Patrizia Bernardi holds a degree in Civil Engineering and earned her PhD in Structural Engineering from the University of Pisa in 2003. She served as a University Researcher from 2007 to 2020, and since 2020, she has been an Associate Professor of Structural Engineering at the Department of Engineering and Architecture of the University of Parma. As of 2024, she serves as the Director's Delegate for the Quality of Teaching, Research, and Third Mission.
Since 2003, she has been responsible for various courses within the Bachelor's and Master's degree programs in Civil Engineering and Architecture at the University of Parma.
She has authored over 110 scientific publications focusing primarily on the development of non-linear constitutive laws for the analysis of reinforced concrete structures, FEM modeling of reinforced concrete and fiber-reinforced concrete (FRC) elements, prefabricated structures, and seismic risk mapping of road infrastructures through the construction of fragility curves. Her work also involves the experimental evaluation of mechanical properties and durability of cementitious materials containing waste products as additives or partial replacements for cement or aggregates, such as biochar, regranulated recycled plastics, vitrified municipal solid waste ashes, vitrified beads, synthetic composite waste, ceramic materials, and recycled demolition aggregates. Furthermore, her research includes the study of steel-concrete bond in reinforced eco-concretes and the experimental assessment of the effects of steel fibers in concrete.
Currently, she is the scientific coordinator or participant in numerous research projects and agreements between the Department of Engineering and Architecture and public or private entities regarding the development of sustainable cementitious materials incorporating waste. Notably, she is the scientific lead for the CIRCOMP project (Circular Concrete from Composite Waste), funded by the Ministry of Environment and Energy Security (MASE), and the CASA project (Circular and Sustainable Concrete Additive with recycled materials from local supply chains), funded by the Emilia-Romagna Region.