Professor Firoz Alam

Areas of research and consulting expertise

• Automotive aerodynamics and aero-acoustics
• Aircraft aerodynamics
• Train aerodynamics and aero-acoustics
• Heating, Ventilation and Air conditioning (HVAC)
• Data acquisition and processing (including Acoustic signal processing)
• Development of generic model and testing
• Vehicle cooling system testing in wind tunnels and on-road
• Measurement of aerodynamic quantities, such as drag, forces and moments using force balance in wind tunnel.
• Vibration analysis
• Experimental structural analysis (stress and strain, fatigue, impact, and ageing) of metallic and composite materials
• Wind engineering (wind effects on buildings, bridges and structures)
• Effects of atmospheric turbulence on vehicles and other structures including building and bridges
• Sports Aerodynamics (tennis ball, rugby ball, cricket ball, golf ball, Australian Rules football etc)

• 3rd BSME-ASME International Conference on Thermal Engineering (ICTE2006), 20-22 December, 2006, Dhaka, Bangladesh
• 2nd Asia Pacific Congress on Sports Technology (APCST2005), September, Tokyo, Japan
• 5th International Conference on Engineering of Sports (ISEA2004), September, 2004, University of California at Davis, USA
• 6th International Conference on Mechanical Engineering (ICME2005), 28-30 December, 2005, Dhaka
• 15th Australasian Fluid Mechanics Conference (AFMC2004), December, Sydney, Australia
• International Congress on Sports Dynamics (ICSD2003), 1-3 September, 2003, Melbourne, Australia
• 14th Australasian Fluid Mechanics Conference, 10-14 December, 2001, Adelaide, Australia
• SAE World Congress, 6-9 March, 2001, Detroit, USA
• SAE-A Young Engineers Conference, 5-6 October, 2000, Melbourne, Australia
• 13th Australasian Fluid Mechanics Conference, 13-18 December, 1998, Melbourne, Australia

Other Achievements

• 2004 RMIT University Teaching Award (by Vice Chancellor) for Highest Quality Teaching.
• Pro Vice Chancellor’s Award for Quality Teaching, RMIT University, 2004.
• Faculty of Engineering Dean’s Award (RMIT University) for best postgraduate research publication from the Faculty of Engineering, RMIT University, 1998.
• Australian Postgraduate Award (for Ph.D. research), 1997.
• Riga Aviation University Award for postgraduate research, 1992.
• Vice-Chancellor’s (Rector’s) Award for excellent academic performance (Top Graduate Award), Riga Aviation University, 1991.
• Latvian Education Minister's Award for excellent academic performance, 1988.
• Former USSR Graduate Scholarship Award for undergraduate studies, 1985.
• Government of Bangladesh Talent Pool Scholarship (for securing 4th position in the combined merit list in HSC examination from the Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education, Jessore), 1983.

Conferences

• 3rd BSME-ASME International Conference on Thermal Engineering (ICTE2006), 20-22 December, 2006, Dhaka, Bangladesh
• 2nd Asia Pacific Congress on Sports Technology (APCST2005), September, Tokyo, Japan
• 5th International Conference on Engineering of Sports (ISEA2004), September, 2004, University of California at Davis, USA
• 6th International Conference on Mechanical Engineering (ICME2005), 28-30 December, 2005, Dhaka
• 15th Australasian Fluid Mechanics Conference (AFMC2004), December, Sydney, Australia
• International Congress on Sports Dynamics (ICSD2003), 1-3 September, 2003, Melbourne, Australia
• 14th Australasian Fluid Mechanics Conference, 10-14 December, 2001, Adelaide, Australia
• SAE World Congress, 6-9 March, 2001, Detroit, USA
• SAE-A Young Engineers Conference, 5-6 October, 2000, Melbourne, Australia
• 13th Australasian Fluid Mechanics Conference, 13-18 December, 1998, Melbourne, Australia

• Ph.D. in Road Vehicle Aerodynamics and Aero-acoustics, RMIT University, 2000
• M.Sc. (combined with Bachelor’s degree) in Aeronautical Engineering with 1st class honours, Riga Aviation University, Latvia, 1991
• Diploma in Russian Language, Riga Aviation University, Latvia, 1991

Employment history

• Jan-2007 to date, Senior Lecturer
  School of Aerospace, Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, RMIT University, Australia
• Jan-2002 to Dec-2006, Lecturer
  Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, RMIT University, Australia
• Jan-2001 to Dec 2001, Post-Doctoral Research Fellow
  Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, RMIT University, Australia
• 1997-Dec 2000, Research Engineer and Ph.D. Studies
  Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia

Memberships

• The Institution of Engineers, Australia (MIEAust)
• The American Society of Automotive Engineers, USA (M SAE)
• The Australasian Society of Automotive Engineers, Australia (M SAE-A)

Industry collaboration

1997-to date

• General Motors
• Holden Ford Motor Company of Australia
• Queensland Rail
• SCT Logistics
• FreightLink Australia
• PM Design
• Neopurple Helmet Designing Company
• Breeze-Air
• Air International
• Alemite-Lubrequipment