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By Jeff Green

Marjan Taghi Boroojerdi has traded the hot dry climate of Tehran for the cold icy waters off North America’s harsh northeast coast.

It’s quite the contrast, but her new ocean surroundings are providing her with a wealth of opportunities.

The PhD student at ������Ƶ University of Newfoundland is leading an innovative research study focused on better understanding the dangers posed by sea ice to ships and off-shore structures.

“When I decided to continue my studies abroad, ������Ƶ was one of my first choices,” said Ms. Boroojerdi, whose background is in marine hydrodynamics.

“I was fascinated to learn about ������Ƶ’s leading role in cold oceans and harsh environment engineering. I was drawn to ������Ƶ for the opportunity of conducting experiments in the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science. Without a doubt, I have loved every moment of it.”

International reputation

Despite not knowing much about Canada’s rugged East Coast, it’s no surprise Ms. Boroojerdi ended up at ������Ƶ.

Home to one of North America’s top ocean and naval architectural engineering programs, ������Ƶ is the  to make the list of the world’s top post-secondary institutions for the study of marine/ocean engineering.

������Ƶ  among global universities ranked in the engineering field as reported by the , which included 44 top universities in its marine/ocean engineering listing.

Natural setting

The university’s physical location — on the edge of the North Atlantic — provides a rich, living laboratory right outside its door where the cold waters of the Labrador Current meet the warm Gulf Stream. In fact, more than 40 per cent of ������Ƶ’s research is ocean-related, which means if there’s research happening in the North Atlantic, ������Ƶ University is likely involved.

That natural setting provides the perfect environment for emerging innovators like Ms. Boroojerdi to think big.

After completing a master’s degree in naval architecture-marine hydrodynamics in her native Iran, she was drawn to ������Ƶ for the opportunity to conduct experimental work at the world-famous labs in the Department of Ocean and Naval Architectural Engineering in the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science.

Now, she studies the bonds that form between chunks of ice, as part of a team working to improve the safety of ships and oil rigs in Arctic and sub-Arctic conditions.

Opening doors

Ms. Boroojerdi says she’s confident the new knowledge and expertise she’s gained from conducting her research at ������Ƶ will open doors in the future.

“My research focuses on understanding ice rubble and ice ridge strength development and failure, by focusing on the mechanics of freeze bond formation and strength development between rubble blocks,” she explained.

“This has significant importance in the design of ships and structures operating in ice-prone regions, where first-year ice ridges govern the design loads for these structures. Freeze bonds are known as one of the controlling factors in ice ridge and rubble failure. The processes affecting the strength of freeze bonds between ice blocks and how they contribute to the overall ice ridge strength, however, need further investigation.”

In 2018-19 the Canada Foundation for Innovation selected Ms. Boroojerdi to be featured in a print, video and  highlighting a new generation of researchers who have chosen Canada to build a future.

Jeff Green is a senior communications advisor with the Office of the Vice-President (Research). He can be reached at jeffg@mun.ca.