Trainees
CITech is privileged to have a cohort of graduate students joining the program in each academic year. These students are pursuing their graduate studies in different faculties and departments at UBC, including (but not limited to) Engineering, Computer Science, Health and Social Development, Creative and Critical Studies, and Medicine, while getting trained on immersive technologies development and applications in the unique setting offered by CITech.
The unique diversity in technical background of trainees create opportunities for a wide range of industries and sectors to address their skilled worker needs and get support on their product development and innovation plan through collaboration with CITech.
If you are a current or prospective students at UBC (either campuses) and would like to join this training program, you can find more information about the process on the Admission page. For inquires please contact the program coordinator, Dr. Mahdi Takaffoli, at mahdi.takaffoli@ubc.ca.
Cohort of 2025
Mahdieh Sadatbenis
● Master’s student in Computer Science, UBC Okanagan
● Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering & Computer Engineering (Dual Degree), Amirkabir University of Technology
Yihe Wang
● Master’s student in Electrical Engineering, UBC Okanagan
● B.Sc., Major in Computer Science, UBC Okanagan
Josephine Nanyonjo
● Master’s student in Nursing, UBC Okanagan
● Bachelor of Nursing Science, Uganda Christian University, Faculty of Public Health, Nursing, and Midwifery
Eléna Binderup
● Master’s student in Biomedical Engineering, UBC Vancouver
● BSc in Cognitive Systems, Option in Cognition & the Brain, UBC Vancouver
Lei Chen
● PhD student in Civil Engineering, UBC Okanagan
● M.Eng in Civil Engineering, Tongji University
● B.Eng in Civil Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology at Weihai
Zhehao Sun
● Master’s student in Digital Arts & Humanities, Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies, UBC Okanagan
Yuanyuan Xu
● PhD student in Interdisciplinary Studies (Digital Arts and Humanities), UBC
● MA in Engineering (College of Design and Innovation), Tongji University
● BA in Industry Design (School of art and Media), East China University of Science and Technology
Marzie Eskandary
● Master’s student in Mechanical Engineering, UBC Okanagan
● B.Sc., Industrial Engineering –Industrial production, Iran University of Science and Technology
Omar Abdelaziz
● PhD student in Computer Science, UBC
Sadia Ahmmed
● MSc student in Computer Science, UBC
Jay Edwards
● MA in Interdisciplinary Studies, Digital Arts and Humanities, UBC
Caio Souto
● MA in Interdisciplinary Studies, Digital Arts and Humanities, UBC
Cohort of 2024
Mehran Zoravar
● Master’s student in Electrical Engineering, University of Victoria
● Bachelor of Engineering in Energy Engineering at Amirkabir University of Technology
Brian Chongyuan
● Master’s student in Electrical Engineering, UBC Okanagan
● BSc, School of Interactive Arts and Technology, SFU
Yehor Karpichev
● Master’s student in Electrical Engineering, University of Victoria
● BSc in Integrated Engineering, Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Tallinn University of Technology
Tanhab Hossain Sarker
● Master’s student in Computer Science, UBC Okanagan
● BSc in Computer Science & Engineering, Shahjalal University of Science & Technology, Bangladesh.
Dina El-Kholy
● Master’s student in Computer Science, UBC Okanagan
● BSc in Communications and Information Engineering, Zewail City of Science and Technology, Egypt
Zirui Lin
● Master’s student in Electrical Engineering, UBC Okanagan
● B.S. with a Specialization in Machine Learning and Neural Computation, University of San Diego
Lixin Tu
● PhD student in Electrical Engineering, UBC Okanagan
● MSc, Imperial College London
● MSc, Beijing Institute of Technology
● BEng, Lanzhou University
Bo Su
● Master’s student in Civil Engineering, UBC Okanagan
● BEng in Water Conservancy and Hydropower Engineering, Wuhan University
Satabdi Das
● PhD student in Computer Science, UBC Okanagan
● MSc in Computer Science, UBC
● BSc in Computer Science & Engineering, Shahjalal University of Science & Technology, Bangladesh
Jacob Bosancih
● PhD student in Rehabilitation Sciences, UBC
● Master of Occupational Therapy, UBC
● BA in Psychology, UBC
Celine Balay
● Master’s student in Psychology, UBC Okanagan
● Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences and Psychology, University of Alberta
Touba Sheikhshab
● PhD student in Digital Arts and Humanities, UBC Okanagan
● Master’s in Teaching English as Another Language from Simon Fraser university
● Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from University of Tehran
Olivia Margoto
● PhD student in Mechanical Engineering, UBC Okanagan
● MASc. in Mechanical Engineering, UBC Okanagan, School of Engineering
● BSc in Production Engineering, Federal University of São Carlos – Brazil
Cohort of 2023
Omang Baheti
● Master’s student in Computer Science, UBC
● B.Tech in Computer Science and Engineering, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, India
Tarik Hasan
● Master’s student in Computer Science, UBC
● BSc in Computer Science & Engineering, Shahjalal University of Science & Technology, Bangladesh.
