He teaches courses on engineering geology, rock mechanics, soil mechanics, numerical modeling in geotechnical engineering, and surface and underground excavations in rock. His research focus has been in the development of analytical and numerical models to describe the mechanical response of excavations, and more recently he has been involved in projects requiring field and lab characterization of rock and rock masses for energy storage in mines of Northern Minnesota. Dr. Carranza-Torres is currently serving as senior co-editor of the journal Engineering Geology and as associate editor of the journal Tunnelling and Undergound Space Technology. He is also serving or has served in editorial boards of other major geotechnical engineering journals.