Professor Robert Hairstans is a leading academic at Edinburgh Napier University and founding Director of the Centre for Advanced Timber Technology (CATT) at NMITE. He chairs the UK Government Timber in Construction Policy Roadmap Implementation Board and contributes to the Scottish Construction Leadership Forum. His career spans pioneering research in industrialized timber and offsite construction, with global recognition through awards and collaborations. Key roles include: Director of COCIS research group, Skills & EDI lead for Cen NZ High DB, Trimble Technology Lab establishment 2024 awards: Structural Timber Pioneer of the Year, Offsite Construction Pioneer of the Year Research themes: Mass timber systems, carbon reduction, digital construction, sustainable supply chains His 15 most recent publications focus on timber engineering, retrofit strategies, and sustainable construction technologies. Awards include BE-ST Beacon (2023) and Queen’s Anniversary Prize (2015). He supervises PhD/MSc projects on topics like CLT composites, emotional intelligence in construction, and factory modeling. Current initiatives involve UK timber commercialization and international knowledge exchange.
Dr Selcuk Cidik serves as Associate Professor in Construction and Project Management at University College London's Bartlett School of Sustainable Construction, where he leads the B.Sc. (Hons) Project Management for Construction programme. With seven years of industry experience in construction bidding and commercial management for major civil engineering contractors, he transitioned to academia in 2012 after initial roles as an assistant project manager. Prior to UCL, he held lecturing positions at Birmingham City University and London South Bank University. He earned his Ph.D. in 2016 for research on 'The practice of interdisciplinary design in BIM-enabled projects', establishing his expertise in digital construction frameworks. His scholarly work examines value creation across construction project lifecycles through multi-level theoretical lenses integrating societal and stakeholder perspectives. Dr Cidik's research program investigates the politics of social value in infrastructure using political ecology and non-representational spatial theories, systems approaches to building safety, and digital transformation impacts on organizational routines. His work bridges organizational studies, political science, and systems thinking to address circular economy implementation challenges and BIM-enabled collaboration dynamics in sustainable construction. Analysis of his 2023-2025 publications reveals dominant trends in circular economy applications (particularly green infrastructure retrofitting), socio-spatial dimensions of value creation, and digital compliance tools. Key thematic clusters include stakeholder power dynamics in infrastructure governance, spatial analysis of circular systems, and trust frameworks for BIM collaboration, reflecting his commitment to translating theoretical insights into practical sustainable construction solutions. As an educator, he has supervised over 20 undergraduate and 60 master's students while teaching core modules including Construction Ecosystem and The Management of Construction Projects. His leadership extends to dissertation supervision across large cohorts and development of curriculum focused on innovation, technology, and management in the built environment.
Kell Jones is a Lecturer in Construction Procurement and Supply Chain Management at the The Bartlett School of Sustainable Construction , University College London, focusing on intersections of buildings, finance, and sustainability. Their work emphasizes actionable information flow for building decarbonization. EngD in Urban Sustainability and Resilience MRes in Urban Sustainability and Resilience BSc in Architectural Technology & Design BA in Economics & Accountancy Research focuses on accelerating decarbonization via information systems, innovation implementation, and business model transformation in construction. Doctoral work developed a framework for material innovation adoption, while postdoctoral research with the Transforming Construction Network Plus explored digitalization and institutional logics. Recent publications analyze circular economy applications, ESG integration in real estate finance, and digital platforms for construction. Key themes include sustainability reporting frameworks, retrofitting barriers, and cyber-physical systems in service-led firms. Teaching spans construction materials, supply chain management, and professional practice. Jones leads the Learning Environments MSc at the Bartlett Real Estate Institute.
