"Perhaps optimism is rooted in optimizing any circumstance that emerges, to the best of my ability."
Sabiha Bhuiyan
- Degree:
- Master of Applied Science
- Grad year: 2026
- Program:
- Campus: Vancouver
I'm a third culture kid with a deep curiosity for nature, physics and experimenting with flavours. I've lived across cultures that have amalgamated into somewhat of a biryani. They've shaped how I think, how I ask questions and how I move through the world. I have just graduated from UBC Mechanical Engineering, and was the recipient of the 2026 JAYA-JAYANT Prize, which is awarded annually to a graduate student in Mechanical Engineering for their academic excellence.
What did you learn that you didn't expect to learn as part of your degree?
Perseverance. The ability to keep believing despite uncertainty and unexpected outcomes, reaching out for help appropriately and to troubleshoot problems to expand understanding and intuition of the technology at hand. Those are skills that constituted perseverance for me and I see myself leveraging them in any of my endeavours ahead.
More specific to my work, conducting and synthesizing the literature review for my thesis was especially insightful to deepen my appreciation for the complexity of high-fidelity computational modelling for Arctic engineering.
Who made your time at UBC memorable?
My mom. Across oceans, she's been present for every step. Without her support and words that balance out my mind to uplift me and ground me as needed, there would have been no success, no story worth telling. My parents gave me the wings to undertake all that I aspire to, while consistently reminding me that my well-being far outweighs anything I do. In fact, hindsight, this journey seems to have configured into a bouquet of my sincere cheerleaders who thrive seeing me thrive and have extended my understanding of care. Alhamdulillah (all praise and gratitude to God) for my friends in and out of my lab.
What advice would you give a student entering Mechanical Engineering?
Make friends. Confide in them during struggles. Maintain more to your life outside the degree to minimize its attachment to self-worth. The work can be hard enough without that weight on top of it. Stay open to what success can look like with consistent effort. The habits, skills and understanding of industry needs that build throughout the journey are priceless for any step ahead.
What is next for you?
I'll be presenting my research in Tokyo—my hometown of 15 years—before heading to Dhaka to spend some quality time with family who supported me from afar. After that, I’m looking to work in the industry for some years, and eventually a PhD in a problem that piques my curiosity.
