Unconventional: One researcher’s journey to his PhD and IBET Fellowship

After submitting his application to the Indigenous and Black Engineering and Technology (IBET) Momentum Fellowship, Bofa Udisi was unsure of his chances. 

While he had just begun his PhD in building science at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU), he didn’t view himself as “the typical academic student.” Arguably, Udisi’s academic journey up to that point could be viewed as untraditional – if only owing to the fact that his curiosity could never be satisfied by classroom theory alone. 

When Udisi graduated from Novena University in energy and petroleum studies, he questioned why his home country of Nigeria struggled to provide consistent electricity to its citizens, when grid failures were a rare occurrence in most other countries. In pursuit of answers, he would immigrate to Canada, complete two energy management graduate certificates from Seneca College and found a company, which designs digital applications to help homeowners manage energy consumption and trade carbon credits. While the company, AlphaCor Sustainability Solutions, was deterred from launching in Nigeria, Udisi found himself looking ahead and continuing the business in Canada.

Determined to find new ways to decrease the carbon emissions emitted by buildings in communities around the world, Udisi sought knowledge inside and outside the lecture hall. He took on roles at commercial and consumer HVAC companies before going on to complete a Masters of Environment and Business from the University of Waterloo. During his study, Udisi also began working for Toronto Community Housing (TCH), which allowed him to translate his learning into new sustainability ideas for the organization. 

After graduation, Udisi was considering a PhD but he was torn. While evolving his academic learning was enticing, he wanted to continue his meaningful and practical work for both TCH and Alphacor. However, after a conversation with Dr. Mark Gorgolewski, the chair of Architectural Science at TMU, Udisi’s mind was made up. He says, “I wanted something interdisciplinary that would allow me to use my diverse skill set and experience to reduce carbon emissions. The building science program at TMU fit that description perfectly.”

Shortly upon joining the program, Gorgolewski, who became Udisi’s PhD supervisor, encouraged him to look at the IBET Fellowship. Established to champion researchers embarking on a PhD, who also identify as Black or Indigenous, the IBET program recognized Udisi’s ability for turning his research into action. Now, two years into his four-year Fellowship, Udisi is thankful he applied. While the funding of up to $120,000* is a tremendous financial support, what truly excites Udisi about the Fellowship is the mentorship and knowledge-sharing opportunities he’s gained.

Paired with a mentor who is a previous IBET Fellow, PhD graduate and fellow Nigerian herself, Udisi smiles when reflecting on their conversations. “We talk about the challenges of being PhD students, and you know, she provided feedback on my research proposal, and even acted as a referral for scholarship applications,” he says. Udisi notes that the mentorship experience goes beyond school. “I've been able to build a relationship with this person that is going through the same thing, especially as a Black person in Canada and in academia.”

The continued funding and mentorship support from both IBET and TMU has allowed Udisi to scale his efforts to make positive change in the world. As part of his ongoing research to reduce carbon emissions generated by buildings, Udisi is conducting life-cycle assessments, using TCH buildings as his samples. Not only will he glean academic insights, but he hopes this integrated approach will allow “TCH to make future decisions with regards to how carbon is being emitted in their buildings.” Udisi’s also been working with TMU’s Clean Energy Zone, through its Power Up Program, to develop a minimum viable product for a new AlphaCor product – with funding provided by the Clean Energy Zone and additional funding through IBET fellowship opportunities.

While there are two years of PhD study ahead, one conclusion is clear: Udisi will be sure to find new ways to transfer his learning to others. He’s already eager to mentor future TMU IBET Fellows and hopes to support other researchers that may view themselves as not typical academic students.

*$30,000 per year for up to 4 years, composed of the $25,000 IBET scholarship and a $5,000 TMU supervisor contribution.

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The IBET Fellowship at TMU

The 2024 IBET Fellowship is currently open for applications until June 30, 2023. To learn more about the Fellowship and how to apply, please visit this webpage.