Dr. Gurkan Yildirim is currently working as a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellow at the University of Bradford on the EU-funded project 'Construction and Demolition Waste-based “Green” Modular Structural Components (CodeDEMO)'. Prior to joining University of Bradford, he worked as a full-time Associate Professor of Materials Science and Construction Materials at the Department of Civil Engineering in Hacettepe University, Turkey and affiliated with the Advanced Building Materials Laboratory at the same department. Dr. Yildirim’s research area of expertise covers a wide range of concrete technology, in particular, very ductile fiber-reinforced concretes known as Strain-hardening Cementitious Composites (SHCCs) or Engineered Cementitious Composites (ECCs). His work mainly has focused on the inherent ability of ECCs to recover their own damage (i.e. cracks) without any need of outside assistance through the mechanism known as autogenous self-healing. He has also engaged in studies related to detailed fresh/mechanical/durability property characterization of ECCs, utilization of nanomaterials in conventional and/or ECC-like composites for performance enhancement and improved self-sensing capability and application of ductile composites in repair/maintenance applications. His latest research emphasis is placed on the effective recycling/utilization of construction and demolition (CDW) waste in alkali-activation and development of Engineered Geopolymer Composites (EGC) based on CDW. Dr. Yildirim has been the author/co-author of 4 book chapters, co-editor of a book and more than 80 journal and conference papers including 45 journal articles indexed by SCI/SCI-Expanded. He has acted as reviewer for more than 25 scientific journals and is Review Editor for the Journal of Frontiers in Built Environment – Construction Materials.

Ashraf Ashour is a Professor of Structural Engineering at the University of Bradford, received his PhD from Cambridge University, MSc and BSc(Hons) from Mansoura University, Egypt, was the Head of Civil Engineering Department between 2007-2012 and the Director of Research at the School of Engineering between 2014-2018. Prof. Ashour has worked in many research projects sponsored by national and international research organizations; including British Council, Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS), Newton fund and EU Horizon 2020. He has extensive research experience in the development of new construction materials and their use in sustainable infrastructure as well as techniques to extend the life of concrete structures. He has successfully supervised 16 post-doctoral research fellows and 20 PhD students. He has authored and co-authored more than 250 journal and conference papers. Prof. Ashour is ranked amongst the top 2% scientists in Civil Engineering in accordance to the Global Database produced by Stanford University (2021 and 2022) and was recently awarded Newton Prize -2020. He was the Editor-in-Chief of the Structures and Buildings Journal (ICE) and is currently a member of many other journal and conference editorial boards and professional committees. He is a Fellow of the Institution of Structural Engineers (FIStructE) and a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA). Prof Ashour has been the external examiner for more than 40 PhD students and 6 undergraduate and postgraduate taught courses in UK and overseas Universities.