Isaac Guld
Why did you decide to pursue a graduate degree?
I chose to pursue a graduate degree to deepen my expertise in an area that I find particularly compelling. While working in consulting, I gained valuable experience applying established knowledge to practical problems, but I found myself wanting more time to explore unanswered questions and push the boundaries of the work. Graduate school offered the opportunity to focus on that curiosity and contribute to expanding what we know.
Why did you decide to study at UBC?
I completed my undergraduate degree at UBC several years ago, so I already had a strong connection to the campus and the engineering department. When UBC began rebuilding its coastal engineering research group by hiring my supervisor, it presented an exciting opportunity to return and be part of that momentum.
What is it specifically, that your program offers, that attracted you?
I was excited by the opportunity to be part of the momentum of a new and growing research group. Specifically, Dr. Murphy’s experience across consulting, government and academia provides a particularly valuable perspective as a mentor, which I was looking for. Combined with the increasing attention that coastal systems are receiving from both researchers and policymakers, it makes this an exciting place and time to be studying coastal engineering.
What was the best surprise about UBC or life in Vancouver?
I have been pleasantly surprised by the diversity and excitement shown by our research group.
What aspects of your life or career before now have best prepared you for your UBC graduate program?
Everything we do contributes to preparing us for what comes next. My background in both academia and consulting, along with my experiences travelling abroad, have combined to build a foundation of knowledge and skills that I rely on every day. Perhaps most importantly, these experiences taught me the value of taking risks and pushing my own boundaries. Meaningful learning and impactful research rarely happen if we stay comfortably inside our bubbles.
What advice do you have for new graduate students?
My advice would be to take your time. There’s no need to rush directly into graduate school after finishing your undergraduate degree. Spending a few years working as a consulting engineer allowed me to build practical skills and gain real-world perspective, which has made me a stronger researcher. Coming back to academia with that experience has given me more tools to tackle complex problems and pursue more meaningful research.
Learn more about Isaac's research
My research focuses on storm-driven transport and accumulation of coastal driftwood at Tuktoyaktuk, Northwest Territories, with the intent to identify nature-based solutions to manage risks to people, infrastructure and waterways. This will involve developing a numerical wave model to simulate storm-driven hydrodynamics, then applying a Lagrangian driftwood model to numerically simulate storm-driven transport pathways for driftwood at Tuktoyaktuk.