Associate ProfessorAli Hadigheh

Dr Hadigheh is an Associate Professor and Associate Head of School (Research Education) in the School of Civil Engineering. He is leading the Smart Materials and Sustainable Structures (SMS2) group, which focuses on multidisciplinary themes aimed at developing and implementing innovative materials and systems for sustainable, durable, and resource-efficient infrastructure. He is also the Circular Economy Pillar Lead at the Net Zero Institute (NZI).

Ali Hadigheh’s research drives the development of sustainable and resilient infrastructure through the design of multifunctional, circular materials that combine structural integrity, energy functionality, and fundamental materials science.

His work explores the physical, chemical, and electrochemical properties of composite materials, with a strong focus on microstructural engineering and interface optimisation. Ali’s expertise spans recycling and upcycling composite wastes and industrial by-products, cementitious composites, performance-based material characterisation, structural health monitoring, and additive manufacturing of multifunctional materials. These efforts are underpinned by advanced experimental methods, computational modelling, and machine learning techniques.

He has led high-impact research across polymer composites, cementitious composites, electrochemical energy systems, microbial–material interfaces, and multiscale modelling, resulting in a strong record of influential publications, patents, and translational outcomes. His achievements have been recognised through prestigious awards, including the ARC DECRA Fellowship and the Standards Australia Young Leaders Award. His international standing is reflected in over 16 keynote and plenary invitations at leading forums over the past five years (e.g., IStructE UK, Coastal Protection and Flood Resilience Institute-Singapore, the International Institute for FRP in Construction (IIFC), the Composites Association of New Zealand, CAMS 2024, APFIS 2024, Australasian Corrosion Association, and Concrete Institute of Australia). He has secured over $4.8 million in competitive funding from ARC, various Cooperative Research Centres (CRCs) of the Department of Industry, Science & Resources, international agencies, and government or industry partnerships. He holds leadership roles with the IIFC and the Net Zero Institute, and serves on the editorial boards of several major journals.

He has contributed his expertise as an assessor for leading national and international funding bodies and industry awards. These include the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (Germany’s central public research funding organisation), the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation (Germany), the National Agency for Research and Development (Chile), the Australian Research Council (ARC), the National Industry PhD Program of the Australian Department of Education (2024–present), the Australasian Concrete Repair and Remedial Building Association (ACRA) Remedial Building Industry Excellence Awards (2025), and the Australian Timber Design Awards (2024).

A/Prof Hadigheh is actively engaged in various industry-based research projects and the development of standards. He has collaborated with state government organisations and industry on several research projects, resulting in commercial outcomes and benefits for the partners. He is a committee member of SB-000 Sustainable Buildings and MT-007 Non-destructive Testing of Metals and Materials of Standards Australia and the NSW Concrete Institute of Australia (CIA).