When Kay Awe (PhD Candidate) came to Canada from Nigeria seven years ago, it was December — and it was the first time he’d ever seen snow.
About to start his master’s in civil engineering, not even the harsh Canadian winter could deter him. “Waterloo was where I wanted to come,” he says. “It’s one of the best schools in engineering in Canada and I knew it would prepare me for the future.”
Today, the PhD candidate and Canadian citizen, who lives with his wife and their three kids — all under the age of five — says, “Canada is where I call home.”
Kay’s research with Dr. Mark Knight in the Department of Civil Engineering focuses on the design of trenchless pipe technology, a solution that minimizes the impact of water and wastewater infrastructure repairs by eliminating the need for disruptive digs and road closures. Working in a unique testing lab, Kay and his colleagues are studying ways to improve the strength and lifespan of cured-in-place pipes, which are formed inside existing underground infrastructure.
Kay plans to channel his research passion into a career as an industry consultant. But for now, he’s focused on completing his PhD, a journey that comes with competing demands on his time and significant financial pressures. Given those challenges and the fact that he started graduate studies as an international student, the support he’s received through the Retirees Bursary Fund has been a “lifeline.”
“I'm writing my dissertation right now, so in terms of impact, the bursary is helping me stay focused,” Kay says. “As a student, you have a lot of things you’re thinking about, and I have three kids on top of that. In your head, you want to make sure that everyone’s okay. Having financial support eases those worries. You know you don't need to worry about paying next month’s rent.”
