A Conversation with Ryley
What is your current job? Please list the title and briefly describe what it involves
I am an Assistant Professor in Civil Engineering at York University, specializing in Geotechnical Engineering. As a professor, my job includes conducting research on landslides and slope stabilization techniques, teaching undergraduate and graduate students, and serving on a number of committees.
What made you want to pursue a career in engineering?
My passion and need to constantly be learning, a desire to solve problems, and my love of teaching are all what lead me to a career where I could combine engineering + teaching.
What’s your favourite part of your job?
I love the ‘ah-ha’ moments, whether that comes from my students in class, or with my graduate students during research. There is something incredibly powerful about those moments that always make all the hard work worth it. I also love getting outside and conducting field research. Last year that took me up to the Northwest Territories to investigate thaw-slumps which was an incredible experience.
How do you celebrate National Engineering Month?
This year for National Engineering Month my plans are to help with celebration activities and initiatives going on in the Lassonde School of Engineering at York. I’ll also be spending lots of time this month tweeting about exciting engineering research that is happening right now in Civil at York.
What advice do you have for young women who hope to pursue a career in your field?
My advice would be to never stop asking questions. Follow where your intrigue and interests take you, and allow yourself to be amazed when you realize all the incredible things you can do.
Ryley’s BiographyRyley received her B.Sc. in Civil Engineering, as well as her B.Ed., M.Sc., and Ph.D. at Queen’s University. Prior to arriving at York as an Assistant Professor, she was a teaching fellow at Queen’s University for two years, where she taught several Geotechnical and Civil Engineering undergraduate courses. Ryley’s research interests include studying the effect of climate change on geotechnical engineering design, cold climate soil mechanics and the impact of permafrost degradation on infrastructure, hazard and susceptibility mapping and in-situ and remote sensing development. She has extensive experience in physical modelling techniques (including largescale landslide experiments and geotechnical centrifuge), numerical modelling and field work. Most recently, Ryley is using an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (or Drone) to observe and monitor slope deformations in remote and northern locations (e.g. Mackenzie River, Northwest Territories in 2015).
Photo from Ryley’s workLandslides on the Mackenzie River
