Dr Junlong Shang is a Senior Lecturer (Associate Professor, permanent) in Rock Mechanics at the Department of Civil Engineering and Management, University of Manchester. He also serves as the Head of Postgraduate Research for the department.

Dr Shang’s research integrates laboratory and field experimentation with computational modelling to investigate the mechanical and hydraulic behaviour of rocks and fractures in subsurface environments. His primary focus is on coupled thermal–hydrological–mechanical–chemical (THMC) processes in fractured and clay-rich geological media. These processes are central to a wide range of subsurface engineering applications, including geological disposal of radioactive waste, geothermal energy extraction, and subsurface energy storage.

More recently, Dr Shang has developed a growing research interest in fracture shaping and evolution, which has significant implications for understanding fracture dynamics and permeability changes in engineered and natural subsurface systems. His work contributes to the advancement of low-carbon and sustainable technologies within the context of the global energy transition.

Research Interests

• Rock Mechanics/Fractures and Engineering Geology
• Low-carbon Underground Technologies and Engineering
• Sustainable Infrastructure; Geological Disposal Facility
• Renewable Energy Extraction (geothermal) and Storage (hydrogen)

Selected Research Projects

• Royal Society, FENCE: Fracture evolution in a coupled subsurface environment, PI, 2026-2029, £224,644.86 [We are seeking a PhD student with experience in mudstone sampling and triaxial rock mechanics experiments, who can begin in 2026]
• Diamond Light Source AP38 Call. Deformation and sealing behaviour of veined Mercia Mudstone, PI, 2025-2026
• Diamond Light Source at Oxford, Synchrotron X-ray imaging. Co-I, 2024
• EPSRC, Influence of fracture heterogeneity on rock deformation and failure (INFORM): A mechanics-based multi-scale framework for radioactive waste disposal, PI, £403,820, 02/2023-01/2026, EP/W031221/1)
• NERC, Digging deep Earth for heat to promote environmental sustainability (DEEPHEAT), PI, £88,404, 07/2021-06/2023 (International Partnership Seedcorn Fund, NE/W004127/1)        
• Royal Society, Impact of particle migration on permeability evolution and clogging of rock fractures, PI, £11,831, 03/2022-02/2024 (International Exchange, IES\R3\213050)
• Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions fellowship, Coupled flow processes in fractured media (COFFEE), PI, £166,515
• GFZ (Germany), A travel grant to support fieldwork at Äspö Hard Rock Laboratory, Sweden, PI, €20,000, 08/2021-07/2023 (GFZ Innovative Research Expedition Fund)

Selected Awards

• Fellowship of Recognising Excellence in Teaching (Glasgow)              
• EPSRC New Investigator Award (UKRI)                                                  
• Visiting Scientist, GFZ Germany                                                            
• Wiley Top Cited Paper Award for my solo-authored JGR paper           
• Recipient of the Rocha Medal of International Society for Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering (ISRM)     
• Future Leader of the American Rock Mechanics Association (ARMA)
• Stanford University's list of the World's Top 2% Scientists (2025, 2023, 2022, 2021)

My Research Team: Link