Ali Rauf is a PhD researcher at KU Leuven’s Department of Materials Engineering, where he has been pursuing his doctoral studies since 2022, focusing on fatigue and fracture mechanics of additively manufactured high-performance alloys. His current research investigates the Very-High-Cycle Fatigue (VHCF) behavior and defect-microstructure interactions in laser powder bed fused nickel based superalloys, bridging advanced materials design with structural integrity assessment for aerospace applications. Before joining KU Leuven, Ali built extensive experience in the aviation sector, where he worked on a range of structural and maintenance engineering projects involving turbine materials, component reliability, and failure analysis. His professional background encompasses practical and analytical expertise in aerospace materials, inspection technologies, and mechanical integrity evaluation skills that now enrich his academic investigations into additive manufacturing and fatigue life prediction. Ali’s research interests include additive manufacturing (AM) of superalloys, fatigue and fracture mechanics, defect characterization via micro-XCT and EBSD, and finite element modeling of damage mechanisms. He aims to translate advanced material processing and characterization insights into real-world solutions for safer and more durable aerospace components.