Dr. Faisal Khan has been appointed as an academic advisor in the area of safety and risk engineering by the Chinese Higher Education, the authority that administers higher education and research in academic and research institutions in China.
In his new role, Dr. Khan, department head, process engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, with his colleague Dr. Mingjian Zuo, a professor at the University of Alberta, will engage with Chinese academics and scientists to lead the development of risk assessment and dynamic reliability models and methods to study safety and reliability of the high-speed train control system, which is an integral part of China’s high-speed trains.
High-tech impact
The project, which is being carried out by the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China (UESTC), aims to promote applied research and make an impact in the high-tech industry, such as the safety and reliability of high-speed trains.
“This project will provide a unique opportunity to pursue new challenges and develop solutions for an important transportation application in China.”
The initiative is a flagship program to help build the reputation of the Chinese Higher Education System and develop world-class universities in China. The project involves both local and national governments allocating large amounts of funding to build new research centres, improve facilities, hold international conferences, attract world-renowned faculty and visiting scholars and help Chinese faculty attend conferences abroad.
“This appointment will enable me to share knowledge with top engineering institutions in China, and provide opportunities for my research group to work closely with our counterparts at Chinese universities,” said Dr. Khan. “This project will provide a unique opportunity to pursue new challenges and develop solutions for an important transportation application in China. I am thankful to the Chinese Higher Education Council and also the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China for bestowing upon me this honour.”
Safety and risk expertise
Since joining Memorial’s Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science in 2002 as an associate professor, Dr. Khan has worked on safety and risk engineering and extended his research scope by applying risk-engineering concepts to safety, asset integrity management, pollution prevention and renewable energy. He has developed new advanced risk-based safety and integrity management methodologies and models. Currently, he is the head of the Department of Process Engineering, the Vale Research Chair in Process Risk and Safety Engineering and is the director of Memorial’s new Centre for Risk, Integrity and Safety Engineering.
“Congratulations to Dr. Khan on this well-deserved international recognition,” said Dr. Greg Naterer, dean, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science. “Dr. Khan has been instrumental in developing advanced new tools related to safety and risk engineering and his expertise will be an invaluable asset to the Chinese Higher Education.”
