Dr Lapkovskis is a leading researcher and assistant professor at Riga Technical University (RTU), specialising in materials science and mechanical engineering. He earned his M.Sc. in Chemistry from the University of Latvia in 1997 and subsequently obtained a Ph.D. in Transport/Mechanical Engineering from RTU in 2012. Since 2015, Dr. Lapkovskis has been actively involved in academia at RTU, where he has contributed significantly to research and education, particularly in the areas of composite material research, development of novel building materials, powder metallurgy, rubber recycling, and environmental applications of materials. He currently holds the position of Lead Researcher at the Institute of Civil Engineering since 2025. Dr. Lapkovskis has led several research projects focused on sustainable materials and innovative solutions for environmental challenges, including the development of alternative composite materials and eco-friendly designs. V.Lapkovskis contributions are evident in his publication record, with 61 scientific papers and 769 citations, resulting in an h-index of 10. In addition to his research, Dr. Lapkovskis has supervised 20 master theses and serves as an expert for both the European Commission and the Latvian Council of Science.