UOIT alumnus receives prestigious Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council grant
June 17, 2009
Samveg Saxena, a graduate of the Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) program at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT), has received a Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) of Canada Post-graduate Scholarship Award worth $42,000 to continue his post-graduate studies in Engineering and Science at the prominent University of California (UC), Berkeley in the United States.
Saxena, who graduated from UOIT in 2007, is currently in the second year of his PhD in Mechanical Engineering at UC Berkeley. The NSERC award will fund his continued studies in the program.
"I am delighted to be one of the recipients of this significant NSERC award as it will allow me to complete my PhD," said Saxena. "I would like to thank my professors and colleagues at UOIT who originally sparked my interest in Automotive Engineering. I am continuing to pursue this interest through my research here at Berkeley."
While completing his post-graduate studies, Saxena is investigating and developing the next generation of engine and propulsion technology by combining his major in Combustion with his two minors in Control Systems and Electrical Engineering.
"The goal of my research is to create the technology that will power the cars of the future, very close to UOIT's focus in their Automotive Engineering programs," added Saxena.
Saxena is also hoping to develop automotive technologies that have commercial potential while distinguishing himself as a leading researcher in the field. After completing his PhD, he hopes to secure a faculty position at an established university.
During his time at UOIT, Saxena achieved incredible success within the Mechanical Engineering program, receiving Canadian Millennium Scholarship Excellence Awards in 2005 and 2006. He also founded the Durham College-UOIT Solar Vehicle Team.
The NSERC Postgraduate Scholarships (PGS) Program provides financial support to exceptional students who are engaged in Master's or doctoral programs in engineering or natural sciences. This support allows these students to fully concentrate on their studies and to seek out the best research mentors in their chosen fields.
UOIT's Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science offers excellence in education, high-calibre and value-added research, and high-quality and innovative market-driven undergraduate and graduate programs in areas including Mechanical, Manufacturing, Automotive, Software and Electrical Engineering, along with five-year Engineering and Management variations. Many programs are unique to Ontario and even Canada, ensuring students are prepared to graduate as the country's next-generation engineers.
About Ontario Tech University
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