A professor of mechanical engineering, Dr. Hamdullahpur earned his bachelor's and master's degrees in mechanical engineering at the Technical University of Istanbul, Turkey and a Ph.D. in chemical engineering at the Technical University of Nova Scotia.
Throughout his career spanning over 35 years, Dr. Hamdullahpur has been a passionate educator and an active researcher in thermo-fluids and energy engineering. His recent contributions in mechanical engineering include the modeling of biomass gasification and solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) systems, since utilized in several industrial applications. He has also produced scholarship on biomass utilization for residential and industrial applications and hydrodynamic modeling of Circulating Fluidized Bed (CFB) risers. He has published over 100 research articles and supervised more than 60 graduate students.
Professor Hamdullahpur is, equally, a passionate university administrator. He has served in administrative roles at the Technical University of Nova Scotia, Carleton University. Feridun Hamdullahpur was appointed president and vice-chancellor of the University of Waterloo on March 11, 2011 and has ensured that university’s success and recognition as an innovation, research, and education leader on a global scale. The University of Waterloo is the top-ranked comprehensive university in Canada, and known around the world as Canada’s most innovative university.
Feridun Hamdullahpur is chair of Canada’s new Leadership Council for Digital Infrastructure, an ambitious initiative to build a world leading digital infrastructure ecosystem for Canada. He is also proud to have been one of ten global university presidents appointed to the United Nation’s HeforShe Impact 10x10x10 campaign to engage boys and men in the cause of gender equity. He was awarded Canada’s Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in January, 2013 and named a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering in June, 2014.
Feridun Hamdullahpur has played significant roles in the advancement of education and the quality of life in many countries. During his position as the Dean of Graduate Studies and Research at Technical University of Nova Scotia, Professor Feridun Hamdullahpur played an important part in the establishment of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Suranaree University of Technology (SUT) and the Canadian University of Technology Consortium (CUTC) consisting of Technical University of Nova Scotia, University of Waterloo, University of Guelph, and Ryerson Polytechnic University in 1994. According to the agreement, SUT developed a joint international undergraduate mechanical engineering programme with the members of CUTC, and later sent some students to continue their studying in Canada. Moreover, Professor Feridun Hamdullahpur played a vital role in facilitating the cooperative education student exchange between SUT and TUNS. He also provided advice and support to the SUT exchange students and academic staff who were studying at TUNS during that time.
In recognition of his aforementioned knowledge, expertise, and endeavours, the University Council at its 4/2016 meeting on July 27th, 2016, agrees unanimously to bestow an Honorary Doctorate Degree in Mechanical Engineering on Professor Feridun Hamdullahpur, which represents the university’s deep appreciation and honour for his remarkable achievements and contributions to the advancement of science and technology in the future for the betterment of mankind.