Safety Star Victor Duraj Champions Safety for the Next Generation of Engineers

Victor Duraj helps student engineers turn ambitious ideas into projects they can build and operate safely. Through practical guidance, technical expertise and countless hours of support, the co-safety coordinator in Biological and Agricultural Engineering makes safety central to student success, earning this month’s Safety Star recognition.

As co-safety coordinator in the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, Victor Duraj goes beyond his daily responsibilities to keep facilities, research and teaching activities safe. He helps the department meet campus, county and state requirements while supporting students and faculty with practical safety solutions.

In his nomination, Fadi Fathallah, professor and chair of the department, highlighted Victor’s work with several senior capstone engineering teams. Victor devoted extensive time, including nights and weekends, to helping students safely build projects involving electrical and mechanical hazards. He worked closely with each team to identify potential hazards and develop solutions to protect students and ensure their projects could operate safely.

Victor’s support included repairing a VEVOR-brand heater, rewiring components, supplying materials, providing training and designating workspaces. His guidance helped students make safety an integral part of their design and construction process and prepare for the annual Engineering Design Showcase, where students present their engineering projects. The projects Victor supported earned praise for their safety features.

Students expressed their appreciation through emails and cards, recognizing the time, expertise and care Victor brought to their work.

All of the time you spent fixing our VEVOR heater, rewiring components, supplying components, training, designating spaces for us, and so much more has been so appreciated and our success would not have been possible without your help,” — one student wrote.

That appreciation reflects Victor’s broader commitment to helping students and faculty maintain a safe environment.

“He embodies the spirit of the program and is well deserving of recognition for his unwavering commitment to safety on our campus,” — Fadi Fathallah, professor and chair of the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering.

Congratulations, Victor, and thank you for your dedication to safe learning, research and engineering at UC Davis.