Section: Overview
Overview
Key publications
Research funding
Supervising & teaching
Career

Key details

Areas of expertise

  • Sustainable structures and building materials
  • Automation and technology in building and construction
  • Construction materials
  • Engineering mechanics
  • Structural stability

Available to supervise research students

Available for media queries

About Zora Vrcelj

Professor Zora Vrcelj is the founder and head of Victoria University's Built Environment program.

Before joining Victoria University in 2012, she served as an academic at UNSW's School of Civil and Environmental Engineering for 12 years. She works across the built environment, engineering and construction sectors to achieve impactful outcomes. 

Her research has focused on developing technologies for improving built environment and engineering education for students and practitioners, improving the functionality of high-performance structures (smart buildings and civil infrastructure) as well as digitally transforming construction quality control processes and health and safety practices.

She has initiated and led numerous research undertakings, including:

  • smart buildings and infrastructure
  • sustainable construction materials
  • digitalisation of construction for improved quality, and control and safety
  • multimedia educational tools.

Zora has supervised research projects totalling $3.0M in funding, including large applications (ARC DP, CRC, Australian Teaching & Learning Council, State Victoria Funding, Sustainability Victoria).

Her capacity to manage collaborative research relationships effectively with external partners, including industry, universities and research institutions, is demonstrated by ongoing collaborations with industry partners and researchers from many prestigious universities and institutes throughout the world.

Since 2010, Zora has held a Visiting Professor position in Civil Engineering at the University of Novi Sad, Serbia. She has published close to 120 refereed technical publications.

Qualifications

  • Certificate of Specialisation in Leadership and Management, Harvard Business School Online, 2023.
  • PhD in Structural Engineering, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Australia, 2004.
  • Bachelor of Civil Engineering (Honours 1), University of Wollongong, 1999.

Key publications

Year Citation
2021 Jamei, E., & Vrcelj, Z. (210802). Biomimicry and the built environment, learning from nature s solutions. Applied Sciences (Switzerland), 11(16),

doi: 10.3390/app11167514

2020 Sandanayake, M., Bouras, Y., Haigh, R., & Vrcelj, Z. (201102). Current sustainable trends of using waste materials in concretea decade review. Sustainability (Switzerland), 12(22), (1-38).

doi: 10.3390/su12229622

Research funding for the past 5 years

Please note:

  • Funding is ordered by the year the project commenced and may continue over several years.
  • Funding amounts for contact research are not disclosed to maintain commercial confidentiality.
  • The order of investigators is not indicative of the role they played in the research project.

Used textile and cardboard fibres as reinforcing-agents in structural concrete
From: Recycling Victoria Markets Acceleration Fund
Other investigators: Prof Maurice Guerrieri, Dr Ehsan Yaghoubi, Dr Malindu Sandanayake, Prof Salvatore Fragomeni, Dr Paul Joseph
For period: 2022-2025
$250,355

Digital transformation of construction industry for improved quality and safety
From: Victorian Higher Education Strategic Investment Fund
Other investigators: Prof Yuan Miao, Dr Malindu Sandanayake, Dr Ayad Turky, Dr Le Li, Mr Nima Izadyar, Dr Hongen Lu, Mrs Shuo Chen, Dr Melissa Chan, Prof Hua Wang, Dr Hing-wah Chau
For period: 2021-2022
$1,249,911
Social Value Creation for Transport and Infrastructure
From: Victorian Higher Education Strategic Investment Fund
Other investigators: Dr Malindu Sandanayake, Dr Xiaocui Lou, Aspr Elmira Jamei, Dr Hing-wah Chau, Aspr David Goodwin, Dr Riccardo Natoli, Dr Melissa Chan, Dr Jonny Bouras
For period: 2021-2022
$593,000

Quantifying and Optimising the Impact of Green Roof Coverage on UHI, Energy Consumption and Outdoor Comfort
From: Green our Rooftop Research Grant
Other investigators: Aspr Elmira Jamei, Dr Hing-wah Chau
For period: 2020-2021
$25,000

Domestic Building Defects Data
From: Victorian Managed Insurance Authority
Other investigators: Dr Malindu Sandanayake
For period: 2018-2019
Not disclosed

Supervision of research students at VU

Available to supervise research students

Available for media queries

Currently supervised research students at VU

No. of students Study level Role
5 PhD Principal supervisor
1 PhD Associate supervisor

Currently supervised research students at VU

Students & level Role
PhD (5) Principal supervisor
PhD (1) Associate supervisor

Completed supervision of research students at VU

No. of students Study level Role
4 PhD Principal supervisor
1 PhD by Publication Principal supervisor

Completed supervision of research students at VU

Students & level Role
PhD (4) Principal supervisor
PhD by Publication (1) Principal supervisor

Other supervision of research students

I have completed the supervision of 3 phd students as principal supervisor at VU, two of which have submitted thesis by publication.

Careers

Details of this Researcher's career are currently unavailable.