Graduate Student Nancy Bawa
photo by Mark Ferguson

The Fuel Ethanol Workshop (FEW) scholarship is given to three students each year for their interest in working in the ethanol industry. The scholarship is comprised of two parts – a trip to the annual Fuel Ethanol Workshop and Expo and a $5,000 bursary. The workshop from June 16-19 in Nashville, Tennessee will feature some of the largest ethanol and bio-fuel companies from around the world.

“It feels great to win,” said the young woman who moved to Saskatoon from her home in India five years ago. “ I’d like to work in the bio-fuel industry. I’ll be networking at this conference with five to six thousand people.”

Bawa was the first runner up for the scholarship last year and was encouraged to apply again this year by the selection committee. She said her supervisor, Gordon Hill, was a big help in encouraging her along the way with her research involving the use of starches to produce ethanol.

She said that for the past two years, she’s been working non-stop to finish her research and the hard work is paying off.

“Some nights I’d be reading the results of my research every three hours - at three in the morning and then again at six,” she said.

Luckily, the young scientist lives near campus so popping back and forth is a short trip. She said the opportunity to see her family back in India however, only comes once and a while and she’s been home a few times since moving to Saskatoon.

Bawa began graduate studies in the College of Engineering after completing her double honours in biochemistry and biotechnology. Having almost finished her thesis, she is looking forward to working in the bio-fuel industry and eventually getting her PhD.

Although she would like to stay and work in Canada, a lucrative offer from an American company would be hard to pass up, she said.

- Mark Ferguson, On Campus News