UBC Engineering projects awarded over $6M in NSERC Alliance grants 

Twenty-two research projects led by UBC Engineering researchers have collectively been awarded over $6 million in Alliance grants from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada’s (NSERC), the Government of Canada announced today. 

Launched in April 2019, the Alliance grants program aims to "generate new knowledge and accelerate the application of research results to create benefits for Canada" by supporting research projects led by "strong, complementary, collaborative teams" of university researchers and partner organizations from the private, public or not-for-profit sectors. 

By doing so, the program also aims to "contribute to Canada’s long-term competitiveness; support public policy; and train new researchers in areas that are important to Canada and to the partner organizations."

“Our Government remains committed to supporting Canada’s researchers as part of our vision for science," said the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry. "With the Alliance grants program, our government is helping to bring together the full range of Canada’s expertise across sectors and enabling the development of new opportunities that will help turn promising research into real benefits for Canadians.”

Twenty-seven UBC projects have been awarded a total of $6.6 million in Alliance grant funding from NSERC between April 2019 and December 31, 2020. For a full list of these projects, please see the announcement on the UBC Research + Innovation website.

The UBC Engineering-led projects are: 

Abolmaesumi, Purang (Electrical and Computer Engineering)
Next-generation of non-destructive testing of composites using advanced ultrasound imaging
Partner: Boeing Company
NSERC Funding: $41,904

Alam, Shahria (School of Engineering)
Sustainable recycled wood ash-based mortar and concrete from production to large-scale application
Partner: Fawdry Homes Ltd., M & K Ready Mix, Tolko Industries Ltd
NSERC Funding: $144,000

Arjmand, Mohammad (School of Engineering)
Synthesis of Graphene Nanomaterials and Development of Their Multifunctional Polymer Nanocomposites
Partner: ZEN
NSERC Funding: $480,000

Berlinguette, Curtis (Chemical and Biological Engineering)
Solid-State Light Ion Fusion
Partner: Google Inc.
NSERC Funding: $449,349

Berlinguette, Curtis (Chemical and Biological Engineering)
Renewable diesel production using a low-pressure flow reactor
Partner: Suncor Energy Inc.
NSERC Funding: $760,000

Bichler, Lukas (School of Engineering)
Using graphene for the development of novel aluminum alloys with high thermal conductivity and mechanical properties
Partner: Nemak, ZEN
NSERC Funding: $450,000

Brinkerhoff, Joshua (School of Engineering)
Evaluation of Turbulent Heat Transfer Enhancement in Steam-Cracking Furnace Tubes with Modified Internal Textures
Partner: Quantiam Technologies Inc.
NSERC Funding: $222,332

Brinkerhoff, Joshua (School of Engineering)
Reduced-Order Models of Wind Farm Blockage and Far-Field Wake Recovery
Partner: Underwriters Laboratories Inc.
NSERC Funding: $96,875

Chen, Yu Christine (Electrical and Computer Engineering)
Integrated Design and Operation of Efficient and Resilient Shipboard Electric Power Systems
Partner: ABB Inc., Canadian Coast Guard, Corvus Energy Ltd., Royal Canadian Navy, Vard Electro Canada, Vard Marine Inc.
NSERC Funding: $813,334

Ivanov, Andre (Electrical and Computer Engineering)
ML-Based Techniques for Physical Design Automation of SoCs
Partner: Huawei Technologies Canada Co., Ltd.
NSERC Funding: $90,000

Liu, Jian (School of Engineering)
Nanoscale surface coating to enable stable and sendrite-free Zn anode for rechargeable aqueous Zn-ion batteries
Partner: MGX Minerals Inc.
NSERC Funding: $90,000

Mérida, Walter (Mechanical Engineering)
Hydrogen production via water electrolysis at high temperature and pressure
Partner: Carbon Engineering Ltd.
NSERC Funding: $294,530

Militzer, Matthias (Materials Engineering)
Effect of Scale on Runout Table Heat Transfer
Partner: ArcelorMittal Dofasco Inc.
NSERC Funding: $96,000

Najjaran, Homayoun (School of Engineering)
Integration of AI into Manufacturing Execution System (IMES)
Partner: NTWIST Inc.
NSERC Funding: $240,000

Pawlik, Marek (Norman B. Keevil Institute of Mining Engineering)
Surface chemistry of froth flotation of lead-zinc-arsenic-antimony ores
Partner: Eldorado Gold Corporation
NSERC Funding: $75,000

Peleato, Nicolas (School of Engineering)
Assessment of ultraviolet disinfection for unfiltered water supplies
Partner: Regional District of North Okanagan, WSP Canada Inc.
NSERC Funding: $59,146

Ponga, Mauricio (Mechanical Engineering)
Enhancing capabilities of Run of River facilities through computational modelling and experimental validation
Partner: Sea to Sky Energy Solutions Corp.
NSERC Funding: $48,000

Servati, Peyman (Electrical and Computer Engineering)
Green roll-to-roll manufacturing of low-cost, high-performance large-area flexible electronics
Partner: TF Massif
NSERC Funding: $908,820

Tesfamariam, Solomon (School of Engineering)
Resilient-Timber Building Incorporating Energy Dissipators: Analytical and Experimental Tests
Partner: Forestry Innovation Investment Ltd, Structurlam Mass Timber Corp.
NSERC Funding: $132,000

Wang, Liwei (School of Engineering)
Distributed maximum power point tracking and internal fault detection technologies for solar PV-powered roadways  
Partner: Solar Earth Technologies Ltd.
NSERC Funding: $76,800

Yang, Tony (Civil Engineering)
Seismic behaviour of tall reinforced masonry shear walls
Partner: Canada Masonry Design Centre, Can. Concrete Masonry Producers Assoc.
NSERC Funding: $241,920

Ziels, Ryan (Civil Engineering)
Developing a platform for rapid online DNA monitoring of microbial communities in wastewater treatment systems
Partner: Metro Vancouver
NSERC Funding: $224,000