We are pleased to announce that Prof. Ali Asgarian has joined the Department of Materials Science & Engineering as a tenure-track Assistant Professor specializing in process modeling as well as process and powder metallurgy.
Prof. Asgarian comes to us from the National Research Council Canada (NRC), where he served as Team Lead of the Materials Design, Scale-up, and Optimization (MDSO) team. In that role, he oversaw research initiatives advancing materials and devices for batteries, hydrogen production, and the decarbonization of heavy industries. His own research focused on plasma-based methods for powder synthesis and modification, targeting next-generation batteries and sustainable industrial applications.
Prior to his time at NRC, Prof. Asgarian spent a decade at Hatch Ltd, a global engineering firm, where he contributed to technology development as well as the design and construction management of numerous mineral and metallurgical plants. He earned his Ph.D. at the University of Toronto, in collaboration with Rio Tinto, where he advanced water atomization technology to produce additive manufacturing–grade iron and steel powders.
At his newly established ASPIRE Lab (ASgarian’s Process & Powder Intelligent REsearch), Dr. Asgarian integrates advanced simulation with AI, sensing, and automation to transform materials processes and powder technologies. His group aims to drive creativity and innovation that enhance energy and resource efficiency while reducing the carbon footprint of the metallurgical and materials processing industries.