Dr. Sophie Koch is a Lecturer at ETH Zürich's Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering. Her research focuses on bio-based composites, circular wood use, and enhancing wood properties. She leads the research streams 'Enhanced wood properties' and 'Resource-efficient wood utilization.' Education: PhD Candidate (2020-2023): ETH Zurich, Wood Materials Science Group MSc in Biobased Materials (2018-2020): Maastricht University BSc in Wood Technology (2013-2017): UAS Rottenburg Key Research Themes: Her work emphasizes sustainable material innovation through bio-based composites, wood recycling, and functionalization of wood for advanced applications like soft actuators and energy-harvesting systems. Recent publications highlight advancements in transparent wood films, triboelectric nanogenerators, and durable delignified composites. Professional Experience: Postdoctoral Researcher & Lecturer (2024-2024) Master’s Thesis at Swiss Wood Solutions AG (2019-2020) Research Assistant at UAS Rottenburg (2017-2018) Journalist at Holz-Zentralblatt (2014-2017) Labs & Teams: Active in the Professur Holzbasierte Materialien research group at ETH Zürich's HIF E 20.1 laboratory.
Dr. Matthew Brookhouse is a Senior Lecturer at the Fenner School of Environment & Society, part of the Australian National University's Institute for Climate, Energy & Disaster Solutions. With a PhD in Dendroclimatology from ANU, he specializes in using forest structural complexity and tree-ring analysis to understand climate interactions and ecological responses in Australian subalpine environments. Research Focus: Sub-alpine ecology, Dendrochronology, CO2 responsiveness in eucalypt species Teaching: First-year research methods with emphasis on statistical application, advanced modeling and field botany Projects: Leading collaborative snow-gum dieback research and dendrochronological monitoring initiatives His publications span 2006-2025 with recent emphasis on machine learning applications for forest monitoring, tropical tree-ring chronologies for climate change, and climate sensitivity in Australian alpine ecosystems. Key collaborations include institutions like Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation and University of Canberra researchers. Current projects focus on snow-gum woodland dieback mechanisms, high-resolution dendrometric monitoring, and integrating dendrochronology with environmental policy frameworks. He maintains active supervision of research students and contributes to both undergraduate and postgraduate curriculum development.
Dr. Farhad Aslani is an Associate Professor in the Department of Civil, Environmental and Mining Engineering at the University of Western Australia (UWA), serving as Director of the Materials and Structures Innovation Group. He leads the $250M Australian Composites Manufacturing CRC and co-leads UWA's Engineering Materials Research Cluster. His research focuses on innovative construction materials, including self-sensing concrete, 3D-printed composites, and fire-resistant materials. He has secured over $20M in CRC funding and holds leadership roles in national/international conferences. Key awards include the 2024 Concrete Institute WA Rising Star Award and multiple citation milestones. His work aligns with sustainable development goals, emphasizing eco-friendly materials and infrastructure resilience. Education: PhD in Structural Engineering, University of Technology Sydney (2014) Certificates in Leadership, Research Commercialization, Public Policy, and Project Management from Curtin University, Queensland University of Technology, RMIT, and UTS. Research Interests: Smart materials, sustainable concrete technologies, additive manufacturing, blast/fire resistance, and composites for infrastructure. His lab develops self-sensing concretes, lightweight engineered composites, and electromagnetic shielding materials. Grants & Projects: $4.3M ACM CRC project on composite repairs ARC grants for nanocomposite coatings and fire facilities Main Roads WA funding for timber bridge strengthening Expertise: Structural design, composite materials, and industrial collaborations (e.g., Woodside, Holcim). He advises on major projects like the Morley Ellenbrook Rail Line and Forrestfield Airport Link. Awards: 2024 Concrete Institute WA Rising Star Highly Cited Scholar (ScholarGPS, 2024) Most Cited Paper Awards (2018–2020)
Jan Knippers is a Professor and Institute Director at the University of Stuttgart's Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning , leading the Institute of Building Structures and Structural Design (ITKE) . He co-founded Knippers Helbig Advanced Engineering and established Jan Knippers Ingenieure in 2018 to focus on innovative fiber composite and timber structures. Key roles: Deputy Executive Director of Cluster of Excellence IntCDC , former Vice-Rector for Research (2019-2021), and Dean of Faculty of Architecture (2021-2023) Technical focus: Hybrid FRP-Timber systems, computational design, and biomimetic principles His projects include the 2024 Hybrid Flax Pavilion , Urbach Tower (2024), and BUGA Fiber Pavilion (2019). He contributes to European standardization committees and serves as 2024 Leverhulme Visiting Professor at University College London.
