MECH Hosts Virtual Reception for Graduating Class

MECH Hosts Virtual Reception for Graduating Class

June 15, 2020

Congratulations to the class of 2020! We’re excited for you to celebrate your university achievements, and to embark on your next chapter and the bright future ahead.

If you couldn’t make the Virtual Graduation Reception and Awards Ceremony on June 11th you can watch the recording here, featuring words from Department Head Dr. Steve Feng, Dean James Olson, and Mechanical Engineering PhD Student and FlowO2 Respirator team member Sam Berryman, as well as a toast to the graduating class by Club Mech President Paige Ngo. Faculty members Dr. Sheldon Green, Dr. Tony Hodgson, Dr. Gary Schajer, Dr. Mike Van der Loos, Dr. Lyndia Wu, Dr. Agnes d’Entremont, Professor Jon Mikkelsen, and Lecturer Markus Fengler also offer their congratulatory messages to the class of 2020!

MECH Services Move Online

March 16, 2020

To support UBC’s social distancing protocols, many Mechanical Engineering employees are working remotely. While our Administrative and Student Services Office spaces are closed, both offices are fully available online. Our Machine Shop and Electronics Shop are also providing online services.  Please email us with your query!

General contacts are provided below, and for more detailed contact information, please visit our general Contact Us page or Faculty and Staff Directory.

Administrative Office

Online Hours: 8 AM – 4 PM, Monday to Friday

Finance:  finance@mech.ubc.ca
Human Resources:  hr@mech.ubc.ca
Facilities and Safety:  facilities@mech.ubc.ca

Student Services Office

Online Hours: 8 AM – 4 PM, Monday to Friday

General Student Services Enquiries: 
Email students@mech.ubc.ca or talk to an advisor:

  • Josy Austin: 604-619-9032
  • Sarah Clayton: 604-341-1162

Graduate Admissions:  admissions@mech.ubc.ca | 604-612-2389
Communications:  communications@mech.ubc.ca

Machine Shop

The Machine Shop is currently closed, but is accepting jobs to queue for when we reopen.  To access these services, please use the online submission form.

Please email Markus Fengler at mfengler@mech.ubc.ca with any Machine Shop enquiries.

Electronics Shop

The Electronics Shop is currently closed.  We are accepting design jobs and providing advice via email.

Sean Buxton (course work): sbuxton@mech.ubc.ca
Glenn Jolly (research work): gjolly@mech.ubc.ca
Usman Rizwan (MANU program inquiries): usman@mech.ubc.ca

Facilities and Safety

Department buildings are currently closed to students, faculty, and staff, except for those with specific approvals.  For information about building access, please email access@mech.ubc.ca. For all other questions about facilities or safety, please email facilities@mech.ubc.ca, and Jen Pelletier or Monica Clarkson would be happy to assist you.

 

More Information

UBC’s Response

Information, latest updates and FAQs are available at ubc.ca.  UBC has also put together a website dedicated to the University’s Coronavirus (COVID-19) at covid19.ubc.ca, which includes updates, information on prevention, and information for students, faculty & staff, as well as resources.

COVID-19 Information for APSC

Applied Science has gathered resources for Undergraduate Engineering Students, Faculty, and Staff at apsc.ubc.ca/covid-19.

Tri-Agency Canada Graduate Research Scholarships – Doctoral (CGRS D) – Apply by Sept 9, 2025

July 14, 2025

Tri-Agency Canada Graduate Research Scholarships – Doctoral (CGRS D)

As announced in March 2025, the Tri-Agencies have launched the new Harmonized Tri-Agency Scholarship and Fellowship program, the Canada Research Training Awards Suite (CRTAS). The inaugural doctoral student fellowship program, the Tri-Agency Canada Graduate Research Scholarships – Doctoral (CGRS D), is now open for applicants to the Fall 2025 competition (funding to commence in Fall 2026). The 2026-2027 Affiliated Fellowships – Doctoral competition will also be run in conjunction with the new CGRS D competition.

