Research in focus: Ray Taheri

Name:

Ray Taheri

My pronouns:

He/him/his

Title:

Professor of Teaching

Faculty/Department/Unit:

Faculty of Applied Science, School of Engineering

Location:

Okanagan

Year I started working at UBC:

2006

Provide an overview of your research in 75 words or less:

While my role at UBC as an Engineering faculty member doesn’t formally require research, I work closely with Dr. Hadi Mohammadi on several impactful projects, such as developing artificial heart valves and wearable devices for hand tremor management. These projects have significant potential to benefit the community and improve the quality of life for those affected by these medical conditions.

What first motivated you (or motivates you) to conduct your research?

With a deep-rooted belief in socially conscious engineering, I am passionate about projects that address real-world, community-centred challenges. Engineers have a unique responsibility to be part of society’s solutions. Personally, my motivation for the hand tremor project is driven by the loss of two close family members to Parkinson’s disease. Witnessing their struggle with everyday tasks was heartbreaking. This experience compels me to pursue innovations that could help others maintain independence. Without wanting to overstate, I am hopeful that our work on a wearable device for Parkinson’s and Essential Tremor is on the verge of a breakthrough.

What makes UBC one of the best universities on Earth?

It’s not just because we have world-class professors, educators, and researchers. It’s not merely because we attract top-tier students and scholars. It’s not only due to our state-of-the-art teaching and research facilities. What truly sets UBC apart is its core values—Integrity, Responsibility, Inclusiveness, and Excellence (IRIE). These principles unite all the above elements, creating an environment where knowledge thrives, innovation flourishes, and people come together to make a meaningful impact.

Learn more:

• Ray Taheri, Professor of Teaching at UBCO's School of Engineering
• UBC Okanagan professor bringing more comfort and joy to children impacted by conflict
• Encouraging empathetic engineers who will make a positive impact on the world