Associate Professor Paola Leardini holds dual roles as Director (Research) and Associate Professor at the University of Queensland's School of Architecture, Design and Planning, within the Faculty of Engineering, Architecture and Information Technology. Her work bridges design and performance in built environments, focusing on net-zero targets, urban resilience, and circular economy strategies in construction. She is a key researcher in the Centre for Future Building Structures and advises on Queensland’s social/affordable housing through the Design Excellence Panel. Leardini earned a PhD in building energy efficiency and environmental quality from Politecnico di Milano, supervised by Prof. P. Ole Fanger. Her educational journey includes studies in Milan, Berlin, Leicester, and Copenhagen. Research highlights include eco-retrofitting of historical districts (e.g., Milan’s Quartiere Mazzini), Passive House adaptations for subtropical climates, and timber construction innovations with the ARC Advance Timber Hub. She co-founded Passive House Institute New Zealand (PHINZ) and collaborates globally on projects like water-sensitive cities and flood-resilient urban design. Her recent publications emphasize timber’s role in sustainable construction, circular economy frameworks, and climate-responsive building systems. Advising includes leading an ARC Linkage project on adaptable housing while fostering industry partnerships through projects like Norman Creek Catchment flood resilience studies. She actively contributes to labs/teams advancing timber use and urban resilience, aligning with UQ's mission for future-ready built environments.
David Henderson is the Director of the Cyclone Testing Station (CTS) in the School of Engineering and Physical Sciences at James Cook University, Australia. He has over two decades of experience as a research engineer specializing in the performance of low-rise buildings under extreme wind conditions. He previously served as the CTS Research Fellow and Manager, and was seconded as a Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Western Ontario, Canada, working on full-scale house testing under simulated wind loads. His work bridges engineering research, disaster assessment, and policy development. David's research focuses on wind engineering, structural resilience, and disaster mitigation. His key interests include cyclonic wind loading, internal and external pressure dynamics in buildings, fatigue failure of structural connections, and the vulnerability of housing to severe wind events. He has conducted post-disaster surveys across Australia and Canada, assessing damage from cyclones, tornadoes, and earthquakes. His research has direct applications in building codes, retrofitting strategies, and community risk reduction. The recent publications highlight a strong trend in understanding and mitigating wind-induced damage to residential structures, particularly through full-scale testing, modeling of pressure dynamics, and fragility assessment of roofing systems. His work spans experimental, theoretical, and policy-oriented domains, with a growing emphasis on climate change adaptation and community resilience. Topics such as internal pressure design, load sharing in roof frames, and retrofitting for wind resistance are central to his contributions. 14 research awards (specific names not listed) Active member of Standards Australia code committees Invited speaker at national and international conferences Media contributor on storm damage and building safety David has led multiple research projects funded by councils and agencies focused on extreme wind mitigation, data systems (SWIRLnet), and community risk reduction. While formal student supervision is not explicitly listed, he collaborates extensively with researchers such as John Ginger, Korah Parackal, and Daniel Smith. He has contributed to major studies involving wind load testing, housing vulnerability modeling, and climate adaptation planning. David is a key figure in the Cyclone Testing Station, leading its full-scale testing program and contributing to the development of software for controlled load and measurement systems. His team conducts wind risk assessments for communities and large installations, incorporating terrain analysis and retrofitting evaluations. The CTS serves as a national resource for wind engineering research and disaster resilience innovation.