Both UBC’s internal webpage and the Tri-Agency program page have been updated with information on the new competition:

Important Changes

There are significant changes to the new competition, so please read the following information carefully:

1. What are UBC’s competition deadlines?

  • Applicant deadline to apply through UBC for the Tri Agency CGRS D and Affiliated Fellowships – Doctoral competitions is Tuesday, September 9, 2025 at 12:00 noon PT

2. How do students apply through UBC?

Applicants applying through UBC will either be:

  • currently registered in, or are on an approved leave of absence from, a degree program at UBC (domestic and international students).
  • not currently registered anywhere but were registered at any time during the year of application (2025) in a degree program at UBC (domestic students only).

Please consult the “Where to submit an application” section of the Application Procedures information on the CGRS D program page.

Applications will be submitted via each of the agency platforms, similar to the past application procedures for CGSD. The application portals are now open and applicants may begin preparing their applications:

3. How do apply for the Affiliated Fellowships – Doctoral Competition?

Applicants who are eligible for the CGRS D will be automatically considered for Affiliated Fellowships – Doctoral competition. There is no longer a separate application pathway for the Affiliated Fellowship competition; to be considered for Affiliated Fellowship funding, applicants must meet all eligibility requirements for the CGRS D and submit a CGRS D application.

To be considered for a selection of criteria-based Affiliated Fellowships, students should submit the checklist of criteria-based affiliated fellowships to their graduate program by the above application deadline. The checklist of criteria-based affiliated fellowships is available to download here: https://www.grad.ubc.ca/forms/list-criteria-based-affiliated-fellowships.

To submit the Affiliated Fellowship checklists, please email them to mech-admission@mech.ubc.ca.

4. New information for international students:

International students are now eligible to apply for Tri-Agency funding through the CGRS D.

Important Note: International students must be enrolled in their doctoral program of study at the time of application. International student applicants to the Fall 2025 CGRS D competition who are not registered in a PhD program at UBC for the fall 2025 term will be deemed ineligible.

International students who are commencing their programs in September 2025 and intending to apply for CGRS D are encouraged to register for the Winter term as soon as possible if they have not already done so.

5. Are there any changes to eligibility criteria?

The window of eligibility to apply to CGRS D has also expanded. To be eligible to apply, students must have completed no more than 36 months of full-time equivalent study in the doctoral program for which they are requesting funding by December 31, 2025.

For full eligibility criteria, please visit the CGRS D program page.

6. Reminder to students currently holding 4YF Awards

Students (both domestic and International) who are current holders of multi-year UBC-funded fellowships (such as 4YF) are required to apply to CGRS D in the fall competition, if they are eligible to do so.

7. What about the Vanier CGS program?

As of February 2025, the Vanier CGS competition has been discontinued. Applications for Vanier will no longer be accepted.

July 21 | Dr. Andrey Khlystov: Comprehensive Chemical and Physical Characterization of Wildfire Emissions

July 14, 2025

With wildfire seasons getting longer and more intense, understanding wildfire smoke properties has never been more critical for understanding its impact on environment and human health. In this talk, guest speaker Dr. Andrey Khlystov shares his research on fire emissions using both controlled lab burns and real-world field measurements.

UBC brings global maritime expertise to Vancouver for international OMAE Conference on ocean, offshore and arctic engineering

July 10, 2025

Global members of marine industry and academia come to Vancouver for the OMAE 2025 conference.

The week of June 22 to 27, 2025 over 780 marine engineering industry members from all over the world gathered in Vancouver for the 44th International Conference on Ocean, Offshore and Arctic Engineering (OMAE). Hosted by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), OMAE is the leading international conference connecting industry and academic research expertise, sharing new knowledge and innovation in ocean, offshore and arctic engineering fields with the global maritime community. This year’s conference was organized by marine engineering experts from the University of British Columbia’s Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering (NAME) Program, and departments of Mechanical Engineering and Civil Engineering, and was co-chaired by NAME Director Jon Mikkelsen and NSERC/Seaspan Research Chair Dr. Rajeev Jaiman. The Vancouver conference explored a broad range of technical topics, highlighting the areas of marine robotics and sustainability.

