The Etkin Medal is awarded to the top-performing MASc student, recognizing both the quality of their thesis and their overall academic excellence. First established in 1996, the medal commemorates the lasting contributions of Professor Bernard Etkin to aerospace engineering, research, and education.
The 2026 Etkin Medal was awarded to Nathalie Sa’adeh for her exceptional research in the Computational Aerodynamics Laboratory, following the presentation of the 2025 medal one month earlier.
Nathalie’s thesis, “Aerodynamic Shape Optimization of a Transonic Strut-Braced-Wing Regional Jet with Natural Laminar Flow and the Development of an Algebraic Transition Model,” reflects breadth of achievement across two major research contributions.
In her primary project, she investigated the aerodynamic design of a transonic strut-braced-wing regional jet incorporating natural laminar flow. Using advanced aerodynamic shape optimization techniques, she demonstrated that a cruise drag reduction of approximately 17% can be achieved relative to an equivalent configuration analyzed under fully turbulent flow conditions, an outstanding result with clear implications for future fuel-efficient aircraft design.
In parallel, Nathalie developed an algebraic transition model capable of predicting laminar-to-turbulent transition with accuracy comparable to established two-equation models, but at a significantly reduced computational cost. This secondary project represents a substantial contribution to aerodynamic simulation efficiency and modeling capability.
Her work has already led to scholarly output. Nathalie presented two papers at the AIAA SciTech Conference in January 2026, marking the first time an MASc student in her research group has published two conference papers on distinct topics.
Her contributions span both methodological innovation and applied aircraft design, underscoring her versatility as a researcher.
Nathalie will continue her research at UTIAS as a PhD student, further advancing her work in computational aerodynamics.
“Nathalie is an outstanding student with the potential to become an equally outstanding researcher in the future. I am looking forward to working with her during her PhD.,” says her supervisor, Professor David W. Zingg.
Also inaugurated in 1996, the I.I. Glass Lecture honours Professor Irvine Glass, a pioneer in shock wave research and one of UTIAS’s most distinguished faculty members. The lecture features an invited speaker who shares insights from cutting-edge aerospace research. This year’s lecture was delivered by Professor Harald Kleine of the University of South Wales, who presented his work on the visualization of compressible flows.
Our graduate program gives students the chance to engage in world-class research with leading faculty, using cutting-edge facilities.
Interested in pursuing a MASc in aerodynamics and flight dynamics at UTIAS? Learn more about admissions, research areas, and funding opportunities.