Dr. Alena Ezhkova is an experienced engineer with 9 years of experience in the natural gas pipeline transportation industry, including large-scale gas transmission infrastructure projects. She specializes in geohazard assessment and holds a PhD in Engineering Geology, Permafrost Science, and Soil Science. Her research interests include geohazard analysis, risk assessment, and numerical modeling of pipeline systems. Dr. Ezhkova has developed a proprietary methodology for assessing karst-related risks in pipeline construction. She is the author of more than 15 scientific publications and has received awards at conferences as well as research grants.