News + Events

Read the latest announcements, media mentions and news for the Department of Mechanical Engineering. View all news here.

Message from the President: Support for those impacted by the tragedy at Vancouver’s Lapu-Lapu Day Festival Apr 28, 2025
Our thoughts are with the victims of the tragedy at the Lapu-Lapu Day festival in Vancouver that took at least 11 lives and injured many more, as well as with Vancouver’s Filipino community and all those affected. We encourage all who need them to access supports available at UBC and off-campus. Read the statement by […]

APSC Capstone Project Spotlight – Sleep Stickies: Designing A Portable EEG Device For Children Apr 22, 2025
This Capstone Project Spotlight was originally published by UBC’s Faculty of Applied Science. Alycia Cheng, Elizabeth, Bhavita Jindal, Dainelle Morales, Kendall Mooney, Lindy Shi Community Partner: Dr. Lyndia Wu, Department of Mechanical Engineering Degree: Bachelor of Applied Science Program: Mechanical Engineering Campus: Vancouver Our project EEG (electroencephalography) devices are used to diagnose and monitor epilepsy, sleep disorders, brain […]

Dr. Ahmad Mohammadpanah awarded Killam Teaching Prize Apr 15, 2025
Recognizing his exceptional teaching and commitment to providing students with a dynamic, engaging and inclusive learning experience, Mechanical Engineering lecturer Dr. Ahmad Mohammadpanah has been awarded a 2024/25 Killam Teaching Prize. Recipients are nominated by their students, colleagues and alumni in acknowledgement of their excellence in teaching. As an instructor in UBC’s Mechanical Engineering and […]

Dr. Naomi Zimmerman nominated for YWCA Women of Distinction Awards Mar 05, 2025
Congratulations to Associate Professor Naomi Zimmerman on being nominated in the 42nd Annual YWCA Women of Distinction Awards in the category, “Research, the Sciences & Technology.” These awards recognize the extraordinary contributions of women in Metro Vancouver across ten categories, and seek to inspire change by celebrating the impact of outstanding women leaders. Involving local […]

UBC engineering professor appointed Seaspan chair to advance innovation in marine sector Nov 27, 2024
UBC’s Faculty of Applied Science and Seaspan Shipyards are pleased to announce a new faculty chair position with a focus on marine innovation in robotics and autonomy. As UBC's new Seaspan Chair in Robotics for Marine Vessels, Dr. Adrien Desjardins plans to use his expertise in sensing and robotics to develop innovations technologies for underwater environments.

Graduate Student Spotlight: MASc student Jess Tran is researching equity and social justice in informal engineering education Nov 20, 2024
Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies interviews Mechanical Engineering MASc student Jess Tran about choosing to pursue graduate studies, research investigating engineering pedagogies and social justice, and what the UBC graduate student experience is like.

Alumni Spotlight: Engineering – A Career Path That Powers Possibilities Nov 18, 2024
This article is from UBC Engineering Student and Alumni Spotlights. “I had a real sense of pride that I was working on products that save people’s lives. That’s something that engineering instills in you: that your job is to protect the public.” Polly Zou Degree: Bachelor of Applied Science Program: Mechanical Engineering Campus: Vancouver Job: Associate, McKinsey & […]

View past news here.

Learn about upcoming events, department tours, and expert seminars.

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  9th May 2025 | 1:00:pm
  CERC Seminar – Dr. Tonio Buonassisi | Fast-Tracking Sustainability: Accelerating Innovation with Computation and Automation
  In this CERC Seminar, Prof. Tonio Buonassisi (MIT) explores effort to accelerate research development through the lens of sustainability. While the promise of accelerated discovery is attracting growing interest and investment, realizing meaningful progress demands a strategic, long-term perspective — one that integrates infrastructure, research, and education in a coordinated way.

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  15th May 2025 | 1:00:pm
  Seminar – Dr. Shantanu Jathar | Studying the Emissions and Chemistry of Fire Aerosols: From Pyrolysis to Photochemical Reactors and Pile Burns to Plumes
  Distinguished Colloquium speaker Dr. Shantanu Jathar (CSU) explores fire aerosols and their atmospheric evolution across different spatial and temporal scales. He shares work from laboratory, field, and modeling studies aimed at understanding fire emissions, chemistry, and properties.

Upcoming Defences

Defences held in person are open to the public. Exams held via Zoom are listed here for information only and meeting details are not included; members of the public wishing to attend must contact graduate.doctoral@ubc.ca.

