Chrysothemis Paraskevopoulou

Chrysothemis is an Assistant Professor in the School of Mining and Metallurgical Engineering at the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA), having returned to Greece after more than 15 years of academic and professional experience abroad. She holds an MEng in Mining and Metallurgical Engineering from NTUA and an MSc in Tunnel and Underground Space Design.

In 2016, she completed her PhD at Queen’s University, Canada, focusing on the time-dependent behaviour of rocks and its implications for tunnel design, combining advanced numerical modelling techniques (FDM and FEM) with experimental research. Between 2014 and 2016, she was a visiting academic at ETH Zurich, where she carried out the experimental component of her doctoral research.

Following the completion of her PhD, she was appointed Assistant Professor at the University of Leeds (UK), where she was awarded tenure in 2019. In September 2022, she became the first female Director (Program Leader) of the MSc Programme in Engineering Geology in its 67-year history, introducing the Seven-Day Educational Field Trip to Greece, which included 15 visits to active construction sites and locations of geotechnical and mining interest. In 2024, she was promoted to Associate Professor, a position she chose to leave in order to take up her current role at NTUA.

In parallel, she serves as a Visiting Professor at the University of Leeds and at Queen’s University, and has previously held an affiliation with the University of Warwick.

She has published over 75 scientific papers in international journals and conference proceedings. Her research focuses on the intelligent and innovative design of underground, mining, and geotechnical projects, the geomechanical behaviour of geological formations, risk and uncertainty management, and sustainable underground development and its societal dimension, with particular emphasis on both international and national environments.

In recent years, she has been extensively involved in geothermal energy research, primarily in urban environments and through the utilisation of flooded underground mining spaces, while also assessing their mechanical stability. She also develops artificial intelligence algorithms for the stability analysis of underground works and for the detection of discontinuities and failure planes (e.g. historic tunnels). Additional research interests include the experimental analysis of soft rock formations (such as claystones) for deep underground nuclear waste disposal projects, the evaluation of extractive properties of geological formations, and the simulation of vibrations around underground openings.

She is an active member of the Greek Tunnelling Society (GTS), where she served as General Secretary (2021–2024) and currently holds the position of Treasurer (2024–2027). She is a former Vice Chair of the Young Members’ Group of the International Tunnelling Association (ITA) and a member of the ITACUS and ITA-CET committees. In 2020, she obtained an MBA from Leeds University Business School, firmly believing in lifelong learning and in the development of leadership and managerial skills.

She has also worked as an engineer on mining, geotechnical, and underground projects, and in recent years has developed an active consultancy practice.

When not working, she can be found in her personal Eden—a magical place somewhere in southern Peloponnese.

In Greek, her first name (Chrysothemis) means Golden (Chryso-) Justice (-Themis), in case you were wondering.

🔗 For more information: www.chrysothemis.me

1. Paraskevopoulou, C., Benardos, A. 2013. Assessing the construction cost of tunnel projects. Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology Journal, 38(2013), 497–505. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tust.2013.08.005


2. Paraskevopoulou, C., Perras, M., Diederichs, M.S., Amann, F., Loew, S., Lam, T., Jensen., M. 2017. The three stages of stress-relaxation - Observations for the long-term behaviour of rocks based on laboratory testing. Journal of Engineering Geology, 216, 56-75(2017). http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2016.11.010


3. Paraskevopoulou, C., Perras, M., Diederichs, M.S., Loew, S., Lam, T., Jensen., M. 2018. Time-dependent behaviour of brittle rocks based on static load laboratory testing. Geotechnical & Geological Engineering, 36, 337-376(2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10706-017-0331-8


4. Paraskevopoulou, C., Diederichs, M., 2018. Analysis of time-dependent deformation in tunnels using the Convergence-Confinement Method. Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology Journal, 71(2018), 62-80, 19 pages. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.tust.2017.07.001


5. Sattler, T., Paraskevopoulou, C. 2018. Implications on characterizing the extremely weak Sherwood Sandstone: Case of Slope Stability Analysis using SRF at Two Oak Quarry in the UK. Geotechnical & Geological Engineering. 37, 1897-1918(2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10706-018-0732-3


6. Yau, K., Paraskevopoulou, C., Konstantis, S. 2020. Spatial variability of karst and effect on tunnel lining and water inflow. A probabilistic approach. Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology Journal, 97(2020), 103248, 13 pages. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tust.2019.103248


7. Paraskevopoulou C., Boutsis, G., 2020. Cost Overruns in Tunnelling Projects: Investigating the Impact of Geological and Geotechnical Uncertainty Using Case Studies. Special Issue Underground Infrastructure Engineering of Infrastructure Journal (MDPI). Infrastructures 2020, 5(9), 73; https://doi.org/10.3390/infrastructures5090073


8. Atkinson, C., Paraskevopoulou, C., Miller, R. 2021. Investigating the Rehabilitation Methods of Victorian Masonry Tunnels in the UK. Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology Journal. 108(2021), 103696, 16 pages. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tust.2020.103696.


