We are very pleased to have Dr Ana Girao Coelho joining us at the beginning of August. Ana has degrees from the University of Coimbra in Portugal, and has worked at the Universities of Delft, Warwick and most recently Newcastle. Her main area of interest is the behaviour of joints, indeed she is a member of the Project Team delivering the next version of EN1993-1-8 and will bring that work to SCI. She also has recent experience in the use of high strength steels and FRP.