About

I began my professional career in the private sector (2003–2009) as a consultant specializing in hydraulics and dam engineering. During that time, I contributed to major infrastructure projects such as the diversion works from the Ebro River, desalination plants led by ACUAMED, and the design and safety assessment of large dams. 

In 2009, I joined CIMNE, and since 2010, I have served as Director of CIMNE Madrid, where I created and currently lead the research group on Machine Learning in Civil Engineering. Between 2020 and 2025, I also held the role of Project Development Director at CIMNE.

My research career initially focused on applying numerical models to dam-related challenges such as spillway discharge, aeration, and landslides. Over time, I shifted toward machine learning in dam safety, which became the focus of my PhD (2017, Excellent Cum Laude). This work, which integrated engineering expertise with data-driven approaches, led to four Q1 publications with over 750 citations and received the 2017 International Innovation Challenge first prize from Verbund Hydropower.

I've been involved in 42 research projects (22 as PI), and taught at institutions such as UPM, UPC (Erasmus Mundus EUROAQUAE+), and currently UNIR. I co-directed prize-winning doctoral theses on dam hydraulics, numerical modelling of railway ballast and machine learning and continue to supervise PhD students.

I serve as Technical Secretary of SPANCOLD’s Committee “A” and represent Spain in ICOLD’s Committee “A”, actively contributing to their international work on dam surveillance. I’ve given invited talks at institutions such as the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, CEDEX, and the Ss. Cyril and Methodius University of Skopje (North Macedonia). Beyond dam engineering, I lead projects in water treatment, air quality and hydrology, and I contribute as a journal reviewer, PhD jury member at international level. I am Associate Editor for Frontiers in Built Environment - Dam Engineering and Design Section. I collaborate internationally with researchers in Portugal, Italy, the USA, Ecuador, and Canada.