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Popular, hard-working, and elbow-deep in research projects.
These are just a few of the phrases the University of British Columbia Okanagan (UBCO) has used to described Professor Mina Hoorfar, UBCO’s Researcher of the Year.
Hoorfar is a professor in the School of Engineering and is the head of the Advanced Thermo-Fluidic Laboratory. A number of her current research projects include concepts that look at fluid mechanics, physical chemistry, biochemistry, electrochemistry, and advanced imaging. She has articled more than 60 peer-reviewed journal articles, 98 peer-reviewed conference proceedings, and has been a guest speaker at dozens of talk conferences.
While her academic and professional success is very evident, Professor and Associate Dean of the School of Engineering, Rehan Sadiq said it is Hoorfar dedication to her students that really makes her so exceptional.
“Mina is not only an exceptional scientist but a dedicated mentor and teacher,” said Sadiq.
“I have witnessed first-hand her strong commitment to the careers of her graduate students and lab members, always putting their advancement ahead of her own recognition.”
Hoorfar has worked in research laboratories across the world, including Harvard, MIT, Stanford, and UC Berkeley. Her teaching skills have been recognized by the Teaching Honour Roll several times, including the Mechanical Engineering Teacher of the Year Award in 2012 and 2013. In 2016, Hoorfar was the winner of the UBC Junior Faculty Teaching Excellence and Innovation Award.
Her passion for her work and her students is what has earned her the Researcher of the Year Award, said one of Hoorfar's former teaching assistants, Seyed Mohammad Rezaei Niya, who is now at Stanford University.
“I found her to be deeply passionate about her teaching and thoroughly dedicated to the process of her students,” said Niya.
“She loves teaching and her passion always motivates the student to their best in her courses.”
UBC Okanagan recognizes the top researchers on campus with a special ceremony each year. Hoorfar will be honoured along with Graduate Student Researcher of the Year, Evelyn Jensen and Undergraduate Student Researcher of the year, Cameron McDermid.
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