Dr Michael Brown is currently a Reader in the Geotechnics Research Group at the University of Dundee and has been at Dundee since 2005 . He obtained his doctorate from the University of Sheffield in 2004 for work on the rapid load testing (RLT) of piles in fine grained soils (Statnamic). Prior to undertaking a part time PhD he spent 5 years in industry working for specialist geotechnical contractors and consultants. He is a past editor of the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) Proceedings: Geotechnical Engineering. He is currently a member of ISSMGE Technical Committee TC212 on Deep Foundations, CEN/TC 341/WG 7: Non-static tests on piles and the SUT Offshore Site Investigation Group (OSIG). He sits on the editorial panels of Geotechnique and JGS Soils and Foundations journal. His current research interests include Rate Effects in fine grained soils, Offshore Geotechnics, Pipeline Ploughing and jetting installation, Debris Flows and Landslides and anchoring and foundations for marine energy generators.