Research &amp; Innovation

Edward S. Rogers Sr. Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering

Artificial Intelligence

Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering

Faculty of Law

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Nicholas Papernot (photo by Matthew Tierney)

Nicolas Papernot, an assistant professor in the Edward S. Rogers Sr. department of electrical and computer engineering at the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering, has been named an AI2050 Early Career Fellow.

Awarded by Schmidt Sciences, the fellowship encourages young researchers to pursue bold and multidisciplinary research in AI for societal benefit.

Papernot was recognized for his project on a technical framework for future AI regulation, which builds on multidisciplinary collaboration with Professor Lisa Austin from U of T’s Faculty of Law and Professor Xiao Wang of Northwestern University’s department of computer science.

The team is exploring how a protocol borrowed from cryptography, called zero-knowledge proof (ZKP), can verify whether an AI model was developed in compliance with certain rules. Their research comes as governments around the world prepare legislation to address the growing power of AI.

“The scope of what we’re trying to achieve is very ambitious,” says Papernot, who is cross-appointed to the department of computer science in the Faculty of Arts & Science and is a faculty member at the Vector Institute and a faculty affiliate at the Schwartz Reisman Institute. “We’re asking how AI will impact society, essentially. It’s hard to do that from just one discipline’s perspective. Thankfully, the Schmidt Sciences organization has stepped up to provide the space needed for such highly exploratory and complex research.”

“As AI technology continues to evolve, it is imperative to simultaneously advance the regulatory and technological frameworks that ensure its safe and ethical use,” says Professor Deepa Kundur, chair of the department of electrical and computer engineering. “Professor Papernot’s work is pivotal because it not only mitigates risks, but also maximizes the technology’s application potential, making it a cornerstone for future innovations.”

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Pailin Chiaranunt and Peter Serles named 2024 Schmidt Science Fellows

rahul.kalvapalle — Wed, 24 Apr 2024 15:11:13 +0000

Pailin Chiaranunt and Peter Serles named 2024 Schmidt Science Fellows

rahul.kalvapalle Wed, 04/24/2024 - 11:11

Alumni

Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering

Alumni

Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering

Immunology

Temerty Faculty of Medicine

landscape

Pailin Chiaranunt and Peter Serles (supplied images)

Pailin Chiaranunt and Peter Serles, both of whom carried out doctoral research at the ��Ƶ, have been named 2024 Schmidt Science Fellows in recognition of their efforts to wield interdisciplinary research to drive sector-wide change.

Schmidt Science Fellows is an initiative of Schmidt Sciences, a philanthropic organization founded by Eric and Wendy Schmidt to advance scientific exploration and discovery and develop solutions to global issues. The program is delivered in partnership with the Rhodes Trust.

"It's at the edges of things – ecosystems, borders, disciplines – where the most interesting ideas are developed, solutions that don't arise from any single approach," said Wendy Schmidt in a press release. "We're excited to welcome the 2024 cohort of Schmidt Science Fellows to approach these edges, look at problems anew, share insights with each other and the world and, we hope, go on to develop solutions to some of humanity's most pressing challenges."

Chiaranunt and Serles join a cohort of 32 fellows who will undertake a year-long science leadership program to prepare them to join the next generation of interdisciplinary science leaders, alongside a one to two-year research placement at a new institution.

“To address the world's greatest challenges today, I believe that we need an interdisciplinary and collaborative approach to science,” said Chiaranunt, who completed her PhD in immunology at the Temerty Faculty of Medicine and is conducting post-doctoral research at the University of California, San Francisco. “I am delighted that the Schmidt Science Fellows program appreciates these values, and I'm excited to use this unique opportunity to study how inflammation and infection can impact brain health – a growing crisis in today's post-pandemic world.”

“Being given the freedom and support to work on high-risk, high-reward research will allow me to ask the biggest questions I can and develop entirely new areas of expertise that I can eventually bring back to Canada,” said Serles, who is set to graduate from the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering with a PhD in June, and will take on a post-doctoral fellowship at the California Institute of Technology. “Nano-3D-printed scaffolds for neural organoids combines cutting edge-technologies in mechanical engineering and neuroscience to, hopefully, solve some of our most pressing issues."

Read the Schmidt Sciences announcement

Daniel Drucker among Time magazine’s 100 most influential people

Christopher.Sorensen — Wed, 17 Apr 2024 19:16:55 +0000

Daniel Drucker among Time magazine’s 100 most influential people

Christopher.Sorensen Wed, 04/17/2024 - 15:16

Temerty Faculty of Medicine

Sinai Health

landscape

Daniel Drucker (photo by Polina Teif)

Endocrinologist Daniel Drucker is part of a team of researchers recognized by Time magazine for their roles in advancing next-generation treatments for diabetes and weight loss.

Drucker, a senior investigator at the Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Sinai Health, and a University Professor in the department of medicine at the ��Ƶ's Temerty Faculty of Medicine, shares a spot on Time’s list of the 100 most influential people of 2024 with Joel Habener of Harvard University and Svetlana Mojsov of Rockefeller University.