Stergios-Aristoteles Mitoulis serves as Associate Professor in Engineering and Project Management at University College London's Bartlett School of Sustainable Construction. A Chartered Engineer (CEng MICE) with memberships in ASCE, EAEE, IABSE and FHEA, he directs the MetaInfrastructure.org and BridgeUkraine.org initiatives while coordinating major EU-funded projects including ZEBAI (€5M), RISKADAPT (€2.5M), and PORTAL (€1.8M). His research centers on three pillars: (1) threat-agnostic resilience frameworks for infrastructure under cascading risks; (2) AI-driven decision systems integrating remote sensing and digital twins; and (3) sustainable retrofitting of transport assets using recycled materials. With over £8 million in research funding from UKRI and Horizon Europe, his work directly informs Eurocode standards and national infrastructure policies. Analysis of his recent publications reveals strong emphasis on multi-hazard fragility modeling (particularly bridges), AI-enabled damage identification, and climate-resilient transport networks. His work consistently bridges theoretical innovation with practical implementation, evidenced by 20+ peer-reviewed papers in 2024-2025 alone spanning reliability engineering, structural safety, and sustainable development. Thorpe Medal for outstanding engineering research IStructE Research Award for infrastructure innovation Editor-in-Chief of ICE Journal of Bridge Engineering Regular contributor to Eurocode standardisation committees Mitoulis actively supervises 40+ doctoral and postdoctoral researchers across 10+ international projects. His REF2029 Impact Case Study focuses on digital technologies for infrastructure resilience, while his £8M+ grant portfolio includes major collaborations with Ukrainian institutions through bridgeUkraine.org. He leads the MetaInfrastructure research group developing counterfactual engineering approaches for the metaCity concept, with recent media coverage by BBC on conflict-damaged infrastructure recovery. The MetaInfrastructure team operates through dedicated labs for digital twin development, AI/ML applications, and sustainable materials testing. Current initiatives include the PORTAL project for AI-driven infrastructure monitoring and ReCharged for circular economy in transport networks. Mitoulis' educational contributions feature a FutureLearn MOOC on critical infrastructure resilience and CPD training for ICE professionals.
Professor Carmine Galasso is a Professor of Catastrophe Risk Engineering, Research Director, and Deputy Departmental Graduate Tutor (Research Students) in the Department of Civil, Environmental & Geomatic Engineering (CEGE) at University College London (UCL). He leads the DE|RISC Lab (Disaster Engineering for Resilient Societies Laboratory) with Dr. Gemma Cremen and Dr. Roberto Gentile, focusing on interdisciplinary approaches to multi-hazard risk and resilience-informed decision-making. His work bridges civil engineering with natural-hazard science and social sciences to promote sustainable and equitable built environments. Galasso's research interests center on developing and applying probabilistic and statistical methods for catastrophe risk modeling and disaster risk reduction. He investigates risks to building portfolios and infrastructure exposed to multiple natural hazards, including earthquakes, typhoons, and floods, with particular emphasis on community infrastructure (schools, hospitals, heritage assets) in developing countries. His work addresses the intersection of engineering, social vulnerability, and disaster management, with strong commitment to open science and knowledge accessibility. The analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong focus on multi-hazard risk assessment, with particular emphasis on earthquake engineering, ground motion modeling, structural fragility analysis, and infrastructure resilience. His work spans theoretical developments in probabilistic methods and practical applications in risk-informed decision-making, often incorporating social dimensions of disaster risk. The research demonstrates increasing integration of computational approaches with real-world applications in developing countries. Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction Associate Editor for the Bulletin of Earthquake Engineering Handling Editor for the Journal of Earthquake Engineering and Nature Communications Engineering Founder and Executive Editor for Operations for Seismica Multiple student awards under his supervision including CERRA Student Recognition Awards and the Shah Family Innovation Prize Professor Galasso has successfully supervised nine PhD students to completion at UCL and co-supervised several others internationally. His research has secured over £6.5M in funding as Project Lead from UK Research Councils, the European Commission, the British Council, the World Bank and its Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery, and the Willis Research Network. He has established strong industry connections through collaborations with the Willis Research Network and the insurance sector, ensuring practical applications of his research. The DE|RISC Lab under his leadership includes four postdoctoral research fellows and five PhD students, working on various aspects of catastrophe risk engineering and disaster risk reduction. The lab maintains active collaborations with UK national and global research entities, including the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR) at the World Bank, and has delivered impactful training courses in the Philippines and Kyrgyz Republic.
Antti Ahola, PhD, is an Associate Professor and Group Leader in the Steel Structures Research Group at the Department of Mechanical Engineering, LUT School of Energy Systems, Lappeenranta-Lahti University of Technology (LUT). He specializes in fatigue behavior of welded high-strength steel components and development of the 4R method for fatigue assessment. His current research focuses on variable-amplitude loading effects and simulation-based approaches for welded structures. Education D.Sc. (Tech.) in Mechanical Engineering, LUT University (2017-2020) M.Sc. (Tech.) in Energy Systems, Lappeenranta University of Technology (2011-2016) Research Focus Dr. Ahola's research centers on fatigue mechanics of welded structures, particularly high-strength steels. Key areas include: Development and application of the 4R method for fatigue life prediction Effects of manufacturing processes (welding, cutting) on structural integrity Simulation-based assessment using finite element analysis Variable-amplitude loading and residual stress effects Structural reliability and sensitivity analysis Publication Trends Recent works (2021-2025) demonstrate a strong focus on: Advanced fatigue assessment methods for welded aluminum and steel joints Integration of computational models (FEA) with the 4R methodology Effects of post-weld treatments and surface engineering Structural reliability modeling and industrial applications Emerging topics in hydrogen infrastructure compatibility Leadership & Recognition As Group Leader of the Steel Structures Research Group, Dr. Ahola oversees projects on welded joint performance. He maintains active peer-review contributions to journals including International Journal of Fatigue and Welding in the World .
