ProfessorHala Zreiqat

AM PhD FAA FTSE FAHMS FRSN FIOR FAIMBE PhD; 2021-22 Fulbright Senior Scholar; 2016-17 Radcliffe Fellow, Harvard University

Prof. Hala Zreiqat AM, is Professor of biomedical engineering, University of Sydney.

Zreiqat is an internationally recognised leader in biomaterials and regenerative medicine. Her research focuses on the design and engineering of advanced synthetic biomaterials for tissue regeneration, integrating materials science, biology, nanotechnology, and additive manufacturing, including advanced 3D and nanoscale printing technologies.

Professor Zreiqat’s pioneering contributions to biomaterials and musculoskeletal regeneration have led to major international recognition. She was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (2019) for significant service to biomedical engineering and science. Her distinctions include Fulbright Senior Scholar at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (2021–2022), Harvard Radcliffe Fellow at Harvard University (2016–2017), NSW Premier’s Woman of the Year (2018), the Eureka Prize for Innovative Use of Technology, the King Abdullah II Order of Distinction, and the TAKREEM Award for Scientific and Technological Achievement (2022). She is also the recipient of the Suzanne Cory Medal from the Australian Academy of Science (2026), the Chinese Association for Biomaterials Global Biomaterials Leadership Award (2026), and the University of Sydney’s Payne-Scott Professorial Distinction for leadership, mentoring, and research excellence.

She is elected to multiple international and Australian academies, including Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science, the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences, the Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering, and the Royal Society of New South Wales. Internationally, she is a Fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering and the International College of Orthopaedic Research (First female fellow).

Professor Zreiqat serves as Secretary-Elect for Education (2026–2029) on the Council of the Australian Academy of Science (2026–2029). She is also Chair of the Council for Australian-Arab Relations, appointed by the Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs (two terms 2020-2023, 2023-2026), and a Board Member of the Australian Fulbright Alumni Association, reflecting her strong commitment to international scientific collaboration and education diplomacy.

She previously served as Director of the Australian Research Council Training Centre for Innovative BioEngineering (2017–2022), a major national initiative linking universities, hospitals, and industry partners to accelerate biomedical innovation. She held an NHMRC Senior Research Fellowship (2006–2020) and maintains active international collaborations across Europe, the United States, and Asia. She is an Associate of the John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences at Harvard University and holds honorary professorships at Shanghai Jiao Tong University and Fudan University.

Professor Zreiqat has authored over 180 peer-reviewed publications, secured more than $20 million in competitive research funding, and is the inventor on several patents in biomaterials and regenerative medicine. Her work has led to the development of novel bioactive ceramics and architecturally designed scaffolds for bone regeneration, with several technologies progressing toward clinical translation in orthopaedics and dental reconstruction.

Beyond her research leadership, Professor Zreiqat is deeply committed to mentoring and global STEM engagement. She is the founder and chair of BIOTech Futures, an international mentorship initiative connecting high-school students with leading scientists and engineers to foster innovation and inspire the next generation of researchers.