Four UBC Okanagan researchers have been recognized as some of the top research talent in Canada.
The four—Prof. John Braun, Assist. Prof. Joshua Brinkerhoff, Assist. Prof. Liwei Wang and Assist. Prof. Wesley Zandberg—will collectively see their research supported by $500,000 of Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) funding.
UBC as a whole was awarded $1.55 million of a $20 million total investment in research infrastructure across 33 Canadian universities. The announcement was made by the Honourable Harjit Sajjan at an event held today at UBC’s Vancouver campus.
“This investment by CFI is a testament to the quality of research taking place at UBC Okanagan,” says Deborah Buszard, UBC Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the Okanagan campus. “This funding will allow our researchers to take their projects to the next level and help the campus continue to attract the best and brightest to the Okanagan.”
Braun, a statistician, was awarded $67,423 for a data visualization library that will have applications for wildfire science.
Brinkerhoff, an engineering researcher who studies the behaviour of fluid flow in engines, the environment and the human body, was awarded $124,971 to create an advanced computing facility to study fluid flows in natural gas infrastructure and natural-gas fueled vehicles.
Wang, an electrical engineering researcher, was awarded $121,874 for the creation of a flexible power transmission laboratory for renewable energy.
Zandberg, a chemistry researcher, was awarded $250,000 toward a centre for plant glycoscience (the study of complex carbohydrates) and biotechnology.
“We are delighted that the superb research being performed at the Okanagan campus of UBC has been recognized with these four awards,” says Phil Barker, Vice-Principal Research. “This campus is on an amazing trajectory and the research intensity of the Kelowna campus continues to grow rapidly. This is an exciting place to be.”
