Personal statement

I am a postdoctoral researcher with over 10 years of academic/industry experience in the field of Civil Engineering. I have been leading research activities in several projects of international importance, collaborating with universities and companies in different countries and delivering breakthrough results that have found applications in industrial environments and are recognised with a significant number of citations from the scientific community.
I am currently working as a research associate at the University of Strathclyde on an EPSRC-funded project titled "An energy-free pump: nanoporous gels to passively lift subsurface water". This project aims to address the pressing challenge of water scarcity by developing a bioinspired pump capable of lifting subsurface water from considerable depths using natural atmospheric energy. 

I am delivering the "Geotechnical Engineering 2" course to 4th-year undergraduate students and graduate apprenticeship students within the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department at the University of Strathclyde.
My research interests are focused on the valorisation of construction by-products, CO₂ capture mechanisms, digital fabrication (clay and concrete 3D printing), understanding of basic principles of unsaturated soils, soil improvement techniques including biological and mineral approaches, biogeotechnics, stabilisation/solidification of contaminated soils, and Soil-Plant-Atmosphere interaction.

My research aligns well with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and SDG 13 (Climate Action). I am committed to addressing pressing real-world challenges through innovative engineering solutions.