Killam doctoral student Rubaiya Rumman.
Killam Laureate Rubaiya Rumman is originally from Bangladesh. She completed her bachelor’s and master’s in civil engineering from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) and worked as a lecturer there after graduation. She started her PhD journey at UBC Okanagan in 2021. Apart from her achievements in academia and research, Rubaiya is a professional singer and is currently serving as the President of the Engineering Graduate Students Society at UBCO.
Tell us a bit about yourself:
I was born in Dhaka, Bangladesh, an overpopulated city with lots of scope for infrastructural development. My dad, a civil and structural engineer working for the Bangladesh government, was my inspiration in choosing to be in this field for my undergraduate studies. Apart from my academic and research career, I am also a professional singer; I have been enlisted as a vocal artist in the national radio of Bangladesh since 2018. Balancing my extra-curricular and academic interests has always been a strong suit of mine as I am currently the President of the Engineering Graduate Students Society at UBCO, where I serve my fellow engineering graduate students by creating a supportive environment.
Tell us about your academic journey leading up to your PhD studies.
Besides my academic endeavours, I have been very interested in research since my undergraduate studies. I was specifically interested in sustainable and durable concrete, as it is the most used construction material on earth and highly carbon-intensive. I was interested in improving the conditions of the existing structures of Bangladesh, as well as innovative and green concrete materials for solving the sustainability issues. I completed my undergraduate and master’s degrees in civil engineering from a top engineering university in Bangladesh, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET). I topped my class by achieving a record GPA of 3.99 out of 4.00 in the civil engineering department of BUET. I also scored a perfect GPA of 4.00 in my master’s. I had the opportunity to teach brilliant minds at BUET as I worked as a Lecturer there.
What inspired you to pursue a PhD degree, and why did you choose UBC Okanagan for your graduate studies?
Being in academia and my passion for research motivated me to pursue PhD at a top University in the world, the University of British Columbia. The expert faculty members and cutting-edge laboratory facilities at UBCO led me to apply here. I was granted admission here with flying colors with a 4-year international doctoral fellowship. Later I also received some highly prestigious awards like the NSERC CGS-D, the Killam Doctoral Fellowship, the American Concrete Institute (ACI) Master Builders Solutions Concrete Materials Scholarship, and the ACI Foundation Fellowship.
Tell us about your PhD research. Is your current research related to your Master’s research or completely different?
Concrete is the most used construction material in the world because of its versatility. However, concrete’s main constituent, cement, is highly carbon intensive at its production. Considering the huge amount of concrete produced annually in the world, it is also solely responsible for a total of 8% emissions out of the total annual global emissions. Since cement is the main culprit behind these high emission levels, my focus is to reduce the cement use in concrete by replacing it with a waste material – wood fly ash.
Previously, coal fly ash (a byproduct of coal-fired powerplants) has been used in cement production to reduce its carbon footprint and high cost; this also means it is a popular research topic in the area of concrete. However, coal powerplants are also being shut down because of their environmental impacts. Therefore, in search of a substitute for coal fly ash, I am considering wood fly ash to take its place. Wood fly ash comes as a byproduct for producing clean and renewable biomass energy. About 70% of its current production goes to the landfill. I am investigating the potential of using wood fly ash as a novel supplementary cementitious material in concrete to reduce its carbon footprint and promote sustainability.
How did you find your community at UBCO? (For example: clubs, within your research group, lab, etc.)
From the beginning of my PhD journey, I have been part of the Applied Laboratory for Advanced Materials and Structures (ALAMS) headed by Dr. Shahria Alam. This is a leading lab doing excellent research in structural engineering and engineering materials. The friendly atmosphere in the lab made me feel comfortable right away, despite the culture being so different from where I come from. There is a lot of room to improve oneself in our lab – everyone is very encouraging. As a PhD student, I also have the opportunity here to mentor undergraduate and master’s students.
I would also like to mention the Engineering Graduate Students Society which I am a part of now. Being the President there, I get to explore leadership and teamwork among other wonderful graduate students. I get to arrange events facilitating my engineering graduate student peers, which boosts my confidence and broadens my outlook.
What has been the most rewarding part of your UBCO experience so far?
The friendships I have built within my research group and the recognition I receive from my supervisor have been the most rewarding aspects of my UBCO experience. I have always believed that I need a friendly environment to grow as a person, which I got at UBCO. Scholarships and fellowships are tangible achievements, but it is the underlying support and nurturing environment that are most valuable.
Scholarships and fellowships are tangible achievements, but it is the underlying support and nurturing environment that are most valuable.
What challenges have you faced during your time at UBC, and how have you grown or adapted as a result?
One of the biggest challenges I faced was COVID-19. I had to go through the admission application, visa processing, flying and settling to a different country thousands of miles away from home, all during the pandemic. I even had to complete my first semester online from Bangladesh with 13 hours of time zone difference. My research also suffered a little bit as my work is completely experimental and I couldn’t land in Canada until 6 months after I started my PhD journey. However, the welcoming atmosphere at UBCO allowed me to adjust with ease.
Another challenge was that I started my PhD when my son was a 2-year old. I found it very challenging to manage motherhood and starting a PhD in a new country at the same time. However, what I thought to be a challenge has transformed into a daily source of inspiration to become my best self. I now have a very mature 6-year-old, in addition to the accomplishments I have earned at UBCO. We grew up together!
However, what I thought to be a challenge has transformed into a daily source of inspiration to become my best self.
What advice would you give to prospective or incoming UBCO students?
I would advise the incoming students to follow their dreams, as Paulo Coelho once said, “When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.”
When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.
Rubaiya performing tests to find the optimum replacement level of cement with wood fly ash to produce green concrete.
How has your experience in the PhD program prepared you for your career or future academic goals?
The rigorous research training enhanced my analytical and problem-solving skills, while mentoring students and leading the Engineering Graduate Students Society strengthened my leadership, communication, and teamwork abilities. These experiences not only deepened my technical expertise but also prepared me for a career where I can balance research, teaching, and mentorship. Looking ahead, I aspire to continue advancing sustainable concrete technologies through both academia and industry research, contributing to innovative solutions that address real-world challenges while also guiding the next generation of engineers. The PhD program has given me the confidence and foundation to pursue this path and to make meaningful contributions to ensuring sustainability in concrete construction.
Have you had opportunities to present your research (e.g., conferences, publications, workshops)? If so, what have you learned from those experiences?
I had the honorable opportunity to present my research in various conferences among my expert colleagues in the Canadian Society for Civil Engineering (CSCE), the American Concrete Institute (ACI), and the Institute of Engineers Bangladesh. This exposure and the valuable comments and reviews from my peers and colleagues have been invaluable in carrying forward my research. Moreover, as a part of my fellowship from ACI, I get to attend the ACI conventions free of cost. These conventions are a gathering for the top researchers in my field, from whom I learn a lot. Furthermore, I published four articles in top journals of my field which are being cited by my fellow researchers. I also got an opportunity to present my work at the “UBCO Structures Talk” where I had the privilege to communicate with my colleagues from the University of Victoria doing similar research.