Defence: Pan Deng – May 21, 2025 | 1:30 PM | Zoom
Nanowell-Based Single Cell Imaging Assays to Investigate NETosis, Motility, and Drug Screening Candidate: Pan Deng Date: Wednesday, May 21, 2025 Time: 1:30 PM Location: Zoom Attendees should contact G+PS for the link.

Defence: Shenliang Yang – May 13, 2025 | 12 PM | CEME 1203
Modeling of Residual Stresses in Combined Additive Manufacturing and Machining Processes Candidate: Shenliang Yang Date: Tuesday, May 13, 2025 Time: 12:00 PM Location: CEME 1203 (6250 Applied Science Lane)

Defence: Sanyogita Manu – Apr 14, 2025 | 9:30 AM | TSC 103, Third Space Commons
A Systematic Investigation of Indoor Environmental Conditions, Worker Well-Being, and Performance in Work-from-Home Settings Candidate: Sanyogita Manu Date: Monday, April 14, 2025 Time: 9:30 AM Location: TSC 103, Third Space Commons (6363 Biological Sciences Rd)

Defence: Mrinmoy Chakraborty – Mar 20, 2025 | 9:00 AM | Zoom
An Indoor-Outdoor Assessment the Sources and Impacts of Air Pollution in Rural India: Linking Low-Cost Measurement, Modelling and Impact Assessment Candidate: Mrinmoy Chakraborty Date: Thusday, March 20, 2025 Time: 9:00 AM Location: Zoom Attendees should contact G+PS for the link 

Defence: Mohamed Hendy – Dec 9, 2024 | 12:30 PM | Room 200: Graduate Student Centre
Multi-scale Multi-physics Compositional Study of Energy Materials Candidate: Mohamed Hendy Date: Monday, December 9, 2024 Time: 12:30 PM Location: Room 200 of the Graduate Student Centre (6371 Crescent Road)

See recent calls for applications to graduate awards. View all awards and funding here.

Call for Nominations: Dean’s Graduate Awards | Deadline: May 30, 2025
The Dean’s Office has released the date for this year’s Faculty of Applied Science Dean’s Graduate Awards.   Please note that applications to these awards require a nomination letter. Nominations may come from a variety of individuals depending on the award guidelines which differ for each award. Please review the eligibility and document requirements carefully.  For […]

Spring Graduate Awards Competition – Apply by May 5, 2025
A number of university awards for the upcoming academic year are available to current and incoming graduate students.  The maximum value of funding that can be offered to a student is $16,000, or up to $22,000 for the #491 Rick Hansen “Man in Motion” Fellowship, or $25,000 for the #6495 Andrew Nord Fellowships in Rheumatology […]

British Columbia Graduate Scholarship (BCGS) – MASc & PhD – Apply by May 5, 2025
The province of British Columbia has funded BC Graduate Scholarships (BCGS) in any field of study, with emphasis on research in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields, and support for Indigenous students. Please find the details at the following site: https://www.grad.ubc.ca/awards/british-columbia-graduate-scholarship Scholarship Value: $17,500 for one year Eligibility: Must be Canadian citizens or Permanent […]

Tri-Agency CGS Michael Smith Foreign Study Supplements (MSFSS) – Spring Competition – Apply by May 16, 2025
CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC CGS Michael Smith Foreign Study Supplements – Spring 2025 Competition The Canada Graduate Scholarships – Michael Smith Foreign Study Supplement (CGS-MSFSS) Program supports high-caliber Canadian graduate students in building global linkages and international networks through the pursuit of exceptional research experiences at research institutions abroad. By accessing international scientific research and training, CGS-MSFSS […]

Schmidt Science Fellowships: Apply by April 9, 2025
The Schmidt Science Fellows program provides the world’s best emerging scientists with new skills and perspectives to develop novel solutions to society’s challenges, become scientific and societal thought leaders, and accelerate ground-breaking discoveries.  The program is looking for the brightest minds in the natural sciences, mathematics, engineering, and computing who are interested in broadening their […]

RCAF Scholarships (undergraduate or graduate) – Applications Open Apr 22
Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) Foundation Scholarships open on April 22, 2025. Visit https://rcaffoundation.ca/student-scholarships for detailed information on how to apply. Designed to support Canada’s future aviation and aerospace leaders, these $1,000 scholarships are open to students 25 years old or younger who are entering or currently enrolled in a post-secondary institution in Canada. The scholarships aim to encourage […]

Google PhD Fellowship – Apply by Apr 7, 2025
Google PhD Fellowship The Google PhD Fellowship Program was created to recognize outstanding PhD graduate students doing exceptional work in computer science and related fields. The fellowship provides full tuition and fees (enrollment fees, health insurance, books) plus a stipend to be used for living expenses, travel and personal equipment for up to three years. […]