ProfessorAshim Debnath

Professor Ashim Debnath is the Associate Head of School (Research) at the School of Engineering, Deakin University. He is also the Director of the 'Safe Future Mobility Research Lab', where he leads a multidisciplinary research team in Transportation Engineering and Road Safety research.

An expert in road safety, traffic management, roadworks, and vulnerable road users (cyclists, motorcyclists, and pedestrians), Prof Debnath has built a strong collaborative track record with industry and government. He has secured over $6 million in research funding and led high-impact projects for key organisations such as Austroads, the Office of Road Safety, iMOVE Australia, Transport Accident Commission, and the state transport departments in Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, and Western Australia.

His research has informed and shaped national transport policy and practice across multiple areas, including the harmonisation of temporary traffic management devices, evaluation of Minimum Passing Distance laws for cyclists, design guidelines for incident response vehicles, intersection safety treatments evaluation, and best practices for roadwork safety.

At Deakin University, Prof Debnath has held several key academic leadership positions, reflecting his commitment to advancing engineering education and research. He currently serves as the Associate Head of School (Research) in the School of Engineering, where he oversees the strategic development of research initiatives and collaborations. Previously, he led the Civil and Environmental Engineering discipline, providing academic leadership and driving curriculum innovation. As Course Director for both the Bachelor of Civil Engineering and the Master of Infrastructure Engineering and Management (Professional), he played a pivotal role in enhancing program quality, industry engagement, and student outcomes.

Prof Debnath is internationally recognised for his contributions to transport and road safety research. He contributes to many national and international committees, including the U.S. Transportation Research Board (TRB)'s Standing Committee on Traffic Control Devices, Standing Committee on Bicycle Transportation, and the Motorcycle and Mopeds Committee. He is an Associate Editor for Transportation Research Record, and sits on the Editorial Boards of leading journals in transportation engineering and traffic safety.

Prof Debnath welcomes inquiries from prospective PhD candidates, postdoctoral researchers, and research assistants with a strong interest in road safety and transportation engineering.