Maritime experts from across the globe connected at OMAE 2025.Held at the Vancouver Convention Centre, the five-day conference featured a variety of opportunities for guests to deepen their knowledge through paper presentations, lectures, and technical sessions, as well as connect with the international maritime community.  The opening ceremony featured a welcome from British Columbia Premier David Eby, and keynotes by Vancouver industry members and NAME program advisors Jim Carr (Senior VP of Engineering, Seaspan ULC) and Robert Allan (Naval Architect and UBC Adjunct Professor). An awards presentation recognized emerging researchers and best paper presentations.

Through the week, guests attended symposia exploring new technological developments ranging from shipbuilding topics like hull vibrations, materials, and propeller-ice interactions to sustainability advances such as harnessing offshore wind and wave energy, and buoyancy simulations enabling ocean plastic cleanup. A special session highlighted the contributions of leading hydrodynamics researcher UBC Professor Emeritus Sander Calisal. Short courses and technical sessions allowed participants to enhance their expertise, including a course on physics-based data driven modeling and machine learning by Dr. Jaiman and fellow NSERC/Seaspan Research Chair Dr. Jasmin Jelovica. Special lectures featured experts on topics like marine turbulent flow simulations and maritime energy guidance; as well as advancements in environmental monitoring, and managing ocean noise to protect marine mammals. Plenary panels featuring UBC faculty experts Dr. Adrienne Desjardins (Seaspan Chair in Robotics for Marine Vessels at UBC), Dr. Jaiman, and Adjunct Professor Dan McGreer as well as local and international speakers further explored environmental issues, discussing the topics AI and Marine Sustainability, and Sustainable Arctic Engineering.

Graduate student volunteers made connections with global maritime industry at OMAE 2025.More than a chance to connect with the latest advances in ocean engineering, the conference provided opportunities to build networks and inspire collaboration within the global maritime engineering community, showcasing Vancouver expertise to the world. In addition to conference-wide networking receptions, a special Robotics Networking Forum moderated by Dr. Desjardins connected industry members, researchers and students on this cutting-edge topic.  Conference volunteers from UBC research labs and graduate programs were able to make new connections with international industry and academia.

Next year, OMAE travels across the Pacific where attendees are invited to join the 45th conference in Tokyo, Japan from June 7-12, 2026. Abstract submissions are open until October 20, 2025.

OMAE Vancouver Organizing Committee

Conference Co-Chairs:

Jon Mikkelsen | Professor of Teaching and Director of the UBC Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering Program, UBC Mechanical Engineering

Rajeev Jaiman | Professor and NSERC/Seaspan Research Chair, UBC Mechanical Engineering

Petroleum Division Coordinator:
Ian Frigaard, Professor | UBC Mechanical Engineering

Short Course Coordinator:
Jasmin Jelovica | Associate Professor and NSERC/Seaspan Research Chair, UBC Mechanical Engineering & UBC Civil Engineering

Volunteer Coordinator:
Mohammed Hannan | Lecturer, UBC Mechanical Engineering

Industry Coordinator:
Bill Rawlings | Lecturer and Capstone Coordinator, UBC Mechanical Engineering

Industry Outreach Coordinators:

Ryozo Nagamune | Professor, UBC Mechanical Engineering

Patrick Kirchen | Associate Professor, UBC Mechanical Engineering

Adrien Desjardins | Professor, UBC Mechanical Engineering & UBC Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Seaspan Chair in Robotics for Marine Vessels at UBC

Coastal Engineering Expert:
Enda Murphy | Assistant Professor, UBC Civil Engineering

Finance and Management Coordinator:
Jen Pelletier | Senior Manager of Administration, UBC Mechanical Engineering


Photos by Demetrios Giannitsios.

