Prior to joining Nous, Elaaf worked at the Department of Education as a Science Policy Fellow and a Policy Officer. There, he worked on developing policy to support Australian research in areas such as national research infrastructure and research funding for universities.
Before that, Elaaf was a postdoctoral researcher at the Australian National University working primarily as a computational chemist. His research included using computer simulations and models to study chemical and biochemical reactions.
Elaaf holds a PhD in Chemistry and a Bachelor of Science (Honours) from the Australian National University.