Carly A Park - Mar 3, 2026

Jawad Bashir Mustafvi from Pakistan joined the University’s Fire Protection Engineering Department after a life-changing experience shaped his career goals. “My room was damaged by fire, which left a lasting impact on me,” he explained. “This incident sparked a passion in me to pursue a career in fire protection engineering, with the goal of contributing to making the world a safer place to live.” The experience turned his pursuit of the degree into a deeply personal endeavor.

Currently at UMD on an internship, he is enrolled in the Master’s in Fire Protection Engineering through the Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degree program. His home institution is Ghent University in Belgium. Guided by his early experience and growing passion, he is pursuing his degree and research with a strong commitment to advancing the understanding of fire safety.

Now, he uses that passion at UMD, which he cites as being “one of the best departments in the fire industry worldwide.” Working under expert and head of the department, Prof. Arnaud Trouvé, Jawad is focusing on “understanding the transition from smoldering to flaming combustion in wildland and wildland-urban-interface fires.” Interning at UMD has given Jawad access to an array of modern facilities and an environment that boosts his research interests. “The supportive, collaborative atmosphere at UMD has been very helpful for my growth as a fire safety professional,”

Being an intern at UMD doesn’t just give Jawad access to expert collaboration and research, where he has had the outlet to contribute to ongoing projects. He also has been able to explore parts of the U.S. “I have had the chance to visit places like Washington D.C., New York City, Boston, New Jersey, and Connecticut. I have tried American food and learned more about their culture.” Outside of all this, Jawad encourages new interns to approach their program with an open-mind. Asking questions, seeking guidance, and working on novel projects helps take full advantage of the opportunities available. “Be patient and persistent, it can be complex, but the experience you gain will be invaluable in your future career.”

The University of Maryland’s J-1 Internship Program offers practical experience on the process of conducting research in a student’s academic field. The internship must fulfill the educational objectives for their degree program at their home institution. Departments interested in hosting J-1 interns can read more about the program here.