The scientists were honoured for their contributions to the development of a new class of drugs, including Ozempic and Wegovy, based on their discoveries about gut hormones known as glucagon-like peptides.

These medications, known as glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, help manage blood sugar levels by boosting insulin production and reducing the liver’s release of sugar.

“Drucker’s experiments pinpointed the specific parts of GLP-1 responsible for affecting insulin levels,” the magazine said. “Now GLP-1-based medications are approved in the U.S. to treat diabetes and obesity, and to reduce the risk of heart disease.”

Drucker, who has been recognized with a Gairdner International Award and Wolf Prize for his work, is currently exploring other potential health benefits, including reducing inflammation in chronic metabolic diseases.

Aimy Bazylak receives 2024 Dorothy Killam Fellowship

rahul.kalvapalle — Thu, 11 Apr 2024 19:29:04 +0000

Aimy Bazylak receives 2024 Dorothy Killam Fellowship

rahul.kalvapalle Thu, 04/11/2024 - 15:29

Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering

Dorothy Killam Fellowship

Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering

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Professor Aimy Bazylak (photo by Jeremy Sale)

Aimy Bazylak, a professor in the department of mechanical and industrial engineering in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering, is among the recipients of a 2024 Dorothy Killam Fellowship.

Awarded by the National Research Council, Dorothy Killam Fellowships support scholars whose groundbreaking research stands to have a significant impact in their respective fields on a national or global scale. They are valued at $80,000 per year for a total of two years.

Bazylak and her research group are advancing clean energy technologies by developing new catalyst-coated membranes to overcome cost and durability challenges of fuel cells, water electrolyzers and CO2 electrolyzers.

“I am tremendously honoured to receive this fellowship,” says Bazylak, who holds a Canada Research Chair in Clean Energy. “The two years of dedicated time to focus on my research is an invaluable opportunity to move our work forward at a pace that would not otherwise be possible.” 

Christopher Yip, dean of the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering, said Bazylak’s research “opens doors to new collaborations, both nationally and globally, and will bring us closer to creating sustainable and thriving global communities.”

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Jennifer Stinson receives 2023 Barer-Flood Prize from CIHR

rahul.kalvapalle — Wed, 03 Apr 2024 13:38:40 +0000

Jennifer Stinson receives 2023 Barer-Flood Prize from CIHR

rahul.kalvapalle Wed, 04/03/2024 - 09:38

Dalla Lana School of Public Health

IHPME

Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing

Temerty Faculty of Medicine

The Hospital for Sick Children

landscape

Professor Jennifer Stinson (supplied image)

Jennifer Stinson, a nurse clinician-scientist and advanced practice nurse at the Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) and a renowned researcher in the field of chronic pain management at the ��Ƶ, has received the 2023 Barer-Flood Prize in Health Services and Policy Research from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR).

The prize, named in honour of the first two scientific directors of CIHR's Institute of Health Services and Policy Research (IHSPR), Morris Barer and Colleen Flood, recognizes the highest ranking senior-career investigator who identifies as a woman and is working within the mandate of IHSPR.

Stinson, a professor in the Lawrence Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, the Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health and the department of anesthesiology and pain medicine at the Temerty Faculty of Medicine, is being recognized for her work on the development of iCanCope, a mobile app that's designed to help young people with sickle cell disease (SCD) self-manage their chronic pain.

“The app is really intended to be an adjunct to the care that young people with SCD receive in hospital," says Stinson, who holds the Mary Jo Haddad Nursing Chair in Child Health. "We know we cannot cure or alleviate the pain, but we can empower young people to live well with pain, and to manage it with resources and strategies that are effective, building their confidence in leading a fulfilling life.”

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Seven U of T graduate students awarded 2023-2024 Inlight Research Fellowships in support of mental health research

rahul.kalvapalle — Mon, 01 Apr 2024 19:26:40 +0000

Seven U of T graduate students awarded 2023-2024 Inlight Research Fellowships in support of mental health research

Department of Computer Science

rahul.kalvapalle Mon, 04/01/2024 - 15:26

Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work

Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education

Graduate Students

Institutional Strategic Initiatives

OISE

U of T Mississauga

U of T Scarborough

landscape

Clockwise from top left: Melissa deJonge, Egag Egag, Asma Shamim, Maya Ahia, Danika Quesnel, JesusMiracle Chiadika and Ananya Bhattacharjee (supplied images)

Seven students from across the ��Ƶ are recipients of the 2023-2024 Inlight Research Fellowships awarded by Inlight Student Mental Health Research, a U of T institutional strategic initiative committed to improving student mental health and wellness outcomes.

The $10,000 fellowships support graduate scholars who are leading research projects that aim to improve student mental health and well-being on campus and recognize the importance of student-led and co-designed research solutions.

“The Inlight Research Fellowship Program is dedicated to promoting the development of leaders in post-secondary student mental health research,” said Julius Haag, Inlight’s associate director, education and training and an assistant professor, teaching stream in the department of sociology at U of T Mississauga.

“We are actively supporting impactful research that will grow the perspectives and capacity needed to advance student mental health and wellness, as well as centring research that focuses on engaging the experiences and perspectives of our diverse student community.”

