Congratulations to Abel Munoz and Connor McGlade who both recently achieved outstanding academic success.
Abel, who is Technical Manager at James Jones’ Timber Systems Division in Forrres – home of the market-leading JJI-Joist – has been awarded an MSc. with Distinction in Timber Engineering from Napier University. Abel, whose dissertation was titled ‘Buckling behaviour of JJI-Joists under eccentric axial loads’ was also awarded the class medal this year.
Commenting on his achievement Abel said:
“It has been a very positive experience and the knowledge gained during this Masters has helped me to develop my engineering skills further. I have enjoyed sharing ideas and opinions with lecturers and other professionals in the course as well as meeting the new generation of talented engineers. I believe the future of the industry is in safe hands”.
Abel Munoz with his certificate and medal
Connor McGlade has been awarded a BSc in Civil and Timber Engineering with 1st class honours. During his vacations over the last two years, Connor has worked for James Jones at the Timber Systems Division in Forres on specific research projects under the supervision of Ross Brown, Engineering Manager, and Abel Munoz.
Speaking about his success Connor said:
“Working for James Jones has given me invaluable experience and has allowed me to further develop my knowledge in timber engineering. Through working for James Jones over my summer breaks I was given the opportunity to work with them for my Honours project. Without the help and guidance from Ross and Abel I would not have been able to achieve such a high mark for my thesis. I’m looking forward to taking the knowledge I’ve gained from my experience at James Jones and University further in my career. “
His undergraduate dissertation titled ‘The Analysis of OSB Webbed Timber I-Studs Under an Eccentric Compressive Load Using an FEA based Approach', has won the Scottish Timber Trade Association prize given annually for the best timber design project. The research was carried out in partnership with James Jones & Sons Ltd which provided testing and technical assistance.
Connor has recently been studying at the University of Utah on an Entrepreneurial Scotland Saltire Research programme and will start an MSc in Structural and Foundation Engineering in Heriot-Watt University next academic year.
Connor McGlade, winner of the STTA award in 2017