Dr. Md Arif Iqbal is an Assistant Professor of Fashion Merchandising and Design in the School of Design at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech). His research focuses on sustainable fashion, the circular economy, biodesign, textile innovation, consumer behavior, and the integration of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, into the fashion and apparel industry.

Dr. Md Arif Iqbal served as an assistant professor at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, before joining Virginia Tech in August 2026. Dr. Iqbal earned his Ph.D. in Consumer, Apparel, and Retail Studies from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.