Samira Gharehkhani

Research Description

I obtained my Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering -Thermofluids- from the University of Malaya in 2016. My Ph.D. research was focused on studying the flow characteristics of suspensions containing micro/nano sustainable fibers. Before joining the University of Victoria, I held several postdoctoral appointments at different universities including the University of British Columbia, Imperial College London, Lakehead University, and the University of Tehran.

My research interests center around the development of sustainable advanced materials for energy and environmental applications. I have published over 20 peer-reviewed papers and received various awards. Notable, I am a recipient of Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions individual fellowship (H-2020, fabrication of green miniaturized energy storage devices).

Teaching and Mentoring

On the teaching side, I teach courses in the field of thermal-fluid sciences. I prioritize fairness in my interaction with my students and I believe that all students regardless of their gender, and nationality can become successful engineers/scientists through engagement, encouragement, and appropriate support. In addition, most students learn much better if there is a real-world application to the knowledge being presented. These are the key elements in advanced pedagogies and training the next generation of engineers. To this end, I aim to offer real-world applications for the theory, create engagement opportunities in my class, and evaluate their effects on student success.

As a Female immigrant who studied and worked in different countries, I am very well aware of the challenges that ethnic minorities face in academia. I believe that academia must continually strive to expand diversity with a more inclusive approach- welcoming and embracing different socioeconomic, ethnic, and gender groups. This has motivated me to plan and act toward building a more inclusive environment for underrepresented minorities and women in academia.