Student Scholar

Application Deadline 

Nominations are closed. They will reopen in 2026.

Description

  • This award recognizes an outstanding student scholar with a $2,000 honorarium.
  • Given annually since 2006.
  • Awarded to an undergraduate, graduate, or post-graduate student performing research to advance the science and practice of fire protection engineering.
  • The goal of this award is to recognize outstanding student scholars around the world in support of the science and practice of fire protection engineering.
  • This award is separate and distinct from the Foundation's Student Research Grants.

Eligibility

  • Nominations are accepted from undergraduate, graduate, and post-graduate students who are performing research to advance the science and practice of fire protection engineering. Self-nominations are welcomed and encouraged. 

How to Apply

Eligible students may apply by completing the 2025 Foundation Awards Nominations/Applications FormInterested applicants are expected to complete their own nomination form, including all required components listed below. A letter of recommendation from a supporting faculty member must be included in the application materials, as noted below:

    1. Full name of the applicant, academic program type, and school affiliation.
    2. Applicant mailing and email addresses.
    3. A description of the student's research (max 1000 words) illustrating how the research relates to the science and practice of fire engineering. Preference will be given to students whose work is consistent with the Foundation's research priorities as identified in the SFPE Research RoadmapThe student's research will be evaluated based on its technical quality, a clear methodology, and expected outcomes.
    4. A letter of support from the faculty member who will be supervising the research which must include: a) support of the project and the applicant, and b) the qualifications of the faculty member in the field of fire protection engineering.
    5. Evidence of the applicant’s university academic achievement in the form of transcripts or similar official documentation as well as publication record, especially for doctoral students.
    6. Evidence of the applicant’s involvement in professional or non-professional organizations, and any involvement with the profession or the community at large, illustrating leadership and volunteerism (max 250 words).
    7. Name and brief biography of the student as the nominated scholarship recipient (max 250 words).
    8. A completed Conflict of Interest Disclosure Form for Foundation Contractors & Grant Recipients. 

If you have any questions, please email Amanda Tarbet at ATarbet@sfpefoundation.org

History

The Student Scholar Award was established in 2006 by the Board of Governors of the SFPE Foundation to recognize students who are performing research to advance the science and practice of fire protection engineering.

The Foundation's Board of Governors makes the selection annually. Nominations are accepted from undergraduate, graduate, and post-graduate students and are judged on the scientific quality and relevance of their research to the fire protection engineering profession.

The recipient of this award receives a $2,000 honorarium from the SFPE Foundation.


Latest Recipients

2025 | Mahdis Borhani, Ph.D. student, University of Utah (United States)

Mahdis Borhani headshotMahdis Borhani, Ph.D. student, University of Utah (United States)

2025 | Mohammad Javad Moradi, Ph.D. candidate, Carleton University (Canada) 

Mohammad Javad Moradi headshot

Mohammad Javad Moradi, Ph.D. candidate, Carleton University (Canada)

Past Recipients

  • Samuel Lovett, Master's, Carleton University (2024)
  • Siyan Wang, Ph.D. candidate, University of California, Berkeley (2024)
  • Pascale Vacca, Ph.D., Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (2023)
  • Zhuojun Nan, Ph.D., The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (2023)
  • Iffah Umairah Zulmajdi, Ph.D., Universiti Putra Malaysia (2022)
  • Xingyu Ren, Ph.D, University of Maryland (2021)
  • Matthew Bonner, Imperial College London (2020)
  • Davood Zeinali, Ghent University (2019)
  • Selena K. Chin, University of Maryland (2018)
  • Nicholas A. Traina, Ph.D., University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (2017)
  • Aoife Hunt, Ph.D., University of Greenwich (2016)
  • Karl Fridolf, Ph.D., Lund University (2015)
  • Alistair Bartlett, University of Edinburgh (2014)
  • Isaac Leventon, University of Maryland (2013)
  • Axel Jonsson, Lund University (2012)>
  • Kurt J. Schebel, Worcester Polytechnic Institute (2011)
  • James O'Neill, University of Canterbury (2010)
  • Rani A. Kady, Old Dominion University (2008)
  • Kevin LaMalva, Worcester Polytechnic Institute (2007)
  • Allan Jowsey, University of Edinburgh (2006)