A University of Windsor industrial and manufacturing systems engineering student is one of two graduate students in Ontario to be recognized by the Ontario Society of Professional Engineers.

Saeideh Salimpour, a PhD student at UWindsor with a grade point average of 99.25, will be presented with a $2,500 scholarship towards her engineering education during the society’s annual general meeting, May 4 in Toronto.

“Saeideh is one of our most active, hardworking and ambitious graduate students,” said professor Ahmed Azab, Salimpour’s faculty advisor and director of the Production and Operations Management research lab.

Natasha Reid, the society’s community engagement and events coordinator, said that in addition to Salimpour’s “strong record of academic achievement,” her community involvement helped her stand out from the other applicants.

Salimpour manages Dr. Azab’s lab, which focuses on production planning functions, facility design, process planning and supply chain. Since 2014, she has acted as a graduate student representative for the mechanical, automotive and materials engineering department; graduate student representative for the Windsor chapter of the Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers; vice-president of the Women in Leadership club; vice-chair of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Women in Engineering Windsor section; secretary of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) University of Windsor student branch; and judge of the Windsor Regional Science, Technology and Engineering Fair. She is also a member of the Golden Key International Honour Society.

“I noticed here in Canada fewer women take engineering in school,” said the Iran native, who moved to Windsor in 2014. “I hope this shows that women can be successful in engineering. We just need to believe in ourselves.”

Salimpour said the scholarship will help her finish her doctoral studies. Her dream is to teach while being active in industry through research and consulting.