Prof Sheng is an outstanding researcher, research leader and mentor whose pioneering research in unsaturated soil mechanics, computational geomechanics and transport geotechnics have resulted in him becoming one of the world's most influential and most cited geotechnical engineers. His research has had significant impact on engineering practice in Australia and overseas. In particular his work has had a major influence on the design of high-speed railway foundations on seasonally frozen grounds, on the design of airfield pavements in cold and arid regions, and on software packages for geotechnical analysis and design.