We are pleased to announce this year’s University of Alberta Gordon F. Anderson Graduate Scholarship recipient, Zamir Datoo, MSc. candidate at the University of Alberta.
On Tuesday, March 19, 2024, an evening ceremony was held at the DIALOG Edmonton studio where Joseph Stankevicius, DIALOG structural engineer, and Steven Oosterhof, DIALOG partner and structural engineer, presented the scholarship award.
L to R: DIALOG structural engineer Joseph Stankevicius, 2024 UofA Gordon F. Anderson Scholarship recipient Zamir Datoo, and DIALOG partner and structural engineer Steven Oosterhof.
Currently pursuing his first year of the Master of Science program in Structural Engineering at the University of Alberta, Zamir was selected as this year’s recipient for his exceptional academic record, active participation in the community, and research contributions in structural engineering.
He has maintained a 4.0 GPA and received the top mark in numerous classes during his undergraduate degree – achieving a high academic record and graduating with distinction. Outside of academia, Zamir is involved in various engineering clubs and participates in community initiatives.
His master’s research focuses on the Gerber system, a structural system used in the roofs of large, single-storey steel buildings. There have been multiple collapses of this system which led to a research program with the ultimate goal of creating a safe and efficient design method. The project is on the full-scale testing of Gerber girders, where he will be testing 15 double-overhanging girders in the Morrison Structures Lab, with the results contributing to a new design method in the steel design code. Zamir also gained valuable hands-on experience as a co-op student at DIALOG where he worked closely to support the structural engineering team with various design tasks for buildings, bridges, and transit projects. This opportunity helped him complete structural design with different materials such as steel, concrete, and timber, and it strengthened his knowledge of the National Building Code of Canada and material-specific design codes.
Upon completing his master’s degree, Zamir plans on pursuing a career in the structural engineering field, working for a consulting firm. He hopes to become a LEED Green Associate to achieve a zero-carbon future through sustainable and efficient design.
Congratulations, Zamir, on this well-deserved achievement!
About the University of Alberta Gordon F. Anderson Graduate Scholarship
Gordon began his career in structural engineering after earning his Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering (with distinction) from the University of Alberta in 1962. He joined DIALOG, formerly known as Cohos Evamy, in the 1990s, applying his creativity and design excellence to the conceptual and detailed structural design of public and commercial buildings, including landmark projects such as the Francis Winspear Centre for Music, the Kaye Edmonton Clinic, and a remarkable five buildings for the University of Alberta’s Faculty of Engineering. In addition to his role on projects, Gordon was a beloved mentor to the structural engineering team, helping to groom and provide guidance to those following in his footsteps.
Established in partnership with the University of Alberta in 2001, the graduate scholarship is intended to encourage students to pursue advanced study in structural engineering. It is awarded annually to a student entering the first year of a graduate program. The scholarship is for $5,000, payable at the end of the first successful term of enrollment and the scholarship recipient will have the opportunity to participate in a two-week internship with the DIALOG Edmonton structural engineering team.