Dr. Franco Zunino

Assistant Professor

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Biography

Franco Zunino is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of California, Berkeley. His research focuses on the development of innovative, environmentally friendly cementitious materials with a fundamental scientific approach. His interests include advanced time-resolved characterization of cement hydration, surface–polymer interactions in cement pastes, and microstructural analysis using electron microscopy. Dr. Zunino's work has been recognized internationally, having received the Nanocem 2020 Prize for his doctoral thesis on cement concrete science, which is acclaimed worldwide. In 2022, he was awarded the Wason Medal by the American Concrete Institute (ACI) for a meritorious paper published in journals in 2021. Additionally, he received the Colonnetti Medal in 2023 from RILEM for his outstanding contributions to construction materials and structures. Dr. Zunino is actively involved in numerous committees, including serving as Chair of the ACI 240.0A subcommittee on calcined clays and as Workgroup 5 Lead for ASTM C09.24. His ultra-green concrete (UGC) project aims to develop a new family of concretes that significantly reduce CO2 emissions associated with traditional materials. Dr. Zunino's contributions to LC3 technology and research continue to impact the field, promoting education and dissemination activities worldwide.

Research Interests

Experience

Assistant Professor

— Present

University of California, Berkeley • Berkeley, CA

Teaching and researching innovative environmental cementitious materials.

Awards

#

Wason Medal

#

Colonnetti Medal

Requirements for University of California, Berkeley

Doctorate Program
Requirements
GPA Requirement
Required:3
GRE Subject
Overall Score
Required:500
Overall
Required:500
TOEFL
Total
Required:90
IELTS
Overall
Required:7
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree or recognized equivalent Preparation comparable to undergraduate major at Berkeley in Mathematics or Applied Mathematics 2 full years lower-division work (Calculus, Linear Algebra, Differential Equations, Multivariable Calculus) 8 one-semester upper-division courses (Real Analysis, Complex Analysis, Abstract Algebra, Linear Algebra)
Application Checklist
  • Graduate Application
  • Statement of Purpose
  • Personal History Statement
  • Three Letters of Recommendation
  • Unofficial Transcripts
  • C.V./Resume
  • Course and Textbook List
Specialization Notes

The Mathematics Subject GRE is required for the Fall 2026 admissions cycle. General GRE is optional.