SCHOLARSHIPS & AWARDS
summit award® recipients
THE EXCELLENCE IN
EDUCATION AWARD
Dr. Uttandaraman Sundararaj, P.Eng.
This award is presented to Members of APEGGA who have made exemplary contributions to teaching and learning at a recognized post-secondary teaching establishment in Alberta.
In 1989, Dr. Uttandaraman Sundararaj, P.Eng., graduated with his B.Sc. in chemical engineering from the University of Alberta, where he also received an APEGGA Gold Medal for top marks in his class. After obtaining his PhD from the University of Minnesota in 1994, he returned to the University of Alberta, where he is now a Professor in the Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering.
Dr. Sundararaj is extremely passionate about teaching. He is one of those rare instructors who does very well in all sizes of classes from large core courses to small elective courses. He has the knack of being able to reach diverse audiences of undergraduates. Dr. Sundararaj has taught 11 different courses ranging from basic chemical process analysis to polymer science, and from process control to design of drug delivery systems. His success in the classroom is not limited to engineering students, since he has enjoyed equal success in lecturing to students in other faculties.
The hallmark of Dr. Sundararaj’s approach to instruction is his dedication to continuous improvement. He is always striving to find innovative means to communicate and connect with his students, and he continually develops in-class demonstrations to capture his students’ interest and explain difficult concepts in meaningful ways. This attests to both his deep and fundamental command of his subject material and his versatility as an instructor. In 2005, he received the Rutherford Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching, the highest teaching award at the University of Alberta.
Dr. Sundararaj’s influence extends well beyond the classroom. Committed to fostering interaction between undergraduate students and faculty members, he regularly organizes student-faculty sports events; the resulting camaraderie is an essential component of departmental culture. Dr. Sundararaj has long-term commitment to his students and maintains connections with alumni. He continues to guide former students on career planning, graduate studies and professional development. He was the Associate Chair, Undergraduate Chemical Engineering from 2002-2005, and during this time, he developed the first departmental teaching workshop. Dr. Sundararaj willingly, and frequently, serves as a teaching mentor for new staff. He is currently the Chair of the Teaching Initiatives Committee, which has the mandate to evolve the curriculum and teaching practices within the department’s programs to produce better engineers for industry, the profession and society.
Honours, Awards and Distinctions
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Rutherford Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching, U of A (2005)
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Alexander von Humboldt Research Fellowship (2005)
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Morand Lambla Award (2003)
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GE Team Excellence Award (1998)
Professional Affiliations and Activities
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Chair, Organizing Committee, Polymer Processing Society Conference 2010 (2005-present)
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Chair, Blends Symposium, Polymer Processing Society Conference 2007 (2005-present)
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Member, Polymer Processing Society (2002-present)
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Member, Materials Engineering and Sciences Organizing Committee, AIChE Conference (2000-present)
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Member, APEGGA (1996-present)
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Member Canadian Society for Chemical Engineering (1994-present)
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Member, American Institute of Chemical Engineers (1991-present)
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Member, Society of Plastics Engineers (1990-present)