Currently a fast-tracked PhD student working in the field of carbon fiber reinforced composites, Maggie Chong completed her BASc in Materials Engineering in 2023. She is the recipient of 2024 Canada Graduate Scholarship Master’s Program Award. During her undergraduate degree, she has also received the following awards: NSERC USRA, Frank Forward Memorial Award, and Christina Lim Huckvale Memorial Award.
1. What does your current research focus on?
My research focuses on carbon fiber reinforced polymer composites, widely used in aerospace and automotive sectors for their weight-saving benefits and improved fuel economy. One critical and high-performance component in these composites is called the prepreg tape. During the manufacturing process of these composites, it is common to have the tapes trimmed due to microstructural variations. Traditionally, the trimmed material, called the trim edge tape (TET) has been disposed of or incinerated, causing environmental hazards and concerns.
One solution is to valorize and upcycle these by-products from the manufacturing process. In collaboration with our industrial partner, Teijin Limited, my goal is to develop a comprehensive approach that enables the prediction of materials properties for these upcycled tapes.
2. What impact do you aim to make through your current work?
The morphology of the tapes can be variable and complex, translating into large uncertainties within the mechanical response, and this phenomenon is poorly understood.
Understanding the relationship between the physical structure and material properties of compression-moulded TET composites is essential to ensure consistent production quality and is a fundamental requirement for widespread industrial adoption. The proposed work could make a positive impact on the composites manufacturing industry by addressing the environmental and economic challenges posed by the disposal of prepreg waste material.
3. What inspired you to choose Materials Engineering?
I chose materials engineering because of my experience in high school when I had the opportunity to fly gliders, which are engineless aircraft. In my case, they had canvas-covered fuselages. On rainy days, while sitting in the hangar, I wondered why airplanes would be made from fabric instead of sheet metal, and my interest took off from there. I attended several Girls in Engineering workshops at UBC from grades 10 to 12. Learning about the many research and hands-on opportunities for undergrads further led me toward materials engineering.
“On rainy days, while sitting in the hangar, I started to wonder why airplanes would be made from fabric instead of sheet metal, and my interest took off from there.”
4. What skills from your undergraduate studies have been most valuable in your current work?
I think the most important skill I obtained from my undergraduate studies is learning how to tackle new scientific projects by asking the right questions. Several courses in the materials engineering program, such as MTRL 280 (Materials in Design) and MTRL 361 (Modelling of Materials Processes), feature interactive projects that help students develop the ability to deconstruct and analyse technical challenges.
5. How did you navigate the transition from undergraduate to graduate study?
The transition from undergraduate to graduate studies can be steep. I found the sudden intellectual freedom to explore large engineering questions on my own a bit daunting. However, my research group has a strong collaborative and can-do spirit. We exchange ideas and solutions daily, creating a great culture for conducting research.
“It is important to be disciplined and critical of your work, but having a laugh and some fun along the way is equally important.”
6. As a recent alumn of the MTRL Undergraduate Program at UBC, what advice would you offer current students?
“The advice I would offer is to find your niche within the vast realm of materials engineering”
I have always been interested in archaeology and picked up fencing as a sport. One of my professors mentioned they saw booths at the TMS Bladesmithing Competition at a conference they had attended, which seemed like the perfect intersection of my professional and personal interests. Along with several students, I helped to create UBC Volcan in 2020 with support from the Materials Engineering Department. This team allowed students to hand-forge artisanal blades while developing employable skills in metallurgical characterization, mechanical testing, and technical writing. Taking on student leadership positions within a design team allowed me to find a strong community of undergraduate students passionate about materials engineering. I would advise students to participate in as many activities as you can within the department while prioritizing studies. There are many options including student council, design teams, and undergraduate research!