Dr John (Temitope) Kolawole

BSc (First Class Honours) MSc PhD

  • EPSRC Doctoral Prize Fellow
  • Research Associate in 3D Concrete Printing

Research and expertise

My research themes – low-carbon construction materials, valorising wastes into concrete matrices, self-sensing and self-healing materials, durability and early-age cracking in cement composites, rheology of binder systems, and additive manufacturing with concrete

After completing my BSc, my 12+ years career has been in research, development, and practice, accumulating fellowships and awards worth over £250K. In my current role, I am a materials and rheology specialist undertaking research and teaching, contributing to the world’s pioneering and UK-leading consortium advancing 3D concrete printing (3DCP) technology. However, the impact of my expertise is beyond 3DCP, I am currently active in the above six research themes strategically aligned with Sustainable, Resilient and Smart Infrastructure, with 40+ publications outcomes in top journals, working with international collaborators, developing innovative test methods for concrete applications, and establishing some advanced concrete science. I also consult for companies working with concrete, creating impact in enterprise and knowledge transfer.

I have worked on UK funded multimillion projects with multidisciplinary collaboration, organising across the group; successfully supervised/mentored several research students, supported international visiting researchers and participated in organising international conferences and workshops. I am actively involved in professional bodies, such as RILEM, and their technical committees developing research/industry standards on construction and concrete materials. I completed my TWAS-funded PhD investigating the roles of rheology in the plastic settlement/shrinkage cracking of early-age concrete, advancing the fundamental understanding of concrete behaviour, with four prominent awards, 6 top journal papers, 1 conference paper, and several international presentations.

Current research activity

  • EPSRC Doctoral Prize Fellowship – Healing the anisotropy of 3D printed concrete (as PI)
  • UK EPSRC DfM:3DCP – Design-for-manufacture of 3D concrete printed structural composites, (as PDRA)

Recently completed research projects

  • UK EPSRC 3DCP:HCP – Manufacturing integrated building components using digital hybrid concrete printing technology (as PDRA), 2022
  • Stellenbosch University Consolidoc Fellowship Program, 2020
  • NRF-TWAS African Renaissance Doctoral Fellowship SFH160522165795, 2017 – 2019