Dr Eleni Papadonikolaki

Dr Eleni Papadonikolaki

Full Professor in Digital Transformation in Projects

Delft University of Technology

Biography

Welcome! I am Full Professor in Digital Transformation in Projects at the Department of Materials, Mechanics, Management & Design (3MD), Delft University of Technology (TU Delft). I am the Head of Section Integral Design & Management, leading a team focusing on integrated design and project management of major infrastructure. Prior to joining TU Delft, I was Founding Programme Director of MSc Digital Engineering Management at University College London (UCL).

My research interests lie at the intersection of projects, engineering management and digital economy. I am a 2022-2023 Royal Academy of Engineering (RAEng) Leverhulme Trust Research Fellow (LTRF). I work with industry as steering board member of the Construction Blockchain Consortium (CBC), an industry-academia collaboration, and Founding Partner at Digital Outlook, a business partnership focusing on digital change.

Before joining academia I worked as architect engineer and design manager on a number of complex, international and varying-scale projects in Greece, the Netherlands, Oman and United Arab Emirates.

Interests
  • Digital transformation
  • Projects, leadership and teams
  • Digital Twins and AI
  • Ecosystems and platforms
  • Blockchain Technology
Education

  • PhD Design & Construction Management, 2016

    Delft University of Technology (TU Delft)

  • MSc Non-standard & Interactive Architecture (Hyperbody Research Group), 2012

    Delft University of Technology (TU Delft)

  • Dipl.-Ing. Architectural Engineering, 2008

    National Technical University of Athens (NTUA)

Skills

Research

Industry-relevant collaborative research

Public Speaking

Knowledge exchange with industry and policy

Consultancy

Work with industry including executive education

Experience

 
 
 
 
 
Full yProfessor Digital Transformation in Projects
Delft University of Technology (TU Delft)
April 2026 – Present Delft, Netherlands
 
 
 
 
 
Associate Professor Management of Engineering Projects
Delft University of Technology (TU Delft)
October 2023 – April 2026 Delft, Netherlands
 
 
 
 
 
Associate Professor in Digital Innovation Management
University College London
October 2020 – September 2023 London, UK
 
 
 
 
 
Founding Partner
Digital Outlook Partnership
February 2020 – Present London, UK & Online
 
 
 
 
 
Assistant Professor in Building Information Modelling & Management
University College London
October 2016 – October 2020 London, UK
 
 
 
 
 
PhD Candidate in Building Information Modelling & Supply Chain Management
Delft University of Technology (TU Delft)
November 2012 – October 2016 Delft, Netherlands
 
 
 
 
 
Junior Architect
De Zwarte Hond
July 2012 – January 2012 Rotterdam, Netherlands
 
 
 
 
 
Architect Engineer
A. N. Tombazis & Associate Architects
July 2008 – August 2010 Athens, Greece
 
 
 
 
 
Architect Engineer
Own company
February 2008 – August 2013 Athens, Greece & Online
 
 
 
 
 
Intern Architect
Gulf Precast Company
June 2006 – August 2006 Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Projects

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All Applied Science Social Science
Infra-PaX Navigating ParadoXes from simultaneous digitalisation and sustainability transitions in Infrastructure
This is an individual 5-year project funded by the Dutch Research Council (NWO) Vidi talent scheme on the dual digitalisation and green transition in infrastructure.
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Infra-PaX Navigating ParadoXes from simultaneous digitalisation and sustainability transitions in Infrastructure
A ‘system-of-systems’ approach to meet a Net Zero vision through digital twins
This is a personal fellowship project funded by the Royal Academy of Engineering (RAEng) Leverhulme Trust Research Fellowship (LTRF) scheme on the dual digitalisation and green transition.
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A ‘system-of-systems’ approach to meet a Net Zero vision through digital twins
How will the new talents change project management in a data-rich era?
It is well known that data is the new oil in the digital economy of the 21st century. Funded by the Project Management Institute (PMI), this project focuses on how the data-savvy talent transforms the project management profession.
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How will the new talents change project management in a data-rich era?
Cloud-based Building Information Modelling (CBIM)
Funded by H2020 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Innovative Training Networks (ITN), this collaborative research project aims to set the foundations for generating and exploiting digital twins of existing assets by training Early Stage Researchers (ESRs).
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Cloud-based Building Information Modelling (CBIM)
AEC Production Control Room
Funded by InnovateUK, this collaborative research project proposes ‘demonstrator’ project that will deploy an innovative production control room concept in some of the UK’s most complex and challenging projects.
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AEC Production Control Room
AEC Delta Mobility
Funded by InnovateUK, this collaborative research project proposes a novel open source micro-services web framework for design information exchanges across the construction supply chain.
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AEC Delta Mobility
Digitalisation in Construction Project Management - A Review
Funded by the International Construction Project Management Association (ICPMA), this project develops a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) to recognise and understand the nature and outcomes created by digitalization of the built environment over time.
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Digitalisation in Construction Project Management - A Review
Automated checking of regulations and requirements management in healthcare design
Funded by InnovateUK, this collaborative research project proposes a novel open source micro-services web framework for design information exchanges across the construction supply chain.
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Automated checking of regulations and requirements management in healthcare design
Digital transformation in the built environment
Funded by the Centre for Digital Built Britain (CDBB) this collaborative project focuses on automating regulatory compliance in healthcare projects using the toolbox of Building Information Modelling (BIM).
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Digital transformation in the built environment