Professor Danielle Densley Tingley is a Professor in Architectural Engineering within the Civil and Structural Engineering department of the University of Sheffield's School of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering. Her research focuses on sustainable building design solutions to create a built environment operating within planetary carrying capacity through material efficiency and circular economy principles. Danielle completed her undergraduate degree and PhD at the University of Sheffield, followed by postdoctoral research at both Sheffield and the University of Cambridge. Her interdisciplinary research spans: Material efficiency and embodied carbon reduction in construction Design for deconstruction and material reuse (PhD focus) Urban resource flows as Director of the Urban Flows Observatory Environmental impacts of building retrofit and materials Analysis of her 15 most recent publications reveals consistent focus on quantifying material stocks, circular economy metrics, and carbon implications in construction. Recent work (2024-2025) emphasizes spatial modeling of urban material stocks, structural adaptability's carbon cost, and steel reuse barriers, integrating life cycle assessment with urban metabolism. Danielle leads the Sheffield Urban Flows Observatory (funded with Prof. Martin Mayfield) and the Multi-scale circular economic potential of non-residential building stock project. Previously, she directed material efficiency research for the UK INDEMAND Centre at Cambridge and contributed to Sheffield's BIG Energy Upgrade Project on external wall insulation. Though not currently seeking PhD students, she encourages inquiries in her research areas. As Director of the Urban Flows Observatory, she studies city-scale energy/resource flows using sensor networks. She is a core member of the Resources, Infrastructure Systems and built Environments Discipline, collaborating across Materials Science, Geography, Architecture, and Urban Planning.
Professor Martin Mayfield-Tulip is the Head of the School of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering at the University of Sheffield. As an academic leader with 24 years of industrial experience, he focuses on sustainable infrastructure systems, systems engineering, and climate resilience. His work spans urban metabolism, energy systems, and resource accounting frameworks. Lead researcher in sustainable infrastructure and urban systems Director of EPSRC-funded Sheffield Urban Flows Observatory Co-founder of the RISE research group (14 members) His research integrates complexity science with engineering design, emphasizing the interaction between human and natural systems. Key areas include: Climate resilience of infrastructure networks Smart grid integration with buildings Computer vision applications for urban material stocks Low-cost sensor networks for air quality monitoring Multi-modal energy consumption prediction Grid constraint management with battery storage Recent publications demonstrate expertise in applying computational methods to urban sustainability challenges. His work bridges theoretical advancements in Gaussian processes and practical implementations in city-scale energy systems. EPSRC ENCORE Network+ Principal Investigator Co-Investigator for UKCRIC initiatives Director of £2.4m Sheffield Urban Flows Observatory Co-Investigator for CORONA £8m UKCRIC Urban Observatories grant Managed i-CAIR £8m Integrated Infrastructure project Mayfield-Tulip leads the Sheffield component of the UKCRIC initiative and serves on multiple infrastructure boards including the Grantham Centre for Sustainable Futures and the Sheffield City Region Infrastructure Board. His RISE research group focuses on the intersection of technology and infrastructure to create sustainable built environments.
Dr. Parag Wate is a Lecturer in Architectural Science at the University of Sheffield's School of Architecture and Landscape. His qualifications include a PhD in Sustainable Energy Technology, an MTech in Remote Sensing and GIS (Gold Medalist), a BEng with Distinction, and a Postgraduate Certificate in Teaching for Learning in Higher Education (PGCertTLHE). He is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA). His research bridges building physics, machine learning, and climate resilience to advance net-zero energy strategies. Key interests include: Heat/moisture transfer modeling in buildings and human bodies Emulation-based uncertainty quantification (EmUSA framework) Building performance gap analysis Fuel poverty and public health policy Urban energy simulation using 3D city models Analysis of his recent publications (2013-2024) reveals strong emphasis on computational building performance simulation, urban energy modeling using CityGML, uncertainty quantification methods, and architectural education innovation. The work consistently integrates building science with geospatial technologies and policy applications. Awards & Fellowships: Marie Curie Early Stage Researcher (CI-NERGY project) Fellow of Higher Education Academy (FHEA) Gold Medal in MTech Remote Sensing & GIS He leads PhD and postdoctoral opportunities through grants like the Grantham Opportunities Fund and EPSRC-DTP studentships. He coordinates the Architectural and Urban Science research group and serves on committees for CIBSE and Building and Environment journal.
