Dr Hector Ulises Levatti Lopez

I am Dr Hector U. Levatti, Associate Professor in Civil Engineering at London South Bank University, where I have been working since 2017. I currently serve as the College of Technology and Environment Academic Integrity Lead and am a member of the Academic Standards Committee. I lead and teach at the School of Engineering and Design.

I am acting as interim Course Leader for the MSc Civil and Structural Engineering programme. I am a former Course Leader for the BEng (Hons) Civil Engineering programme at LSBU’s BEA, with National Student Survey (NSS) scores ranging from 73% to 100% (2018–2024).

I lead key modules including Structures (Level 4, pass rate 60%–88%), Geotechnics (Level 6, 84%–100%), Soil-structure Engineering (Level 7, 85%–100%), and the MSc Project module. I have previously taught BIM, Design, and Geology.

Over the past decade, I have taught approximately 2,500 students and supervised more than 200 undergraduate and postgraduate projects. I have conducted numerous PhD reviews and successfully supervised doctoral candidates.

Externally, I serve as a reviewer for Birmingham City University, and I am a member of the EPSRC Peer Review College, as well as a former member of the EPSRC Engineering Early Career Forum.

My qualifications include a PhD in Geotechnical Engineering, an MSc in Numerical Methods, and a postgraduate qualification in Advanced Structural Analysis, as well as two Civil Engineering degrees earned in Argentina and Spain. I am a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA), and my professional qualifications are recognised by both the Institution of Civil Engineers and the Institution of Structural Engineers.

I have worked in Argentina in a self-employment initiative, providing architectural and structural design for buildings, as well as in Education at the UNNE, Faculty of Engineering, teaching structures, and later in the private sector in Education and the Construction Industry, doing Structural Analysis and Design. 

My current focus is on developing innovative, blended, and AI-driven teaching approaches that are inclusive and designed to enhance student engagement, learning outcomes, and long-term success in the civil engineering profession.

I have contributed to a range of multidisciplinary research projects throughout my career. My primary research interests are centred on Geotechnical Engineering, Numerical Methods, Structural Analysis and Design, Structural Optimisation, Manufacturing Technologies, Engineering Education, Artificial Intelligence, and Robotics in Construction.

As a researcher, I have extensive experience in doctoral processes, including chairing and reviewing PhD progression assessments and viva examinations, supervising doctoral candidates, and reviewing peer-reviewed journal articles, conference papers, and EPSRC funding proposals.

Before my current role, I worked in both research and teaching positions in Europe. At the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC), I was involved in research and teaching in Geotechnical Engineering and Strength of Materials. I later worked at Swansea University as a project officer on the ASTUTE (Advanced Sustainable Manufacturing Technologies) and ASTUTE 2020 projects, where my work focused on Structural Analysis and Optimisation.

Academic Leadership and Teaching

• Module Leader for Structures, Geotechnics, Advanced Geotechnical Engineering and MSc Project.
• Supervisor for undergraduate and MSc students; Personal Tutor
• Supervisor for PhD candidates

Academic Service and Contributions

• Mentor for colleagues undertaking Academic Promotion and the Achieve Programme
• Member of the London South Bank University AI and Academic Assessment Working Groups
• Internal and External Reviewer and Chair for PhD reviews and viva examinations
• Active contributor to Geology Field Trips, Welcome Weeks, and Open Days
• Collaborating on academic initiatives with Jersey partners
• Assessments Invigilator

Previous Roles and Responsibilities

• Former Course Director, BEng (Hons) Civil Engineering
• Former Health and Safety Representative for CBSE
• Former Ethics Applications Reviewer
• Former Member of the NSS Subcommittee at BEA
• Former Lecturer in BIM, Design, and Geology
• Former Member of the LSBU Internationalisation Subcommittee
• Former BEA Representative on the Academic Board