Malene Thostrup Pedersen

Malene Thostrup Pedersen serves as an Associate Professor in the Department of Structural Engineering at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), where she conducts research on sustainable concrete technologies and cement chemistry from her office at Materialteknisk, 3-237, Gløshaugen campus. Her work focuses on the development and characterization of supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) derived from industrial by-products and recycled materials.

Her research spans the mineralogy and reactivity of non-ferrous slags, recycled clay brick powder, and limestone in cementitious systems. She investigates hydration kinetics, phase assemblages, and long-term durability of concrete in aggressive environments like marine settings, employing advanced techniques such as solid-state NMR spectroscopy (19F, 27Al, 29Si MAS/MQMAS) to analyze molecular structures and reaction mechanisms. Key themes include sustainable concrete mix design, trace element effects (e.g., zinc, niobium), and waste material valorization for low-carbon construction.

Analysis of her 15 most recent publications (2018-2025) reveals consistent contributions to understanding saline exposure effects, ternary blended cements with metallurgical slags, and standardization of SCM reactivity testing. Her work demonstrates strong international collaboration through RILEM committees, with publications appearing in high-impact journals including Cement and Concrete Research and Journal of Non-Crystalline Solids.

Dr. Pedersen actively participates in RILEM technical committees TC 289-DCM (long-term marine exposure of concrete) and TC 267-TRM (reactivity testing protocols for SCMs), contributing to state-of-the-art reviews and validation studies. She teaches TKT4235 - Concrete Technology 2 at NTNU, mentoring the next generation of structural engineers in sustainable materials practices.