Soonuk Kwon
● Master’s student in Computer Science, UBC
Yuzi Chu
● Master’s student in Interdisciplinary Graduate Studies, UBC
● B.A. in Interdisciplinary Computing and the Arts at University of California, San Diego
Karlee Podritske
● Master’s student in Nursing, UBC
● Certificate in Perioperative Nursing – MacEwan University, Faculty of Nursing
● Bachelor of Science in Nursing (Honors) – University of Alberta, College of Health Sciences
Tara Yadollahi
● Master’s student in Interdisciplinary Graduate Studies, UBC
● Architectural Engineering- Islamic Azad University, Iran
Tianchen Liu
● Master’s student in Electrical Engineering, UBC
Amir Rahsaz
● Master’s student in Interdisciplinary Graduate Studies, UBC
● MSc, Environmental Landscape Engineering, Tehran University, Iran
● BSc, Landscape Engineering, Tehran University, Iran
Nikta Attari
● Master’s student in Mechanical Engineering, UBC
● B.Sc in Petroleum Engineering, University of Tehran
Carla Mather
● Master’s student in Interdisciplinary Graduate Studies, UBC
Christine Wun Ki Suen
● Master’s student in Civil Engineering, UBC
Mao Tian
● PhD student in Civil Engineering, UBC
● MSc, Civil Engineering, University of Southern California
● BEng, Civil Engineering, Wuhan University
Kantheepan Yogeeswaran
● PhD student in Civil Engineering, UBC
● MSc in Civil Engineering, University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka
● BSc (Hons) in Engineering (Civil Engineering), University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka
Ahmed Radwan
● PhD student in Computer Science, UBC
● M.Sc. in Computer and Systems Engineering, Ain Shams University, Egypt
● B.Sc. in Computer and Systems Engineering, Ain Shams University, Egypt
Amir Golzan
● Master’s student in Mechanical Engineering, UBC
● BSc, Food Sciences & Nutrition, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Iran
Joud Jelassi
● Master’s student in Mechanical Engineering, UBC-Okanagan
● Bachelor of Applied Science in Mechanical Engineering (with Biomedical Option), UBC-Okanagan
Christopher Anderson
● PhD student in Creative and Critical Studies, UBC
● Master of Fine Arts in Interdisciplinary Arts – Simon Fraser University, School for the Contemporary Arts
● Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies – Capilano University
Nikta Akbarpour
● Master’s student in Computer Science, UBC
● B.Sc in Computer Engineering, University of Isfahan
Qihang Liang
● PhD student in Creative and Critical Studies, UBC
● MA in Interdisciplinary Studies, University of Saskatchewan
● BA&Sc in Interactive System Design, Department of Computer Science, University of Saskatchewan
Michelle Yang
● PhD student in Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, UBC
● MSc Rehabilitation Sciences, University of British Columbia (Vancouver)
● BSc Integrated Sciences, University of British Columbia (Vancouver)
Shadi Alijani
● PhD student in Electrical Engineering, University of Victoria
● M.Sc., University of Tabriz, Iran – Electrical and Computer Engineering
● B.Sc., University of Tabriz, Iran – Electrical and Computer Engineering
Abhishek Rakshit
● M.A., Master’s student in Interdisciplinary Graduate Studies (DAHU), UBC-Okanagan
● M.S., Computer Science, Kansas State University, Kansas, USA
● B.E., Computer Engineering, Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed University, Pune, India
Obi Nwosisi
● Master’s student in Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies, UBC
Bakdauren Narbayev
● Master’s student in Computer Science, UBC
● BSc, Computer Science, Nazarbayev University, Kazakhstan
Cohort of 2022
Nelusha Hansamali Nugegoda Wattaranthenne
● Master’s student in Computer Science, UBC
