Dr Alejandro Vargas Uscategui
Senior Research Scientist
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Contact details:
CLAYTON VIC 3168 AUSTRALIA
Biography
I am passionate about tackling tough challenges and turning ideas into reality. With over 17 years of experience as a scientist, entrepreneur, and engineer across Colombia, Chile, and Australia, I have dedicated my career to harnessing new technologies for real-world progress. I thrive in complex environments, pioneering innovative business ventures and solutions.
During my time in Australia, I excelled in additive manufacturing. I led advancements in robotic cold spray technology for the production, coating, and repair of large components, particularly for aerospace and defence applications.
Right now, I am advancing how robots build and repair tomorrow's infrastructure, faster and safer, with people kept out of harm’s way. I am a key member of the Continuous3D team, which has developed our zero-code robot programming software to help robots handle some of the toughest tasks in unpredictable environments. I have played a key role in developing the technology and in translating it from the lab to industry in Australia and overseas.
My journey at the CSIRO started as a Postdoctoral Fellow in February 2017, transitioned to Research Scientist in January 2019 and was promoted to Senior Research Scientist in July 2022. I am a co-inventor of a novel toolpath-planning technology for robotic additive manufacturing and a champion of sensing systems for robotic additive manufacturing.
Known for collaborative leadership, I excel at building diverse teams that deliver exceptional results. I am always eager for new challenges and fully committed to developing technology that transforms businesses and uncovers new opportunities.
Other Interests
My technical expertise is diverse, spanning industrial robotics, sensing, applied artificial intelligence & machine learning, and manufacturing processes. My research has focused on the interplay between these areas to develop industrially robust approaches for building and repairing metal components using robotic arms, combined with additive manufacturing processes such as cold spray, laser, and wire arc direct energy deposition.
As a Materials Scientist, I have worked on materials for energy (e.g. lithium and rhenium), wear-resistant materials (e.g. white cast iron), corrosion-resistant materials (e.g. Fe-Mn-Al alloys), high-performance materials (e.g. titanium and titanium alloys), and, more recently, in high entropy alloys for abrasive wear applications (e.g. Fe50Mn30Co10Cr10 alloy).
Achievements and Awards
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2021-2022
John Phillip Award
CSIRO -
2020-2020
AIM Outside the Box Award
Active Integrated Matter Future Science Platform (AIM FSP), CSIRO -
2016-2016
Postdoctoral Fellowship (Becas Chile)
National Commission for Scientific and Technological Development Research of Chile (CONICYT) -
2011-2011
Scholarship for Assistance to International Events
National Commission for Scientific and Technological Research of Chile (CONICYT) -
2009-2013
Doctoral Scholarship in Materials Science
Centre for Advanced Interdisciplinary Research in Materials Science (CIMAT), Faculty of Physical and Mathematical Sciences – University of Chile. Chile -
2003-2008
Best Graduating Student
Academic Vice-Rectory - Universidad del Valle, Colombia -
2008-2008
Laureate Undergraduate Thesis
Faculty of Engineering - Universidad del Valle. Colombia
Professional Areas
Fields of Research
Current Roles
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December 2019 - Present | Funding team member
Graduated from the CSIRO ON Accelerate program exploring spinout/spinoff strategies for the Continuous3D technology -
September 2024 - October 2024 | Visiting Scientist
The Boeing Company (USA): Further develop a joint research portfolio in materials and processes -
May 2021 - September 2023 | Deputy Research Team Leader
Second in Charge (2IC) - Deposition and Additive Structures Team -
September 2019 - November 2020 | Team member
Graduated from the CSIRO ON Prime program to develop a commercialisation path for the tool path planning technology (Continuous3D) -
February 2019 - June 2022 | Project leader
Sensing systems for robotic additive manufacturing -
April 2018 - February 2019 | Deputy Test Bed Leader
"Bringing the Factory to the Shop" Test Bed - AIM FSP
Academic Qualifications
-
2014
Ph.D in Materials Science
Universidad de Chile (Chile) -
2008
Materials Engineer
Universidad del Valle (Colombia)
Professional Experiences
-
2022-Current
Senior Research Scientist
CSIRO -
2019-2022
Research Scientist
CSIRO -
2017-2018
Postdoctoral Fellow
CSIRO -
2016-2018
Assistant Professor
Universidad de Chile -
2014-2015
Researcher
CSIRO Chile International Center of Excellence -
2012-2015
Research Assistant
Universidad de Chile -
2012-2013
Research Assistant
ACAPOMIL -
2007-2009
Head of Quality Control
C.I. Cobres de Colombia Ltd.
Other highlights
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2021-2021
John Phillip Award - For instrumental contributions to cold spray melt-less additive manufacturing from coatings and repair applications to sophisticated, digital methods that create solutions to real-world problems.
Community and Corporate Citizenship
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2026-Present
Chair of the Communications Subcommitee for the Australian Additive Manufacturing Network (AAMN), powered by the Australian Manufacturing Technology Institute (AMTIL)
-
2025-2026
Invited guest editor for the Journal of Thermal Spray Technology (Springer Nature)
ORCID 0000-0002-4365-8748
We have publications by Dr Alejandro Vargas Uscategui