Featured Publications

Eleni Papadonikolaki, Ilias Krystallis, Beth Morgan
January, 2022 In PMJ
Digital Technologies in Built Environment Projects: Review and Future Directions
Digital Technologies in Built Environment Projects: Review and Future Directions

This paper was distinguished with the Project Management Journal® 2023 Most Downloaded Paper of the Year Award.
PDF Project Poster DOI
Tan Tan, Grant Mills, Jiqiang Hu, Eleni Papadonikolaki
September, 2021 In JME
Integrated Approaches to Design for Manufacture and Assembly: A Case Study of Huoshenshan Hospital to Combat COVID-19 in Wuhan, China
Integrated Approaches to Design for Manufacture and Assembly: A Case Study of Huoshenshan Hospital to Combat COVID-19 in Wuhan, China

This paper was part of the Editor’s Choice in the Journal of Management in Engineering (JME).
PDF DOI
Eleni Papadonikolaki
January, 2018 In JME
Loosely Coupled Systems of Innovation: Aligning BIM Adoption with Implementation in Dutch Construction
Loosely Coupled Systems of Innovation: Aligning BIM Adoption with Implementation in Dutch Construction

This paper was part of the Editor’s Choice in the Journal of Management in Engineering (JME).
PDF DOI

Recent Publications

Quickly discover my published research by filtering publications.
Eleni Papadonikolaki, Vadake (VK) Narayanan, Shankar Sankaran, Stewart Clegg (2025). The role of digitalization in project management. In PLAS.

PDF DOI

Eleni Papadonikolaki, Beth Morgan (2025). Leading Psychologically Safe Digitally Enabled Project Teams. In PMJ.

PDF DOI

Abdelrahman Farouk, Ahmad Tarmizi Haron, Eleni Papadonikolaki, Rahimi Rahman (2025). Factors Affecting Soft Cost in BIM-Based Construction Projects. In JEPPM.

PDF DOI

Klaudia Jaskula, Dimosthenis Kifokeris, Eleni Papadonikolaki, Dimitrios Rovas (2025). Blockchain-based decentralised Common Data Environment: user requirements and conceptual framework. In JCEM.

Project DOI

Yuveelai Bunjaridh, Rahimi Rahman, Liyana Yusof, Eleni Papadonikolaki (2025). Modeling the Organizational Attributes and Strategies for Developing Accurate Digital Twins: The Case of Constructed Facilities. In IJBPA.

PDF DOI

See all publications

Recent & Upcoming Talks

(excl. conference presentations, see publications section)

A systems view of the pathways of digital twinning to meeting the Net Zero vision
Apr 14, 2023 12:00 PM — 1:00 PM Online
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Blockchain ecosystems for empowering Small/Medium Enterprises
Mar 30, 2023 9:15 AM — 10:00 AM Online
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Digital innovation in construction - Crossing boundaries to lead and collaborate
Nov 4, 2022 11:45 AM — 1:00 PM Gainesville (FL), USA
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Blockchain innovation ecosystems - Is construction ready for open innovation?
Apr 27, 2022 1:00 PM — 2:00 PM London, United Kingdom
Project Share
Digitalisation beyond BIM - Towards a data-driven future of construction
Mar 11, 2022 1:00 PM — 2:00 PM Online
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See all talks

Teaching

Project Management and Digitalisation
Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) Sep 2023

Curriculum delivery:

Teaching hiatus
University College London (UCL) Sep 2022 – Sep 2023
Royal Academy of Engineering (RAEng) Leverhulme Trust research Fellowship (LTRF)
Executive Education (online and face-to-face)
Digital Outlook Partnership Jan 2020

Curriculum design & delivery:

  • Digital transformation in the built environment: Aligning Technology with Business (online short course)
  • Downloading a digital mindset (online short course)
  • Various tailored short courses delivered online or face-to-face
  • Authoring teaching cases (following the Harvard Case Teaching method) based on fieldwork
Digital Engineering Management (accredited by the APM)
University College London (UCL) Sep 2019 – Sep 2022

Curriculum design & delivery:

Project Management & Information Systems
University College London (UCL) Sep 2016 – Oct 2019

Curriculum re-design & delivery:

  • Integrating Project Information Systems with BIM (MSc)
  • Project and Enterprise Management (MSc)
  • Professional skills for Project Management (BSc)
Construction Management
Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) Sep 2013 – Sep 2016

Curriculum delivery:

  • Design and Construction Management (MSc)
  • Case Study Methods (MSc)
  • Management Fundamentals 2: Computational Design (MSc)

Outlook

Outlook

Thoughts on my worldview and academic philosophy

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Contact