Miguel Villarreal just completed his second-year in the Manufacturing Engineering program and Vania Amadi completed her first-year of engineering at UBC Okanagan in April 2020 (and has selected Manufacturing Engineering).

Miguel Villarreal just completed his second-year in the Manufacturing Engineering program.

Why did you choose Manufacturing Engineering?

I was really interested in how manufacturing engineering applies engineering theory into actually making a practical part in the workplace.  I love the broadness of manufacturing how we can apply these manufacturing concepts to making a wide range of products not just specific to one industry but to every industry from steel production to micro-electronics.

I like to think manufacturing engineering shares a lot in common with mechanical engineering. I It goes into greater depth on the practicality of applying mechanical and electrical concepts into production.  We take these mechanical and electrical concepts and bring them to life in a really applied way.  We ask questions like: how will a part move in a system? and how can we make that move or its design more efficient?

What has your experience in Manufacturing been like so far?

The program has been really cool so far. In our second-year course, we’ve been doing a lot of advanced design work that is similar to some mechanical and electrical fourth-year projects.  Our courses have not just revolved around manufacturing, but also production management.  I have really enjoyed the management side of the curriculum as well.  Overall, it’s been a fantastic introduction to a wide base of the manufacturing.  I know as I move through the program, I will learn more about designing and implementing these fundamentals and concepts.  The other highlight has been interacting with my classmates and our professors in the lab while using state-of-the-art manufacturing equipment.

Being the first cohort of manufacturing, we’ve had a smaller class sizes which has been really great because we get to interact one-on-one with our professors, and it’s been really good to provide feedback on what we’re learning and where the program is going and for us to be able to give feedback on where the program is headed in the future.

It was kind of scary going into manufacturing, because we were the first class, so there was no precedent or students in the program to gauge what it would be like.  You didn’t know really what to expect but after I took that jump it’s proven to be the best choice. It was the best choise for me.  I find the content I’m learning is more interesting than that of other disciplines.  It’s proven to be a discipline that I am very passionate about.

Has the program changed your understanding of the manufacturing sector?

There’s a lot of stigma about working in a factory when it comes to manufacturing. When you hear the term manufacturing, you think factory, but the more I’ve learned about manufacturing the more I’ve learned that you could apply it in such a broad field.  Manufacturing applies to so many different work environments.  You need manufacturing to make basically any part that you’re working on.  It doesn’t just apply to factories, you can apply these concepts to a lab or to basically anywhere where there’s an engineering work being done.

What does the future hold for you?

Choosing manufacturing engineering was the best decision for me. I’m very excited for the future and to keep expanding upon my manufacturing knowledge.

Vania Amadi recently completed her first-year of engineering at UBC Okanagan, and has selected Manufacturing Engineering.

How would you describe engineering?

As a first year engineering student, to me engineering is production. It’s why I’m interested in manufacturing.  Manufacturing Engineering is the study of how things are produced.

Why are you choosing Manufacturing Engineering?

This program is going to make me ready for industry and the workforce.  From my perspective, it’s the best engineering programs out there.  It’s new, it’s innovative and it’s applied. It’s good to have the general knowledge but it’s better to be focused on one thing. Back home, we say it’s better to be the master of one trade than a jack of all trades.

What drew you to engineering in the first place?

I come from an engineering family. My mom did mechanical engineering in university and my dad studied both electrical and electronics. I always knew I was going to be an engineer, but wasn’t initially sure what kind.  During my last year of high school, it came to me when I took biomedical electronics engineering, because I liked biology and I also liked electronics. I was looking forward to putting them together.  After I did a lot of research about engineering programs across the country, I realized that there wasn’t an exact fit for what I wanted to study (it would have to be something I would pursue in graduate studies instead).  UBC Okanagan gave me a chance to get my bearings and decide what program I wanted to choose after first year.

What’s first year been like?

During my first year, I heard more and more about Manufacturing and it really peaked my interest.  It is a cross-campus program which means I can choose to transfer to Vancouver later in the program if I want.

My mom didn’t like the sound of Manufacturing Engineering, because she was worried that it would lead to a factory job.  When I explained to her that it was a combination of mechanical and electrical engineering and there were a variety of jobs available for manufacturing engineers, she was excited for me. One thing my parents taught me was that you need to love what you do to enjoy it and succeed.

After this past year, I’m not going to say I love engineering, because I haven’t seen the whole thing, but I like engineering. To me I would rather do engineering than do any other course (psychology, physiology, or sciences).  Engineering has been tough, but I worked hard and found success.

