Celebrating our Fall 2024 FAS Graduands

October 07, 2024
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Congratulations to all of our Fall 2024 grads! Meet Elaheh Hantoosh Zadeh, one of our many amazing SEE students who will be crossing the stage this October.

ELAHEH HANTOOSH ZADEH

MASc, School of Sustainable Energy Engineering

Tell us about yourself.

When I moved to B.C. in 2021, I was blown away by the natural beauty and the effort people and the government put into preserving it. That inspired me to use my background in chemical engineering to focus on designing more sustainable energy systems. When I discovered the brand-new Sustainable Energy Engineering program at SFU, it felt like the perfect fit, and I was thrilled to be accepted for my master's.

What was a highlight from your time at SFU?

During the winter semester, we had a class at the Burnaby campus, and afterward, my friends and I would hang out around the fire pit, roasting marshmallows and relaxing for a while. I really loved those moments because I was facing a challenging part of my thesis at that time, and spending time with my friends always helped me clear my head. It was a great time to not only unwind but also chat about ideas and get some fresh perspectives.

How has your experience at SFU prepared you for your career path?

During my research, I had the chance to train with the staff at 4D Labs, and one of the highlights was learning to use electron microscopes. It quickly became one of my favorite tools! Seeing the fancy details of various materials under a microscope has been a fun and exciting experience. Becoming proficient with the machine has greatly benefited both my research and my career.

What advice would you like to share to students in their first year?

No matter what your major is, I'd really recommend learning Python for basic data processing. You never know when you'll need to work with data, and being able to manage it efficiently can save you a ton of time in the future!

What are your current plans?

I recently started working full-time as a scientist at a startup that's focused on developing water electrolyzers for hydrogen production. My role involves studying and testing different materials to evaluate their efficiency in the electrolysis process.

What was your research focus?

My research focused on improving the durability of proton exchange membrane fuel cells by studying how different driving conditions affect their long-term performance in heavy-duty applications. The insights from this work can help design more reliable fuel cell electric vehicles, bringing us closer to making them a reality on the road.

View some of Elaheh's most memorable moments at SFU: