Embedded Files
Towards a Net Zero Built Environment
Towards a Net Zero Built Environment
The mission of our team is to contribute to a sustainable built environment and circular economy through the development of innovative and functional construction products with high performance, durability and efficiency.
Our research involves the use of various experimental and analytical techniques for the advancement of scientific knowledge and applications related to innovations in sustainable concrete materials.
In our work, we focus on the use of waste materials, carbon sequestration, recycling, machine learning, self-healing and 3D printing processes. Within these topics, we are interested in studying the relationship between reaction mechanisms, mechanical performance and microstructural development, as well as the environmental impacts of various binder systems and materials.
You can obtain more information about our work by browsing through our team, research areas and publications.
For potential collaborations or interest in our work, feel free to connect with us on Google Scholar, ResearchGate, Web of Science, ORCID, and LinkedIN.
Research
Research
Our research explores new materials and solutions that optimize the use of concrete structures for a large range of civil engineering applications.
We integrate environmental sustainability, structural engineering and design, and materials science with the goal of enhancing the sustainability, performance and functionality of the built environment towards Net Zero.
Our work contributes to reducing greenhouse gas emissions through the design, integration, use and disposal of innovative, sustainable and functional building components over their life cycles.
The main products of our research are smart and sustainable construction products that incorporate the synergistic combination of components with complementing capabilities ranging from novel binders, waste materials, industrial by-products, and fully recycled components to smart technologies that involve carbon sequestration, recycling, self-healing and 3D printing processes.
We adopt an interdisciplinary engineering approach that incorporates a combination of experimental and analytical techniques from different disciplines; and facilitate interaction between academia and industry. Our 10 main focus areas are listed below:
Our work targets and forms a crucial bridge between different UN Sustainable Development Goals.
These include:
SDG9 (Industry, innovation and infrastructure) on building resilient infrastructure, promoting inclusive, sustainable industrialization and innovation;
SDG11 (Sustainable cities and communities) on inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable cities and human settlements;
SDG12 (Responsible consumption and production) on sustainable consumption and production patterns; and
SDG14 (Life below water) on conserving oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development.
Please see further details on the 10 main research areas we are currently working on below.
Large scale demonstration of our work: Sustainable pavement at BCA Zero Energy Building
Large scale demonstration of our work: Sustainable pavement at BCA Zero Energy Building
3D printing of sustainable building panels
3D printing of sustainable building panels
Team
Team
Prof Cise Unluer
Prof Cise Unluer
Principal Investigator
Principal Investigator
Dr Ning Li
Dr Ning Li
Postdoctoral studies (April 2021–present) on the integration of permanent storage of CO2 and industrial wastes in construction materials
Postdoctoral studies (July 2020–March 2021) on the rheology of alkali-activated materials
PhD (2020) on Reactivity evaluation of raw materials and composition design for alkali-activated slag cements and concretes, Hunan University, China
BEng (2015) in Materials Science and Engineering, Shenyang Jianzhu University, China
Dr Lorena Skevi
Dr Lorena Skevi
Postdoctoral studies (Oct 2024 - present) on integration of industrial wastes and permanent storage of CO2 in construction materials
Postdoctoral studies (Jul 2022 – Jul 2024) on geopolymer composites for thermochemical energy storage, University of Bath, UK.
PhD (2023) on bacteria-based self-healing concrete for cold and temperate climates, University of Bath, UK.
MSc in Materials Physics and Technology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH), Greece
BEng and MEng in Civil Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH), Greece
Dr Sundar Rathnarajan
Dr Sundar Rathnarajan
Postdoctoral studies (Nov 2024 - present) on carbon capture in incinerated bottom ash based construction materials.
Postdoctoral studies (Oct 2022 - Sep 2024) on sustainable nano-modified seawater-mixed concrete with enhanced service life.
PhD (2022) on modelling carbonation in concretes made with fly ash, slag, or limestone calcined clay and corrosion assessment of embedded steel, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, India.
MEng (2014) in Structural Engineering, Anna University, Chennai, India
BEng (2011) in Civil Engineering, Anna University, Chennai, India
Dr Carla Comadran Casas
Dr Carla Comadran Casas
Postdoctoral studies (2022- present) on Carbon sequestration working on bioremediation of vacant and derelict urban soils through Microbial-Induced Calcite Precipitation.
PhD (2022) in Environmental Sciences. Microbial-Induced Calcite Precipitation: use of alternative products and analysis of environmental implications, Abertay University, United Kingdom
MSc Erasmus Mundus in Earthquake Engineering and Engineering Seismology, Istituto Universitario di Studi Superiori, Italy, and University of Patras, Greece.
