My PhD Journey: Engineering, Sustainability and Motherhood

When I first came to UNSW, I didn’t plan to do a PhD.

I arrived as a Master’s student in Civil Engineering, curious about learning more, but not necessarily imagining an academic career. That changed when I met Dr Asal Bidarmaghz. I still remember how passionate she was when she spoke about geothermal energy and the role civil engineers could play in shaping a more sustainable future. She didn’t just talk about research - she talked about impact. About how infrastructure can become part of the energy solution.

Her passion was contagious. What began as curiosity became inspiration. So when she offered me the opportunity to pursue a PhD in energy tunnels - something I had never previously considered - I said yes. It was one of the most important decisions of my life.

During my PhD, I also had the privilege of working closely with A/Prof Arman Khoshghalb, also from the School’s CIES Research Centre, and an expert in soil mechanics and numerical modelling. His depth of knowledge and precision in thinking pushed me to grow technically and intellectually. Having him as a joint supervisor strengthened my journey enormously. Together, Asal and Arman created an environment that was rigorous, but also deeply supportive.

They were also open to expanding my supervision team beyond UNSW. In a meaningful full-circle moment, I reconnected with Dr Alejo - a former professor of mine during my undergraduate studies in Argentina - after running into him at a soil mechanics conference in Sydney. When I shared my research with him, he was genuinely excited about the work, and he later joined my supervisory team as a co-supervisor. His international academic and industry perspective strengthened my research, making it both scientifically rigorous and practically relevant.

Academically, my PhD focused on advancing the understanding of thermo-hydro-mechanical soil–structure interaction in energy tunnels through advanced numerical modelling grounded in critical state soil mechanics.

My work contributed to the development and validation of fully coupled THM finite-element frameworks capable of capturing strain-dependent stiffness degradation, cyclic thermal loading effects, pore pressure evolution and long-term settlement mechanisms in energy tunnel systems. Validation against field case studies and experimental energy tunnel prototypes strengthened the reliability of predictive tools for sustainable underground geothermal infrastructure.

Through my PhD at UNSW, I built friendships with colleagues from Australia, the United Kingdom, China, Iran, Nepal, India, Peru and many other countries. We came from different languages, traditions and backgrounds, yet we shared something powerful — a passion for our research and a willingness to support one another.

But my PhD journey was not only about research.

During these years, I became a mother - and I am now expecting my second child. Balancing advanced numerical modelling, publications, conferences and deadlines with pregnancy, sleepless nights, daycare transitions and toddler emotions has not been easy. As a woman in engineering and a mother of a young child, I often felt like I was living two intense lives at once.

What made the difference was support.

UNSW provided flexibility and understanding, and the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering offered genuine encouragement. I never felt that motherhood was something I had to hide or apologise for. Instead, I felt supported - academically and personally. That support allowed me not only to continue, but to thrive.

When I returned after maternity leave, Asal told me something that stayed with me - that I had come back with even more energy. And she was right. Motherhood did not slow me down; in many ways, it made me stronger, more focused, and more determined. In fact, that period became my most productive year as a PhD candidate. It was during that time that I achieved many of my key research results and milestones, including peer-reviewed publications demonstrating the importance of multiphysics THM modelling and small-strain stiffness representation for reliable prediction of energy tunnel performance.

During this period, we also developed one of the first thermo-plasticity frameworks specifically tailored to energy tunnel applications, and I was honoured to be selected as a finalist for the 2025 NSW Research Award Night of the Australian Geomechanics Society.

Becoming a mother did not take away from my academic identity - it deepened it. It taught me resilience, efficiency, perspective, and the value of time. It reminded me why impact matters.

Beyond technical growth, the PhD gave me something I didn’t expect: a global community.

Coming from Argentina, I had limited exposure to such a diverse mix of cultures. Through my PhD at UNSW, I built friendships with colleagues from Australia, the United Kingdom, China, Iran, Nepal, India, Peru and many other countries. We came from different languages, traditions and backgrounds, yet we shared something powerful — a passion for our research and a willingness to support one another.

PhD life can be challenging. There are moments of uncertainty, failed simulations, rejected papers and personal struggles. But in those difficult times, I discovered that what connects us is stronger than what differentiates us. We helped each other, celebrated each other’s achievements and reminded one another why we started.

Sharing the PhD journey with colleagues like Arvind, Ali and Annmary created a sense of belonging and mutual encouragement that made the experience richer and more meaningful.

My PhD has shaped me not only as an engineer, but as a woman, a mother and a global citizen.
It strengthened my technical expertise and expanded my career opportunities. But most importantly, it showed me that it is possible to pursue ambitious goals while raising a family - not perfectly, not without struggle, but with resilience, support and purpose.

Looking back, I am deeply grateful. For the mentors who believed in me before I believed in myself. For the School that supported me as both a researcher and a mother. And for the international community that reminded me that engineering is not just about infrastructure - it is about people.