Metals and Materials Engineering Prof. Indira Samarasekera, director of UBC’s
Centre for Metallurgical Process Engineering and university co-ordinator for
the Canada Foundation for Innovation, has been named vice-president, Research.
“Indira has an innovative mind and is a well-recognized spokesperson for the
importance of research across an array of disciplines,” says UBC President Martha
Piper. “She has a strong understanding of the importance of university research
to Canada’s social and economic development.”
Upon assuming the position May 1, 2000 Samarasekera’s responsibilities will
include developing, promoting and administering research at the university and
establishing local, national and international partnerships.
She takes over from acting vice-president, Chemistry Prof. David Dolphin.
Samarasekera’s research excellence has been recognized with numerous international
awards and honours including being named a fellow of the Royal Society of Canada
and receiving the E.W.R. Steacie Fellowship from the Natural Sciences and Engineering
Research Council of Canada.
In 1997 she was awarded the B.C. Science Council Award for New Frontiers in
Research. UBC has awarded her the Killam Prize and the Charles A. McDowell Award
for research achievements.
Her research interest lies in the area of heat transfer and stress analysis
related to the continuous casting and hot rolling of steel. She holds the Dofasco
Chair in Advanced Steel Processing at UBC.
Samarasekera joined the Faculty of Applied Science in 1980. She served as
acting head of the Metals and Materials Engineering Dept. in 1998.
A member of the Council of the National Research Council of Canada, Samarasekera
is also a fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering.