Here is the full list of Inlight’s 2023-2024 research fellowship award recipients:

Maya Ahia – master’s student in clinical psychology, U of T Scarborough

Ananya Bhattacharjee – PhD candidate in computer science, Faculty of Arts & Science

JesusMiracle Chiadika – PhD student in higher education, comparative, international & development education, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education

Melissa deJonge – PhD student, Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education

Egag Egag – PhD student, Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work

Danika Quesnel – PhD student in clinical psychology, U of T Scarborough

Asma Shamim – PhD student in developmental psychology and education, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education

Marie Goretti Uwayezu recognized with IDRC International Doctoral Research Award

rahul.kalvapalle — Thu, 28 Mar 2024 19:26:03 +0000

Marie Goretti Uwayezu recognized with IDRC International Doctoral Research Award

rahul.kalvapalle Thu, 03/28/2024 - 15:26

Students

IDRC International Doctoral Research Award

Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing

landscape

Marie Goretti Owayezu (supplied image)

Marie Goretti Uwayezu, a PhD candidate at the Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, is a recipient of the 2023 International Doctoral Research Award presented by Universities Canada/Universités Canada.

Funded by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), the annual award is given to PhD students with the goal of supporting the development of their research skills in Canada and the global South to help improve the lives of people in the developing world.

Uwayezu is originally from Rwanda, where she worked as an oncology nurse, clinical instructor and assistant lecturer in the University of Rwanda’s School of Nursing and Midwifery.

Her research explores the association between social demographic factors and health-focused ideologies on breast cancer screening practices in Rwanda, where many women are diagnosed with breast cancer at later stages once the disease has already progressed.

Uwayezu is hopeful that her research will support future recommendations to improve earlier detection. “Detecting breast cancer at an earlier stage improves survival and care options immensely, and we should be doing all we can to ensure women in Rwanda have the opportunity to access the care that they need and deserve,” says Uwayezu.

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Michelle Alexopoulos, Diego Restuccia recognized by Bank of Canada

rahul.kalvapalle — Thu, 21 Mar 2024 15:03:03 +0000

Michelle Alexopoulos, Diego Restuccia recognized by Bank of Canada

rahul.kalvapalle Thu, 03/21/2024 - 11:03

Bank of Canada Fellowship

Bank of Canada

Department of Economics

Faculty of Arts & Science

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Michelle Alexopoulos and Diego Restuccia (supplied images)

Professors Michelle Alexopoulos and Diego Restuccia from the department of economics in the Faculty of Arts & Science have been awarded the Bank of Canada’s Fellowship Award.

The award is given to academics in recognition of their expertise and research in areas important to the Bank of Canada’s core functions. Alexopoulos and Restuccia previously won the award in 2019.

Alexopoulos's research examines the effects of technological evolution and disruption on the economy and labour markets and includes the innovative use of library classification systems for data mining and text analysis. Restuccia, who holds a Canada Research Chair in Macroeconomics and Productivity, is an expert on the macroeconomic implications of policies that change and influence how resources like land, capital, and labour are distributed across firms.

“It is always an honour for the department of economics to see our faculty recognized for their outstanding achievements in research and their contributions to economics and its institutions,” said Professor Ettore Damiano, chair of the department. “Both Michelle and Diego are deserving of this recognition from the Bank of Canada and we are all thrilled to have two more reasons to celebrate them and the continuation of their work.”

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Mina Tadrous receives support from CFI’s John R. Evans Leaders Fund

rahul.kalvapalle — Tue, 19 Mar 2024 14:59:11 +0000

Mina Tadrous receives support from CFI’s John R. Evans Leaders Fund

rahul.kalvapalle Tue, 03/19/2024 - 10:59

Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy

landscape

Assistant Professor Mina Tadrous (photo by Steve Southon)

Mina Tadrous, an assistant professor in the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, is receiving $110,000 in research infrastructure funding from the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI)'s John R. Evans Leaders Fund.

The fund aims to support universities’ research infrastructure and help them compete in recruiting and retaining exceptional researchers.

Tadrous was selected for his efforts to develop a centre for real-world evidence in prescription drug research that aims to expand understanding of how drugs perform outside controlled trials and help improve the use of medications for Canadians.

The centre will allow researchers in computer science, statistics, medicine and pharmacy to scan health databases across Canada and analyze how diverse populations respond to a particular drug. It will host national and local health datasets and start a researcher training program, with the goal of generating analysis to guide policy-makers in reducing healthcare costs.

Tadrous was recently appointed a Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Real World Evidence and Pharmaceutical Policy – one of 20 U of T researchers recognized with new or renewed Canada Research Chairs. The CFI collaborates with the Canada Research Chairs program to bolster support for research and training excellence.

Note: This U of T Celebrates announcement replaces an earlier version that was published in error.

Read the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy story on Mina Tadrous’s research

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Tania Li awarded 2024 Killam Prize in Social Sciences

rahul.kalvapalle — Tue, 19 Mar 2024 14:56:44 +0000

Tania Li awarded 2024 Killam Prize in Social Sciences

rahul.kalvapalle Tue, 03/19/2024 - 10:56