Hua Ge is a Professor in the Department of Building, Civil and Environmental Engineering at Concordia University's Faculty of Engineering and Computer Science. She holds a Tier II Concordia University Research Chair in High Performance Building Envelope for Climate Resilient Buildings and leads extensive research in building science and climate adaptation. Her research focuses on wind-driven rain analysis , hygrothermal performance of building envelopes , advanced building facades , innovative wood-frame construction , and low-energy buildings . Current work examines climate change impacts on wind-driven rain loads, urban micro-climate effects, climate-resilient building envelopes, dynamic facades, and low-carbon healthy buildings. Her methodology combines large-scale laboratory testing, field monitoring, and computational modeling. Her 15 most recent publications demonstrate strong trends in nature-based climate resilience solutions , overheating risk mitigation in educational buildings , advanced hygrothermal modeling of wood-frame systems , and carbon sequestration strategies for buildings. The work spans multiple sub-disciplines including computational fluid dynamics, life cycle assessment, stochastic modeling, and field validation studies across Canadian climates. Tier II Concordia University Research Chair (CURC) in High Performance Building Envelope for Climate Resilient Buildings Professional Engineers of Ontario American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-conditioning Engineers ASHRAE TC4.4 Building materials and building envelope performance (Subcommittee Chair) Professor Ge has supervised 42 graduate students (26 PhD, 16 MASc), including current advisees working on nature-based solutions, climate-resilient envelopes, and building integrated photovoltaics. Her research is supported by Concordia University Research Chair funding and collaborative projects with institutions like BCIT. She directs activities at Concordia's Building Envelope Test Facility and contributes to national standards through ASHRAE.
Markku Karjalainen is a Professor in the Department of Architecture at Tampere University's Faculty of Built Environment. With over 80 research publications spanning from 2016 to 2025, he has established himself as a leading expert in timber construction and wooden building systems in Finland. Professor Karjalainen's research primarily focuses on timber construction , particularly multi-story wooden buildings, dovetail wood construction techniques, and sustainable building practices. His work spans architectural design, structural engineering, fire safety, and environmental impact assessment of wooden structures. He has conducted extensive statistical analyses of Finnish timber residential buildings, examining construction practices from 1995 to the present. His research demonstrates a strong commitment to advancing wooden construction technologies while addressing practical challenges in fire safety, structural performance, and building physics. Analysis of his recent publications (2023-2025) reveals a consistent focus on dovetail construction techniques for mass timber elements, with numerous studies examining structural performance, fire properties, and air permeance. His work bridges theoretical research with practical applications in the construction industry, particularly in Finland where wooden multi-story construction has seen significant growth. Karjalainen's research often involves international collaboration, with studies comparing practices across different countries and examining global perspectives on timber construction. His scholarly output demonstrates a methodical progression from basic statistical analysis of building practices to increasingly sophisticated investigations of specific construction techniques and their performance characteristics. This evolution reflects both his growing expertise and the maturation of timber construction as a field of academic inquiry.
Michelle Laboy is an Associate Professor in the School of Architecture at Northeastern University, with affiliate appointments in Civil & Environmental Engineering and the School of Public Policy and Urban Affairs. She holds a Master of Architecture and Urban Planning from the University of Michigan (2005) and a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Puerto Rico (2001). Her research focuses on transdisciplinary design methods that integrate socio-ecological systems with built environment resilience, emphasizing material circularity and long-term sustainability. Key projects include the Boston LightWells initiative and Common SENSES, which explore community-driven solutions for urban resilience. Laboy has received prestigious awards including the Latrobe Prize (2017 and 2022) and Excellence in Teaching (2020). She co-founded FieLDworkshop, a design research practice addressing ecological and cultural regeneration in cities. Her work bridges architecture, engineering, and policy through projects funded by NSF, DOE ARPA-E, and Autodesk. Research themes include green infrastructure planning, climate-resilient building systems, and participatory modeling for equitable urban development. Laboy has authored/co-authored books such as *The Architecture of Persistence* and over 30 peer-reviewed articles in journals like *Journal of Industrial Ecology* and *Journal of Architecture*. Her teaching spans comprehensive design studios and systems integration courses, emphasizing transdisciplinary collaboration. Education: MArch/MUP, University of Michigan, 2005 BSc Civil Engineering, University of Puerto Rico, 2001 Key Awards: 2022 Latrobe Prize (AIA College of Fellows) 2020 Excellence in Teaching Award (CAMD) 2017 Latrobe Prize (AIA College of Fellows) Grants & Projects: Principal Investigator: Boston LightWells (Autodesk/ Boston Groundwater Trust) Co-PI: Community Resilience in Extreme Temperatures (Northeastern) DOE ARPA-E grant for carbon-negative timber construction Laboy’s practice, FieLDworkshop, operationalizes research into built projects ranging from residential designs to urban-scale interventions. Her scholarly contributions highlight the interplay between technical innovation and social equity in achieving sustainable urban futures.
