Elena Michelini is Associate Professor of Structural Engineering at the Department of Engineering and Architecture (DIA) of the University of Parma, where she teaches "Structural Safety Assessment" and “Design and Control of Structures Studio”, and is co-lecturer for "Reinforced Concrete and Prestressed Reinforced Concrete". At the University of Parma, she previously held positions as a postdoctoral research fellow and as Assistant Professor (RTDa and RTDb).
She graduated with honors in Civil Engineering at the University of Parma, and received her her PhD in Civil Engineering, with a curriculum in Structural Mechanics. After completing her PhD, she was awarded a one-year research fellowship funded by the Emilia-Romagna group of the Italian Knights of Labor for research on “Theoretical developments and innovative applications in Civil Engineering.”
Her research focuses on the nonlinear analysis of RC and PC structural elements, including beams and plates, roof elements, hollow-core slabs, and tunnel linings, also under fire conditions; the seismic vulnerability assessment of strategic existing buildings; the evaluation of the structural performance and fragility of existing buildings and infrastructure through FEM analyses; the assessment of the effects of reinforcement corrosion on structural behaviour; the mechanical characterization and numerical modelling of the behaviour of autoclaved aerated concrete masonry; and the development and characterization of innovative sustainable materials, with particular reference to alkali-activated materials.
She has been been involved in several research projects, including “ERCULES: Enhancing RC critical structUres vuLnerability assEssment through State- and time-dependent fragility curves”; PRIN 2022 – “FAIL-SAFE: near-real-time perFormance Assessment of exIsting buiLdings Subjected to initiAl Failure through multi-scalE simulation and structural health monitoring”; PNRR ECOSISTER “Ecosystem for Sustainable Transition in Emilia-Romagna” – Spoke 1: Materials for Sustainability and Ecological Transition; DIGIBRIDGE – “Integrated Digital Tools for Structural Monitoring, Diagnostics and Predictive Maintenance of Bridges and Viaducts”; CASA – “Circular and Sustainable Concretes Additivated with Recycled Materials from Local Supply Chains”; and “REPARO – Optimization of REPairing interventions on structures and infrAstructures based on the numerical pRevisiOn of their residual service life.” She also carries out several applied research activities within the framework of agreements with public and private bodies, including the Regional Agency for Territorial Safety and Civil Protection, for specialist support in technical-scientific activities aimed at the prevention, planning and management of emergencies related to seismic risk; the Italian Civil Protection Department and the ReLUIS Consortium, including “WP4 – MARS: Risk Maps and Seismic Damage Scenarios,” Tasks 4.4 and 4.8, and “WP13: Life Cycle and Sustainability of Buildings and Infrastructure,” Tasks 2.1 and 2.2; and the application of the agreement ex art.15 L.7-8-90 between CSLLPP and ReLUIS – “ReLUIS Bridges”, WP2 and WP4. She also participates in the GreenBUILD project – “Green & Energy-Efficient Building Design for UA Renovation,” funded by the Erasmus+ Programme, Action KA2 “Capacity Building in the Field of Higher Education” (ERASMUS-EDU-2025-CBHE-STRAND-2).
She is the author of around one hundred scientific publications, both at national and international level. She regularly presents her work at conferences and serves as a reviewer for major international journals. She is a member of fib Task Group 7.7 “Sustainable Concrete Masonry Components and Structures” and fib Task Group TG2.3.3 “Fire Resistance of Concrete Tunnels.”
