The Department of Civil Engineering at the University of British Columbia is pleased to welcome Dr. Bavisha Kalyan (she/her) as an Assistant Professor in Civil Engineering for Thriving and Equitable Communities.
Dr. Kalyan brings extensive expertise in environmental engineering and a dedication to community-centered research that addresses social and environmental challenges. Her work focuses on building equitable community-academic partnerships to tackle contaminant exposure in vulnerable communities, with a focus on understanding how contaminants affect health and well-being.
Dr. Kalyan holds a Master of Science and a Doctor of Philosophy in Environmental Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley, as well as a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Engineering from Johns Hopkins University.
In her previous work, Dr. Kalyan led a holistic approach to measuring lead exposure across water, paint, soil, and dust sources through a community science campaign. This initiative not only provided critical data on lead exposure but also uplifted community voices, supported workforce development programs, and engaged youth in environmental science.
At UBC Civil, Dr. Kalyan plans to continue her work on equitable infrastructure solutions in water, food, energy, and transportation systems. Her vision is to co-create engineering research with a diverse range of partners, including students, community members, community-based organizations, and other stakeholders. This collaborative approach aims to develop solutions that are both technically sound and socially responsible, contributing to the well-being of communities and the environment.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Dr. Kaylan to the Civil Engineering community! As civil engineering challenges are becoming increasingly complex, often drawing on the needed expertise from a variety of areas, Dr. Kaylan’s interdisciplinary work and expertise in working with vulnerable communities, will help facilitate future research innovation and approaches to teaching!” said Dr. Sheryl Staub-French, Head pro tem.
Dr. Kaylan is part of the broader UBC President’s Academic Excellence Initiative (PAEI) and APSC’s focus on Thriving and Resilient Cities & Communities. The initiative deeply aligns with APSC’s and the Department of Civil Engineering’s strategic priorities in leveraging the unique set of knowledge and approaches needed to address complex and emerging problems facing cities and communities.