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Damilola Akinniyi

DAMILOLA AKINNIYI

DAMILOLA AKINNIYI

Damilola Akinniyi

Work with me

Geotechnical training and support for engineers, universities and students

Welcome. I help engineering teams strengthen their geotechnical understanding, help universities give students realistic, industry-based work, and help researchers get their soil testing right. Every piece of work starts with a short conversation, fees are agreed together, and volunteer talks for schools and students are free.

Start a conversationSee what I offerBook a free 30-minute call

Who it is for

Three groups I work with

Employers and engineering teamsConsultancies, contractors and organisations with graduate and early-career engineers.
Universities and researchersLecturers, programme leaders, PhD students and research groups.
Schools and student groupsHigh schools, student societies and anyone curious about engineering.

What I offer

Five ways I can help

Each one starts with a conversation, so it fits your people and your goals.

For employers

Training for graduate and early-career engineers

Practical sessions that strengthen the soil mechanics behind everyday design decisions: soil behaviour, effective stress, consolidation, shear strength, and how laboratory and field results become design parameters. Online or in person, as a single session or a short series.

Enquire about training
For universities and colleges

Assessment briefs and coursework review

Realistic, fictional project briefs for student assessment at any level, with a marking guide, so students practise the kind of work engineers actually do. I can also review existing coursework for industry relevance.

Enquire about briefs
For PhD students and research groups

Lab testing support and PhD co-supervision

Support for research on saturated and unsaturated soil testing: reviewing a test programme before you start, troubleshooting, and interpreting results. Co-supervision or external advice can be arranged with your university, following its rules.

Enquire about research support
For universities and events

Guest lectures and talks

Guest lectures, seminars and webinars for universities, professional groups and events, on geotechnical engineering, research, and building an engineering career.

Invite me to speak
For schools and students

Volunteer talks for students

Talks for high schools, student societies and anyone who needs inspiration about engineering: what engineers do, how I got here, and how to start. These talks are voluntary. Terms apply.

Request a talk

What to expect

What your people leave with

Every session is planned around your team and your goals, so these are starting points rather than a fixed script. They show what I aim for people to be able to do by the end.

Training for graduate and early-career engineers

By the end, engineers should be able to:

  • explain how effective stress and drainage conditions change a design check
  • choose sensible design parameters from laboratory and field results, and say why
  • spot test results that do not make sense before they reach a design

Usually a 90-minute session or a short series, online or in person.

Guest lectures and talks

By the end, your audience should be able to:

  • see how research, teaching and practice connect on real projects
  • understand what geotechnical engineers actually do, and why it matters
  • leave with practical next steps for their studies or career

Usually 45 to 60 minutes, with time for questions.

See how I teach before you book

My free courses are written the way I teach in a session. Try a lesson and judge for yourself.

Soil Mechanics Fundamentals →Unsaturated Soil Mechanics →

Pilot sessions for early partners

I am offering a small number of pilot sessions to organisations at a reduced fee, in return for honest feedback that I may share with your permission. If that interests you, mention “pilot” in your enquiry.

Ask about a pilot ↓

The experience behind this

Research, teaching and practice

I bring together three things that rarely sit in one place: research in the laboratory, university teaching, and engineering consultancy on real projects.

ResearchPhD in geotechnical engineering from HKUST, specialising in unsaturated and tropical soils.
TeachingTaught at two UK universities. Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA).
PracticeGeotechnical consultancy, with project experience in Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Hong Kong and the UK.

Where I have spoken

I speak at conferences, universities and professional events, on unsaturated and tropical soils, geotechnical engineering in practice, research skills, and career development for students and early-career engineers.

  • International Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, Australia
  • 7th International Conference on Unsaturated Soils, Hong Kong
  • Association of Nigerian Scholars in Hong Kong: Research Forum
Invite me to speak

Start a conversation

Tell me what you need

Send a short enquiry and I will reply by email to suggest a time for a call. If it is not something I can help with, I will tell you honestly.

Good to know

  • Fees depend on the scope and are agreed before any work starts. Volunteer talks are free.
  • Please allow enough notice. I will confirm availability before anything is agreed.
  • For in-person sessions, travel costs may apply.
  • For school visits, I am happy to work within your school’s safeguarding requirements.
  • Sessions are recorded only with agreement.
  • PhD co-supervision is subject to your university’s rules and approval.

Prefer email? hello@damilolaakinniyi.com

Work With Me Enquiry