Over fifty projects involving forty-nine industry partners were submitted by student groups as part of ENGR 499 Capstone. A panel of judges from the community, industry and UBC adjudicated over the competition selecting winning entries in four categories (civil, electrical, interdisciplinary and mechanical), and an overall winner.  Despite the challenges of physical distancing protocols, teams successfully submitted their full reports and video summaries followed by remote adjudication.

To celebrate the winning projects, Associate Professor Ken Chau unveiled the 2020 ENGR 499 Capstone winners with a virtual award show.

In the civil category, Group 36 – Quail Trail: Connecting Communities (team members: Paula Galvez, Hanneke Byl, Alexander Froats, Troy Peterson, and Riley Salter) was picked as the top project.  The group worked with the City of Kelowna, and their faculty supervisor Claire Yan, to create an active transportation path connecting UBC Okanagan and Quail Ridge community. The scope covered the design of a new path, maintenance using research, preliminary geotechnical studies, CAD work, GIS work, and stakeholder involvement.

In the electrical category, Group 38 – Applying Machine Vision and Artificial Intelligence to Maritime Transportation (team members:Ali Jalil, Ella Lin, Jacky Lin, Larry Staecey, and Hung Ting Tsai) was awarded the top award in that category. The group collaborated with Canscan and faculty supervisor Zheng Liu to consult with optical experts, camera suppliers, container lift truck manufacturer to specify camera optics and installation details, develop a suitable miniaturized image processor and communication device to interface with main operating computer at ports.

In the mechanical category, Group 34 – Development and Optimization of a Basic Industry 4.0 Framework (team members: Darryl Lam, Graeme Paul, Dara Mohadjel, Connor Gaudreau, and Louie Federico) placed first.  Group 34 worked with the Composites Research Network (CRN) Okanagan Node and faculty supervisor Abbas Milani to take an existing Industry 4.0 basic system, provide a systems analysis and develop new automation modelling and design strategies, using thermal and mechanical-based industrial application case studies in composites manufacturing area.

In the interdisciplinary category, Group 20 – Developing a Holistic Monitoring System for Early Detection of Wildfires (team members: Ziad Abdelsamad, Florence Belanger-Jones, Abdulwahab Elrmali, Saad Bushnaq, and Omar Mourad) was recognized as the top project.  Working with the TerraSense Analytics and faculty supervisor Ian Foulds, Group 20 developed a system to detect and relay wildfire information.

Judges chose Group 38 – Applying Machine Vision and Artificial Intelligence to Maritime Transportation as the overall winner.

The School of Engineering wishes to thank all industry partners for participating in the 2020 ENGR 499 Capstone: Village of Gallaghers Canyon, UBCO Motorsports, Teck Metals Ltd., MKI Wind Energy (M. K .Ince and Associated Ltd), Our Blue Planet, S-FRAME Software, Antrobus Consulting, Global Physical Asset Management, Inc., Westport Fuel Systems, WS Technologies Inc. (WST), Kendyl Inc., MK Technologies Ltd, Limitless Potential Technologies Inc, TerraSense Analytics, City of Kelowna, KUL Management Group Ltd, WSP Canada Group Ltd. and Westbank First Nation (WFN), WSP Canada Group Ltd. and Regional District of North Okanagan (RDNO), The Clubhouse Child Care Center, Flema Products, Curly Frog Farm, Tolko Industries, Composites Research Network (CRN) Okanagan Node, UBC Okanagan Campus Planning & Development, UBCO’s Advanced Control and Intelligent Systems Lab, Canscan Inc., S-FRAME Software Inc., CTQ Consultants Ltd., DEEPWATER FARMS (DWF), KUL Management Group Ltd, Area 51 Machine Design, Okanagan College, Kaltire, Tetra Society of North America Okanagan, Regional District of Central Okanagan, DuraBrace, and Primary Engineering and Construction.

Researchers at the School of Engineering on the Okanagan campus of the University of British Columbia are modelling and simulating new power electronic converters for renewable energy integration that is pushing the industry forward.

With advancements in the renewable energy sources, it means conventional power transmission systems need to be modified to handle and deliver power derived from these sources.  Renewable energy sources, also known as variable energy resources, rely on weather to generate power.  As a result, power transmission systems must incorporate new grid control devices to ensure efficient and reliable electricity distribution.

