Continuum modeling of collisional restitution in dilative dense granular flows”. |
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Jun 27, 2025 | Started my short-term JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowship at Kyoto University to continue collaborative work with Prof. Ryota Hashimoto. |
May 11, 2025 | Attended the 43rd annual GeoSystems Engineering Distinguished Lecture Series to celebrate the end of academic year and the retirement of Prof. Nick Sitar, who have been a faculty in Berkeley since early 1980s. Nick was the professor who first admitted me to the PhD program at Cal back in 2019. |
Apr 25, 2025 | I am honored to receive the 2024-2025 Outstanding GSI Award for my role as a Graduate Student Instructor (GSI) in the graduate course Numerical Modeling in Geomechanics (CE272 Spring 2024), led by Prof. Kenichi Soga. |
Mar 20, 2025 | Visited Imperial College London for the 63rd Rankine Lecture given by my doctoral adviser, Prof. Kenichi Soga, on geo-monitoring and geo-adaptation of geotechnical infrastructure. |