Alumni Spotlight: Champion varsity rower now developing electric powertrains for aviation

July 9, 2025

This article is from UBC Applied Science Student and Alumni Spotlights.

“I realized I was more interested in applied science rather than just science on its own, particularly when I looked ahead to the many job options that are open to someone with a degree in applied science.”

Emma Starr

  • Degree: Bachelor of Applied Science
  • Grad year: 2021
  • Program: Mechanical Engineering
  • Campus: Vancouver
  • Job: Lead Test Integration Engineer, magniX

What got you interested in engineering?

I started out at UBC in the Faculty of Science with the intent to focus on environmental science. However, my enjoyment of first-year physics led me to consider engineering as an option. I realized I was more interested in applied science rather than just science on its own, particularly when I looked ahead to the many job options that are open to someone with a degree in applied science. 

How did you choose Mechanical Engineering?

I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do with my degree, so I chose Mechanical Engineering as it seemed to offer the greatest number of choices and the potential to keep as many doors open as possible.

Any highlights from your time at UBC?

MECH 2 is a series of five courses that all Mechanical Engineering students take in the second year of their program. It was great for gaining tangible technical, project management and practical skills in things like coding and CAD. The other project-based courses also stand out. 

MECH 2

Did you do co-op?

I didn’t do co-op but I did several internship and engineering-related jobs over the course of my degree. Two were related to mechanical engineering and one was a data analyst position. These jobs gave me good exposure to the kind of engineering work I was interested in.

You were very involved on the UBC Varsity rowing team. Tell us about it!

Being part of UBC’s Varsity Rowing team meant for an unconventional undergrad experience compared to other engineering students. For example, it was very hard to be part of evening study groups because I had to get up so early. I would wake up at 4:30 am to go to the boathouse to do a row, then head back to campus for a day’s worth of classes and then complete a second workout at the gym or on the rowing machine followed by assignments and studying.

It was gruelling work and required many sacrifices. However, I feel I am a better person for having been on the team while doing a challenging program. 

We created an environment centred on discipline and perseverance both on and off the water, and I’m proud that we came home from the Canadian University Rowing Championships with the banner in both 2018 and 2019 where I raced and won both the lightweight four and double. 

I also competed for the US at the 2019 World Rowing U23 Championships, winning bronze in the women’s lightweight quadruple sculls. Looking back at the progress I made over five years—from entering UBC never having touched an oar to being a part of multiple winning teams—I’m thankful that I never gave up.

Tell us about your life after graduating.

Within three months of graduating in 2021 I moved to Seattle to work at magniX, a startup that develops electric engines and batteries for airplanes and helicopters. I am working on the electric powertrains for two different aircraft applications.

I started out as a test engineer, doing full system integration testing. I then shifted into system engineering and am now back in test working as the lead test integration engineer. The majority of my last four years has been spent operating either a high power dynamometer to test the performance and functionality of our electric engine or what we call in aviation an “iron bird,” which is where the engine is mounted to a stationary propeller test rig in place of the aircraft.

The job also involves a lot of documentation writing about the scope of the test, the procedures, the specific set points we are interested in, and then afterwards pulling the data together, making conclusions about what we’ve seen and reporting back.

I’ve been fortunate to be a part of a wide variety of tests in this role, anywhere from individual component or battery cell tests all the way to ground and flight test campaigns, even getting to ride in the aircraft.

It’s a small company so there is a lot of cross-team interaction between design engineers, quality engineers, and manufacturing engineers.

What do you like best about your job?

I like that this job is different almost every day. Some days are focused on documentation, while others focus on high-level program plans for specific product applications. In general, I tend to gravitate to higher-level systems work and I like seeing how the different systems interact and trying to optimize the integration. 

It’s fun to be in that strategic thinking role, while still also having boots on the ground and actually running an engine test on the “dyno” and figuring out the root cause of any issues that arise.

