Faculty of Applied Science &amp; Engineering

Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering

Connaught Fund

Department of Civil and Mineral Engineering

McLean Award

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Amy Bilton (photo by Pam Walls)

Amy Bilton, an associate professor in the department of mechanical and industrial engineering at the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering and director of the Centre for Global Engineering, has received the 2023-24 McLean Award.

Jointly funded by the ��Ƶ’s McLean endowment and the Connaught Fund, the McLean Award is given to an early-career scholar to assist in attracting and supporting graduate students and post-doctoral fellows involved in basic research in physics, chemistry, computer science, mathematics, engineering sciences or statistical sciences.

Bilton’s research lies at the intersection of theoretical design and control techniques and the development of physical electromechanical systems – with applications in water purification, desalination and renewable energy. She is the director of the Water and Energy Research Lab, which focuses on developing innovative water and energy technologies and computer-based design methods.

“Amy Bilton has distinguished herself as an exceptionally accomplished researcher in the field of sustainable energy and design for global development,” said Leah Cowen, U of T’s vice-president, research and innovation, and strategic initiatives. “From finding ways to encourage adoption of rainwater harvesting to leveraging solar-powered systems to improve water quality for fish aquaculture, her research stands to have a real-world impact on communities in Canada and around the world.

“I would like to congratulate her on this most deserved recognition of her work.”

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Six recent graduates awarded Governor General's Academic Medals

rahul.kalvapalle — Mon, 08 Jul 2024 15:53:47 +0000

Six recent graduates awarded Governor General's Academic Medals

Academic Achievement

rahul.kalvapalle Mon, 07/08/2024 - 11:53

Department of Computer Science

Department of English

Faculty of Information

U of T Scarborough

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Clockwise from top left: Karl Manis, Chido Muchemwa, Tatiana Ruiz Bedoya, Jeff Chen, Zehui Yin and Jing Wang (supplied images)

Six recent graduates of the ��Ƶ have been awarded 2023-2024 Governor General’s Academic Medals in recognition of their academic excellence.

Three PhD alumni were awarded gold medals, which are presented to graduate students on the basis of academic performance in courses, evaluation of thesis and thesis defence, and originality and significance of research:

Tatiana Ruiz Bedoya – department of cell and systems biology, Faculty of Arts & Science
Chido Muchemwa – Faculty of Information and the Mark S Bonham Centre for Sexual Diversity Studies, Faculty of Arts & Science
Karl Manis – department of English, Faculty of Arts & Science

Three undergraduate alumni were awarded silver medals, which are given to students with the highest academic standing upon graduating from a bachelor degree program:

Jeff Chen – department of civil and mineral engineering, Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering
Jing Wang – department of computer science, Faculty of Arts & Science
Zehui Yin – department of management, U of T Scarborough

Read about the Governor General's Gold Medal

Read about the Governor General's Silver Medal

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Teaching assistants, course instructor recognized with Teaching Excellence Awards

rahul.kalvapalle — Wed, 03 Jul 2024 15:21:37 +0000

Teaching assistants, course instructor recognized with Teaching Excellence Awards

Teaching

rahul.kalvapalle Wed, 07/03/2024 - 11:21

Department of Chemistry

Department of English

Department of Sociology

Institute for Biomedical Engineering

Teaching Excellence Awards

U of T Mississauga

Women & Gender Studies Institute

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Clockwise from top left: Cassandra Olsen, Paul Pritchard, Shay Chavoshian, Sam Sanchinel, Kat Furtado, Titilola Aiyegbusi and Qusai Hassan (supplied images)

Six teaching assistants (TAs) and one graduate course instructor (CI) have been recognized with 2024 Teaching Excellence Awards by the ��Ƶ’s Teaching Assistants’ Training Program.

The TA Teaching Excellence, BIPOC TA Teaching Excellence and CI Teaching Excellence awards recognize the outstanding contributions of TAs and graduate student CIs who regularly support, inspire and challenge undergraduate students.

