Elham Fini

Elham Fini is an Associate Professor at the School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment at Arizona State University. She serves as a Senior Global Futures Scientist at the Global Institute of Sustainability and Innovation, Director of the Innovation Network for Materials, Methods and Management, and holds affiliations with the Center for Negative Carbon Emissions.

• Education: Ph.D. from University of Illinois-Urbana-Champaign

Her research focuses on Built Environment and Health, Bio-based Materials, and Multi-scale Characterization, aiming to advance sustainable infrastructure through novel material design and environmental impact mitigation. She has published over 200 scholarly works and her research has been highlighted by BBC Women in STEM, Science Nation, and Wired Magazine.

Recent publications analyze bio-based rejuvenators, waste plastic integration, and biochar applications in asphalt systems, addressing carbon management, pollutant adsorption, and asphalt durability. Her work bridges chemical engineering principles with civil infrastructure challenges.

• Scientific Awards: NSF CAREER award, ASEE Gerald Seeley award, BEYA Emerald STEM Innovation award, NC BioTech Research Excellence award, WTS Innovative Transportation Solution award

Dr. Fini serves as editor for the ASCE Journal of Materials and the Journal of Resources, Conservation & Recycling. She previously held leadership roles as ASCE North Carolina Northern Branch president and NSF program director.