Since renewable energy sources offer cyclical variations in output based on the daily fluctuations in wind speeds and sunshine, storage of the energy is more important than ever before.  Energy storage technologies and larger-scale interconnected AC-DC power grids that enable renewable energy generation, transmission and utilization to be flexible, efficient, and reliable are imperative to success within this new framework.

Inside the Flexible Power Transmission Laboratory for Renewable Energy Integration at UBC Okanagan, principal investigator and assistant professor Liwei Wang and his team are mapping out methods to better connect power systems and make them more efficient.

Working in collaboration with OPAL-RT Technologies, a global leader in developing power electronic and energy system simulators, hardware-in-the-loop testing equipment and rapid control prototyping systems, Wang is helping to design, test and optimize components within these new systems that integrate renewable energy sources with power transmission systems.

Dr. Wang’s research interests include power system analysis, operation and simulation, electrical machine and drives, power electronic converter design, control and topology, power semiconductors modelling and characterization, utility power electronics applications, HVDC and FACTS, renewable energy sources, and distributed generation.

“The complexity of the integration of variable energy sources makes the science, and specifically our modelling and simulation work, so interesting,” explains Wang.  In order to properly test the effectiveness of components like modular multilevel converters, a converter that is able to control voltage sources enabling multiple and varying renewable sources to enter the power transmission system, Wang is developing universal modelling frameworks.  The frameworks take into account the dynamic nature of the power electronic converters accurately and speed up the entire system simulation, to confirm the system design.

Wang have been working with OPAL-RT Technologies on two specific frameworks.  One that greatly accelerate power system simulation speed by using average value models (AVMs) for modular multilevel converter (MMC) based high-voltage direct current (HVDC) system. The other one is new hybrid modular multilevel converter with higher converter efficiency, smaller footprint and better system fault resilience compared to the-state-of-the-art MMCs.

“The success of simulation testing and scaled-down hardware converter prototypes based on these frameworks allows us to better design new components that are promising to be integrated into conventional power transmission systems,” says Wang.  A perfect example would be our proposed hybrid three-level converter (H3LC) with AC-side cascaded full-bridge submodules (FBSM) for HVDC transmission.  The developed converter has new circuit topology and sophisticated controls.  “Although it sounds complex, the proposed converter reduces the number of power electronics building blocks (or converter units and semi-conductors) required to have renewable energy harmoniously integrated with convention power transmission systems,” explains Wang.  These converters offer a significantly smaller footprint, less energy storage requirements, and improved converter efficiency.

All the projects are supported by OPAL-RT through NSERC CRD and NSERC DG grants.  The converter research recently is recognized by Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) with a Best Paper Award at the 10^th IEEE Annual Information Technology, Electronics, and Mobile Communication Conference (IEEE IEMCON 2019).

According to Wang, along with their collaborators at OPAL-RT, they are making a big impact.  “Not only are we making advances in the science behind integrating renewable sources,” says Wang, “but our discoveries are being incorporated into real-time simulation software packages that are widely used to design the newer generation power grids around the world.”

As renewable energy sources continue to grow, the solutions originating from the Flexible Power Transmission Laboratory for Renewable Energy Integration at UBC Okanagan will make important contributions to their seamless integration into existing and new power transmission systems.

UBC researchers are partnering with the Okanagan Basin Water Board (OBWB) to develop new policy and planning tools to address flooding in the Okanagan Valley.

Given recent flooding and its disastrous consequences on communities throughout the valley, this research project will help local governments make informed decisions to mitigate flood related risks.

“Communities like Kelowna are facing flooding on a regular basis, so creating models based on historical trends and future projections is vital for decision-makers,” explains Kh Md Nahiduzzaman, project manager and visiting professor at the School of Engineering.

According to Anna Warwick Sears, executive director of OBWB, these tools are needed by the region’s stakeholders.  “Cities across the Okanagan are increasingly at risk of repeated flooding due to a variety of factors including the impacts of climate change.”

Sears points to the impact of flooding on neighborhoods from a social, financial and environmental perspective.

“What we need is a shift in focus from a flood protection approach to an adaptive resilience approach,” says Rehan Sadiq, the project’s principal investigator and civil engineering professor.  The research will develop risk and vulnerability assessment tools, make future risk projections, review current decision-making tools and identify ways that multiple levels of government can work together seamlessly. Co-investigator and civil engineering professor, Kasun Hewage, will investigate risk mitigation actions and responses in holistic manner by considering the entire project life cycle.

