UBC’s Office of the VP Research and Innovation (VPRI) has announced recipients of the 2024 Faculty Research Awards. UBCO VPRI highlighted the Okanagan campus recipients.
On behalf of the School of Engineering, congratulations to all awards recipients across both campuses, and special congratulations go to the following SoE faculty members who received awards:
Dr. Shahria Alam, Professor, Civil Engineering, UBC Okanagan
Shahria Alam, Professor, Civil Engineering, received the UBC Killam Research Prize (Established Category)
Established in 1986, ten UBC Killam Research Prizes are awarded annually to top campus researchers with funds provided annually from the Izaak Walton Killam Memorial Fund for Advanced Studies established through a bequest from the late Dorothy J. Killam. The award recognizes outstanding research and scholarly contributions.
In addition to serving as a full professor for UBCO’s School of Engineering, Dr. Shahria Alam is the technical lead of UBCO’s Green Infrastructure Cluster and holds the Tier-1 Principal’s Research Chair in Resilient and Green Infrastructure. He is also the founding director of the Green Construction Research & Training Center (GCRTC), a joint initiative between UBC-O and Okanagan College, dedicated to advancing sustainable construction and reducing the carbon footprint of the construction industry. Recently, he was appointed as the acting Director of the Materials and Manufacturing Research Institute (MMRI) at UBC, where he continues to drive innovative research in sustainable materials.
“I am truly honored to receive the 2024 Killam Faculty Research Prize from UBC. This recognition is a reflection of the dedication and collaboration of my research team at ALAMS and industry partners, whose hard work continues to drive innovation in resilient and sustainable infrastructure. I am deeply grateful to my nominators, external referees, and mentors, as well as my colleagues (UBC Faculty & Staff) and the Faculty Research Awards Committee for their support. This award reinforces my commitment to advancing climate-resilient solutions and sustainable construction for a better future,” said Dr. Alam.
Dr. Mohammad Arjmand, Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering, UBC Okanagan
Mohammad Arjmand, Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering received the Charles A. McDowell Award for Excellence in Research
Established in 1985, the Charles A. McDowell Award for Excellence in Research, one of UBC’s most prestigious research prizes, is named in honour of Professor Emeritus Charles A. McDowell. The award is made to an outstanding early career member of the faculty of UBC who has demonstrated excellence in pure or applied scientific research.
Dr. Mohammad Arjmand is a renowned and award-winning researcher in the fields of nanotechnology and polymer engineering. He is an Assistant Professor at the University of British Columbia, where he leads the Plastic Recycling Research Cluster. Dr. Arjmand’s research focuses on synthesizing multifunctional nanomaterials, developing their assemblies, and creating polymer nanocomposites. He is a highly cited and well-funded researcher with strong collaborations across various industries in Canada. In 2024, he was named a Member of the College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists by the Royal Society of Canada (RSC).
“Receiving this award is profoundly meaningful to me. It reflects my relentless dedication during my time at UBC and the supportive environment that has fostered my success. Additionally, this recognition underscores the vital role UBC Okanagan plays in the university’s broader research landscape, particularly through collaborations with colleagues from the Vancouver campus. Moreover, this award has further inspired me to pursue impactful research that advances science and benefits society. I also hope it serves as a source of motivation for young researchers, reminding them that the sky is the limit,” said Dr. Arjmand.
“Huge congratulations to Dr. Shahria Alam and Dr. Mohammad Arjmand – and kudos to your teams. Your outstanding work is elevating our School and our campus, driving innovation and inspiring change,” said Dr. Will Hughes, Director, School of Engineering.