Engineering Associate Professor, Thomas Tannert, is the latest University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC) faculty member to be named a Canada Research Chair. The Canada Research Chairs Program is a federal initiative that attempts to attract and retain exceptional scholars in fields like engineering.

Tannert teaches in the Master of Engineering in Integrated Wood Design Program and is one of six current UNBC faulty members who hold Canada Research Chairs.

Photo credit: UNBC

 “This new chair will strengthen research excellence in our Wood Engineering program and enable UNBC to attract more outstanding students and post-doctoral research fellows,” stated Daniel Weeks, presidnet of UNBC. “The Canada Research Chairs Program recognizes the exceptional work Tannert is undertaking to create local solutions with global impact.”

Tannert aims to seek out challenges and provide solutions to the structural design of tall wood buildings. To do this, he will have to explore many aspects of engineering, including seismic performance, ease of constructability as well as wood connections.

“This area of research is at the centre of an international movement to put more of an emphasis on wood construction,” stated Tannert. “Discovering innovative ways to use wood is an ideal solution to the challenge of reducing the carbon footprint of buildings.”

Part of Tannert’s research will take place in the Wood Innovation Research Laboratory in downtown Prince George.