FARZAD HEJAZi
Assoc.Prof.Dr
Member of Civil Engineering Department
Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA)
Chartered Engineer, The Institution of Structural Engineer (CEng, MIStructE)
University of the West of England, Bristol
United Kingdom
About Assoc.Prfo.Dr.Farzad Hejazi
Brief Biography
Farzad Hejazi received his PhD in Structural Engineering from University Putra Malaysia (UPM) in 2011 and worked as Postdoctoral fellow, Senior Lecturer and Associate Professor in UPM which ranked as 132 in QS Ranking. He trained by Stanford International Stanford Research International (USA) for Five Disciplines of Innovation, Business Terms and Venture Plan Essentials then accordingly, he appointed as Innovation Coordinator (2014) for Faculty of Engineering, UPM and then as Research Coordinator (2017) for Department of Civil Engineering to lead research and innovation in Faculty with more than 270 Academic member and 1000 researchers.
Then, he was appointed as Senior Visiting Academic in University of Sheffield (UK) in 2020 and continue his researches and supervision of PhD students. Dr. Farzad is currently faculty member in Faculty of Environment and Technology, University of The West of England, Bristol since 2022 and teaching related courses in the Structural Engineering area for undergraduate and postgraduate students beside his research work.
As mentioned before, he has 20 years’ experience of teaching postgraduate courses for master and PhD students and he managing and supervising research team include of 40 PhD students and more than 100 Master Students and involving with many high impact research and industry projects funded more than 5 Million USD by Ministry of Higher Education, Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, PlaTCOM Venture Malaysian Government Agency, and industrial companies which led to file more than 15 patents in USA, Japan, Germany, Canada, New Zealand and Malaysia. Four of his patents related to vibration dissipation devices already licensed to industry for mass production and implement in construction projects for the bridges and structures.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Farzad published 7 Books via Springer and Taylor and Francis Publisher, more than 100 scientific research papers in high impact ISI journals and presented research papers in several international conferences. He received more than 35 awards in national and international innovation and invention competition such as best innovation prize for Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation 2021.
Teaching and Learning
I have over 20 years of experience in teaching, which includes more than 10,000 hours of teaching various subjects in Civil and Structural Engineering such as Structural Analysis, Design of Reinforced Concrete Structures, Design of Steel Structures, Structural Dynamics, Earthquake Resistant Structures, Structural Stability and Risk assessment of Structures, Retrofitting and rehabilitation, Performance Based Design Method, Advanced Solid Mechanics and Fracture Mechanics, Finite Element Method, Advanced Structural Analysis, Nonlinear Structural Analysis, Bridge Design and Research Methodology for postgraduate and undergraduate students.
My teaching materials have been published as seven books by reputable publishers such as Springer and Taylor & Francis and are widely implemented in teaching and practice at universities worldwide.
Supervision of PhD/Master Students
I have successfully supervised more than 30 PhD students, 100 Master’s students, and over 150 undergraduate students from various countries, which attests to my ability to develop and mentor students. My supervisory approach is tailored to the specific needs and goals of each individual student. I work closely with them to understand their unique requirements and aspirations.
I strongly believe in providing students with the necessary tools and resources to excel in their studies. Moreover, I encourage them to take ownership of their work and actively participate in the research process. By fostering a sense of responsibility, I aim to promote their academic and personal growth.
As a supervisor, I prioritize offering academic mentoring to my research postgraduate students. I serve as their main point of contact within the university, ensuring they have access to all the required resources, facilities, and services to conduct their research studies. I also provide guidance and support if they encounter any academic or non-academic challenges during the early stages of their research.