Pär Johansson is a Professor at the Division of Building Technology, Chalmers University of Technology, where he leads the research team Building Physics Modelling. His research focuses on reducing the environmental impact of buildings through advanced materials and AI-driven assessment methods. He also serves as Head of the Civil Engineering Programme (300 hec). Research Focus: Pär specializes in developing high-performance thermal insulation (super insulation) and phase-change materials for thermal energy storage (heat/cold). His work integrates artificial intelligence to evaluate building conditions and minimize risks when retrofitting historic structures with modern materials. He additionally leads thermal energy storage initiatives for urban sustainability in Chalmers' Energy Area of Advance. Leadership: He coordinates international collaborations through CIB working groups (W040 and W080) and oversees academic programs in civil engineering.
Dirk Brounen is a Full Professor at Tilburg University affiliated with the TIAS School of Business and Society, actively researching international real estate markets and finance. His work bridges academic theory with industry practice through the TIAS real estate LAB platform, which he founded to host livestream webinars and podcasts on real estate debates via market partnerships. He teaches financial real estate courses in executive programs including the Executive Master in Finance (MIF) and Executive Master of Real Estate (MRE), and authored the popular book "Nooit Meer Slapend Arm" (Never More Sleeping Poor) on financial planning. His research spans Finance and Real Estate disciplines with deep expertise in Behavioral Finance, Capital Markets, Risk Management, and Real Estate Investments. Specific interests include energy efficiency capitalization in housing, ESG integration in real estate securities, solar rebound effects, and housing wealth's influence on portfolio choices. This focus reflects in his sustained investigation of sustainability's financial impact, energy labeling systems, and household behavioral responses to market structures across diverse international contexts. Analysis of his publications (2016-2023) reveals three dominant trends: (1) Energy sustainability's quantifiable effects on real estate value and liquidity, (2) Behavioral drivers in household financial decisions linked to property wealth, and (3) ESG factors in listed real estate securities. These intersect finance and real estate through empirical studies on transaction dynamics, policy impacts, and investment risk assessment, primarily published in journals like Real Estate Economics and Energy Economics. Scientific Awards: No awards, prizes, or fellowships are documented in the provided text. Advising and Grants: Professor Brounen advises pension funds, investors, ministries, and regulators while teaching in multiple TIAS programs. His industry engagement includes webinar series on inflation-proof real estate, reverse mortgages, and valuation frameworks. The text contains no specific grant or student advising details. Labs and Teams: He established the TIAS real estate LAB (www.vastgoedlab.nl) to connect academia and industry through livestream debates on sustainability, investment risks, and market dynamics. This initiative produces regular content with market partners on topics like energy-efficient housing, REIT maturation, and financial planning tools.
Dr. Lecturer Erkan Şenol is a faculty member in the Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Yeditepe University, Istanbul, Turkey. He has been actively involved in structural and earthquake engineering research since 2010, serving first as a research assistant at Yıldız Technical University and Beykent University while completing his graduate studies. Education Ph.D. (ongoing since 2012), Structural Engineering, İstanbul Technical University Institute of Graduate Education M.Sc. (2010-2012), Structural Engineering, İstanbul Technical University Institute of Science (Thesis: "Investigation of the seismic performance of a three-dimensional irregular structural system") B.Sc. (2005-2010), Civil Engineering, Yıldız Technical University, Faculty of Civil Engineering Research Interests Dr. Şenol's research focuses on structural and earthquake engineering , with particular emphasis on seismic performance of reinforced concrete and precast structures , buckling restrained braced frames , innovative mechanical connectors , and railway infrastructure systems such as ballastless slab tracks. He employs both experimental and analytical approaches to develop resilient and sustainable construction technologies. Publication Trends Between 2016 and 2023 Dr. Şenol has co-authored multiple SCI/SCI-Expanded journal articles and conference papers covering experimental investigations on precast beam-column joints, mechanical connectors, composite sandwich panels, and seismic energy dissipation devices. His work consistently bridges laboratory experimentation with practical design guidance for earthquake-resistant structures and transportation infrastructure. Scientific Awards No specific scientific awards are mentioned in the provided text. Teaching & Administrative Duties Course instructor for undergraduate civil engineering classes at Yeditepe University Former representative of research assistants at Yıldız Technical University (2014) Laboratory & Teams Dr. Şenol actively collaborates with multidisciplinary research teams at Yeditepe University and other leading Turkish institutions, conducting large-scale structural testing in structural and earthquake engineering laboratories.
