I am a scientist and an engineer with extensive experience in the design, characterisation and performance assessment of cementitious materials for applications in the construction and energy sectors. I work in close collaboration with a broad multi-disciplinary and international research community, as well as with industry, aiding knowledge transfer for the rapid adoption of novel low carbon cement and concrete technologies, and the development of a sustainable built environment. My current research interests include:

(i) Development, characterisation and exploitation of advanced and non-traditional cement and concrete technologies, including:

• Development of manufacturing routes to produce low-carbon cements with controlled functionalities, including novel blended Portland cement and alkali-activated materials
• Determining the factors controlling phase assemblage evolution and stability of Portland and non-Portland cements.
• Mechanisms leading to structural modifications of Portland and non-Portland cements exposed to aggressive environments, emphasising chemical/physical binding of anions/cations and structural phase transformations
• Application of advanced analytical techniques (e.g. solid-state NMR spectroscopy, X-ray computed microtomography (CT)) 
• Validation of testing methods for physicochemical characterisation of conventional and alternative supplementary cementitious materials
• Development and validation of standardised testing methods to determine performance of cement and concrete

(ii) Sustainability aspects of novel cement and concrete technologies

• CO₂ uptake capacity of cementitious materials
• Waste management and valorisation for production of low carbon construction materials
• Circularity of cement and concretes integrating durability concepts
• Infrastructure for well-being

(iii) Evaluation of fit-for-purpose cementitious wasteforms for immobilisation of nuclear wastes, including:

• Chemical/physical binding mechanisms of radionuclides in cements with different chemistries
• Phase assemblage evolution and stability of Portland and non-Portland based cementitious wasteforms
• Effect of radiation in cementitious systems

(iv) Performance of cementitious materials in extreme environments

• Effect of loading on concrete durability performance
• Cementitious materials exposed to supercritical CO₂
• Well cements

I coordinate international efforts in my role as Convener of the RILEM Technical Activities Committee (TAC) Cluster A: Materials Processing and Characterisation (Since 2024, 12 active TCs), and as Deputy-Chair of the RILEM Technical Committee CUC on carbon dioxide uptake by concrete during and after service life (Since 2024, >90 members).