Research Experience
1.My Research Focus
My research experience and interest are focused on:
- Vibration Dissipation System for Structures and Bridges
- Design of Reinforced Concrete Structures
- Risk assessment of structures and retrofitting and refurbishment of existing structures
- Artificial Intelligence and design of Complex Structures
- Machine learning systems for structural health monitoring of towers/bridges
- Earthquake Resistant Structures and Performance Based Design Method
- Health monitoring of railways and bridges through drone technology
- Resilience Structures/Infrastructures (Bridges and Towers)
- Advance Materials and Fracture mechanics
- Advance Construction Systems
- Automation control system for Bridges (and structures)
- Smart and Semi-Active Control System for Bridges and Structures
- Precast Construction Technology for structures and infrastructure (Segmental Bridges, Communication Towers)
- Computational design and advanced numerical simulations of complex structures
- High Performance Concrete with Green Carbon as low embodied carbon
- Simulation of structures, bridges and towers using remote sensing
2.Research Achievement
Over the past 15 years, my research experiences have yielded impressive outcomes, including the development of more than 20 new products and technologies. These achievements are evidenced by 15 patents granted in countries such as the USA, Canada, Japan, Germany, New Zealand, and Malaysia, as well as 3 copyrighted works.
In addition, I have published over 100 research papers in high-impact journals, furthering the dissemination of knowledge in my field. Furthermore, my contributions as an author include seven books published by renowned publishers such as Springer and Taylor & Francis.
Throughout my research career, I have also had the privilege of mentoring and graduating over 25 PhD students, supporting their growth as future researchers and professionals.
My accomplishments have been recognized through numerous awards in international innovation and inventions competitions. Notable accolades include the Gold Medal in ITEX2010 (USA), the Second Prize in IDEERS2017 (Taiwan), and the Best Innovation Awards at the Malaysia Technology Expo in 2014, 2015, and 2021.
Furthermore, the practical applicability of my work is demonstrated by the licensing of four of my developed products related to vibration damping systems. These products have been adopted by the industry for mass production and implementation in real construction projects.
Here is the link for my google scholar:
https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=zHTnsR4AAAAJ&hl=en
Here is the link for my published books:
https://www.waterstones.com/author/farzad-hejazi/3879296
Here is the link for my granted patents:
3.Securing Grants and Income Generation
I have extensive experience in preparing proposals to apply for national and international research grants, as well as industry grants. As a result of my efforts, I have successfully secured more than 20 research projects, totalling around 5 million USD, funded by national agencies and supportive institutes.
In addition to academic grants, I have also received grants and support from industries to further my research endeavours. This demonstrates the recognition and trust industry partners have placed in my expertise and the relevance of my work to real-world applications.
Furthermore, I have collaborated with various industries as a professional expert, providing consultancy services to them. Additionally, I have served as an expert witness in the High Court (Malaysia Federal Court) for court cases related to collapsed buildings and bridge projects. This highlights the extent of my practical knowledge and the confidence placed in my expertise within the legal system. By actively engaging with both research and industry sectors, I have been able to bridge the gap between academia and real-world applications. These collaborations and experiences have enriched my research endeavors and allowed for the transfer of knowledge and expertise to address practical challenges in the field of civil engineering.
4.Industry Collaboration and Income Generation
I have actively engaged and collaborated with industries, offering professional services as an expert to address challenges and design problems. I have also worked closely with manufacturers to develop and fabricate scaled-up products. Furthermore, I have partnered with construction companies to develop specialized products for use in construction and optimize their design processes. As a result, I have secured research projects funded by industries to facilitate the development and evaluation of new products. The outcomes of these research projects have been successfully implemented in the manufacturing and mass production sectors.
Additionally, I have been involved as an expert witness for court cases in Malaysia’s Federal Court, specifically related to building and bridge collapses. I have provided valuable expertise and evidence to support the legal proceedings in these cases.
5.Experience of Research Management and Leading as Faculty Coordinator
In 2013, I was nominated as an innovation champion at UPM. Subsequently, I received training from Stanford Research International (Silicon Valley, USA) in their Five Disciplines of Innovation program, SRI’s Business Terms, and SRI’s Venture Plan Essentials Boot Camp in 2014. In 2018, I further enhanced my skills through the Leaders in Innovation Acceleration program by Oxentia, Oxford (UK).
