Fitsum Tariku, PhD
Bachelor’s Degree (Mechanical Engineering)
Master’s Degree (Mechanical Engineering)
PhD (Building Engineering)
Professor and BCIT Research Chair in Advanced Building Technology
Canada Research Chair (Two-terms, 2011 – 2022)
Director, Building Science Centre of Excellence
Director, Building Science Graduate Program
Dr. Tariku is a BCIT Research Chair in Advanced Building Technology, the Director of the Building Science Centre of Excellence, the founder and Director of the Building Science Graduate program at BCIT, an adjunct professor at Western University, and NSERC Canada Research Chair in Whole-Building Performance (2011-2022). Dr. Tariku has extensive research experience in building performance analysis, measurements, and numerical modeling. Dr. Tariku’s research interests include advanced and sustainable building materials, high-performance building envelope systems, whole-building performance optimization and decision-making, integration of advanced building technologies, net-zero building design and operation, retrofitting and decarbonization of existing buildings, and urban building physics. Dr. Tariku’s research program goal is to develop frameworks for designing buildings that are energy efficient, durable, economical to build and operate, environmentally friendly, and provide comfortable and healthy indoor air quality to occupants. Dr. Tariku has published over 100 scientific publications in the building science field, and he has developed various computer simulation tools and state-of-the-art research facilities at BCIT. Dr. Tariku had contributed to three IEA/EBC-sponsored international research projects, namely Annex 41, Annex 55, and Annex 68, where he contributed as co-subtask leader of “Field measurements and case studies”. He has been serving as editorial board member, guest editor, and member of the board of directors in local and international associations. Dr. Tariku is an active participant in three ASHRAE and two ASTM Technical Committees.
Rodrigo Mora, PhD, PEng
Bachelor’s Degree (Civil Engineering)
Master’s Degree (Building Engineering)
PhD (Building Engineering)
Faculty
Throughout his professional and academic career Dr. Mora’s work has focused on investigating methods to improve the integration of building systems to optimize performance. His work leverages on the inherently integrative nature of building science to help design environment responsive buildings. In particular, he is investigating occupant-responsive indoor environmental systems that operate in harmony with the outdoor environment. His research methods include modeling heat and mass transfer in buildings, coupled with methods of systems engineering, and investigations on occupants’ behaviours.
Bo Li, PhD,MASc, PEng, BESATM, CEM®
Bachelor’s Degree (Power Engineering)
Master’s Degree (Mechanical)
PhD (Mechanical Engineering)
Faculty
Bo has a strong academic background and industry experience. Before he joined the BCIT Building Science Graduate Program as a faculty member, he worked as a senior mechanical system designer and building performance analyst. During his 16 years of professional experience in industry in China and Canada, Bo developed expertise in the design of heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems and the analysis of building energy performance for high-rise mixed use buildings. Bo is planning to engage in the study of high performance high-rise residential building design strategies and other applied building science research topics that would ultimately provide solutions to the practical engineering problems in the industry. Bo Li is an active professional engineer registered in British Columbia. He is an AEE Certified Building Energy Simulation Analyst (BESATM) and an AEE Certified Energy Manager (CEM®). He is also a BC Hydro certified building energy modeler.
Wendy Ying Simpson, MASc
Diploma (Architectural and Building Technology)
Bachelor’s Degree (Urban Planning)
Master’s Degree (Building Engineering)
Research Analyst
Wendy’s diverse background of urban planning, experimental research of building science and experience in construction industry developed her wide building science interests. These interests lead to designs for durable, healthy, energy efficient, and sustainable buildings in an extensive range of considering from macro scale (influence of weather, neighbourhood plan and orientation of buildings) to micro scale (conceptual and integrated building design, building envelope details and indoor climate conditions). Currently, she is involved in hygrothermal property measurements, field experimental study of building envelope component performances and indoor environmental condition monitoring in a residential apartment building.
Zelalem Abebe, MSc
Bachelor’s Degree (Electrical Engineering)
Master’s Degree (Electrical Engineering)
Master’s Degree (Mechanical Engineering – Computer Vision and Robotics)
Research Analyst
Zelalem has been working in industries and research institutes of various engineering disciplines since 2006. Being in academia specifically in engineering graduate school laboratories for the majority of his professional career, he has gained extensive experience and skills in experimental studies and research methods.
Currently, Zelalem works on a variety of experimental research projects which are taking place at BSCE test facilities. He is mainly engaged in design, development and analysis of laboratory and field experimental setups that includes construction of specimens, data acquisition systems, data analysis methods and instrumentation comprising installation, configuration and maintenance of sensors, actuators, controllers, devices and other related equipment. He has a research interest in applying new technologies and cutting-edge instrumentations and software tools such as IoT and Artificial Intelligence (computer vision, machine learning and control) to better understand phenomena and advance data analysis techniques for building science researches.
Yina Shang, MEng
Bachelor’s Degree (Integrated Engineering)
Master’s Degree (Building Science)
Research Analyst
Yina’s journey into the world of building science began with her multidisciplinary Integrated Engineering program at UBC. This initial interest led her to further delve into the engineering and scientific intricacies of the structures that surround us daily, culminating in the successful completion of the Master of Engineering in Building Science program at BCIT. Presently, she engages in numerical studies focused on whole-building hygrothermal performance including research featuring hempcrete, PCM, and indoor humidity dynamics. Her most recent endeavors involve research into the effects of climate change on hygrothermal performance in order to deepen the understanding of the dynamic interplay between climate factors and building resilience.