Ali Bonakdar

Biography

Dr. Ali Bonakdar currently holds the position of Associate Professor within the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Engineering Science as well as the Energy Production and Infrastructure Center (EPIC) at UNC Charlotte. Prior to joining UNC Charlotte in August 2023, he has been working at Siemens Energy Canada, in the gas turbine engines division, where he oversaw advanced manufacturing research, with a particular emphasis on additive manufacturing. In addition to his industrial role, Dr. Bonakdar has served as an Adjunct Professor at several esteemed institutions, including Concordia University, University of Waterloo, Western University, and École de technologie supérieure (ÉTS). He has taken the lead on numerous collaborative research projects bridging the gap between industry and academia.

Dr. Bonakdar holds a wealth of experience spanning over 25 years, encompassing various facets of mechanical engineering and advanced manufacturing. Throughout his career, he has worked in world-class laboratories and high-tech aerospace and energy industries such as Rolls-Royce and Siemens. Dr. Bonakdar earned his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering at Concordia University and extended his academic endeavors as a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at McGill University. Throughout his career, Dr. Bonakdar has made significant contributions to areas of advanced manufacturing and additive manufacturing, resulting in numerous publications of research findings in reputable journals and conferences as well as patents.