In a remarkable achievement that underscores both individual commitment and the power of mentorship, Ishpreet Kapoor, a master’s student at the University of Calgary's Schulich School of Engineering, has secured two prestigious scholarships while pursuing groundbreaking research in steel bridge design. His accomplishments include the CSA Group Graduate Scholarship and the G.L. Kulak Scholarship from the Canadian Institute of Steel Construction - the latter being a historic first for a University of Calgary student.
Early Days: From Mohali to Major Projects
Ishpreet's journey with Spannovation began in Spannovation India's Mohali office in January 2022 as an intern from Panjab University's CCET program. Working on complex projects like the Malé-Thilafushi Bridge in Maldives, he performed transverse analysis for a three-span segmental bridge under Varun Garg's guidance. He also trained on construction engineering design for erection of multiple steel tied arch bridges, quickly demonstrating his potential under the mentorship of Varun Garg, who recognized exceptional promise in the young engineer during his early months.
"Varun transformed my approach to engineering," Ishpreet reflects. "His hands-on mentorship style taught me to think beyond textbook solutions, focusing on practicality, efficiency, and automation." This foundation proved invaluable as Ishpreet demonstrated a knack for picking up engineering tasks and efficiently executing them using specialized programs developed by Varun Garg for section analysis and other applications.
Transition to Canadian Projects and Graduate Studies
In early 2023, Ishpreet's capabilities earned him a position with Spannovation's Canadian team. While continuing to work from the Mohali office, he began collaborating with the Canadian team under Saqib Khan's direct supervision. He was engaged and mentored on multiple major projects including the New Pattullo Bridge maintenance gantry, Athabasca bridge erection engineering, and Temporary Shelter buildings for the Ontario Transit Line Project. Saqib made time to mentor Ishpreet in advanced topics like performance-based seismic design and pushover analysis on the seismic retrofit of the 72nd Ave Bridge across BNR railway lines.
When Ishpreet expressed interest in graduate studies, Spannovation's leadership supported his application to the University of Calgary to work with Professor Muntasir Billah. Through the NSERC program, Spannovation demonstrated its commitment to talent development by facilitating Ishpreet's move from their India office to Calgary for the fall 2023 semester. In addition to providing partial funding, the company invested in his professional growth through dedicated mentorship, with Saqib Khan serving as his industry mentor throughout the research program.
Ishpreet's research, which earned him the CSA Group Graduate Scholarship, focuses on optimizing the design of stiffened plate girders by incorporating the contribution of the partial tension field action in the capacity prediction of end panels. This work, involving both laboratory testing of scaled models and numerical analysis, has the potential to refine current CSA standards. The significance and practical applications of this research also caught the attention of the Canadian Institute of Steel Construction, Alberta leading to the prestigious G.L. Kulak Scholarship.
Balancing Academia and Professional Growth
While pursuing his studies, Ishpreet maintains a part-time position with Spannovation, effectively balancing research with hands-on engineering work. The company's flexible approach allows him to prioritize his academic commitments. He values the collaborative culture and continuous guidance from team members Sri Kota, Jhordy Rodriguez, and Varun Garg, who remain invested in his professional growth. He is especially grateful to be mentored by Saqib Khan who as per Ishpreet "demonstrates a highly committed approach to mentorship, particularly focusing on advanced technical subjects."
"At Spannovation, mentorship isn't just a program - it's deeply woven into our culture," notes Saqib Khan. "Seeing Ishpreet's growth from an intern to an award-winning researcher validates our approach to nurturing talent and pushing the boundaries of bridge and seismic engineering."
As Ishpreet approaches the completion of his master’s degree in mid-2025, Spannovation looks forward to welcoming him back full-time, where his research insights and enhanced expertise will contribute to the company's innovative approach to bridge engineering solutions.
This success story exemplifies how industry-academia collaboration, coupled with dedicated mentorship, can foster the next generation of engineering leaders who will shape the future of infrastructure design and development.
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