The researchers are in talks with a number of regional stakeholders to participate in the project.

Luke Herman BASc ’20 (Electrical) is now in  the direct-entry PhD program, as a Jacobs Fellow, at the University of California San Diego in Electrical and Computer Engineering with a focus in photonics.

Luke chose a five-year path to complete his BASc at the School of Engineering at UBC’s Okanagan campus.

What inspired you to go into engineering?

From a young age, I was always fascinated by the application of the fundamental theorems in physics in modern society. Growing up in Houston, Texas, I was always in awe of the NASA engineers and scientists, and I aspired to have as much of a societal impact as them!

Why did you choose UBC Okanagan?

I chose UBC Okanagan as it really represented the experience I wanted for my undergraduate education. The close-knit community, and the opportunity to get substantially involved really provided me with the tools necessary to flourish. Additionally, the ratio of professors to students positively impacted my education, as I have developed close bonds with a couple of professors, in which they have taught me more than what I could learn within the walls of a classroom.

Favourite courses(s)/instructor(s) during your time at UBC Okanagan?

My two favourite courses are Dr. Kenneth Chau’s Advanced Electromagnetism course and Dr. Jonathan Holzman’s Quantum Photonics course. Both courses had the tendency to make your jaw drop and scratch your head at the same time by connecting the dots between the physics behind electrical engineering and their applications in today’s society! Additionally, the deliveries of the content in these two courses are simply unique and are a testament to the School of Engineering’s willingness to bring an innovative spin on classroom teaching.

If applicable, describe your research?  Why is your research important?

As an undergraduate research assistant in Dr. Holzman’s Integrated Optics Laboratory, my primary research project is under the umbrella of integrated photonics and materials science. We are developing a new electronic/photonic platform which revolves around laser-induced-graphene. Ever since the discovery and characterization of graphene, the electronics industry has found it difficult to integrate graphene commercially because of the challenges related to fabrication. Our method relies on commercial systems for fabrication, which will allow easier implementation.

What does the future hold for you?

I am entering a direct-entry PhD program as a Jacobs Fellow at the University of California San Diego in Electrical and Computer Engineering with a focus in photonics! Photonics can change the future of many fields, including medicine, communications, imaging, and I hope, whether through academia or industry, to be one of the future leaders in this century’s next technological revolution!

Erfan Taatizadeh completed his MASc ’19 (Mechanical) in December 2019, and is now pursuing a PhD in Biomedical Engineering at UBC Vancouver.

What inspired you to go into engineering?

Why did you choose UBC Okanagan?

Describe your research?

Why is your research important?

What does the future hold for you?

With online learning and assessment taking place this year as a result of COVID-19 physical distancing measures, School of Engineering students are signing an integrity pledge prior to each exam.  The pledge serves as a reminder of the importance of honesty and ethical principles that are a foundation of the field of engineering.

Why an integrity pledge?  School of Engineering Technical Communications Senior Instructor Laura Patterson provides additional context:

The integrity pledge is a form of an honour code to ensure students acknowledge that the exam is intended to be a solo exercise testing your individual skills and not a group effort. In an exam situation, consulting with colleagues for answers on an exam intended to test individual abilities is not “collaborating,” it is cheating and academic misconduct under UBC policies. Even though we are in a situation in which faculty may not be able to enforce this or enact consequences all the time, if a student chooses to continue this behaviour when expressly asked not to, they need to be aware that they are making a clear choice to act unethically, which is not entirely without consequences. These consequences are to one’s identity.

There are many situations where no one is watching, or there are no immediate consequences, where professionals must choose to do either the ethical thing or the unethical thing. We do what we practice, and we become what we do. Research into ethics in engineering education found that those students who operate unethically during their education have a higher likelihood of operating unethically in their professional careers, because they have not exercised the skill of operating ethically in the easier and lower stakes setting of education. When these bad habits catch up with us, they can lead to lawsuits, public disgrace, and death. Examples of such cases in the media include the SNC Lavalin fraud case, cases of individual engineering university professors caught plagiarizing out of Waterloo and Regina, or the Hyatt Regency walkway collapse that killed 114 and injured 216. Few people wake up and decide to be unethical or think themselves to be, but the daily habit of cutting corners in the short term and rationalizing that behaviour builds to larger exceptions that become harder to resist.