The recipients of the TA Teaching Excellence Awards are:

Shaghayegh (Shay) Chavoshian, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering
Cassandra Olsen, department of English, Faculty of Arts & Science
Sam Sanchinel, Women and Gender Studies Institute, Faculty of Arts & Science
Qusai Hassan, department of chemistry, Faculty of Arts & Science
Paul Pritchard, department of sociology, U of T Mississauga

In 2022, the Teaching Assistants’ Training Program introduced the BIPOC Teaching Excellence Award to recognize lived experiences of Black, Indigenous and racialized communities whose academic experiences have been impacted by systemic barriers, and to highlight their accomplishments and excellence in teaching practice. The winner of this award for 2024 is Titilola Aiyegbusi from the department of English in the Faculty of Arts & Science.

The recipient of the CI Teaching Excellence Award is Kat Furtado from the department of classics in the Faculty of Arts & Science.

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14 U of T researchers recognized with Connaught Innovation Awards

rahul.kalvapalle — Tue, 25 Jun 2024 13:55:22 +0000

14 U of T researchers recognized with Connaught Innovation Awards

Research & Innovation

rahul.kalvapalle Tue, 06/25/2024 - 09:55

Connaught Innovation Award

Connaught Fund

Hospital for Sick Children

Rotman School of Management

Temerty Faculty of Medicine

University Health Network

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Fourteen researchers at the ��Ƶ are receiving 2023-24 Connaught Innovation Awards to help accelerate the development and commercialization of technologies with high potential to have a positive impact on society.

“I would like to congratulate this year’s recipients of Connaught Innovation Awards, whose research is fostering solutions to some of the most pressing challenges of our time,” said Leah Cowen, U of T’s vice-president, research and innovation, and strategic initiatives. “From harnessing machine learning to improve interpretation of lung function tests to developing low-cost and scalable methods to monitor methane at landfills, these scholars are advancing novel ways to utilize technology to have a transformative impact in areas of critical importance in Canada and around the world.”

This year’s recipients are:

Edgar Acosta, department of chemical engineering and applied chemistry, Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering: Lecithin-based, self- micro/emulsifying delivery systems (SM/EDS) for drug and nutraceutical delivery
Ana Andreazza, department of pharmacology and toxicology, Temerty Faculty of Medicine: Mitochondrial Isolation Device (MitoDx)
Gisele Azimi, department of chemical engineering and applied chemistry, Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering: Supercritical fluid extraction for recycling of critical materials from E-waste
Opher Baron, Rotman School of Management: SiMLQ: Transforming process data into actionable insights
Chung-Wai Chow, University Health Network and Institute of Medical Science, Temerty Faculty of Medicine: Machine Learning to facilitate accurate interpretation of pulmonary function tests
Maryam Faiz, department of surgery, Temerty Faculty of Medicine: Astrocyte to oligodendrocyte reprogramming (A2O) for repair in chronic multiple sclerosis (MS)
Andrew Fraser, department of molecular genetics, Temerty Faculty of Medicine: Establishing methods for single-cell metabolomics using hydrogel-embedded barcode aptamers
Roman Genov, Edward S. Rogers Sr. department of electrical and computer engineering, Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering: Fast Pixel-Programmable Image Sensors for Cost-Effective Imaging without Motion Artifacts
Cynthia Goh, department of chemistry, Faculty of Arts & Science: Harnessing bacterial-surface interactions for rapid pathogen identification
Frank Gu, department of chemical engineering and applied chemistry, Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering: Magnesium ion crosslinked hyaluronic acid hydrogels for biomedical applications
Jörg Liebeherr, Edward S. Rogers Sr. department of electrical and computer engineering, Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering: Low-cost large-scale methane monitoring at landfills
Xilin Liu, Edward S. Rogers Sr. department of electrical and computer engineering, Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering: Energy-Efficient Edge Machine Learning Accelerator for Neuromodulation
Andreas Mandelis, department of mechanical and industrial engineering, Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering: Intravascular Differential Photoacoustic Catheter Imager for Quasi-Invasive Detection of Vulnerable Plaques and Calcification in Coronary Artery Atherosclerosis
Hani Naguib, department of mechanical and industrial engineering, Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering: Aerogel Film Materials for Thermal Management Systems

The Connaught Innovation Award, which provides one-time seed funding to support the development and commercialization of the researchers’ innovative technologies, is backed by the Connaught Fund – the largest internal university research funding program in Canada. Established 52 years ago through the sale of Connaught Medical Research Laboratories, which is known for the discovery and production of insulin, the fund supports U of T scholars through programs such as the New Researcher Award, Community Partnership Research Program, Major Research Challenge for Black Researchers, McLean Award and international doctoral scholarships.

