Axel Ewashko (BSc(Forestry)’24) graduated in the first class of UBC Forestry’s Bioeconomy Sciences and Technology (BEST) undergraduate program, which launched in fall 2020. Born and raised in Fort McMurray, AB, Axel spent many hours of his youth in and around his family’s sawmill, started by his grandparents and later run by his father and uncle. Axel came to the BEST program (minoring in commerce) with an interest in chemistry and sustainability, and worked for over four years as a Research Assistant in Prof. Emeritus Jack Saddler’s Bioconversion Lab while completing his studies. Axel presently works as a CAD Technician with Western Archrib, a premium mass timber construction company.
What drew you to the BEST program?
I was drawn to the BEST program for its mix of sciences, sustainability studies and climate action. I wanted a degree that covered a lot of bases, giving me a good foundation in several areas. Additionally, minoring in Commerce exposed me to other subjects, such as accounting, marketing and management. My goal was ultimately to take my sustainability background into something business-related. I wasn’t 100% sure where I’d end up in my career, so I wanted to ensure that I was well-rounded to keep as many doors open as possible.
What was a challenge you faced and how did you overcome it?
I wanted to get the most out of my experience at UBC Forestry by balancing my training schedule on the varsity rowing team with my academic studies. Taking all of this on filled up my days, but it also resulted in many successes, and taught me how to prioritize tasks in my schedule and master time-management.
What were some of your main responsibilities as a Research Assistant in now Prof. Emeritus Jack Saddler’s Bioconversion Lab?
We were researching mechanical and chemical pretreatments of pulp and different types of wood fibres for the production of biofuels and bioproducts. Our goal was to find a pre-treatment process that increased the recovery of sugars during enzymatic hydrolysis: when water is used together with enzymes to cleave bonds in the cellulose molecules. We used different types of enzyme loadings to test which were best at converting cellulose compounds in wood pulp or fibre into sugars that could be fermented into biofuels. This experience gave me the opportunity to work alongside Prof. Saddler, along with master’s and PhD students, in the lab. I was also able to present the findings of my work to Prof. Saddler and other members of the BioProducts Institute. It gave me a really good sense of what lab-based research entails.
Tell me about your present role as a CAD Technician with Western Archrib.
I’ve had a longstanding interest in sustainable structures, such as those that use mass timber. Through an elective in UBC Forestry’s Wood Products Processing program, I learned computer modeling using AutoCAD and SolidWorks two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) design software, which were prerequisites for my role with Western Archrib. As a CAD Technician, I draw 2D and 3D images of the glulam beams and steel connections that the company supplies. The 2D and 3D images I help generate are then used to create custom beams for the project. I think of the structures we build as architectural masterpieces, some with custom beams in excess of 100 feet long and six feet wide.
What’s next for you?
I’m currently working remotely for Western Archrib from Duncan, BC, as I transition onto Canada’s national rowing team. I plan to continue working in the mass timber industry and with Western Archrib as I pursue racing for Canada at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.
This article was originally published in Branchlines Magazine. Read the magazine here.
