Dr Alex Torku
- Position: Lecturer in Construction Management
- Areas of expertise: Human-centric construction, infrastructure and urban management; age-friendly cities, communities and workplaces; smart sensing and wearable technologies; informatics; digitalisation
- Email: A.Torku@leeds.ac.uk
- Location: 1.07b Energy Building
- Website: LinkedIn | Googlescholar | Researchgate | ORCID
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.
Responsibilities
- Course Director, ICE Accredited Law and Contract Management
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 Engineering and 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 Chartered Institute of Building
- 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.
<h4>Postgraduate research opportunities</h4> <p>We welcome enquiries from motivated and qualified applicants from all around the world who are interested in PhD study. Our <a href="https://phd.leeds.ac.uk">research opportunities</a> allow you to search for projects and scholarships.</p>Projects
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<li><a href="//phd.leeds.ac.uk/project/1994-ageing-intervention-developments-(aid)">Ageing Intervention Developments (AID)</a></li>