Roles and responsibilities
Dr. Ebrahimi is a Professional Engineer and corrosion scientist leading research on corrosion management, smart monitoring, and materials sustainability for resilient and durable infrastructure. At NRC's Construction Research Centre, she leads multidisciplinary teams and collaborative projects with governments, universities, and industry to help Canada's infrastructure last longer, perform better, and cost less. An internationally recognized leader in materials protection and performance, she serves on the AMPP Board of Directors, where she shapes strategic direction, advises on policy and governance, and drives global initiatives advancing the corrosion and materials protection profession. She also holds leadership roles in ASTM standards development and is a committed mentor and champion of equity, diversity, and inclusion in engineering.
Current research and/or projects
- Corrosion sensors and monitoring: development and deployment of sensing technologies and robotic tools (including the patent-pending "Corrobot" device) for field and laboratory assessment of materials durability.
- Machine learning and AI-enabled corrosion analysis: applying data-driven approaches to corrosion prediction, environmental corrosivity classification, and infrastructure asset management.
- Corrosion management and materials sustainability: advancing corrosion prevention strategies that extend service life, reduce maintenance, and lower the life-cycle carbon footprint of Canada's steel and water infrastructure, in support of the decarbonization of the construction sector.
- Durability and performance of atmospheric corrosion resistant (weathering) steel bridges in Canadian climates, including micro-climate and de-icing salt effects.
- Sustainable anti-corrosion coating and metalizing systems for steel infrastructure, assessed for performance, cost, environmental, and social impact over the full life cycle.
- Galvanic corrosion of steel and aluminum bridge assemblies and corrosion design for climate change adaptation, supporting national guidelines and standards.
Research and/or project statements
I work to create a more sustainable, durable, and connected future by improving how we protect and optimize materials and assets. As a catalyst, I bring people together across sectors, borders, and disciplines to enable transnational collaboration and deliver real-world impact.
My work focuses on corrosion management, material performance, and protective coatings, helping asset owners move from reactive maintenance to proactive, data-informed strategies. By integrating predictive modelling, coating performance insights, monitoring tools, and digital diagnostics, we enhance reliability, extend asset life, and reduce risk—turning complex material challenges into actionable solutions.
Beyond my technical contributions, I engage in conversations to shape industry direction, mentor the next generation of leaders, and champion inclusive, forward-looking approaches that advance both practice and global dialogue in materials protection and sustainability.
Education
- Ph.D., Chemistry Department, University of Western Ontario, 2015
- M.Sc., Materials Engineering, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, 2010
- B.Sc., Materials Engineering, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, 2007
Professional activities/interests
- Director, AMPP Board of Directors (2026–present) — providing strategic oversight and governance for the world's largest organization for corrosion control and materials protection (37,500+ members in 150+ countries).
- Vice Chair, ASTM Committee G01.14, Corrosion of Construction Materials.
- Technical Advisory Member, AMPP SP21466 Materials Sustainability.
- Technical Advisory Panel Member, CISC Coating Guide Committee.
- Technical Advisory Panel Member, IMPACT Study of Canada.
- Chair, AMPP Valuing Voices Group, advocating for equity, diversity, and inclusion in corrosion engineering.
- Area Award Chair, NACE Northern Area; past Chair, NACE Canadian National Capital Section.
- Chair, NRC Early Career Research Network, Construction Research Centre.
- Co-Session Chair, Canadian Society for Civil Engineering (CSCE).
- Mentor, CORRECT Program (Excellence in Canadian Corrosion Education through Internationalization, Equity, and Interdisciplinarity); volunteer, Let's Talk Science, Ottawa.
- Supervision of graduate students from the University of Waterloo, Carleton University, Queen's University, University of Ottawa, University of Western Ontario, UQAM, and Memorial University.
