About me
My career began at Sharif University of Technology, where I earned a BSc in Engineering and an MSc in Materials Science & Engineering, specializing in metal forming and welding. My thesis, developed in collaboration with Peugeot France, led to a role at Industrial & Scientific Services (ISS), a division of SAPCO, during a time of rapid growth in Iran’s automotive sector. This experience sharpened my engineering practice and expanded my understanding of complex supply chains and industrial project flow. I had the opportunity to present my work nationally and internationally, setting the stage for a globally focused career.
At a technical conference in Graz, Austria, I met Dr. John Goldak, a pioneer in Computational Welding Mechanics (CWM), which led to a PhD opportunity at Carleton University in Ottawa. Under his mentorship, I merged academic research with industrial applications through Goldak Technologies Inc., where I applied CWM to optimize the design and control of real-world welded structures.
Throughout my PhD, I received Carleton’s top research grant annually and was nominated for the University Medal for the most outstanding thesis. I then received a postdoctoral fellowship from FedDev Ontario to continue my research at the University of Ottawa with Dr. Arnaud Weck, contributing to advanced fracture and fatigue studies through both computational and experimental methods in collaboration with the NRC and Life Prediction Technologies (LPTi), under the guidance of Dr. Ashok Koul.
This was followed by an NSERC Postdoctoral Fellowship at the University of British Columbia, where I worked with Dr. Rizhi Wang on multi-scale fracture analysis in biomaterials. My academic journey across several institutions deepened my technical expertise and prepared me for applying cutting-edge digital twins in industry.
Driven to turn advanced computational tools into practical solutions, I joined SKC Engineering in Vancouver after a chance connection with Dr. Mathew Smith. There, I launched a computational engineering business line, starting with a major project for Babcock Canada and the Department of National Defence. This initiative evolved into a core business in Fitness-for-Service (FFS), including national representation of Zencrack software and advanced fracture assessments per API 579 and BS 7910.
Following SKC’s acquisition by Applus+, a global leader in industrial inspection and testing, I expanded my work internationally, leading projects across Canada, the U.S., Europe, and India. At the same time, I directed our efforts toward artificial intelligence and machine learning, securing Built-In Canada Innovation Program (BCIP) funding to develop an AI-powered digital twin for welding—a hybrid system combining simulation and ML using small data. This platform drew significant attention and clients, reinforcing my belief in the transformative potential of AI in manufacturing.
During this period, I participated in a welding demo at Novarc Technologies and reconnected with Soroush Karimzadeh, a fellow Sharif alumnus and Novarc’s CEO. Years later, I joined Novarc as Vice President of Innovation, helping shape its vision for intelligent welding automation. I was later promoted to Deputy CTO, where I led the development of integrated intelligent welding platforms, combining AI, vision, digital twins, and cloud systems to create adaptive, scalable automation. I also championed ecosystem-driven innovation, fostering collaboration between industry, academia, and startups, and advanced venture-backed welding tech, aligning startups, OEMs, and R&D under one innovation banner to accelerate commercialization. As part of the executive team, I played a key role in raising Novarc’s Series A and Series B funding rounds, driving investor alignment and technology strategy to support rapid scaling.
Alongside my engineering career, I remain deeply committed to education. I developed and taught a blended course on weld engineering and simulation at the University of Ottawa, which was featured in the Canadian Welding Association Journal and led to a lifetime educator membership. Later, I was appointed Adjunct Professor at the University of British Columbia by Dr. Warren Poole, where I continue to deliver my course to materials engineering students. With the support of Dr. Daan Maijer, I’ve enhanced the course further by incorporating advanced simulation labs, bridging theory with hands-on computational practice and improving student engagement with cutting-edge tools.
I have always felt that learning is a lifelong journey and my academic path through different universities has without doubt enriched my career in outstanding, innovative companies. The success I have experienced in the professional world has allowed me to make significant and meaningful contributions.
I believe learning is a lifelong journey. My experiences across academia, industry, and innovation ecosystems have enabled me to make meaningful contributions to welding, automation, and advanced manufacturing.
Above all, I’m grateful to my family. My wife, Sharareh, has been my constant support, and my daughters, Jana and Viana, give purpose to everything I do. I also deeply appreciate my parents, Pouran and Hashem, my in-laws, Zahra and Hossein, my brothers Mazyar and Kamyar, and my sister-in-law, Shahrzad. Their support has been the foundation of my success.
There is no greater driver of progress than a strong, supportive family. Thank you
