Maryam Soleimani, a senior PhD candidate in the Department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering, has received three prestigious awards: two CWB Foundation Graduate Scholarships and the Nanofellowship Award.
Every year, the CWB Foundation presents an award to a graduate student from across Canada in the field of welding, based on academic excellence and demonstrated commitment to pursuing a career in materials joining and allied technologies. Maryam has been awarded the CWB Foundation Graduate Scholarship for the year 2025 for the second time during her studies, making her the first student to receive this honour twice, with the first award granted in 2023. She has also received the Nanofellowship Award in 2024, which is given to current master’s and doctoral students at the University of Waterloo for outstanding research in the field. Maryam earned this recognition for her contributions to publishing high-quality research papers in the field of nanotechnology engineering.
Maryam has always aspired to solve real-world problems and contribute to innovations that enhance the lives of others. This type of curiosity has driven her to become an engineer. Her research focuses on advanced materials and laser processing to develop technologies that support industrial innovation, miniaturization, and sustainability. This impact can translate into enhancing manufacturing techniques, energy devices, and improving material performance in critical applications.
“Receiving these awards has been a great source of encouragement and recognition. It has strengthened my confidence in my academic path and reminded me that my research is meaningful. It means a lot to be acknowledged by the CWB Foundation and the Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology, and it motivates me to continue contributing to the field of materials engineering.” says Maryam.
She also credits her supervisors, Drs. Norman Zhou, Peng Peng, and Walter Duley in the Centre for Advanced Materials Joining (CAMJ) for helping her explore important research in laser processing and nanojoining.
Maryam is currently in the final stage of pursuing her PhD studies and is committed to continuing impactful research that bridges materials science and advanced manufacturing.
Congratulations, Maryam on your exceptional achievements!