Profs-in-Commons

Dr. Lior Silberman

I am a mathematician, beginning my twelfth year at UBC. Originally from Israel, I spent eight years as a graduate student and post-doc in the United States before moving to Canada. I am interested in mathematics, broadly construed, including physics and computer science. Talking to people about ideas is one of the best parts of my job, and I hope to do more of that at the library: I’m looking forward to answering questions and holding discussions about coursework, but also about mathematics and science generally and even about topics of general interest such as the relevance of science to our society or the philosophy of phsyics and mathematics. My research spans the gamut from mathematical physics, number theory, and knot theory, all the way to numerical methods for image reconstruction.

Dr. Behzad Azarmju

behzad.azarmju@ubc.ca Behzad teaches at the Faculty of Medicine. He holds a Physics and Mathematics Diploma and a Medical Degree, trained and worked at teaching hospitals in Iran focusing on Surgery, Trauma, and Diabetes. He pursued learning at Family Medicine Clinics here in British Columbia with an educational license. He can help students in Medical Sciences and Biostatistics. At the Faculty of Medicine, he accompanies medical students in their learning experiences while they are being exposed to the cases which are essentially simulations of the actual scenarios that have been experienced by the patients in an emergency room, a rural clinic, a family practice, or a teaching urban medical office. An important aspect of his journey is to ensure CanMEDS roles. University and communities’ resources are important especially when it comes to transitioning to university life. Behzad has been preparing lessons that would help make the most of the resources and potentials from which university students will benefit. They are – directly or indirectly – related to your health and well-being which eventually matters most. Talk with him if you feel you need guidance or encouragement from a mentor or a teacher. When he is not in the clinics, studying or teaching, Behzad can be found spending time with his family, cooking, or hiking in North Vancouver trails.

Dr. Jonathan Graves

My name is Jonathan Lewis Graves, and I am an assistant professor of teaching at UBC’s Vancouver School of Economics. I am part of UBC’s educational leadership faculty, which means that I specialize in performing research and projects which particularly relate to how we teach and learn economics. However, I am also an economist who specializes in industrial organization, microeconomics, and applied econometrics. I did my undergraduate studies at the University of Victoria (BSc), and my graduate studies (MA, PhD) at the University of British Columbia. I hold degrees in both economics and mathematics, and have also previously worked in the private sector as an analyst. I primarily teach undergraduate students, at the 2nd year and higher level. My non-teaching interests include curriculum development, scholarship of teaching and learning, innovative teaching tools, and online teaching.