Fatemeh Razavi with representatives from PEO, an organization supporting women's educational opportunities
Mechanical engineering PhD candidate, Fatemeh Razavi, has recently received one of two scholarships from the Computational Fluid Dynamics Society of Canada (CFDSC). She received the award at the joint meeting of the Canadian Society for Mechanical Engineering (CSME) and the CFDSC at Western University in London, Ontario from June 2-5, 2019.
For her research, Razavi simulates the flow of solid particles and fluid through sand screen devices in oil recovery equipment.
"I focus on the individual pores in the filter and I investigate multi-particle bridging, which is when the particles stack on top of each other and form a bridge across the open pores of a filter. These bridges keep more sand out while still allowing the fluid to pass through," she explains.
Because these bridges increase the efficiency and efficacy of the filters, Razavi studies the physics of the phenomenon.
"My work can contribute to the design of filters to ensure that this bridging phenomenon happens."
Award winners were announced during dinner one night at the conference.
"I was already happy," says Razavi, "because I was eating dessert and then they called my name. It was a really nice moment."
When Razavi returned from London after receiving her scholarship, she was met with another pleasant surprise.
"Last year I applied for but didn't get a scholarship through an organization called, PEO, the Philanthropic Educational Organization," says Razavi. "But when I got back from the conference, one of the woman called me and just asked me for coffee."
PEO was founded in 1869 to encourage women as they pursued various educational opportunities. Today the organization "exists to be a source of encouragement and support for women to realize their potential in whatever worthwhile endeavor they choose."
When Razavi's contact at PEO asked for coffee, she accepted. "They're lovely people so I said sure."
Little did Razavi know that the purpose of the meeting was to present her with a small award from the PEO.
"I was just so surprised," she says. "I was happy enough just to see them for a coffee!"
Razavi is supervised by Drs. Carlos Lange and Alexandra Komrakova.
"We are just so proud of her," says Dr. Komrakova. "It's great that she's been recognized like this. She does such good work."
For herself, Razavi thinks the rewards recognize more than just her work in the lab.
"I do a lot of volunteer work," she says. "I lead APEGA's diversity committee and the outreach committee of APEGA's Edmonton branch. I think that makes a big difference to my scholarship applications."
For this grad student, what goes around, has come around.