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Hamid is a Senior Academic and Director of Postgraduate Studies at Deakin University's School of Engineering. He brings extensive global experience, having held positions at four universities across three continents. His expertise spans instrumentation and control systems, artificial intelligence and robotics, electronics and IoT, and system simulation and optimization. Hamid is also a passionate innovator and entrepreneur.

I am a Post doctoral Research fellow at Deakin University working with a team of experts at CoE Minerals towards circular and sustainable mining. 

I am a biochar enthusiast, working on how biochar can help build healthy soils and ecosystems. I am also interested in other applications of biochar in sustainable construction, carbon sequestration and degraded land remediation. 

Please contact me for research supervision. 

I am a Senior Lecturer in Civil Engineering at Deakin's School of Engineering and a structural engineer, holding a PhD in composite structures. I teach for both UG & PG studies in Civil & structural Engineering, supervise research students and carry out research in Structural Engineering. My research focuses on decarbonising the building industry through innovation and creativity. Over the past five years, I led a research team at Deakin that successfully developed novel, durable, and sustainable materials utilising recycled components and industry by-products. My team is currently engaged with the Suburban Rail Loop (SRL) consortium to contribute to the tunnel structures using novel geopolymer concrete. Through my research, I developed expertise in structural strengthening and rehabilitation using advanced materials such as CFRP.

My academic career spans more than three decades of research, teaching, and professional leadership in civil and structural engineering across Australia, the United Kingdom, and the Middle East. Throughout this career, I have focused on advancing sustainable construction materials and strengthening the integration of research, teaching, and industry engagement in engineering education.

My research program addresses major environmental challenges associated with infrastructure development, particularly construction waste management and the need for sustainable construction materials. I have developed innovative approaches for incorporating recycled glass, recycled plastics, fly ash, and construction and demolition waste into concrete materials and structural systems. This work contributes to sustainable infrastructure solutions and supports circular-economy approaches in the construction industry.

This research has produced more than 150 peer-reviewed publications and has gained national and international recognition. In 2018, I was named Australia's Most Innovative Engineer (Academic Research Category) by Engineers Australia for my work on using recycled plastics in green concrete. My research has also been highlighted in the Victorian State of Engineering Report as an example of engineering innovation contributing to sustainable development. Physical and digital samples of my new green concrete, made with recycled glass and recycled plastics, were displayed in the University of Pennsylvania's Fisher Fine Arts Library, Innovative Materials Collection, in the US.

Alongside research leadership, I have made significant contributions to engineering education. I have received the Deakin University Teaching Excellence Award and the National Teaching Excellence Award from the Iraqi Minister for Higher Education, reflecting my commitment to research-informed teaching and curriculum innovation. My leadership in higher education teaching practice has also been recognised through my Senior Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA) in the UK.

I have also contributed to building research capacity through the supervision of more than 60 Graduate Research students and the establishment of major research laboratories, including the Heavy Structures Laboratory, capable of full-scale structural testing, and the Civil Engineering Concrete Laboratory at Deakin University.

I am a globally recognised civil and structural engineer with a national and international reputation. I am a Fellow of the Institution of Engineers Australia and a Chartered Professional Engineer. Also, registered on the Australian National Engineering Register in Civil Engineering, Structural Engineering, Engineering Leadership and Management, and Building Services. Member of the National Executive Committee of the Australian Association of Steel Concrete Composite Structures (AASCCS), the International Institute for FRP in Construction (IIFC), and the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). Member of the Standards Australia scoping committee BD-108: Design of Concrete Structures with Fibre-Reinforced Polymer Bars. Member of the International Association for Bridge Maintenance and Safety (IABMS), Australia Chapter.

Through research innovation, teaching excellence, and professional engagement, my work advances sustainable infrastructure engineering while strengthening Deakin University's international reputation.

Future Research, Teaching and Leadership Vision (Next 5 Years)

Over the next five years, my goal is to further strengthen Deakin University's leadership in sustainable construction materials and infrastructure engineering through integrated research, teaching innovation, and industry collaboration.

My future research program will focus on advancing low-carbon, circular construction materials, particularly by developing green concrete systems that incorporate recycled glass, recycled plastics, industrial by-products, and construction waste. These research activities will support global efforts to reduce carbon emissions in the construction sector while improving the durability and performance of infrastructure materials. I will also expand interdisciplinary collaborations with researchers in materials science, environmental engineering, and circular economy systems.

A key priority will be expanding industry partnerships to translate research outcomes into practical infrastructure solutions. Building on existing collaborations, I aim to develop demonstration projects that showcase sustainable construction materials in real infrastructure applications. These initiatives will strengthen research impact and support industry adoption of sustainable engineering technologies.

In teaching and learning, I will continue to advance research-informed curriculum design in civil engineering. My goal is to further integrate sustainability, digital engineering tools, and emerging materials technologies into engineering education. I will also continue mentoring early-career academics and HDR students to strengthen research capability within the School of Engineering.

