Mr. Issa Fowai at University of Ottawa, Canada
Issa Fowai is a distinguished Ph.D. candidate in Civil Engineering at the University of Ottawa and an upcoming NSERC Postdoctoral Fellow at Queen’s University, Canada. A recipient of the prestigious Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship and multiple other awards, his research focuses on FRP-concrete interface mechanics, structural health monitoring, fire resilience of ultra-high-performance concrete, and rehabilitation of aging infrastructure. With international academic training from Canada, China, and Brazil, he has published impactful work in leading journals such as the ASCE Journal of Composites for Construction and presented at top FRP conferences. He has held various teaching roles and earned several teaching excellence awards, reflecting his dedication to both research and education. Fowai also contributes actively to scholarly service as a journal reviewer and is committed to equity and inclusion in academia. His interdisciplinary and globally relevant research positions him as a rising leader in structural engineering and infrastructure resilience.
Publication Profile
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🎓Academic Background
Issa Fowai is an accomplished scholar with a strong international academic foundation in civil engineering. He earned his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Harbin Engineering University in China, where he also received multiple academic honors and served as a lecturer. In 2020, he began his Ph.D. in Civil Engineering at the University of Ottawa, Canada, supported by prestigious fellowships such as the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship and the IBET PhD Fellowship. His doctoral research explores FRP-concrete interface bond mechanics, structural health monitoring, and the fire resilience of ultra-high-performance concrete. He has expanded his academic experience through visiting research appointments in Brazil and at Queen’s University in Canada, focusing on innovative testing methods for infrastructure rehabilitation. In Fall 2025, he is set to begin a postdoctoral fellowship at Queen’s University under the NSERC program. Fowai’s diverse educational journey reflects his dedication to advancing global knowledge in structural and materials engineering. 🌍
🏗️Professional Experience
Issa Fowai has accumulated diverse and impactful professional experience across academia, research, and engineering education. He served as a full-time lecturer at Harbin Engineering University from 2018 to 2020, teaching engineering mechanics and mentoring international students. Alongside, he worked as a part-time instructor in A-level and IGCSE mathematics, consistently achieving high student success rates. At the University of Ottawa, he has contributed significantly as a teaching assistant for both undergraduate and graduate courses, earning multiple teaching excellence awards. His research roles include graduate assistant positions and visiting research scholar appointments at Queen’s University and PUC-Rio, Brazil, where he engaged in advanced structural health monitoring and non-destructive testing. Fowai has also led initiatives as president of student organizations and actively participates in professional service, including peer-reviewing for top journals and serving on equity and inclusion committees. His practical and teaching experience underscores his commitment to advancing civil engineering education and practice.
🏅Awards and Honors
Issa Fowai has been recognized with numerous prestigious awards and honors throughout his academic and professional journey. He is a recipient of the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship, one of Canada’s most competitive and esteemed research awards, and the Indigenous and Black Engineering and Technology (IBET) PhD Fellowship, reflecting both academic excellence and leadership. He has also received the Ontario Graduate Scholarship and multiple institutional grants from the University of Ottawa and Queen’s University. Internationally, he was honored with the Outstanding Graduate Award and Outstanding International Student Scholarship at Harbin Engineering University. His commitment to teaching has earned him the 2025 Excellence Award for Teaching Assistants and the Faculty of Engineering Teaching Assistant Award. He also received scholarships and grants to conduct research in Brazil and Thailand and travel support from the American Concrete Institute. These accolades demonstrate his exceptional capabilities as both a researcher and educator in civil engineering.
🔬Research Focus
Issa Fowai’s research is centered on advancing the resilience, safety, and durability of civil infrastructure through innovative materials and monitoring technologies. His primary focus lies in the mechanics of externally bonded fiber-reinforced polymers (FRP) and their interaction with concrete interfaces, particularly under various loading and environmental conditions. He conducts finite element modeling to simulate interface behavior and optimize strengthening techniques. Additionally, Fowai explores smart sensing methods such as distributed fiber optic sensors and digital image correlation to monitor structural health in real time. His work also investigates the fire performance of ultra-high-performance concrete and employs non-destructive testing (NDT) to assess rehabilitated structures. Through international collaborations and hands-on laboratory research, including field assessments on historic bridges, he aims to enhance the longevity and performance of aging infrastructure. His multidisciplinary approach bridges structural engineering, material science, and data-driven diagnostics to contribute meaningfully to sustainable civil engineering practices.
📖Publication Top Notes
A glance at offshore wind turbine foundation structures
Year: 2016 | Cited by: 28 📚
Structural analysis of jacket foundations for offshore wind turbines in transitional water
Year: 2021 | Cited by: 5 📖
Evaluation of interfacial debonding of fibre-reinforced polymer using variable angle peel test
Year: 2022 | Cited by: 2 📘
Assessment of the CFRP–Concrete Interface Integrity of Original Champlain Bridge Diaphragms through Nondestructive and Semidestructive Testing
Year: 2025 | Cited by: 1 📙
Condition assessment of FRP-strengthened concrete bridge diaphragms using non-destructive testing
Year: 2023 | Cited by: 1 📗
Integrity assessment of CFRP-concrete interface on externally strengthened bridge diaphragms using direct tension pull-off test
Year: 2023 📄
Bond performance of deteriorated CFRP-concrete interface under different shear lap configurations: A Champlain Bridge case study
Year: 2024 📄
✨Conclusion
Issa Fowai is an exceptional candidate for the Best Researcher Award, particularly in Civil Engineering, Structural Health Monitoring, and Infrastructure Resilience. With a Ph.D. (expected 2025) supported by Canada’s prestigious Vanier Scholarship and a forthcoming NSERC-funded postdoctoral fellowship at Queen’s University, his academic excellence is well established. His impactful research spans critical areas such as FRP–concrete interface performance, fire-resilient UHPC, and smart sensing technologies, with collaborations across Canada, China, Brazil, and Thailand. Fowai’s scholarly contributions include first-author papers in top-tier journals and conferences, addressing pressing infrastructure challenges like the Champlain Bridge retrofit. With over a decade of award-winning teaching experience and leadership in student and equity organizations, he combines academic rigor with a strong commitment to inclusion and professional service. His involvement in peer review and industry partnerships further underscores his applied impact and global relevance. Overall, Fowai’s research excellence, leadership, and dedication make him a compelling choice for this recognition.