Ali came to Virginia Tech in 2007 as a Ph.D. student in the Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics (ESM). He is part of a group that works on unitized structures under the supervision of Professor Kapania. Ali was recently awarded the Manual Stein Scholarship. He currently serves as the president of Iranian Society, the treasurer of Graduate Student Assembly (GSA), and sits on University Student Budget Board and ESM graduate committee. Ali enjoys working out, camping and playing guitar.