Dr Alex Torku

Profile

I am a lecturer in Construction Management at the School of Civil Engineering, University of Leeds. I completed my PhD in Construction and Real Estate Management at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. I hold an MSc in Construction Project Management (with distinction) from Heriot-Watt University, UK and a BSc in Quantity Surveying and Construction Economics (first class honours) from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana where I also worked within the construction industry. Prior to joining the University of Leeds, I worked as a Lecturer at Kingston University, UK and also as a Research Associate and Teaching Assistant at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana.

Research interests

My research vision is to create ‘age-friendly’ cities, communities, and workplaces. I am the founder and leader of the Ageing Intervention Development Laboratory (AID Lab). My research is situated within the interdisciplinary domains of construction management, built environment, ageing population (environmental gerontology), human-centric sensing (e.g., behavioural, physiological, and cognitive markers), data science and spatial analysis. Specifically, my research focuses on expanding the reach and generalisation of evidence-based interventions to manage human-centric construction dynamics and human-infrastructure interface. I employ state-of-the-art sensing technologies, person-centred, community-based participatory research, and policy-level approaches to inform decision-making outcomes in smart age-friendly cities, communities, and workplaces towards improving equity, social justice, and inclusivity for ageing persons within the construction industry and the built environment infrastructure.

Possible PhD topics

I am always interested in supervising PhD students in any of these or related areas. Please get in touch if you would like to discuss an idea.
•    Human-centric construction, infrastructure and urban management
•    Construction and built environment informatics and digitalisation
•    Environmental gerontology
•    Age-friendly cities, communities and workplaces
•    Human-environment interaction
•    Construction innovation management and diffusion
•    Health and safety
•    Smart sensing and wearable technologies
•    Data science (data mining, machine learning and statistical analysis) and spatial analysis

Qualifications

• PhD Construction & Real Estate Management, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong
• MSc (Distinction) in Construction Project Management, Heriot-Watt University, UK
• BSc (First Class) Quantity Surveying & Construction Economics, KNUST, Ghana

Professional memberships

• Member of the British Society of Gerontology
• Fellow of the Higher Education Academy

Student education

I have lectured and contributed to student education in construction project management, contractual administration and construction and built environment informatics. I am currently teaching on the MSc International Construction Management and Engineering and MSc Engineering Project Management programmes.