9. Paraskevopoulou C., Skolidis, A., Parsons, S., Marinos, V., 2021. Integrating uncertainty into geotechnical design of underground openings in tectonically undisturbed but lithologically varied sedimentary environments. Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology Journal. 113, 2021, 103979. ISSN 0886-7798. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tust.2021.103979


10. Sissins, S., Paraskevopoulou C., 2021. Assessing TBM performance in heterogeneous rock masses. Bulleting of Engineering Geology and the Environment. 80, 6177–6203 (2021), https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-021-02209-2


11. Innocente, J., Paraskevopoulou, C., Diederichs, M.S., 2021. Estimating the long-term strength and time-to-failure of brittle rocks laboratory testing. International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences Journal. 147, 2021, 104900. ISSN 1365-1609. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrmms.2021.104900


12. Paraskevopoulou, C., Dallavalle, M., Konstantis, S., Spyridis, P., Benardos, A., 2022. Assessing the Failure Potential of Tunnels and the Impacts on Cost Overruns and Project Delays. Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology Journal. 123, 2022, 104443. ISSN 0886-7798. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tust.2022.104443


13. Holmes, H., Paraskevopoulou, C., Hildyard, M., Neaupane, K., Connolly, D., 2023. Numerical modelling of resonance mechanisms in jointed rocks using transfer functions. Journal of Rock Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering. 15(5), 2023, 1076-1089. ISSN 1674-7755. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrmge.2022.09.001


14. Tyrer, J., Paraskevopoulou, C., Shah, R., Miller, R., Kavvadas, M., A 3D numerical analysis of an EPB excavation sequence using FEM. Special Issue on Advanced Numerical Modelling and Analysis in Geotechnical Engineering of Geosciences Journal 2023 (MDPI), 13(8), 244. https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences13080244


15. Alcaino-Olivares, R., Paraskevopoulou, C., Perras, M. Assessing long-term excavation damage in Switzerland’s Bedretto adit: A field investigation in the northern section. Geotechnical & Geological Engineering.2024, 1573-1529. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10706-023-02735-8


16. Walton, G., Paraskevopoulou, C., Perras, M., Time-dependent volume change on brittle limestone during stress relaxation. Technical Note. Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-024-03943-1


17. Smith, J., Paraskevopoulou, C., Cohn, A., Kromer, R., Bedi, A., Invernici, M. 2024. Automated masonry spalling severity segmentation in historic railway tunnels using deep learning and a block face plane fitting approach. Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology Journal. 153, 2024, 106043, ISSN 0886-7798, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tust.2024.106043


18. Paraskevopoulou, C., Saroglou, C. & Kaushik, 2024. A. Rock Mass Classification of Chalk, a UK Perspective. Rock Mech Rock Eng(2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-024-04194-w


19. Berry, T., Murphy, W., Paraskevopoulou, C., 2025. Self-sealing of argillaceous media in the context of geological disposal of radioactive waste - A perspective from past and ongoing studies. Geoenergy Thematic Collection - Sustainable geological disposal and containment of radioactive waste, Volume 3.. https://doi.org/10.1144/geoenergy2024-021


20. Green, N., Paraskevopoulou, C., Branham, E., Clarke, R., Shaw, N., Using legacy data to investigate the geothermal potential of UK’s aquifers: a feasibility study at the University of Leeds, UK. Geoenergy Science and Engineering, Volume 254, 2025, 214025, ISSN 2949-8910, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoen.2025.214025

Undergraduate Studies

• Conventional and Robotic Mining Systems (9th Semester)


• Open-Pit Mine Design (9th Semester)

• Mechanical Equipment used for Underground Works (ΕΧ1), MSc “Design and Construction of Underground Works”


• Urban Tunnels and Metro Stations (ΕΕ1), MSc “Design and Construction of Underground Works”