Pushing boundaries:
A researcher’s perspective - Kazem

Our newest interview is with Kazem, where we dive into his experience with the FRONTIErS project and his perspective on the future of his research project, “GB-SCOUR”. He talks about the progress he’s made so far — from launching simulations and submitting to top conferences, to building strong connections with academic and industry partners. With a secondment at NTNU now underway and tank tests on the horizon, Kazem shares what’s been going well, what’s been challenging, and what he’s looking forward to in the year ahead.

You’re almost halfway through the program. How do you feel about your progress so far?

First of all, it’s worth mentioning that I started my project a bit later than planned, so I haven’t quite reached the halfway point yet. Considering this, along with a few limitations before and during the journey, I would say my progress has been reasonable. Completing the initial phases of the project, submitting a paper and an abstract to two renowned conferences in the field, initiating numerical simulations, connection with relevant industry and academic sectors, and planning my secondment all are convincing to say that my progress has been good enough for the first year. However, since I always expect more from myself, I don’t consider it totally sufficient.

Has the project met your expectations? If so, how? If not, what has surprised you the most?

To be honest, yes! It was more than my expectations, both in technical and general aspects. From a technical perspective, I’ve realized that the project aligns well with my previous knowledge, experience, and interests. Generally, the FRONTIErS project has offered an excellent opportunity to connect with experts from both academia and industry, something I have greatly valued even before joining the project.

Looking back at the past year, what stands out as the project’s most significant achievement or milestone? Were there any unexpected successes or breakthroughs?

During the past year, there have been a few notable achievements. However, in my opinion, the most significant one has been establishing strong connection with industry and academic partners to add more value to the project. I believe these connections will have a positive impact on the project’s final outcomes in the near future.

As we progress through 2025, what are you most looking forward to in terms of the project’s next steps? Any major developments or goals on the horizon?

I have recently started my secondment at NTNU, which I was really looking forward to as it will be beneficial for the project, focusing on the numerical modeling part of the research. Later in the year, the important tank tests are expected to begin. Combining the results from both numerical and experimental methods could be a big step forward for the project.

What do you see as the biggest challenge for the project in 2025? How do you plan to navigate these challenges? Are there any opportunities that excite you as well?

As mentioned in the previous question, 2025 will be a demanding year. The main challenges will be achieving valuable results from my secondment and successfully carrying out the planned experiments, which the latter is not yet fully finalized. However, I am confident that with hard work and persistence, I can overcome these challenges.

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