An engineering master’s candidate has been awarded one of two scholarships awarded to civil engineering students in Ontario.
Michelle Liu was honoured with a $2,500 Manuel Fine scholarship from the Deep Foundations Institute’s (DFI’s) educational trust.
While working on her undergraduate degree in civil engineering at the University of Waterloo, Liu became interested in the environmental challenges faced in northern communities. As a graduate student, she is now focusing her research on the impact of surface material type on the rate of downward heat transfer in permafrost soil.
Civil engineering master's student Michelle Liu
Established in 2013, the scholarship Liu received is provided by a fund that honours Manuel Fine, a University of Toronto graduate who served DFI for 24 years in a variety of roles, including trustee, president and executive director.
Last year, Liu was recognized by the City of Waterloo for her volunteer and leadership contributions throughout the community. She volunteers up to 40 hours a month in several different roles on and off-campus, including as secretary of the local Professional Engineers Ontario chapter.