'The staff are friendly and helpful, and they involved me in various domestic and international research projects' - interview with Mohammad Fawaier, our PhD student

Interview with Mohammad Fawaier, our second-year PhD student at BME Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Department of Building Services and Process Engineering. He can study here with Stipendium Hungaricum Scolarship. Mohammad talked about his motivations and experiences, and also shared us a funny story about an old Hungarian engineer.

Where and when did you graduate before studying at BME Faculty of Mechanical Engineering?

I hold a BSc degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Jordan since 2017. After graduation, I decided to pursue higher education; therefore, I applied for the Stipendium Hungaricum scholarships for an MSc position. I still remember how happy I was when I got accepted as the competition was very high with a limited number of opportunities. In September 2017, I came to Hungary for the first time, and my main goal was to be creative in my study and leave a good impression as I am a representative for my country. In 2019, I got my master's degree under the supervision of Dr Tamás Fülöp. I was ranked as the top student of my colleagues who graduated from the mechanical engineering faculty's energy department in that year. In my last MSc semester, I applied for the second time for the Stipendium Hungaricum scholarships, but this time for a PhD degree. I was honoured to get accepted for the second time in series for a PhD position in the Department of Building Services and Process Engineering. 

Why did you choose to come to Budapest?

Budapest is a popular destination for exchange and international students, with plenty of highly ranked universities in various specializations. On the other hand, Budapest's history is remarkable and visible in every corner of the city, with all that remains from the Second World War to the fabulous sightseeing along the Danube. It will always be interesting for me to just sit on the riverside or even walk around to enjoy the breathtaking city views. 

Do you like living in Budapest?

Absolutely, I have fallen in love with Budapest since my first visit. As I said before, the city is full of history and beautiful sightseeing, and I cannot believe myself getting bored even after living here for four years until now. There is a known proverb that says, 'all things in moderation', which is how Budapest (Hungary) really is. With a moderate climate, central location, and moderate living expenses, it would be the best city to live in compared to the other European capital cities. Simply, Budapest is stunning.

Why did you choose our university?

Since I am a mechanical engineer, Budapest University of Technology and Economics (BME) was my primary choice for two reasons. The first one is the excellent ranking of the mechanical engineering specialization, ranked at the top 200 universities in the world. The second reason is the remarkable history of BME as the first institute in Europe to train engineers at the university level, with three alumni who had Nobel prizes. Also, BME. I remember a funny story that happened to me once when I was going on a holiday to Jordan. I met a nice old guy at Liszt Ferenc Airport, and while we were chatting, he asked me which university I am studying. I answered him BME, but surprisingly he did not recognize it, and he told me as an engineer I advise you to study in "Műegyetem" it is the best university in the country for engineering. I thanked him for the advice and headed up to my flight without knowing that Műegyetem is actually BME!

How do you like studying at BME?

I am pleased that I am part of the Building Services and Process Engineering department. The staff here are friendly and always eager to give help and guidance. I had the chance to participate actively in various domestic and international research projects with a multidisciplinary working group. On the other hand, I like the atmosphere of BME. During my studies, I made great local & international connections and friends. All this can explain why I chose to do my PhD here after my successful MSc experience.

Could you tell us about your topic?

My research project aims to reflect on the transpired solar collector's multifunctional application opportunities. The transpired solar collector (TSC) is a solar air heater, considered one of the most reliable and cost-efficient systems to provide ventilation (heating/preheating) into the buildings. It consists of a dark, perforated absorber plate covering a large proportion of the building's facades with a 10-20 cm air gap. The research hypothesis assumes that TSC can work as a dynamic building insulation tool to recapture a certain amount of wall heat losses as it is in operation mode. Accordingly, the research aims to study this complex process of losses recaptures using TSC as a building dynamic insulation. Meanwhile, I want to take the opportunity to thank my supervisor and research mentor, Dr  Balázs Bokor, for his effort and valuable guides during this research work.

What are your plans for the future?

In my plans for the near future, I will continue to focus on my PhD research and getting the degree. My aim also is to be distinguished in my field of research. The maximum happiness for any researcher is when they are considered to be a good reference in their related fields. Teaching is a sublime vocation, and I chose to be an academic to participate in this noble goal with the excellent skills that I gained during my studies at BME.

Laszlo Benesoczky