Dr Ali Sadaghiani PhD

• PhD in Thermofluidics, Sabanci University, 2019
• MSc in Mechatronics Engineering, Sabanci University, 2015
• BSc in Mechanical Engineering, Iran University of Science and Engineering, 2012

Dr Ali Sadaghiani is an Anniversary Fellow and Associate Professor in Surface Engineering at the University of Birmingham, where he also leads the Smart Research Group. His expertise lies in phase-change heat transfer - spanning boiling, condensation, evaporation, and freezing - and the development of advanced surfaces to control interfacial transport phenomena.

Ali completed his PhD in Thermofluidics at Sabanci University, following an MSc in Mechatronics Engineering and a BSc in Mechanical Engineering. Before joining Birmingham, he held an academic position at Sabanci University and was involved in collaborative research with industry and academia on thermal management systems for next-generation energy and water technologies.

He has led and contributed to multiple Horizon Europe and national projects focused on:

• Phase change and multiphase flows in microscale
• Thermal management in hydrogen-powered and electrified propulsion systems
• Thermal regulation of solid-state batteries
• Solar-driven water desalination
• Advanced cooling for high-performance electronic systems
• Anti-icing and de-icing surfaces and coatings

His research bridges material science and thermal-fluid engineering, leveraging surface modification techniques, multiscale modeling, and advanced characterization tools to enhance energy efficiency and sustainability. Dr Sadaghiani is an ERC Starting Grant laureate and continues to develop interdisciplinary strategies for scalable and sustainable phase-change technologies.

Ali welcomes PhD applicants interested in:

• Phase-change heat transfer (boiling, Evaporation condensation, evaporation)
• Surface engineering for thermal management
• Solar-driven evaporation and deicing (SDIE)
• Two-phase flow and interfacial transport phenomena
• Micro/nano-scale experimental and numerical methods (CFD, MD)
• AI-driven surface/material design for energy and water applications

Solar-Driven Interfacial Evaporation (SDIE)

Developing novel 3D-structured surfaces using upcycled materials to enhance evaporation rates and phase-change efficiency for sustainable water purification systems.

Phase Change Heat Transfer and Surface Engineering

Design and testing of engineered surfaces for improved boiling, condensation, and icing/deicing behavior, including refrigerant boiling, flow boiling, and anti-frost coatings.

Thermal Management of Electronics and Batteries

Advanced cooling techniques including immersion cooling, spray cooling, and flow boiling with dielectric fluids for high-power electronics and battery packs.

Interfacial Transport and Multiscale Modeling

Exploring fundamental mechanisms in thin-film evaporation and meniscus behavior using laser diagnostics, micro-PIV, and Raman spectroscopy. Integration of CFD and Molecular Dynamics simulations for multiscale insights.

Collaborative Projects

HORIZON RIA – Triathlon (PI)

Project focused on advanced thermal management systems for hydrogen-powered and electrified propulsion, enabling efficient and clean mobility technologies.

HORIZON RIA – ARISE (Coordinator)

Developing a Gen-4 solid-state battery system with modular chassis, smart battery management, and tailored thermal regulation for next-generation electric vehicles.

HORIZON-MSCA Staff Exchange – MicroFlowTec (Co-PI)

International staff exchange program targeting micro/nanoscale heat and fluid flow for improved thermal management in electronics and energy systems.

European Research Area – BioAFC (PI)

Investigating antifreeze protein-based surface modifications to enhance freezing efficiency and energy performance in refrigeration systems.