Dr Carlos Medel Vera

Personal Statement

I obtained a degree in Civil Engineering from Universidad de Concepcion in Chile in 2004, followed by a Master's degree in Structural and Geotechnical Engineering from Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile in 2010. Subsequently, I earned a PhD in Civil Engineering from the University of Manchester in 2016. Commencing my career as a professional engineer, I worked on various projects in my home country focusing on the design and development of seismic protection systems for buildings. Later, I relocated to the UK to pursue my PhD studies, concentrating on seismic safety and risk control for the British nuclear industry. Following a brief stint in industry post-PhD, I transitioned fully into academia, joining the Liverpool School of Architecture in September 2022.

While my research spans the extensive landscape of the built environment and includes contributions to journals in architecture, engineering, and construction, I have two distinct research lines. The first centres on the risk and resilience of buildings and critical infrastructure against natural hazards, particularly seismic loads. This aligns with my interest in net-zero structural design and the collaboration between architectural and structural engineering professions to deliver projects with minimised embodied carbon. My second research line explores the transformative potential of data science and artificial intelligence. I am dedicated to utilising these technologies to enhance human creativity in the architectural domain, with a particular focus on the intersection of architecture and urban studies + AI, aiming to uncover novel perspectives and innovative solutions.

I am currently open to PhD applications from motivated candidates enthusiastic about making a difference in contributing to a sustainable and resilient built environment or pushing the boundaries of human-machine creation.

Prizes or Honours

• 2022 Teaching Excellence Award (Universidad Diego Portales, Chile, 2023)