IBET fellowship will help advance PhD student's research

A chemical engineering doctoral student will further her climate change research at Waterloo Engineering as a recipient of the Indigenous and Black Engineering and Technology (IBET) Momentum Fellowship.

Iris Samputu, who was born and raised in Kenya, came to Canada in 2015 to attend the University of Ottawa where she completed a BASc and MASc in chemical engineering. Her MASc studies work focused on the development of membranes for carbon capture.

Samputu will continue her graduate research at Waterloo Engineering under the supervision of University Research Chair Xianshe Feng, a chemical engineering professor.

Iris Samputu, IBET Momentum Fellowship recipient

Launched last year and headed by Tiz Mekonnen, a Waterloo chemical engineering professor, the IBET PhD Project is supported by a partnership of 13 Canadian universities, including the University of Waterloo.

The objective of the project is to foster equitable and inclusive research environments to increase the presence of Indigenous and Black academics in STEM.

See Chemical engineering PhD student Iris Samputu wins the Indigenous and Black Engineering and Technology Momentum Fellowship for full story.