The “if everyone is doing it, I should too” argument is a common logical fallacy known as the bandwagon argument used to rationalize behaviour because it is popular. The common retort is “if everyone jumped off of a bridge, should you too?” A better quotation to respond to this argument would be “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” It is true that it will seem that others are getting away with it; however, choosing to participate in it, not only makes the situation worse, it also comes at a significant cost to one’s perceptions of oneself.

This integrity pledge then becomes a question of “Who do you want to be?” Choosing to do the ethical thing, even when the other option seems easier, is a long-term choice to build the habits of ethical behaviour and the skill set of handling the hard things necessary to be an ethical professional. It can also influence other students to act with integrity and help shift the culture if more students expected their colleagues to act ethically. So, when you choose what you are going to do in these difficult situations, you are choosing your identity and influencing the culture of your educational program.

Dr. Laura Patterson

On behalf of the School of Engineering Ethics Committee

A new synthetic heart valve designed by UBC researchers could be a long awaited advancement in pediatric heart valve replacements.

The Heart Valve Performance Laboratory at UBC Okanagan are prototyping a new prosthetic device for aortic valve replacement.  The aorta is the largest artery in the body and is the blood vessel that carries oxygen-rich blood away from the heart to all parts of the body.

Heart transplants and valve replacement have long been a reality, but the technology has not evolved to address the needs of patients with small-sized hearts.

“It has always been a one-solution fits all approach in the area of valve replacements,” explains assistant professor Hadi Mohammadi.  “Not only does our synthetic mixture last over a patient’s entire lifespan, but it is also flexible enough to work in smaller hearts.”

The device uses the principles of soft robotics since it moves and adapts to its surroundings.  The valve works in tandem with the heart to adjust its diameter allowing or restricting blood flow.  It is this control that sets the device apart from existing technologies.

“Not only does the prototype adaptable to small heart sizes, but it is relatively simple to manufacture and its customizable,” says Luke Ohlmann, an MASc student at UBC and co-author of the study.

The researchers are now looking at a number of other parts within the heart where similar technologies could improve blood flow.

The research was funded by a Discovery Grant from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, and published in the Journal of Medical Engineering and Technology.

Mohammad Kamali, PhD ’19 (Civil) is a professor in the Faculty of Science, Technology, & Health at Okanagan College.

What inspired you to go into Engineering?

As a child, I was always curious and explored everything to uncover simple solutions to complex problems.  I would then eagerly share my ideas with my family and friends. Years later, I realized that engineering beautifully combines science and mathematics which was a right fit for my desire to find answers to my passionate quest for problem solving. I have always been inspired to contribute to the betterment of society and its environment’s life cycle, so I found that engineering and sustainability were the ideal disciplines to enable my pursuit for higher education and learning. 

Why did you choose the School of Engineering?

After earning my BSc and MSc in Civil Engineering, I worked for a few years as a civil engineer in the professional sector, gaining invaluable experience. I then decided to pursue my dreams and goals of obtaining a PhD. I researched various world-class universities to find an ideal academic environment that would allow me to continue investigating sustainable solutions to real-world problems. After applying and receiving admission to a number of international universities, I chose to conduct my research in sustainable construction management at the University of British Columbia – Okanagan campus. I am now fortunate to be an alumnus of UBC Okanagan’s School of Engineering.

The multidisciplinary research environment at the School of Engineering is an excellent opportunity for students looking to conduct research in areas that might not fully encapsulate a classic engineering program. In many cases, students and faculty from various disciplines form a collaborative research team to work on interdisciplinary research topics in which students work on finding current solutions to complicated problems facing our ever-changing environments.

What were some of your highlights of studying at UBC Okanagan?

Studying at UBC Okanagan was one of the most fascinating and memorable experiences in my life. I had the incredible opportunity to work with Dr. Kasun Hewage as my PhD supervisor. Dr Hewage is a passionate researcher and without his mentorship, the successful completion of my research journey and publication of multiple articles in top peer-reviewed journals and conference publications would not have been possible. During the research phase of my PhD, I had been in contact with numerous professionals, construction firms, and organizations within the Okanagan and throughout BC. This afforded me an invaluable opportunity to showcase my communication and networking skills and become familiar with the Canadian construction industry. Being a teaching assistant for numerous courses was also a great opportunity for me to improve my teaching skills. Furthermore, communicating with graduate students from different countries in diverse settings and cultures at UBC Okanagan was a memorable experience that contributed to my global outlook where I was able to learn about various cross-cultural norms and praxis. Last but not least, living in Kelowna in the heart of the Okanagan where the beautiful UBC Okanagan campus is located, has provided me and my family with an unforgettable experience.