● BSc, Computer Science, General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, Sri Lanka
Yue Cao
● Master’s student in Electrical Engineering, UBC
● BSc, Computer Science, UBC
Leslie Sacca
● PhD student in Electrical Engineering, UBC
● MASc, Mechanical Engineering at UBC
● BASc, Mechanical engineering and a minor in computer science, UBC
Rui Li
● Master’s student in Civil Engineering, UBC
● BASc, Civil Engineering, UBC
Bengi Agcal
● Master’s student in Creative and Critical Studies, UBC
● Bachelor of engineering, Computer Engineering, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
Joel Johnson
● PhD student in Electrical Engineering
● MASc, Electrical Engineering, UBC
● BASc, Electrical Engineering Electrical, Minor Comp Sci, UBC
Samar Sallam
● PhD student in Computer Science, UBC
● MSc, Computer Science, University of Manitoba
● BSC, Computer Science, The American University in Cairo, Egypt
Amir Nazemi
● PhD student in Mechanical Engineering, UBC
● MASc, Mechanical Engineering, UBC
● BSc, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Iran
Mohammad Amin Batouei
● MASc student in Mechanical Engineering, UBC
● BSc, Mechanical Engineering, Iran University of Science and Technology, Iran
Anubhav Gupta
● Master’s student in Computer Science, UBC
Kangkang Duan
● PhD student in Civil Engineering, UBC
● MASc, Civil Engineering, 2022 Southeast University, China
● BSc, Civil Engineering, 2019 Southeast University, China
Weijia Cai
● PhD student in Civil Engineering, UBC
Harry Zhang
● Master’s student in Civil Engineering, UBC
● BASc, Civil Engineering, UBC
Bahman Fakouri
● Master’s student in Creative and Critical Studies, UBC
● Master of Arts: Illustration, Tehran University of Art, Iran
● Bachelor of Science, Industrial Design, Iran University of Science and Technology
Vanessa Lo
● Undergraduate Research Assistant in Nursing, UBC
Kibele Sebnem Yildirim
Nicole Merritt
● Undergraduate Research Assistant in Nursing, UBC
Cohort of 2021
Amera Mahmoud Shaban Ahmed
● PhD student in Creative and Critical Studies, UBC
● MA, Mass Communication, Radio and Television Department, Cairo University, Egypt
● BA, Mass Communication, Radio and Television Department, Cairo University, Egypt
Niloofar Akbariansaravi
● PhD student in Engineering, UBC
● MSc, Industrial Engineering, University of Tehran, Iran
Sohan Chowdhury
● MSc student in Computer Science, UBC
● BSc, Computer Science & Software Engineering, American International University-Bangladesh
Charles-Olivier Dufresne-Camaro
● PhD student in Computer Science, UBC
● MSc, Computer Science, University of Toronto
● BEng, Electrical Engineering, Université Laval
Jasleen Grewal
● PhD student in Rehabilitation Sciences, UBC
● MScOT, Occupational Therapy, Western University
● HBSc, Psychology and Exceptionality in Human Learning, University of Toronto
Nasim Hajati
● MASc student in Engineering, UBC
● BSc, Electrical Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Iran
Iman Jalilvand
● PhD student in Engineering, UBC
● MASc, Mechatronics Engineering, Amirkabir University of Technology, Iran
Rohith Jayaraman Krishnamurthy
● MASc student in Engineering
● BSc, Mechanical Engineering, Abdur Rahman University, India
Farzad Ravari
● PhD student in Rehabilitation Sciences, UBC
● Master of Public Health, Kaplan University
● Doctor of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Iran
Mohammad Zihaib Khan
● PhD student in Engineering, UBC
● MTech, Electronics Engineering, Aligarh Muslim University, India
● BTech, Electronics Engineering, Aligarh Muslim University, India
Jiyoung Jang
● Undergraduate Research Assistant in Computer Science, UBC
Parna Chowdhury
● Electronics and Communication Engineering student (B. Tech) student at Manipal Institute of Technology, India