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.