Professor Saman is Emeritus Professor of sustainable energy engineering and former director of the Barbara Hardy Institute/ University of South Australia. His recent roles include Research Leader in the CRC for Low Carbon Living, Leader, UniSA Research Node for Low Carbon Living and Co-Leader in the Australian Solar Thermal Research Institute.
His career has focussed on sustainable energy education and industry targeted research since the 1980s. He has published over 300 technical articles and supervised 35 post graduate research candidates. Professor Saman's career has been in founding and leading  an internationally recognised research group working in sustainable energy and sustainable systems and technologies.
In 1997 Professor Saman founded, and became Director of the Sustainable Energy Centre.He is the founding Director of the Barbara Hardy Institute (formerly Institute for Sustainable Systems and Technologies). He has been leading projects focussing on solar thermal electricity generation and storage being carried out through the Australian Solar Thermal Research Institute and the Australian Renewable Energy Agency. As Research Leader in the CRC for Low Carbon Living, he has been making substantial contributions  to the transition to zero energy buildings.
Professor Saman has played a key role in establishing and leading research in using phase change materials as low-cost thermal batteries for a range of applications. He has also been leading research into the establishment and monitoring of energy and water use profiles from all the houses in the Lochiel Park Green Village.  On average the dwellings use a third of the energy and produce a third of the emissions of similar Australian dwellings. The huge amount of data collected over a decade has provided a wealth of real evidence of the practical applications and economic viability of low carbon design and technologies in buildings. 
He has been leading a national project developing a framework for adapting Australian households to heat waves funded by the National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility. He is Past President of the South Australian branch of the Australian Solar Energy Society and Director of the Australian Carbon Biosequestration Initiative Ltd. He has acted as a consultant to many Government and industry bodies including membership of the Technical Advisory Panels of the Clean Energy Regulator, the Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme Technical Advisory Committee and the Australian Renewable Energy Agency.
He has also provided technical advice to international institutions including the Arab Science and Technology Foundation, University of Reading and the Royal Society, London. He has a considerable track record in developing and implementing sustainable systems and technologies including low carbon buildings, solar and energy efficient heating,cooling and storage systems. He also led the development and implementation of a methodology for evaluating and reducing energy use in new housing developments.  His current research includes developing solar and low energy systems for the provision of hot water heating and cooling, smart integration of solar systems into the grid.
Professor Saman has also made significant contributions to learned and professional organisations. This includes membership of the Editorial Board of the International Journal of Low Carbon Technologies (published by the Oxford University Press), membership of international conference organising committees, chairing the technical program committees for the third International Solar Cities Congress (2008) and the 2001 Solar World Congress.
He has developed a number of test facilities to support research and development in the areas of air conditioning, solar hot water,thermal energy storage and thermal rating of building elements, operating as the Sustainable Energy Industry Support Centre, a national facility developed through funding from industry, the Australian Commonwealth Government and the South Australian Government.
In recognition of Professor Saman's contributions to research and industry in the renewable energy field, he received the Pioneer Award from the World Renewable Energy Network in 2012.
Professor saman's current activities include mentoring research teams and supervising PhD candidates in the areas of low energy buildings, air conditioning and energy storage. He is a member of a number of Engineers Australia and international accreditation panels, Director of West Holdings, PTY Ltd. Through guest lectures and acting as external examiner, he continues to provide teaching and research support to a number of universities and research organisations as well as providing technical advice to industry partners.