BEng in Civil Engineering, Polytechnical University of Catalonia, Spain
Based in University of Glasgow, UK (co-supervision)
Dr Elmira Khaksar Najafi
Dr Elmira Khaksar Najafi
Postdoctoral studies (2022 - present) on carbon sequestration and immobilization of heavy metals in vacant and derelict urban soils through carbonation.
Postdoctoral studies (July 2022 – May 2023) on new eco-in materials for mining with reference ERA-MIN.
PhD (2021) on alkali-activated cements: Investigation of physical and chemical performance of a landfill liner constructed with clay-fly ash geopolymer, University of Guilan, Iran.
Based in University of Glasgow, UK (co-supervision)
Yiming Peng
Yiming Peng
PhD student
Research title: Study on the performance of 3D printing magnesium-silicate-hydrate cement mixes
PhD: January 2021-January 2025
Zhongyuan Du
Zhongyuan Du
PhD student
Research title: Synthesis of magnesium hydroxide and magnesium oxide from reject brine and their use as a cementitious binder
PhD: October 2021- September 2025
Bharati
Bharati
PhD student
Research title: Durability investigation of MgO-SiO2-H2O systems
PhD: January 2023-2026
Yichuan Tian
Yichuan Tian
PhD student
Research title: Use of carbonated alkaline solid wastes in developing novel cementitious binders
PhD: October 2024 - September 2028
Hasan Yildirim
Hasan Yildirim
PhD student
Research title: Understanding deformation of 3D printed cement-based composites involving alternative binders
PhD: October 2024 -January 2028
Xiaoning Zhuang
Xiaoning Zhuang
PhD student
Research title: Analysis of the evolution of cementitious materials
PhD: October 2024 – December 2028
Kanwal Shahid
Kanwal Shahid
PhD student
Research title: Development of plaster-like materials of magnesium carbonates
PhD: June 2022- May 2026
Based in University of Oulu, Finland (co-supervision)
Prudence W Mhlophe
Prudence W Mhlophe
PhD student
Research title: Stabilisation of heavy metal contaminated Scottish urban soils using pristine/ modified Spent Coffee Grounds Biochar.
PhD: October 2022-2026
Based in University of Glasgow, UK (co-supervision)
Nurul Haris
Nurul Haris
PhD student
Research title: Granite ash-GGBS modified concrete
PhD: October 2020-2024
Based in University of Manchester, UK (co-supervision)
Suyang Zhang
Suyang Zhang
PhD student
Research title: Developing net-zero high performance cement by using carbonated recycle concrete powder and graphene
PhD: September 2024 - February 2028
Based in University of Manchester, UK (co-supervision)
Partners
Partners
Contact
Contact
Join our team!
Join our team!
We are always looking for new team members who are passionate about smart and sustainable construction materials to join our team!
If you are interested in a postdoctoral position, please feel free to get in touch (cise.unluer[at]manchester.ac.uk) with your latest CV with 2-3 most recent journal publications.
Fellowship Opportunities: We are keen on supporting strong candidates for various fellowships. Please check other fellowship opportunities and get in touch with us if you would like to apply to one of these: EPSRC Fellowships, Marie Curie Fellowship, Newton International Fellowships, Royal Academy of Engineering Fellowships, STFC Fellowships, Leverhulme Trust Fellowships, Ernest Rutherford Fellowships, Royal Society University Research Fellowship, Royal Society Dorothy Hodgkin Fellowship, Royal Society Grants
For prospective PhD students, the detailed application process is available here. Our group has open PhD positions in the broad area of smart and sustainable construction materials; and low carbon cement and concrete. More information on PhD funding opportunities can be obtained from the following links:
Postgraduate research funding opportunities
Civil engineering postgraduate research funding opportunities
We accept CSC applicants interested in pursuing a PhD or 1-year exchange with us at Manchester:
University of Manchester - China Scholarship Council joint scholarship
Some other specific funding opportunities are listed below:
President’s Doctoral Scholar award
Dean's Doctoral Scholarship Award
EPSRC Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP)
External work: Cise is available for consultancy and public & media engagement on different topics including sustainable construction, novel construction materials, low carbon cement and concrete, resource efficiency, life cycle assessment, industrial decarbonisation and circular economy. Please feel free to get in touch at cise.unluer[at]manchester.ac.uk.
Contact details: Faculty profile, Google Scholar, LinkedIN, ResearchGate, Web of Science, ORCID, LinkedIN
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse