Dr Alejandro Vargas Uscategui
Senior Research Scientist
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CLAYTON SOUTH VIC 3169 AUSTRALIA
Biography
Alejandro Vargas-Uscategui is a Materials Engineer (Universidad del Valle - Colombia, 2008) and PhD in Materials Science (Universidad de Chile - Chile, 2014). He has built an engineering and scientific career for over 15 years across Colombia, Chile, and Australia while working with industry, academia, and research institutions. During his time in Australia, he has excelled in additive manufacturing and pioneered advancements in robotic cold spray technology for producing, coating and repairing large components, particularly for aerospace and defence applications. He also has diverse expertise in materials science, corrosion and wear, materials characterisation, electrochemistry, laser and welding processing.
His 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. He is the co-inventor of a novel toolpath planning technology for robotic additive manufacturing and a champion for sensing systems for robotic additive manufacturing.
His current focus lies on advancing how robots can build and repair the infrastructure of tomorrow faster and easier, keeping people out of harm's way.
Other Interests
Dr Alejandro Vargas-Uscategui's expertise covers various materials for various applications and technology domains. He has 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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May 2021 - September 2023 | Deputy Research Team Leader
Second in Charge (2IC) - Deposition and Additive Structures Team -
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
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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.
Related links
ORCID 0000-0002-4365-8748
We have publications by Dr Alejandro Vargas Uscategui