During his PhD, Mohammad Paknahad developed a handheld device, known as a microfluidic breath analyzer, that can detect the presence of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in a person’s breath. THC is the psychoactive ingredient in cannabis. In February 2020, Paknahad was named Vice-President of Technology Development at Cannabix Technologies Inc.
How would you describe your experience at UBC Okanagan?
UBC Okanagan is quite a unique school in Kelowna in the heart of Okanagan valley. I enjoyed my time there among great students and within a distinguished atmosphere.
What are some of your favourite memories from your time at UBC Okanagan?
I enjoyed having lunch with my peers at the collegium, playing soccer at the soccer field on Fridays and walking around the campus especially during the summer. It would have been much nicer if there was a swimming pool on campus 🙂
How did your research at UBC Okanagan’s School of Engineering prepare you for your current role?
UBC Okanagan created a wonderful platform for me to be creative by giving my ideas a chance to become real, and supporting me to pursue my dreams. My research as a graduate student was sponsored by different industries, and I am currently working in one of them with the goal of commercialization of the technology I developed during my PhD program.
What does the future hold for you?
It it definitely exciting to see the technology developed within our lab at UBC Okanagan further developed and hopefully going to market. I am even more excited that I am still working on it, and I am able to see it grow every day. I am full of hope for the future and am proud to be UBC Okanagan alumni.