Dr. Fathifazl received his Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Guilan in Iran in 1995. Before starting his graduate studies in 2000, Dr. Fathifazl worked as a field structural engineer in multiple national projects in Iran.
In 2000, Dr. Fathifazl started his Master of Science (M.Sc.) program in structural engineering at Iran University of Science and Technology (IUST). His research focus was on “Nonlinear Analysis and Behaviour of Steel I-shaped Girders Curved in Plan”.
After completion of his M.Sc. studies, Dr. Fathifazl continued working as a senior structural design engineer till 2004 before coming to Canada for his Ph.D. studies at Carleton University. During his Ph.D. study at Carleton University, Dr. Fathifazl investigated the reuse of recycled concrete material, as a construction material, in structural grade concrete. During his Ph.D. research, he developed a new mix proportioning method (i.e., Equivalent Mortar Volume (EMV) method) for concrete produced with recycled concrete aggregates in which the resulting concrete short and long-term performances are comparable or superior to conventional concrete.
After completion of his Ph.D. studies in 2008, Dr. Fathifazl worked as a senior structural design engineer at multiple structural consulting engineering firms in Ottawa, including Adjeleian Allen Rubeli (AAR), WSP Canada (former Halsall Associates), and Cleland Jardine Engineering (CJE) structural consulting engineers for over eight years. During these years, Dr. Fathifazl gained invaluable industrial experience in the area of structural engineering given his deep involvement in structural design, seismic upgrade, rehabilitation and renovation of several residential, commercial, recreational, heritage and specialty projects. Some of his featured projects are:seismic renovation of Wellington building, Horticulture building, and Canada Reception Centre of MacDonald-Cartier International Airport; seismic evaluation of Parliament of Canada Centre Block and Peace Tower, Parliament of Canada East Block Masonry Towers, West Memorial building, Confederation building, and Supreme Court of Canada building; as well as seismic peer review of North Bay Courthouse Building, and Parliament of Canada West Block.
Since January 2017, Dr. Fathifazl is an adjunct professor in the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of Ottawa. He is also an adjunct research professor and lecturer in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Carleton University since 2012. He has authored and/or co-authored over 44 research papers and technical reports. Dr. Fathifazl is a member of ACI 555, 211, and 369, as well as RILEM TC-RAC Technical Committees. Since 2015, Dr. Fathifazl is working at National Research Council Canada (NRC) as a research officer in the Construction Portfolio in the Civil Engineering Infrastructure (CEI) unit.