Wlla Abbad – Winner of the Women in STEM HERA/ACM CRC Scholarship!

We are thrilled to celebrate the achievements of Wlla Abbad, a talented PhD student at The University of Sydney, and the recipient of the prestigious Women in STEM HERA/ACM CRC Scholarship. 

 This award highlights Wlla’s remarkable dedication to advancing innovation in sustainable manufacturing and her commitment to research with real-world impacts. 

Building on our ACM CRC research partnership

ACM CRC  has united over 30 partners in a groundbreaking $250 million program under Australia’s Cooperative Research Centres initiative, spanning a decade. This collaboration offers a unique opportunity to harness the world’s leading research teams in the development of composite steel applications with a strong focus on sustainability and circular design principles.  

In the inaugural project with the University of Sydney (USYD) and the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO), HERA aims to establish an AI-based monitoring system for assessing the quality of manufactured composite products, including steelwork. This system will optimise inspection requirements and manage compliance risks through extensive big data analysis.  

The project also encompasses the collection and analysis of productivity data, in-service health monitoring, and the development of novel 3D printing techniques capable of reusing or recycling materials based on their remaining properties, all aligned with Circular Design 4.0 principles. 

Wlla’s research, will focus on the application of Additive Friction Stir Deposition (AFSD) for aluminum and steel. Her work aims to tackle some of the key challenges in sustainable manufacturing by exploring recycling, repair and reuse possibilities for these materials for structure applications. This research aligns closely with the principles of the circular economy and sustainable development, an exciting field of additive manufacturing we’re actively exploring. 

With a solid foundation in industrial engineering, Wlla has previously earned her Bachelor’s degree from The Hashemite University and a Master’s degree in Industrial Engineering/Management from the University of Jordan. Her academic journey reflects a commitment to the study of advanced materials and sustainable manufacturing processes, and her involvement with the ACM CRC and HERA project provides her a unique opportunity to engage in high-tech, cutting-edge research with broad potential for industry applications. 

At HERA, we’re excited to see the impact of Wlla’s work on our collaborative projects, and we look forward to working closely with her on our shared goal of pushing the boundaries and innovation in metal composites. Congratulations once again to Wlla on this well-deserved recognition – we can’t wait to witness the transformative strides you’ll  bring to sustainable metal composites! 

Wlla is a PhD student with the ACM CRC research partnership at The University of Sydney, where her thesis explores innovative metal composites, focusing on Additive Friction Stir Deposition (AFSD) of aluminum and steel for sustainable manufacturing, recycling, and reuse. 

She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering from The Hashemite University (2014) and a Master’s in Industrial Engineering/ Management from the University of Jordan (2019). Wlla’s research interests span additive manufacturing, sustainability, and circular economy principles. 

“I feel privilege to be a part of this international, highly skilled and  multidisciplinary team. I look forward to explore how we can achieve  safe, cost effective and sustainable large scale metal composites via  novel additive manufacturing methods” Wlla Abbad.