Working in a small company also means I have exposure to lots of different realms rather than doing the same thing over and over again. Finally, I feel very lucky to be working at the cutting edge of this industry with some truly incredible people.

How long until planes and helicopters will be running on electric engines?

We are developing a full electric powertrain solution that includes both an electric engine and inverter package, as well as our Samson300 battery as the “energy storage system.” We have multiple variants of our electric engine that are intended for different platform; both 350kW and 650kW versions are designed for fixed-wing aircraft and our HeliStorm version is designed for helicopters.

We have already flown six different demonstrators, the first of which was the De Havilland eBeaver with Harbour Air flying over the Fraser River, and it felt very close to home given that I have spent thousands of hours rowing on that river!

It’s a long road to FAA certification, and rightly so, but I’m proud to be a part of the company leading the race and I’m hopeful that the entry into service for both the electric propulsion and energy storage solutions are not far away.

Anything else you want to share?

One thing I’ve found is that while technical skills are important, so too are organizational skills and team management skills.

It’s very valuable to develop those core skills early in your career, particularly when you are still developing your technical expertise, because sometimes they are what set you apart as an engineer.  

Find me on: LinkedIn

 

MECH Undergraduate Studies UBC Varsity Rowing

Defence: Shayan Jannati – July 30, 2025 | 9 AM | Zoom – Quantitative Analysis of Cell Mechanics with a Focus on Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs)

July 7, 2025

Student name: Shayan Jannati

Date:Wednesday, July 30, 2025

Time: 9:00 AM

Location: Zoom*

Title: Quantitative Analysis of Cell Mechanics with a Focus on Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs)

*Those who wish to attend should contact G+PS at graduate.doctoral@ubc.ca for the link.

Defence: Xinglong Huang – July 29, 2025 | 4 PM | CEME 2071 – Development and Applications of Light Field Microscopy Systems for On-Chip 3D Characterization of Dynamic Samples in Microfluidic Platforms

July 7, 2025

Student name: Xinglong Huang

Date: Tuesday, July 29, 2025

Time: 4:00 PM

Location: Room 2071 of the CEME Building (6250 Applied Science Lane)

Title: Development and Applications of Light Field Microscopy Systems for On-Chip 3D Characterization of Dynamic Samples in Microfluidic Platforms

Defence: Rahmi Ugras – July 21, 2025 | 12:30 PM | GSC 200 – Optimization of Clamping Conditions in Thin-Walled Part Machining

July 7, 2025

Student name: Rahmi Ugras

Date: Monday, July 21, 2025

Time: 12:30 PM

Location: Room 200 of the Graduate Student Centre (6371 Crescent Road)

Title: Optimization of Clamping Conditions in Thin-Walled Part Machining

Alumni Spotlight: From an interest in automotive mechanics to controls engineer at Blue Origin

June 24, 2025

This article is from UBC Applied Science Student and Alumni Spotlights.

Steve Zimmerman

  • Degree: Bachelor of Applied Science, Masters of Applied Science
  • Grad year: 2020
  • Program: Mechanical Engineering
  • Campus: Vancouver
  • Job: Modelling and Simulation Engineer, Blue Origin

What got you interested in engineering?

I always liked building things, and I also really enjoyed math. For awhile I thought of becoming an automotive mechanic, but I wanted a job that included more math. Engineering was a way for me to pursue both of these interests.

You did the Engineering Transfer Program – how was that experience for you?

When I applied to university, I was accepted into science at UBC but not engineering. Although I had an admissions offer to study engineering at a different university, I wanted to do engineering at UBC because I had heard great things about the program. I chose to do to the Engineering Transfer Program at Capilano University and then transfer into UBC for second year. I really enjoyed my year at Capilano: it was close to home and an easy decision financially. Also, the classes maxed out at around 30 students and the profs were outstanding.

Engineering Transfer Program

Any highlights from your time as an undergraduate at UBC?

Many Mechanical Engineering courses – starting with MECH 2 – require you to spend a lot of time in the machine shop.

