Manuel Torres Carrasco
Professor Manuel Torres Carrasco
Currently, he is an Associate Professor at UC3M in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering and Chemical Engineering at Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (UC3M). Previously, he held the position of Assistant Professor in the same department between 2017 and 2019. He is currently the Deputy Director of Academic Planning for the Department, a position he has held since the 2019/2020 academic year, coordinating undergraduate internships and related teaching activities.
He has over 14 years of experience in scientific research, focusing on the sustainable development of low-environmental-impact cement and concrete technologies. His work has been centered on the alkali activation of cements derived from sustainable materials, the durability of hybrid and alkali-activated materials, and the development of industrial applications for eco-efficient materials, such as thermal storage in solar energy systems.
Throughout his career, he has published 44 articles in indexed journals (80% in Q1 quartile) and two contributions to conferences with ISBN. He is the lead author of a book chapter, has an h-index of 19, and more than 1850 citations. He has presented over 30 papers at national and international conferences, including two invited talks. He has also organized scientific activities, such as the annual conference “Young Scientists in Construction Materials Days” since 2018.
He has participated in 11 research projects funded through competitive calls, including five national, three regional, and three international projects, two of which are part of the European Union’s H2020 program. He is the principal investigator of four projects, including ALTESOMAT and EcoCeMat, which address the development of sustainable materials for thermal storage and high-durability cements. Additionally, he has worked on technology transfer projects, including the development of alkali-activated concretes and nanostructured ceramics. He holds three registered patents, two of which are pending, related to alkali-activated cements and aerogels made from alternative raw materials.
In academia, he has supervised two doctoral theses, one of which received an Outstanding Dissertation Award, and co-supervised two others that are currently underway. He has supervised ten master’s theses at Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, as well as numerous undergraduate final projects related to sustainable materials and thermal storage. Moreover, he has led teaching innovation projects, such as the creation of audiovisual materials for laboratory practices, and is the coordinator of several courses within the department.
He has been a regular reviewer for international scientific journals and an active member of RILEM technical committees. Among his recognitions, he received an excellence award from the Social Council and UC3M for young researchers, in recognition of his research trajectory. His career includes research stays in Canada and the United Kingdom, as well as collaborations with prestigious institutions in Spain and abroad, solidifying his reputation as a leading figure in sustainable construction materials and academic excellence.