Dr Saidani completed his first degree in Civil Engineering at the University of Sciences and Technology in Algeria, where he won the Best Student Award. He then completed a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering at Nottingham University. He remained on as a post-doctoral research fellow for four years working with Professor David Nethercot on a number of pan-European and UK projects (total value in excess of GBP 4m). Dr. Saidani joined Coventry University in 1995 as a Lecturer, then Senior Lecturer, and is currently Associate Professor of Structural Engineering. He recently became a Chartered Engineer and a Member of the Institution of Structural Engineers. Dr. Saidani has more than 150 journal and conference publications.