Dr. Hisham Hafez is a post-doctorate research fellow at the University of Leeds specialized in performance-based environmental impact assessments of building materials with a focus on low-carbon concrete.
For the past 2 years, Hisham has been leading the concrete technology and life cycle assessment research work packages on the United Kingdom Research Institution (UKRI) funded projects TransFIRe and Eureka. The projects costing £12 and £5 respectively aim at the transformation of the UK’s foundation industries to achieve the circular economy and net-zero targets by 2050. Prior to joining Uni of Leeds in 2023, he was the lead researcher in the £10M limestone calcined clay (LC3) project at EPFL, Switzerland doing more than 15 technical and environmental feasibility analyses for private cement companies globally interested in adopting the low-carbon cement technology.
Hisham has been selected in October 2024 as a sustainability assessment expert evaluator for the EU commission pathfinder challenge grants. He has also been contracted in August 2024 as a freelance consultant with the UKRI as a concrete industry expert to assess grant awards for the 2050 net-zero advanced market commitments.
Since completing his PhD in 2021, Hisham has published more than 20 peer-reviewed Q1 journal articles earning more than 450 citations to date and a research index that is within the top 10% of all time in the civil engineering discipline.
In 2013 and 2017 respectively, Hisham was among the core team members of Karm Solar, the largest private energy provider in the MENA region and of Hand Over Projects, a company that has delivered more than 10 projects for public and private clients in Egypt, varying in size but all characteristically sustainable solutions made of natural building materials.
About the University of Leeds
The University of Leeds is one of the UK’s leading research-intensive universities, renowned for its academic excellence, impactful research, and strong global partnerships. With a diverse student body and a wide range of disciplines, it fosters innovation and collaboration across fields. The university is committed to tackling global challenges, supporting sustainability, and preparing students to become future leaders in their professions.