In leadership and service, I will continue to contribute to the development of national engineering standards and to professional organisations, ensuring that emerging research knowledge informs engineering practice. I will also seek to expand international research collaborations that enhance Deakin's global research partnerships.

Through these activities, I aim to strengthen Deakin University's position as a leader in sustainable infrastructure research while contributing to the development of the next generation of engineering researchers and professionals.

Riyadh Al-Ameri, PhD
SFHEA FIEAust CPEng NER M.ASCE

Research Groups

Research Theme: Infrastructure and Environment
Research groups: Renewable Materials in Structures & Engineered Timber Structures

Journal Editorial Role

Guest Editor:

• J Sustainability, Special issue on Innovative Practices in Engineering Education: Concept and Implementation.
• J Applied Sciences, Special issue on Latest Advances in Cement and Concrete Composites.
• J Materials, Special issue on Recycling and Reuse of Waste Materials in Construction.

Book Editorship

• Riyadh Al-Ameri, (2017), Properties and Design of Concrete Structures, a custom book published by PEARSON Australia, 1^st Ed., 2017, ISBN-13: 9781488620188.
• Riyadh Al-Ameri, (2012), Reinforced Concrete Structures, a custom book published by PEARSON Australia, 1^st Ed., 2012, ISBN: 978 1 4425 6180 9.

Md. Khorshed Alom is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering at Khulna University of Engineering & Technology (KUET), Bangladesh, where he teaches undergraduate courses, conducts research, and supervises student projects and theses. He is currently on study leave to pursue his PhD in the School of Engineering at Deakin University, Australia. He earned both his B.Sc. (2019) and M.Sc. (2024) in Electronics and Communication Engineering from KUET.

His research lies at the intersection of federated learning, computer networks, and machine learning, with a particular focus on developing secure, scalable, and communication-efficient frameworks that enable collaborative model training while preserving privacy and protecting sensitive data.

Dr Kaja Antlej is Senior Lecturer in Industrial Design at the School of Engineering, Deakin University, and Co-founder and Co-Lead of the Deakin Human-Centric Technologies Lab.

She is a Slovenian-born, Australia-based researcher living in Melbourne whose work spans human-centred design, immersive extended reality, digital innovation, human space exploration, museums and heritage. Her research has a particular emphasis on the ways culture can be expressed, interpreted, and maintained in isolated settings on Earth and beyond. Her work brings together design, cultural and natural heritage, human-computer interaction, and AI to develop and evaluate meaningful immersive experiences for older adults, intensive care patients, international students away from home, and humans in space.

Kaja collaborates internationally on projects that co-design culturally grounded and nature-based VR for people in isolation. She leads Deakin’s Australia-Japan Foundation-supported work on cross-cultural knowledge exchange for the wellbeing of older adults. This work also informs broader implementation models connecting aged care, space health, and other contexts of isolation.

Kaja is an alumna of the International Space University (ISU; SHSSP21), Chair of the Melbourne Section at the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), a member of the Committee for the Cultural Utilisation of Space (ITACCUS) at the International Astronautical Federation (IAF) and a member of the Designers in Space Community (DiSC).

In 2026, she won the Rising Star of the Year – Academia award at the Australian Space Awards.

Kaja Antlej is currently a Visiting Research Fellow at the Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (JAIST) in Japan.

Dr. Arif received his PhD degree in Electrical Engineering from Central Queensland University in December 2013. Earlier he completed Masters in Media Communication Engineering in 2006 from Hanyang University in Seoul, South Korea. He completed his undergraduate degree in Electrical Engineering in 1999 from University of Engineering & Technology, Lahore, Pakistan. He has also completed Graduate Certificate of Higher Education Learning and Teaching (GCHELT) in 2017 from Deakin University.

He is currently working as a Lecturer in electrical & electronics engineering at Deakin University, Australia. He has supervised 20 PhD students as
Principal/Co-supervisor. He is currently supervising 2 PhD students as principal supervisor and 5 PhD students as Co-supervisor. He has published over 120 high-quality journal, book chapter and conference papers. He has examined six PhD theses as an external examiner. His research interests include Sustainable energy (RE, Energy storage, EV) application, integration & Power system Protection, Microgrid, Smartgrid, Energy management, Waste to energy and RFID applications. Dr. Arif is currently the Associate Editor of Australian Journal of Electrical & Electronics Engineering (AJEEE) by Taylor & Francis.

Dr. Arif is actively engaged with different professional organisations. He is a Chartered Professional Engineer (CPEng) and listed in NER (National
Engineering Register), Australia. He is currently the treasurer of IEEE Industry Applications Society (Victorian chapter) and the advisor of IEEE Industry Applications Society student branch chapter at Deakin University. He has contributed in organising several IEEE sponsored conferences as an important member of the conference program committee. He is an active member of several professional organisations.
* Member of Engineers Australia (EA)
* Member of IEEE (USA), IEEE Industry Application Society (IAS) and IEEE Power & Energy Society (PES).
* Member of Higher Education Research and Development Society of Australia (HERDSA).

Research Groups:

Centre for Smart Power and Energy Research (cSPER) : Publicity & Promotion Lead

Editorial role:

Associate Editor: Australian Journal of Electrical & Electronics Engineering (AJEEE), Australian Journal of Electrical and Electronics Engineering | Taylor & Francis Online 

Guest Editor: Sustainabillity/MDPI. Special Issue Advances in Renewable and Sustainable Energy Technologies | Sustainability | MDPI

·       Highly motivated researcher with over four years of experience in joining by forming lightweight materials, leading to one U.S. patent and five publications in peer-reviewed journals.

·       Two years of research experience in Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFCs), specializing in performance analysis and material characterization

·       Extensive hands-on expertise in experimental research on additively manufactured parts, with a focus on Selective Laser Melting (SLM).

In 2017 I completed my PhD at the Institute for Frontier Materials, Deakin University, in collaboration with the X-ray source Australian Synchrotron.
I have since been employed at Deakin University as a researcher and then as a Senior technical officer (Mechanical and digital fabrication). I have worked on several industry and Government-funded projects on development of materials with improved mechanical properties, corrosion and wear resistance. 
I enjoy working in cross-disciplinary teams on solving real-world problems and seeing my work translated into high-performance processes and products. I have expertise working with large groups of students and researchers from different backgrounds, including from different disciplines and industrial or academic backgrounds. I thoroughly enjoy the interface between fundamental science and science translation.
In my most immediate field of expertise I have acquired comprehensive knowledge of the microstructure-properties relationship in different metals and alloys. I am eager to further grow my knowledge in materials science and mechanical engineering diciplines, positively contribute to the technological transformations and inspiring the next generation of engineers and researchers.

Riley is a dynamic, trust-worthy and highly passionate PhD student at Deakin University. Strong technical expertise and exceptional communication skills. Known for a proactive approach to problem-solving and dedication to achieving results. My main areas of interest and intrigue concern GenAI in robotics, teleoperations, programming and comp.sci. and embedded systems.

Technical Skills/Attributes:

Leadership/Management (Advanced, 7+ years’ experience) – Applied from working at McDonalds as an Area Leader/Crew Trainer, managing night clubs in Geelong, guiding peers and problem solving as a residential leader at Deakin Residency and managing multiple projects to exceed stakeholders’ expectations.

Teleoperations in Robotics (Intermediate, 3 years experience) – Initial works include the application and combination of web-applications, Unity Engine, CoppeliaSim EDU (formally V-REP) and general networking topologies to efficiently transmit data (i.e. control signals) across large distances for remote robotics and signal analysis. Further works have migrated this to applications on real hardware (6DoF KUKA Robot Arms). Dedication in this field has led to the creation and management of RoboCom! Find out more here -> https://r2robocom.com

Artificial Intelligence (Foundation, ~6 months experience) – Inital learning comprised of design and development of AI algorithms such as Q-learning (Reinforcement Learning) and search-based algorithms (Greedy, A*, RRT and RRT*). Preliminary learning for my PhD includes deep dives into the realm of GenAI, particularly Agentic AI and the use of Diffusion and Auto-Encoder models. Currently trialling OpenClaw. Find out more about my OpenClaw works here -> https://www.linkedin.com/posts/riley-g-bain_openclaw-agentic-ai-ugcPost-7454829033516822528-kclE/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAEVekaIBlST2ix2pFJfUJm6-i32q3R6QFcw

Programming (Intermediate/Advanced, 5+ years experience) – Languages applied in various scenarios to design and develop autonomous robots and program simulated systems with controller applications (PID control, MATLAB, Simulink, CoppeliaSim). In recent years, proficiency with C# and web-based languages has increased. A full list of known/battled languages includes; C, C++, C#, Lua, Python, JavaScript, HTML5, CSS3, SQL/PLSQL and MATLAB.

Electrical and Mechanical Design (Intermediate, 2 years experience) – Simple and complex robotics systems designed and manufactured, such as a jukebox (Arduino) and an autonomous mouse/track solving robot (C Language, STM32 Development Board, Cube IDE, CAD, Altium, PCB development/manufacturing).

Please see this link for my Deakin Experts account. You are currently viewing my student account, all academic information can be found on my staff account here -> https://experts.deakin.edu.au/64257-riley-bain

I am a PhD student in Geotechnical Engineering at Deakin University. My research explores how fire alters soil properties such as stress history and shear behavior and aims to find solutions for wildfire induced landslides. I have prior experience in laboratory testing of saturated and unsaturated soils, numerical modeling and constitutive modeling. My research interests are in soil behavior under extreme conditions and natural hazard mitigation.