Ali holds a PhD in Engineering, and an MSc in Computer Science from the University of Warwick, and a first-class BSc in Computer Engineering from IAUT, Iran.

His innovative training interface was shortlisted by Innovate UK as one of the top three choices for enhanced medical training and care challenge in Virtual and Augmented Reality Innovation Contest in 2015. His contribution as a technology consultant in an EPSRC–JLR funded project led to two prestigious publications. In 2018, this project was showcased by at the Science for a Successful Nation event and selected as top choice by EPSRC. The outcomes of his recent GCRF project funded by RAEng was presented at the British Science Festival 2019.

His appointment is part of RCA's institutional strategic plan 2016–2021 to enhance STEM research capacity in the College, bringing scientific subjects together with Art & Design to address global challenges.