Gerard J. O'Reilly

Gerard J. O'Reilly

Associate Professor at the Centre for Training and Research on Reduction of Seismic Risk (ROSE Centre) @ IUSS Pavia, Italy

Co-Founder of Djura | Risk - Data - Engineering S.r.l

Short Biography

Gerard J. O’Reilly (pronounced ge-rard o-rai-li) is an Associate Professor of Structural Engineering at IUSS Pavia (ROSE School). He earned his PhD in Earthquake Engineering and Engineering Seismology from IUSS Pavia in 2016 and has held visiting research positions at the University of California, Berkeley, and the Kobori Research Complex in Tokyo, Japan.

His research is centred on probabilistic seismic risk assessment and mitigation, with a particular focus on regional-scale applications. This spans fragility and vulnerability modelling of existing structures, the characterisation of seismic hazard and spatial ground motion correlation, and the integration of these components into risk frameworks with applications in global risk assessment, catastrophe modelling, and the (re)insurance sector. A growing aspect of his work involves data-driven approaches, leveraging sensor networks and digital twins to improve how risk is assessed and monitored in the built environment. He is actively engaged in European initiatives aimed at harmonising and advancing seismic risk modelling, including EFEHR and the Built Environment Data (BED) Thematic Core Service within EPOS.

He recently completed coordination of the €11.6M EU-funded ERIES project and is Principal Investigator of a €1.3M Starting Grant for the SONATA project from the Italian National Science Foundation (Fondo Italiano per la Scienza). In recognition of his contributions, he received the 2022 Shah Family Innovation Prize from EERI and has served as an Associate Editor for Earthquake Spectra since 2025.

Short Biography (Bullet Point List)

Extended Biography

Gerard J. O’Reilly (1989) is an Associate Professor of Structural Engineering at IUSS Pavia, completing his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Civil Engineering in Ireland in 2010 and 2013, with a period as a visiting researcher at the University of California, Berkeley in 2012 and at the Kobori Research Complex, Japan in 2019. He obtained his PhD in Earthquake Engineering and Engineering Seismology from IUSS Pavia in 2016.

His research is centred on probabilistic seismic risk assessment and mitigation, with a particular focus on regional-scale applications. This spans the development of fragility and vulnerability models for existing structures, the characterisation of seismic hazard and spatial ground motion correlation, and the integration of these components into risk frameworks with applications in global risk assessment, catastrophe modelling, and the (re)insurance sector. A growing aspect of this work involves data-driven approaches, leveraging sensor networks and digital twins to improve how risk is assessed and monitored in the built environment. These topics represent the overall effort towards improving building codes and risk classification guidelines, with contributions to several national and European frameworks. Much of this research relates to projects in collaboration with the EUCENTRE Foundation. He is actively engaged in European initiatives aimed at harmonising and advancing seismic risk modelling, including EFEHR and the Built Environment Data (BED) Thematic Core Service within EPOS.

He has also been involved in various European projects, such as BRACED and DiSTEEL funded by the European Commission Research Fund for Coal and Steel and FP7 funding programmes, relating to the shake table testing and design of steel frame structures. He has collaborated on the development of simplified tools for the regional assessment of bridge infrastructure in Italy, Israel, and North Macedonia exposed to seismic hazard and ageing effects as part of the INFRA-NAT project funded by the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Operations. He was the principal investigator of the ROSSINI project funded by the National Institute for Insurance against Accidents at Work, which looked to develop a risk-based navigation system for industrial plant workers at risk of NaTech events. He recently completed coordination of the €11.6M EU-funded ERIES project, which provided transnational access to research infrastructures advancing frontier knowledge related to seismic, wind and geotechnical hazards. More recently, he has been awarded a €1.3M Starting Grant by the Fondo Italiano per la Scienza (FIS) on the topic of “Sensor-driven statistical tools to evaluate risks and manage safety in the built environment.”

He has received several international awards and recognitions, including the 2022 Shah Family Innovation Prize by the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute (EERI), in addition to the “2020 Outstanding Paper Award” by the International Association for Bridge and Structural Engineering. Since 2025, he joined Earthquake Spectra as an Associate Editor.

He has supervised numerous students at both MSc and PhD levels as part of the Civil Engineering for Mitigation of Risk from Natural Hazards master’s degree programme and the Earthquake Engineering PhD degree programme jointly offered by the University of Pavia and IUSS Pavia.

Last updated: July 2026