معرفی
Dr Paul Sargent is a Lecturer in Civil Engineering at Ulster University's Faculty of Computing, Engineering and the Built Environment (Belfast campus), specializing in geotechnics, engineering geology, and low-carbon construction materials. He holds dual chartership as a Chartered Civil Engineer (MICE) and Chartered Geologist (FGS), and serves as Vice Chair of the Northern Ireland Geotechnical Group.
His educational background includes a PhD in Geotechnical Engineering (Newcastle University, 2015), MSc in Engineering Geology (Newcastle University, 2010), MSc in Geoscience (Durham University, 2009), and PgC in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education (University of Teesside, 2019). Prior to joining Ulster in 2022, he worked as a Senior Lecturer at Teesside University (2017-2022) and as a Geotechnical Engineer for AECOM (2014-2017) on major infrastructure projects including High Speed 2 and Metrolink extensions.
Dr Sargent's research focuses on sustainable geotechnical solutions, particularly alkali-activated cements and geopolymers for soil stabilization. His work spans static/dynamic soil behavior, finite element analysis of soil-structure interactions, life cycle assessment, and data analytics for infrastructure monitoring. He has pioneered circular-economy approaches using municipal waste, excavated soils, and industrial by-products to develop low-carbon construction materials.
Analysis of his 15 most recent publications (2021-2024) reveals a dominant trend toward waste valorization in geotechnics, with 80% of works focused on repurposing industrial by-products (blast furnace slag, biochar, municipal waste ashes) for sustainable soil stabilization and concrete production. These span civil engineering, materials science, and environmental disciplines, emphasizing carbon reduction and circular economy principles.
His scientific awards include:
- 2014 ICE Northern Geotechnical Group Young Geotechnical Engineer Paper Competition (Winner)
- 2015 British Geotechnical Association Young Geotechnical Engineer Paper Competition (Winner)
- 2022 Institution of Civil Engineers (NI) Professor Adrian Long Medal
Dr Sargent currently leads two major grants: an ICE-funded project (2024-2025) on circular-economy concretes for floating offshore wind, and an Innovate UK KTP with Farrans Construction (2025-2027) valorizing excavated soil waste. He serves as PhD thesis examiner and editorial board member for the Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology and Hydrogeology, contributing to Ulster's Built Environment Research group.
