Academic promotion within the Laloui Group

Dr. Dimitrios Terzis, a dedicated and influential contributor in geotechnical engineering, has been promoted from Scientist/Lecturer to Teaching and Research Associate at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL). This promotion reflects his significant contributions to research, teaching, and leadership at EPFL and is a proud moment for the Laloui Group.

Dr. Dimitrios Terzis, a Civil Engineering graduate from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece, made an immediate impact upon joining the Laboratory of Soil Mechanics (LMS) at EPFL in 2014. His groundbreaking PhD thesis, funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation and supported by an Academic Excellence scholarship from the Swiss Federal Government, not only revolutionized our understanding of advanced material characterization using microscopy and X-ray tomography techniques but also pioneered the use of predictive modeling and full-scale geotechnical applications. His research led to the co-development of three EPFL patents, which have since been further developed as EPFL spinoffs.

Dr. Terzis' research prowess and dedication have been recognized through numerous grants and awards totaling over CHF 1 million. These include prestigious honors such as the EPFL Innogrant Fellowship (2018), a Swiss National Science Foundation BRIDGE grant (2019), and an Innobooster grant from the Gebert rüf Stiftung (2021). His scholarly contributions extend to over 25 peer-reviewed publications, which have garnered significant attention in the academic community.

However, his promotion has not only resulted from his research skills. He is also an equally renowned and dedicated teacher, lecturer, and supervisor. Currently, he is the principal lecturer and responsible for the course “Innovation for Construction and the Environment,” which is part of EPFL's Master's program in Civil Engineering. He has successfully led PhDs to graduation, and is currently supervising several PhD students who are all fostering the growth and evolution of his established domains of research. This passion has extended beyond academia with regular contributions to TedX talks and conferences.

Dr. Terzis's passionate endeavor includes transitioning from fundamental research to applied innovation. In 2018, he co-founded MeduSoil SA, a construction-tech startup focusing on innovative binder products derived from biominerals for enhanced building and geo-environmental projects. With a team of over 10 people, the company is scaling up its operations to support the construction sector in its transition to net-zero emissions.

Prof. Lyesse Laloui, Director of the Laloui Group, praised Dr. Terzis' promotion: “This promotion marks a significant milestone in Dimitrios’ career. His commitment to teaching and research excellence is commendable. We congratulate him on this wonderful accomplishment and eagerly anticipate his continued contributions within our group.”

For Dr. Terzis, the motivations remain the same, and the goals keep growing: to continue pushing the boundaries of research and innovation within the Laloui Group at EPFL and the ENAC faculty, as well as to propel technology transfer via Medusoil, its subsidiaries, and new partnerships. When it comes to teaching, Dimitrios continues to ensure the next generation of graduates in geotechnical and civil engineering have the skills and passion to solve the pressing environmental and sustainability challenges that are often disregarded in traditional curricula. The Laloui Group and the wider community look forward to witnessing his future successes and impact on the field of civil engineering.