Research output per year
Research output per year
Personal profile
Profile
My core competences are in ground characterisation, both field and laboratory, with an interest in micro-scale characterization.
An underlying theme in my work is innovation, development and implementation of research outcomes to engineering practice, which is the platform for addressing the development of new sensing technologies.
My overarching research objective has been to understand and explain soil behaviour experimentally across scales, while addressing societal challenges. Key applications have been for water flood protection, ground improvement, and interdisciplinary aspects of soil.
Ongoing examples of my work are the project SoIA (Soil is alive) funded by the Carlsberg Foundation through a Semper Ardens excellence grant and the spinout project B-test, which is currently funded by an InnoExplorer grant.
About my academic path:
After graduating in Geotechnical Engineering at the Polytechnic of Turin in 2009, I joined Geotechnical Consulting Group in London, where I worked for the Crossrail project. In 2010, I won a PhD scholarship from the Government of Hong Kong and completed my PhD in 2014 under the supervision of Prof. Coop (An experimental Investigation of the Influence of Weathering on Saprolitic Soils from Hong Kong). Afterwards I joined the Geotechnical research group at the DICAM Department and at the Interdepartmental Industrial research of the University of Bologna, where I worked on field monitoring of river embankments.
Since joining the Technical University of Denmark as Assistant Professor in 2016, I worked among others on laboratory characterization of Paleogene clays, and was promoted to associate professor in 2020.
Other information
Irene is available for consultancy and student supervision within the following areas:
- laboratory soil characterisation
- field soil characterisation
- experimental soil mechanics
Language Skills:
Italian (native), English (advanced), German (basic)
Research areas
- Experimental Soil Mechanics
- Advanced geotechnical testing
- Experimental particulate soil mechanics
- Geotechnical instrumentation
- In-situ monitoring
- Unsaturated soil mechanics
Education/Academic qualification
PhD, City University of Hong Kong
2010 → 2014
Civil Engineering MSc, Politechnical School of Turin
2007 → 2009
Civil Engineering Bachelor, Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna
2004 → 2007
External positions
Research assistant, Inter-Departemental centre for Industrial Research
2016
Research assistant, Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna
2015 → 2016
Research assistant, City University of Hong Kong
2014
Geotechnical Engineer, Geotechnical Consulting Group
2009 → 2010
Keywords
- User defined:
- Laboratory testing
- Soil mechanics
- Field testing
- innovation
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy -
SDG 9 Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure -
SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities -
SDG 13 Climate Action -
SDG 14 Life Below Water
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
Recent external collaboration on country/territory level. Dive into details by clicking on the dots or
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A methodology for preparing shale analogues from drill cuttings and evaluation of sample homogeneity
Kinslev, E. M. & Rocchi, I., 2026, In: Geomechanics and Geoengineering. 21, 4, p. 1002-1016 15 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
Open AccessFile76 Downloads (Orbit) -
Bacterial succession and formation of aggregates on roots following indoor willow growth in sand
Zhelezova, A., Otim, G. I., Trapp, S. & Rocchi, I., 2026, In: Applied Soil Ecology. 227, 13 p., 107441.Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
Open AccessFile9 Downloads (Orbit) -
Centrifuge modelling of laterally loaded piles in silty sand
Zania, V., Rocchi, I. & Panagiotis, E., 2026, Proceedings of the 11th ICPMG 2026. International Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, 6 p.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Article in proceedings › Research › peer-review
Open AccessFile19 Downloads (Orbit) -
Evaluating the role of organic substrates and microbial activity on sand creep from 1D consolidation tests
Sorrentino, G., Zhelezova, A., Otim, G. I. & Rocchi, I., 2026, Proceedings of the 21st International Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering. Pistrol, J., Adam, D. & Schweiger, H. F. (eds.). International Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, p. 691-694 4 p. 1199Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Article in proceedings › Research › peer-review
Open AccessFile22 Downloads (Orbit) -
Evaluation of the impact of piezocone measurements based on initial saturation degree
Panagiotis, E., Kinslev, E. M., Zhelezova, A. & Rocchi, I., 2026, Proceedings of the 21st International Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering. Pistrol, J., Adam, D. & Schweiger, H. F. (eds.). International Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, p. 953-956 4 p. 2125Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Article in proceedings › Research › peer-review
Open AccessFile9 Downloads (Orbit)
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SeaCarb: Assessing the release of seabed carbon caused by towed fishing gear
Rocchi, I. (Project Coordinator), Fuhrman, D. R. (Project Manager), O'Neill, B. (Project Manager) & Rathore, S. (Project Participant)
01/03/2026 → 28/02/2030
Project: Research
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Investigating the effect of nutrients and exudates of precursor plants on interparticle friction of soil
Otim, G. I. (PhD Student), Rocchi, I. (Main Supervisor) & Trapp, S. (Supervisor)
01/12/2023 → 30/11/2026
Project: PhD
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Digital Twins for Sustainable underground constructions
Panagiotis, E. (PhD Student), Zania, V. (Main Supervisor), Rocchi, I. (Supervisor), Klar, A.-A. (Supervisor), Tschuchnigg, F. (Examiner) & Viggiani, G. (Examiner)
01/09/2021 → 11/03/2025
Project: PhD
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Efficient performance of large infrastructure: a geomechanical approach towards sustainable design
Kinslev, E. M. (PhD Student), Cui, Y.-J. (Examiner), Di Maio, C. (Examiner), Petersen, T. G. (Examiner), Zania, V. (Main Supervisor), Rocchi, I. (Supervisor) & Hededal, O. (Supervisor)
01/03/2018 → 07/03/2022
Project: PhD