SPPGA welcomes 2024 Liu Scholars Cara James, Bo Chen, Ali Maghzian and Angel de Jesus Espinoza Escobar
Established in 2009, the Liu Scholars program brings together students from diverse research and interdisciplinary backgrounds to address critical public policy and global issues. With over 200 alumni, the program fosters a collaborative environment where students explore innovative solutions and contribute meaningfully to the broader discourse around societal challenges.
This year, we are thrilled to welcome four 2024 Liu Scholars – strong advocates for social change who will be working with SPPGA faculty members on pertinent topics.
- Cara James is a PhD student in the Department of Earth, Ocean & Atmospheric Sciences at UBC. Her research focuses on the physics of particle clouds from deep-sea mining to predict their impact on the environment. James’ goal is to provide insights on regulation, design ways to monitor pollutants, and bridge the gap between scientific knowledge and policy decisions to aid our transition to a sustainable society. As a Liu Scholar she will be working with Prof. Milind Kandlikar.
- Bo Chen is a PhD student in the Electrical and Computer Engineering program at UBC. His doctoral research delves into the uncertainties in power system operations and analyzes the complex world of electricity market pricing signals. As a Liu Scholar, he will be collaborating with Prof. Tarun Khanna to gauge the impact of battery storage and renewable energy resources on the electricity market.
- Ali Maghzian is a PhD student at the Faculty of Forestry at UBC. His doctoral research focuses on reducing carbon emissions in the aviation sector through the production of biojet/Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). Maghzian’s Liu Scholar project, mentored by Prof. Milind Kandlikar, aims to make SAF from Fats, Oils, and Greases (FOGs). The project’s goal is to assess the availability, cost, and Carbon Intensity (CI) of the lipid-to-biojet pathway to meet SAF by 2030.
- Angel de Jesus Espinoza Escobar is a PhD student at the Vancouver School of Economics at UBC. His primary focus is on applied microeconomics, focusing on labor and trade. He will be working on a comprehensive research project that aligns with the theme of international trade and its broader implications for public policy and global issues. This project, mentored by Prof. Matias Margulis, focuses on the dynamic intersection of international trade policy and labor market dynamics in the context of the United States-Mexico and Canada Agreement (USMCA).
