Asked to describe her work, Dr. Lisa Tobber says “I study how buildings will behave in earthquakes and then develop solutions to make them behave better.” Her research on structural systems is making our cities safer, more resilient and more sustainable.

Why did you decide to study engineering?
I was always good in problem-solving but had little idea of what engineering was all about. After high school I worked at a construction company, initially as a secretary and then in the accounting division. I loved talking to the engineers and kept offering input on their projects, which led them to ask me why I wasn’t planning to be an engineer and encouraging me to do so. After completing Chemistry 12 online, I was accepted into a one-year transfer program at Kwantlen, where I graduated at the top of my class and transferred to UBC for second year. I did an undergraduate research project with a professor in structural engineering that got me hooked on my current area of focus. I discovered I had an aptitude for engineering and research, along with a desire to solve really hard problems.
Engineering Transfer Options Research Work Experience
How do you do this research?
I lead the Advanced Structural Simulation and Experimental Testing (ASSET) Group. My research lab looks like a large industrial warehouse, with a big crane, strong floors and reaction walls.
“We basically take various elements of a building and exert forces on them until they fail. We then use the information we’ve gathered to develop computer models that simulate different building structures and natural disaster scenarios.”
It can take weeks to run some of these computer simulations to see what happens to major structural systems under really complicated loads.
Another challenging factor is that every building is unique – it’s not like you do one design and then roll it out for all buildings as you do in designing a Ford-150 truck, for example. Even if you did have the exact same design, each building is located in a unique environment and on specific soil, which will have an impact on its performance and needs to be taken into consideration.
What courses do you teach?
At the undergrad level, I teach a second-year civil engineering course on the theory of structures, as well as a fourth-year course on precast concrete structures.
You mentioned an influential undergraduate research project. Do you have undergrads working in your lab?
Yes. Instead of a co-op term, students can work in my lab on a research project. They’ll typically work with a graduate student on testing, doing drawings or conducting literature reviews. This sees them working on interesting projects and learning cutting-edge technology.
ASSET Group website Research Work Experience
Anything else you want to share?
Engineering is a great four-year professional degree. Even if you are considering other professions – like teaching, medicine, architecture, law or virtually anything else that requires additional schooling beyond undergrad – why not get an engineering degree first? You’ll become really good at solving problems, which is a skill you can use in any field. I know some people who did engineering followed by a law degree and are now in high demand in patent, technology and construction law. A strong applied science background can also set you up for success in business, management and politics. Our province’s Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness is an alumna of UBC Civil Engineering.