Graham Ormondroyd is a Professor at the School of Environmental and Natural Sciences , Bangor University , specializing in the Biocompounds department. His research focuses on innovative wood modification techniques, sustainable biomaterials, and environmental impact assessments. Current projects include scaling waste-based composites for infrastructure and developing Welsh wool applications. Collaborations span academia-industry partnerships like Bangor University and Zentia Ltd KTP. Research Trends: His 2025 publications emphasize multi-scale resin diffusion analysis and UK wood recycling frameworks, while 2024 work explores laser incising and phenolic resin-NMR interactions. Recent studies also address VOC emissions from formaldehyde-free composites. Professional Activities: He chairs academic panels (e.g., International Panel Products Symposium) and reviews publications. Projects focus on net-zero construction and climate resilience.
Angela Sasic Kalagasidis is a Professor and Department Head at Chalmers University of Technology , leading the Building Physics research group. She serves as a board member of the Moisture Center at Lund University of Technology , contributing to interdisciplinary research in building science. Building Physics Heat and Mass Transfer Energy Efficiency Moisture Safety Indoor VOC Emissions Climate Change Adaptation Her recent publications focus on aerogel-based materials for insulation, urban heat island mitigation , and thermal energy storage systems . Key methodologies include CFD simulations , field testing , and life cycle assessment frameworks . Research trends show emphasis on: Advanced computational tools for hygrothermal analysis Integration of phase change materials in building systems Climate resilience in building envelopes Optimization of ventilation and moisture control
Paolo Riva is a Full Professor of Structural Engineering at the Department of Design and Technologies of the Faculty of Engineering, University of Bergamo. He has served as Dean of the Faculty of Engineering (2009-2012) and Director of the Department of Engineering at the same university since 2012. His expertise lies in seismic engineering and structural analysis of reinforced concrete structures. Professor Riva graduated in Civil Engineering from Politecnico di Milano in 1984 and earned his Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from the University of Waterloo, Canada in 1987. He began his academic career as a researcher at the University of Brescia (1991-2001), became Associate Professor there in 2001, and joined the University of Bergamo as Full Professor in 2005. His primary research interests focus on the seismic behavior of reinforced concrete structures, particularly structural walls and prefabricated structures. He also specializes in seismic retrofitting of historic buildings, nonlinear analysis of reinforced concrete structures, and fire behavior of reinforced concrete structures. His work bridges theoretical analysis with practical applications for enhancing structural safety in earthquake-prone regions. Professor Riva's recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on seismic damage assessment, structural retrofitting solutions, and sustainability in structural engineering. His research often addresses practical challenges in post-earthquake scenarios, including damage identification through advanced monitoring techniques and development of innovative retrofit strategies for existing structures. A notable trend is his increasing emphasis on integrating sustainability principles into seismic retrofitting practices. Seismic Reliability of Structures (WP3 - Reluis), 2022, 24 months Structural vulnerability models for natural hazards and industrial cascading effects, 2024, 33 months Sustainable Approaches For Earthquake Resistant_REhabilitation solutions for the BUILT environment, 2024, 15 months Professor Riva has directed all these research projects as Scientific Director. His expertise has been recognized through appointments to post-seismic emergency commissions following major earthquakes in Italy, where he provided critical guidance on intervention methods for seismic repairs and improvements for public and monumental buildings.