It’s very valuable to go through the hard and challenging process of actually fabricating things yourself, figuring out why initial concepts might not have worked and then redesigning as needed.

My involvement with UBC AeroDesign is another example of the satisfaction that comes from building things. The team designs and builds remotely controlled airplanes and drones.

I initially joined as a team member and then progressed to being captain when we designed and build a 50-pound airplane that we entered into a heavy-lift competition in the US.

To be honest, being part of this team was an insane amount of work. But it was a fantastic opportunity to gain very solid project experience. That generates certain advantages and can help you stand out when applying for jobs, but more importantly, it’s really just a lot of fun.

As team captain, I also learned a lot about the non-technical aspects of engineering and what it takes to manage people and build a great team. Those skills have also been very useful in my career.

Tell us about your decision to do a master’s degree.

I had really enjoyed an undergraduate research project I did in fourth year, and I decided to stay on at UBC to do a master’s degree to continue on with elements of that project. I was working Steve Rogak’s Aerosol Laboratory on an application of machine learning with drones. The basic idea was to create a machine learning algorithm that could turn a drone into a wind sensor capable of estimating wind velocity.

Where are you working now?

After I finished my master’s degree I got a job at Blue Origin in Seattle where I am a controls engineer. I really enjoy the technical problem-solving nature of my job, which enables me to integrate core mechanical engineering principles with elements of software engineering design.

Any advice for new students?

I would definitely recommend getting involved in student design teams and co-op – both are great ways to gain experience. I also recommend grad school if there’s an area that you are particularly interested in and want to explore it at a deeper level.

Find me on: LinkedIn

Student Design Teams   MECH Undergraduate Studies  MECH Graduate Studies

Defence: Hamed Nikookar – July 17, 2025 | 12 PM | Zoom – Characterizing the structure of post-flame agglomerated soot using simulations and experiments

June 16, 2025

Student name: Hamed Nikookar

Date: Thursday, July 17, 2025

Time: 12:00PM

Location: Zoom*

Title: Characterizing the structure of post-flame agglomerated soot using simulations and experiments

*Those who wish to attend should contact G+PS at graduate.doctoral@ubc.ca for the link.

Order of the White Rose (undergraduate or graduate) – Apply by June 17

June 11, 2025

Order of the White Rose

The Applied Science EDI.I Office is now seeking nominations for the Order of the White Rose — a prestigious award for exceptional women in engineering. The Order of the White Rose is an annual Canada-wide scholarship program with a leadership development support. Initiated by Polytechnique Montreal, this program is made possible thanks to the support of the Philanthropic Circle of the Order of the White Rose. Applicants must be nominated by their home institution – please see UBC application details below.

The scholarship is open to is open to women in engineering and graduates of any engineering undergraduate program who are planning to pursue an MASc or PhD in engineering.

Details

  • Amount: $50,000
  • UBC Deadline: June 17, 2025, at 15:00 (3:00 pm) Pacific Standard Time (PST).

How to Apply

UBC can nominate up to three candidates for the Order of the White Rose. To be considered, please email your electronic application to ea.assist@apsc.ubc.ca using the subject line format: Order of the White Rose – [Last Name, First Name]. The top three applicants will receive a letter of support from Dean James Olson.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the scholarship, the candidate must, as of the application submission deadline at her home institution, be:

  • Self-identify as a woman;
  • Be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident;
  • Be a graduate of an engineering program at a Canadian university and have completed her bachelor’s degree in December 2024, or be in the process of completing it in May or August 2025;
  • Have enrolled, or in the process of enrolling, in a graduate studies program in engineering (master’s or PhD) to begin the year after receiving her bachelor’s degree. As of June 17, 2025, the candidate must send proof of enrolment to orderwhiterose@polymtl.ca. 

For more eligibility and application information, please visit EDI.I Awards, click on either Undergraduate or Graduate Awards, and find The Order of the White Rose.