About us

GEEG (Geotechnical and Environmental Engineering Group) is an innovative Startup of Sapienza University of Rome. Founded in 2018 by professors, researchers, engineers and technicians, GEEG was created to share with institutions, contractors, chemical and engineering companies and other research groups worldwide the results of years of applied research in the fields of mechanized tunnelling, chemical treatment of soils and management of excavated soils and rocks.

GEEG is composed of professors of the Faculty of Civil and Industrial Engineering, engineers and technicians with experience in applied research and design activities. With GEEG, the members intend to enhance their collaboration and harness the full potential of each member of the team.

GEEG supports engineering, technology and materials companies in design, research and analysis processes through the development of experimental procedures and innovative protocols useful every step of the way, from the design to the execution.

GEEG aims to became a key player in the research and development of innovative and sustainable solutions for the civil and environmental engineering, facilitating design and construction processes with dedicated experimental activities

Salvatore Miliziano

Founder

Scientific supervisor

Associate Professor of Soil Mechanics at Sapienza University of Rome. Salvatore is the Director of the Master in Geotechnical Design at Sapienza. His main research and professional interests include the design and construction of tunnels, urban excavations and other underground works.

Luca Di Palma

Founder

Scientific supervisor

Associate Professor of Materials Technology, Applied Chemistry and Liquid Waste Treatment Processes at Sapienza University of Rome. Luca is the coordinator (Grant-Holder) of the European research project CBHE 609758 - ITACA. He coordinates the PhD program in Chemical processes for the industry and the environment.

Diego Sebastiani

Founder and CEO

PhD, chartered Civil Geotechnical Engineer and Research Fellow at Sapienza, University of Rome. Diego is Editor of the Journal “Gallerie e Grandi Opere Sotterranee”, member of the Italian Tunnelling Society, Lecturer on the II level Master in Geotechnical Design and Technical Manager of several Research Projects at Sapienza University of Rome. He developed deep multidisciplinary knowledge on the use of chemicals in mechanized tunnelling excavation, is the author of several publications on national and international Journals, invited lecturer at numerous congress and seminars, Reviewer for international Journals and co-supervisors of several theses on tunnelling and geotechnical-related topics.

Giorgio Vilardi

Founder and process environmental engineer

Tenure-track Professor in the Chemical Plants sector and referent of Computer Aided Process Control and Chemical Plant Design II courses. Giorgio holds a PhD in Chemical Engineering with honors and Doctor Europaeus title in 2019. In 2020 he qualified as Associate Professor in the Industrial Chemical Processes and Plants sector. Following the experimental thesis, since 2015 he has conducted numerous studies in the field of chemical treatment of soils in mechanized excavation, characterization of tail grease, preparation and characterization of bentonite fluids and their recovery. Is the author of more than 50 articles with an H-index equal to 32 and more than 1800 citations.

Anita Di Giulio

Founder and environmental engineer

Anita is a geotechnical engineer specialized in rock mechanics and a research fellow at the Institute for Environmental Geology and Geo-Engineering of the Italian National Research Council. After her Master’s Degree she worked as consultant engineer until 2015, when she started studying chemical interaction with water and soils for engineering applications.

Andrea Di Biase

Founder and laboratory technician

Laboratory technician since 2014, he took part in numerous experimental activities aimed at studying the behaviour of different chemical products for civil and environmental engineering applications at the Department of Structural and Geotechnical Engineering of Sapienza University of Rome.

Irene Bavasso

Chemical engineer

Irene is a Chemical engineer, graduated from the University of Calabria in 2014. She received her PhD in Chemical Engineering at Sapienza University of Rome. During the research activities on the development of treatments for water remediation, she performed experimental tests on the use and the environmental impact of conditioning agents commonly adopted in mechanized tunneling. Since 2018 she is a Research Fellow at the Department of Chemical Engineering, Materials and Environment of Sapienza University of Rome.

Marta Di Felice

Chemical engineer

Chemical engineer graduated in 2019 at Sapienza University of Rome. Her experimental thesis was based on the characterization of two-components grouts in mechanized tunneling. After graduation, she has been involved in experimental activities on conditioning agents, taking care of chemical and environmental analysis. She is currently carrying out research on two-components backfilling grout, environmental impact of mechanized excavations and drilling fluids. She is also working on the reuse of excavated soils and rocks.

Sara Mangifesta

Environmental engineer

Environmental engineer graduated cum Laude in 2020 at Sapienza University of Rome. Sara’s experimental thesis was based on the effect of natural nanomaterials injection on the mechanical characteristics of coarse-grained soils. She is currently carrying out support activities for the management and the re-use of excavated soils and rocks and research activities on issues related to mechanized tunnelling.

Matilde Cinelli

Environmental engineer

Matilde is an environmental engineer, graduated cum Laude in 2020 at Sapienza University of Rome. Her thesis was about experimental analysis of the hydraulic characteristics of coarse-grained soil treated with natural nanomaterials. She currently supports research activities on mechanized tunnel excavations, particularly on the reuse of soil and rock spoils.

Marco Amici

Civil Engineer

Civil Engineer graduated in 2021 from the University of Rome Tor Vergata. Marco’s experimental thesis was centered on the study of mixtures of sand and kaolin subject to both freezing and defrosting processes. He currently supports research activities aimed at studying mechanized excavations with a focus on the reuse of excavated soils and rocks.

Claudia Gifuni

Supervisor and administrative coordinator

Graduated cum Laude in Political Science at Sapienza University of Rome, she is currently responsible for the supervision and administrative coordination activities.

Stefano Javarone

Chemist

Stefano graduated in Chemistry at the Univeristy of Pisa, with a specialization in industrial material chemistry. His thesis, developed at the Institute of organometallic compounds of the Italian National Research Council, regarded the synthesis of nano-charged polymers and copolymers. He worked for 5 years as Product Manager in the clay minerals industry, performing duties of research and development, product management and site assistance. He currently serves as liaison between GEEG’s research activities and the industry.

Tommaso Usseglio

European research projects

Graduated in Law with a thesis in regional constitutional law focused on relations between State and regions, he is an expert in administrative and public law. In 2014 he took part in a project in Manchester as part of the European Voluntary Service (EVS). Tommaso currently deals with projects at local, national and European levels collaborating with various organizations, both for profit and non-profit. He lectures on European funding programs.

Marta Palombini

Chemist

Laboratory technician

Federica Angelucci

Lead of communication

Specialized in digital communication, Federica is assistant professor of Linguistic and digital etiquette at LUMSA University of Rome. Federica began her career in the third sector and since 2022 she supports for-profit, academic and cultural associations in the development of institutional communication projects.

Eleonora Russo

Head of communication

Eleonora graduated in Restoration and conservation of cultural heritage at Sapienza University of Rome. After her studies, she began her career as an Editorial Graphic Designer, gaining experience in typography, desktop publishing and in concept and design of company logos. She collaborated in the planning and design of several exhibitions and installations. Recently, she also specialized in web design, visual communication and social media management.

Years of experimental research

for applications in civil engineering, geotechnical engineering, chemical engineering, and environmental engineering