Then, I was appointed as Innovation Coordinator for Faculty of Engineering. As the Innovation Coordinator for the Faculty of Engineering, I established a robust network between the university and industries. This network facilitated the transfer and sharing of developed knowledge and technologies between university experts and companies. I also created a platform to facilitate this relationship, and I served as a trainer and mentor to the academic staff (270 staff members) of the Engineering Faculty. My role involved managing and promoting the developed knowledge and innovations within the faculty, with the aim of transferring and implementing technologies in the industry and commercializing university products. I actively approached companies to invest in ongoing research projects at the university and provided facilities for the development of joint products with the university.
My main responsibilities included identifying novel ideas and high-potential research, promoting developed products and technologies, collaborating with industry, and introducing the faculty’s technologies and products to foster sustainable relationships and cooperation between the university and industries.
Additionally, I was appointed as the Research Coordinator for the Department of Civil Engineering in 2017. In this role, I managed the research progress and outputs of the department’s staff. My primary duty was to encourage and train staff members to apply for internal, national, and international research grants, while monitoring research outputs such as publications, patents, and products produced by faculty staff.
Based on my experience and expertise, my areas of specialization encompass Innovation Management, Technology Transfer, Innovation Ecosystems, Entrepreneurship and Startup Management, Commercialization of Developed Technologies, Innovation and Commercialization Landscape, Managing an Incubator, Intellectual Property, Successful Businesses, Market Validation, Transforming Innovation into Commercializable Products, Research Development, and Patent Evaluation and Assessment.
Personal Skill
1.Experience in Lab Work and experimental testing
I have extensive experience and hands-on expertise in setting up specimens for experimental testing in the lab. I am proficient in operating various testing machines such as hydraulic jacks and pumps, frequency shakers and impact hammers, Universal Testing Machines. I am also skilled in the setup and installation of various measurement instruments including load cells, LVDTs, and strain gauges. Additionally, I have experience in the setup and operation of various types of static/dynamic data loggers, dynamic response acquisition systems, concrete mixers, as well as programming, running, and operating heavy-duty dynamic actuators, hydraulic pumps, and cooling towers. Furthermore, I have been actively involved in the manufacturing of products and possess significant experience in operating various cutting, welding, drilling, punching, polishing, grinding, and CNC machines. I am also proficient in handling heavy lifting equipment such as cranes and forklifts.
I designed and conducted very complicated testing setup and protocols such as testing my developed Rubber Wall Damper Device with more than 6000kN load capacity using Shaking Table in University California San Diego.
Furthermore, I have extensive involvement in the manufacturing of products and possess significant experience in operating various cutting, welding, punching, and polishing machines, as well as handling heavy lifting equipment. I have also gained expertise in the design and construction/manufacturing of a 30-meter UHPFRC segmental communication tower. Additionally, I have experience in designing and producing various types of bearings for bridges, including sliding bearings, new-generation rubber bearings, triple pendulum bearings, and pot bearings.
Moreover, I have established strong connections with renowned industries worldwide in the fields of manufacturing rubber composites, vibration damping systems, UHPFRC materials, bridge construction, and heavy industries. Through these connections, I can facilitate joint research projects by obtaining their support, including funding, expertise, facilities, and materials.
2.Experience in Structural Analysis Hybrid Testing
I have acquired extensive practice in modeling and conducting nonlinear, dynamic analyses for complex problems using various commercial Finite Element Method (FEM) software packages such as ANSYS, ABAQUS, SAP, ETABS, and others. I have gained experience in performing hybrid analyses by integrating and synchronizing constitutive models obtained from experimental testing. Moreover, I have developed a Hybrid Analysis system that facilitates the management and execution of various modeling and optimization analyses by integrating and synchronizing MATLAB with SAP, ETABS, ANSYS, and other programs.
3.Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
I hounded to awarded Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA).
4.CEng or Professional Membership
I am Chartered Engineer (CEng) entitled from The Institution of Structural Engineer and I already member of The Institution of Structural Engineers (MIStructE).