Ana Blanco

Dr. Ana Blanco is a Reader in Advanced Construction Materials and Methods and holds leadership roles as Deputy Director of Doctoral Programmes and Deputy Lead of the Civil Engineering Group. Her research focuses on low-carbon alternatives, multi-functional cementitious composites, and novel repair techniques for resilient infrastructure. She leads the EPSRC-funded Re3DSkin project, exploring self-healing engineered composites for asset longevity. Collaborations include Specwall Alliance, Network Rail, and the development of sprayed ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) sandwich panels.

Education: BSc, MSc, PhD in Civil Engineering; Chartered Engineer (CEng), Member of Institution of Civil Engineers (MICE), Member of Institution of Civil and Structural Engineers (MICST), Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA), and Member of UK Young Academy (UKYA).

Research spans sustainable construction materials, fiber-reinforced concrete, and infrastructure resilience. Key areas include 3D-printed cementitious skins, low-carbon mixes, and durability of RAAC structures. Her work emphasizes environmental impact reduction and scalable solutions for urban and civil infrastructure.

Grants and projects include the EPSRC New Investigator Award (EP/W028867/1) and industry partnerships addressing tunnel repairs and sustainable trench designs. She advises on PhD topics related to self-healing concrete, recycled materials, and 3D concrete printing.

Labs/Teams: Active in the Civil Engineering Group, focusing on advanced materials and structural innovation. Collaborates with global institutions on infrastructure sustainability and failure diagnostics.