Dr. Srishti Banerji is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Utah State University and Director of the Systems, Materials, and Structural Health (SMASH) Lab. She leads research on advanced construction materials, structural resilience under extreme loads (particularly fire), sustainable infrastructure, and structural health monitoring. Her group focuses on experimental testing, numerical simulations, and developing design solutions for civil infrastructure. Education: PhD in Civil (Structural) Engineering, Michigan State University (2021) MS in Civil (Structural) Engineering, Concordia University (2016) BS in Civil Engineering, National Institute of Technology Silchar (2013) Research Focus: Her work spans: 1) Characterization of high-performance/sustainable materials (e.g., UHPC, recycled glass pozzolan), 2) Structural behavior under fire exposure, 3) Integration of electric charging systems in concrete pavements, 4) Non-destructive testing and structural health monitoring, and 5) Retrofitting techniques for infrastructure strengthening. She employs machine learning, thermo-mechanical modeling, and full-scale experimentation. Publication Trends: Her 13+ journal articles primarily analyze fire resistance of concrete/timber structures, UHPC material properties at high temperatures, sensor-based infrastructure monitoring, and sustainable material development. Recent works increasingly incorporate machine learning and electrification concepts. Awards & Honors: Teacher of the Year (USU, 2025) ASCE ExCEEd Faculty Teaching Fellowship (2023) Top Cited Article Award, Fire and Materials Journal (2023) SHMII-11 Early Career Grant (2022) NSERC Scholarship (2015) Best Conference Paper (SEC 2016) Current Projects & Teams: She leads 5+ funded projects including fire performance of polymer concrete, self-healing concrete for bridges, and Utah-sourced UHPC development. Mentees include 3 PhD students (Abdullah Al Sarfin, Mehrnoosh Nazari, Mahmoud Ali) and alumni working on sustainable materials and additive manufacturing.
Dr. Andrew Lacey is a Lecturer at the School of Civil and Mechanical Engineering, Curtin University (Perth campus), within the Faculty of Science and Engineering. He holds a BE(Hons) from the University of Western Australia and a PhD from Curtin University. He is a Chartered Professional Engineer (CPEng) and a Member of Engineers Australia (MIEAust). His research focuses on affordable, resilient, and environmentally friendly structural systems, particularly in modular steel construction, sustainable materials, and structural response to dynamic loads. Key areas include prefabricated modular structures, inter-module connections, CO2 mineralization concrete, and lightweight wall panels. His work bridges experimental testing, numerical modeling, and practical applications in sustainable infrastructure development. Dr. Lacey’s publications emphasize modular building systems’ structural performance under wind, earthquake, and other dynamic loads. Notable 2025 contributions include reviews on volumetric mining structures and CO2-mixing concrete optimization. His research also addresses challenges in delignification detection in timber components and GFRP connector performance in composite panels. He teaches engineering mechanics, structural analysis, and structural dynamics. His professional networks include ORCID (0000-0003-1171-5282), Google Scholar, and LinkedIn profiles.
Lauri Rautkari is an Associate Professor in the Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems at Aalto University, Finland. His research focuses on water interactions in biomaterials, particularly wood, with an emphasis on developing advanced analytical methods for water vapor sorption, creating novel low-sorption materials, and investigating hygroscopicity and fungal decay resistance in modified wood systems. Research Highlights: Gas-phase ozone treatment for improved wettability, thermal and chemical wood modification, hyperspectral imaging for moisture prediction, bioinspired coatings for fungal protection, and interlaboratory studies on sorption data quality. Recent Publications: Key contributions to understanding lignin's role in moisture interactions, acetylation reversibility, and the impact of fungal degradation on heat-treated wood. The trend in his publications reflects a strong focus on hygroscopicity, chemical modification techniques (acetylation, melamine-formaldehyde impregnation), advanced imaging methods (hyperspectral, neutron scattering), and the development of sustainable wood-based materials for construction and acoustic applications. Collaborative interlaboratory efforts dominate his work, ensuring standardized methodologies for moisture analysis.
