Miguel Fernandez RuizView profile
Professor
Miguel Fernandez Ruiz serves as Full Professor in the Department of Continuum Mechanics and Structural Theory at the School of Civil Engineering, Polytechnic University of Madrid since March 2021, concurrently holding the position of Subdirector of the School since April 2022. Previously, he held progressive academic roles at École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) from 2004 to 2021, culminating in Senior Scientist appointment in 2014. His academic foundation was established at the Polytechnical University of Madrid, where he demonstrated exceptional performance: Diploma in Civil Engineering (2001), awarded as best student in Spain for the discipline PhD in Civil Engineering (cum laude, 2004) Professor Fernandez Ruiz leads pioneering research in structural concrete systems, with Textile Reinforced Concrete (TRC) as a cornerstone innovation. His theoretical frameworks for punching shear design and limit analysis have been formally adopted in Swiss Codes, Model Code 2010, and Eurocode 2 revisions. This work directly addresses concrete's 8% contribution to global CO2 emissions through refined design methodologies that reduce material consumption while enhancing safety. His research bridges experimental observation with practical implementation, yielding sustainable construction solutions applicable across technological contexts. Professional recognition includes: Best Student in Civil Engineering in Spain (2001) He has co-directed 11 PhD theses and supervised over 25 Master's theses at EPFL. As an active member of UPM's Structural Engineering Research Group, he serves on four journal advisory boards and reviews research proposals for international funding agencies (Belgium, Brazil, Portugal, Switzerland). His dual industry-academia career includes consultancy roles during doctoral studies and partnership in a structural design firm during his EPFL tenure. The Structural Engineering Research Group at Polytechnic University of Madrid forms the nucleus of his current experimental and theoretical work, focusing on carbon footprint reduction through advanced concrete technologies and structural optimization.