Were there some faculty / courses that really had an impact on your experience? If so, how/which ones?

I am grateful to Dr. Rehan Sadiq, because despite his busy schedule, he always had the time to discuss my research and his priceless advice and constructive comments definitely enhanced the quality of my research work. In addition, the Multicriteria Optimization and Design of Experiments course by Dr. Abbas Milani was a valuable learning experience for me in which I could apply the vital knowledge I gained to my own research. Dr. Milani’s encouragement and creative comments also helped to improve the quality of my research.

Upon graduation, what was your plan?

During my doctoral studies, I came to realize that I wanted to stay within the academic field in order to continue finding new solutions to our complex world. This has allowed me to pursue my passion for research, and to be able to disseminate new and emergent knowledge to upcoming generations of engineers.

What is your current position?

I am currently a professor in the Faculty of Science, Technology, & Health at Okanagan College. I am also continuing my research in the field of sustainable construction and life cycle thinking

Describe your role.

I am currently teaching civil engineering and sustainable construction management courses at Okanagan College. Such courses offer an excellent learning opportunity for students to gain practical and applied knowledge, skills, and opportunities for their future careers. I am also assisting with designing course syllabi and program development. Teaching at Okanagan College is an incredible opportunity for me to pass on the knowledge I gained at UBC Okanagan and before.

How did you find your current role?

Before my PhD thesis defense, I had learned about the teaching opportunity at Okanagan College from a fellow graduate, so I applied for my current teaching position. After completing the application process, I received an offer for teaching effective immediately after the successful completion of my PhD degree.

Overall, what would you say is the impact that UBC Okanagan and the School of Engineering has had on you?

UBC Okanagan, and in particular, the School of Engineering have helped me to define my future career in the field of research and teaching. I will forever be grateful to Dr. Kasun Hewage who believed in me, trusted in my abilities, encouraged me to grow as a researcher, and taught me how to strive for the highest standards in this noble profession. I am proud to be a graduate of UBC.

Ermia Aghaie MASc ’19 (Mechanical) is a Materials Engineer at Pacific Particulate Materials Ltd. in Vancouver, BC.

What inspired you to go into Engineering?

Engineering is the backbone of any technological advancement in our life from building to data architectures. I’ve always been inspired to uncover these advancements through building complex solutions. I’m happy to make an impact by putting the pieces of the puzzle together and engineering solutions.

Why did you choose the School of Engineering?

Most emerging technological solutions require knowledge and skill-sets from different backgrounds. School of Engineering was a place where I could become a specialist in one area of knowledge and get to meet brilliant minds from across the globe in a centre of excellence. I am proud to be a graduate of SOE.

What were some of your highlights of studying at UBC Okanagan?

We are a small engineering family that lived next to the Rocky Mountains. Looking out onto nature was a mind exploration exercise for me.  It continues to bring perspective to my research work innovating new materials for automotive components.

Were there some faculty / courses that really had an impact on your experience? If so, how/which ones?

The Specialty Alloys with Professor Dimitry Sediako was an amazing learning experience for me. This course was a perfect combination of materials science knowledge, new technologies, and how to improve the properties of metallurgical materials in a practical way. I have also learned how to tune properties to what’s needed from a mechanical and materials science engineering perspective. I learned how amazing it feels to be part of a chain leading to building something spectacular.

Upon graduation, what was your plan?

I had my mind set on industry experience prior to graduation. Like a planner if you wish, and that’s why I was hungry to put my knowledge into practice. I have always been an admirer of applied research and project work where the outcome is measurable.

How did you find your current role?

Networking! I encourage students, and my peers, to keep in touch with industry professionals and classmates. You never know how well-established networks and valuable relationships can help you land that next job. I was referred to my current manager by a former engineering colleague.

Describe your role.

Using technical background, I support operations and product development initiatives within our manufacturing business. I do literature reviews and market studies to help keep the organization and team up to date with the latest technologies and evolving needs of our customers.

Overall, what would you say is the impact that UBC Okanagan and the School of Engineering has had on you?

UBC School of Engineering prepared me for the long run. All the training, lab experiences, and interactions with classmates helped me become a better version of myself (on a journey I am passionate about). I will always be grateful to all the faculty members and my supervisor, Dr. Dimitry Sediako, who challenged and inspired me to overcome obstacles – which has mirrored the challenges I face today as an engineer.