Dr Islah Ali-MacLachlan is a Senior Lecturer and subject lead for acoustics, covering musical, environmental and building acoustics in the Digital Media Technology Laboratory (DMT Lab) at Birmingham City University (BCU). He has a PhD in Music Research (Birmingham City University), PGDip (IOA) in Acoustics and Noise Control (Derby University) and BSc(Hons) Industrial Design (Technology) (Napier University of Edinburgh). He is a member of the Institute of Acoustics and sits on their board of education.

His research interests are in computational ethnomusicology, concentrating on the use of signal analysis techniques applied to musical playing styles. He also researches in the field of acoustics, with an interest in projects involving environmental and building acoustics. He is an active musician and live engineer, and education director of a major UK folk festival.

Before joining Birmingham City University he lectured in design at Glasgow School of Art and was Course Director of Product Design Engineering at Strathclyde University, regarded as Scotland’s top engineering faculty. His industry experience includes the position of Business Design Advisor for a government office through Business Link Shropshire, and design consultancy and management roles in sectors from audio product to leisure and military industry sectors.