Dr Mihaela Anca Ciupala is a Reader in Structural Engineering at the University of East London's Department of Engineering & Construction within the School of Architecture, Computing and Engineering. With over 30 years of research and consultancy experience, she specializes in structural seismic damage assessment, sustainable retrofitting solutions, and AI applications in structural engineering. Her interdisciplinary work bridges civil engineering, environmental science, and digital technologies. Her educational background includes a PhD in Earthquake Engineering and Safety of Structures from Technical University 'Gh Asachi' Iasi, Romania (1999), an MEng Honours in Civil Engineering from the same institution (1991), and an MBA in General Management from the University of East London (2009). Dr Ciupala's research focuses on structural seismic damage assessment , sustainable seismic retrofitting , AI and Cyber Physical Systems for engineering applications , and sustainable built environments . Her work integrates advanced computational methods with practical engineering solutions to address climate resilience and structural safety challenges. She has pioneered research in FRP composites for structural strengthening and sustainable green infrastructure solutions. Her publication portfolio spans seismic engineering, sustainable materials, and AI applications, demonstrating a clear trajectory toward data-driven structural solutions and sustainable building practices. Recent work emphasizes deep learning for post-earthquake damage classification and cyber-physical systems for structural monitoring. EU Marie Curie Individual Research Fellowship recipient Active reviewer for international journals and research councils Member of International Federation for Structural Concrete Task Group 5.1 Expert evaluator for EU Horizon Europe and Horizon 2020 programs As an educator, Dr Ciupala has supervised numerous PhD students across interdisciplinary topics including structural health monitoring, sustainable housing finance, and green infrastructure. She has led significant research projects including the Global Challenge Research Fund initiative on seismic retrofitting in Turkey and UEL-funded cyber-physical systems research. Her leadership extends to roles as Research Degrees Leader (2007-2023) and Sustainability Champion within her school. Dr Ciupala maintains active collaborations with institutions including Istanbul Technical University, Tongji University, and the University of Michigan, focusing on sustainable engineering solutions and advanced material applications.
Kaveh Mirzaei is a Lecturer in Construction Management at the School of Engineering and Technology , Central Queensland University (CQUniversity) . He holds a PhD in Civil Engineering from Monash University, an MSc in Construction Engineering and Management from University of Tehran, and a BSc in Civil Engineering from Mazandaran University. PhD: AI-based geometric quality inspection of construction projects with point clouds, Monash University MSc: Building energy retrofit framework minimizing life cycle costs and environmental impacts, University of Tehran BSc: Civil Engineering, Mazandaran University His research focuses on Artificial Intelligence , Computer Vision , and Digital Twin technologies to address productivity and sustainability challenges in construction. Recent projects include automating dimensional quality control, compliance inspection using point clouds, and multi-objective optimization for energy retrofit economics. Key trends in his publications include AI-driven construction automation , point cloud analytics , and remote inspection methodologies . His work bridges digital transformation and sustainable infrastructure through data science and machine learning. Scientific Awards Monash Co-Funded Graduate Scholarship for Exceptional Academic Achievements (2020) Building 4.0 CRC Merit-Based Top-up Scholarship (2021) He supervises candidates in Civil Engineering , Environmental Engineering , Building , Climate Change Adaptation , Artificial Intelligence , and Computer Vision . Previously taught Structural Mechanics and Building Regulations at Monash and Victoria University.
Miguel Hernandez Valencia serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Building Structures and Geotechnical Engineering at the University of Seville's School of Architecture. His academic career focuses on structural systems, sustainable architecture, and the rehabilitation of historic buildings with emphasis on ceramic heritage and energy-efficient retrofitting. His research spans Structural engineering for architectural applications Bioclimatic design and sustainable construction Adaptive reuse of industrial heritage sites Ceramic architecture and traditional craftsmanship Urban regeneration through social housing retrofitting Thermal performance optimization in historic buildings Recent publications demonstrate strong focus on energy-efficient solutions for Southern European residential neighborhoods, with significant contributions to Solar Decathlon projects and the rehabilitation of Triana's ceramic heritage sites. His work bridges theoretical research with practical implementation in architectural education. Hernandez Valencia leads the TRAnSHUMANCIAS research group focusing on habitat, health, heritage, technology and art. He has directed multiple EU-funded projects including Solar Decathlon competitions and structural analysis of historic buildings like the Real Fábrica de Artillería de Sevilla. His teaching portfolio includes advanced structural engineering courses and architectural design studios.