Affiliations
- National Association of Corrosion Engineers
- Professional Engineers Ontario
- Association of Materials Protection and Performance
- American Society for Testing and Materials
Awards
- AMPP Distinguished Service Award (2025)
- ASTM Emerging Professionals Training Award (2025)
- NRC President's Award (2024)
- NRC Construction Technology Breakthrough Award (2023, 2024)
- World Young Leader, Science and Technology in Society (STS) Forum, Japan (2023)
- NRC Construction Rising Star Award (2020)
- NRC Centennial Celebration Champion (2017)
- NACE International Outstanding Student Award (2015)
Certification/Licenses/Trades
License: Professional Engineers Ontario
Certificate:
- Managing Projects certificate offered by twenty-eighty
- Time management offered by Mitacs
- Project management 1&2 offered by Mitacs
- Career professionalism offered by Mitacs
- Writing strategic business reports by Mitacs
- STEM- corrosion in the Oil and Gas Industry offered by CorrMagnet
- Environmental waste management offered by Western University
- WHMIS (Workplace Hazardous Material Information System)
Inventions and patents
- "Corrobot: Robotic Device for Materials Durability Testing," US Patent Office, No. 63/938,817.
- "Nickel Hydroxide Positive Electrode Material, Alkaline Battery and Method of Producing Nickel Hydroxide," European Patent Office, No. 20181895.2-1108.
- "New Technique for Critical Pitting Temperature (CPT) Measurement of Stainless Steels," Iran Patent Office, No. 68281.
Key publications
- Ebrahimi, N.; Khanlarian, M.; Momeni, M.; Ahmadi, L.; Gallant, D. "Toward Sustainable Steel Bridge Maintenance: Anti-Corrosion Coating Systems," Journal of Coatings Technology and Research, 22(6), 2025.
- Ebrahimi, N.; Roshanfar, M.; Momeni, M.; Naboka, O. "Corrosion Performance of Atmospheric Corrosion Resistant Steel Bridges in the Current Climate: A Performance Review," Materials, 18(15), 2025.
- Ebrahimi, N.; Zhang, J.; Pan, X.; Naboka, O.; Combe, J.; Mermigas, K. (2025).
- Ahmadi, L.; Bilal, M.; Olumo, A.; Mollaei, A.; Jalaei, F.; Ebrahimi, N.; Mozaffari, H.; Kim, J.; Haas, C. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 152(2), 2026.
- Ozkan, I.F.; Ebrahimi, N.; Zhang, J.; Markovinovic, D.; Shirkhani, H. Corrosion, 79(9), 2023.
- Adsetts, J.R.; Ebrahimi, N.; Zhang, J.; Jalaei, F.; Noël, J.J. Coatings, 13(5), 2023.
- Zhang, J.; Ebrahimi, N. "Corrosion Risk of Using Stainless Steel Bolts for A1010 Steel Bridge Girders," Journal of Bridge Engineering, 26(2), 2021.
- Zhang, J.; Ebrahimi, N.; Lai, D. "Galvanic Corrosion Risk of Using Galvanized A325 Bolts in Corrosion-Resistant Steel Bridges," Journal of Bridge Engineering, 24(6), 2019.
- Henderson, J.D.; Ebrahimi, N.; Dehnavi, V.; Guo, M.; Shoesmith, D.W.; Noël, J.J. "The Role of Internal Cathodic Support During the Crevice Corrosion of Ni-Cr-Mo Alloys," Electrochimica Acta, 283, 2018.
- Ebrahimi, N.; Noël, J.J.; Shoesmith, D.W. "Corrosion of Titanium and Titanium Alloys," Encyclopedia of Interfacial Chemistry, Elsevier, 2018 (book chapter).
Full record: Google Scholar profile
Previous work experience
Industrial Postdoctoral Fellow
- Corrosion and electrochemistry research in collaboration with pipeline industry partners.
International experience and/or work
- Materials Engineer, Pars Sadaf Co., Iran (2009–2011)
- Bamdej Tarh Co., Iran (2008): manufacturing process design, quality control supervision, and development of standard physical testing procedures.