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Jennifer Farmer receives 2024 Wighton Fellowship

rahul.kalvapalle — Fri, 07 Jun 2024 14:25:54 +0000

Jennifer Farmer receives 2024 Wighton Fellowship

Community

rahul.kalvapalle Fri, 06/07/2024 - 10:25

Department of Chemical Engineering & Applied Chemistry

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Jennifer Farmer (photo by Michael Martino)

Jennifer Farmer, an associate professor, teaching stream in the department of chemical engineering and applied chemistry at the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering, has received the 2024 Wighton Fellowship.

Awarded by the Sandford Fleming Foundation at the University of Waterloo, the annual fellowship recognizes excellence in the development and teaching of laboratory-based courses in undergraduate engineering programs.

Farmer teaches two second-year lab courses, Chemical Engineering & Applied Chemistry Laboratory I and II. She redesigned these courses to include new chemistry content and engineering concepts, and to create better linkages between the two. She also improved the alignment between lectures and labs to provide students with more opportunities to transfer and apply what they’ve learned.

Through her research program, Farmer creates projects that allow students to be active partners in the design of lab curriculum. She has supervised 17 undergraduates and six graduate students in various projects related to curriculum development.

“Professor Farmer’s work in modernizing [the department of chemical engineering]'s laboratory curriculum and facilities, as well as her efforts to ensure that her students are active participants in this work, have provided students with inspiring new learning opportunities,” said Professor Christopher Yip, dean of the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering.

“On behalf of the faculty, congratulations to Professor Farmer on this well-deserved honour.”

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Jonathan Rose recognized with Engineers Canada Gold Medal Award

rahul.kalvapalle — Fri, 07 Jun 2024 14:19:15 +0000

Jonathan Rose recognized with Engineers Canada Gold Medal Award

Community

rahul.kalvapalle Fri, 06/07/2024 - 10:19

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

Engineers Canada Awards

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Jonathan Rose (photo by Matthew Tierney)

Jonathan Rose, a professor in the Edward S. Rogers Sr. department of electrical and computer engineering at the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering, has received the 2024 Engineers Canada Gold Medal Award.

The award is Engineers Canada’s most prestigious honour, recognizing outstanding engineering achievements and leadership in the Canadian engineering community.

Rose is a leading innovator in field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) – prefabricated digital chips that can be programmed to become any digital circuit. His research has recently pivoted to the application of software and large language models in the service of mental health. Currently, he is working with the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), using large language models to develop a chatbot that can help people stop smoking.

“Professor Jonathan Rose has been a visionary leader in engineering research, education and entrepreneurship for decades,” said Professor Christopher Yip, dean of the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering.

“On behalf of the faculty, my warmest congratulations to him on this well-deserved recognition and my heartfelt thanks for his many contributions to our community.”

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Stavroula Andreopoulos, Franco Taverna, Timothy Chan and David Tang-Wai receive 2024 President's Teaching Awards

rahul.kalvapalle — Fri, 24 May 2024 16:07:04 +0000

Stavroula Andreopoulos, Franco Taverna, Timothy Chan and David Tang-Wai receive 2024 President's Teaching Awards

Teaching

rahul.kalvapalle Fri, 05/24/2024 - 12:07

President's Teaching Award

Temerty Faculty of Medicine

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Clockwise from top left: Stavroula Andreopoulos, Franco Taverna, David Tang-Wai and Timothy Chan (supplied images)

Four faculty members at the ��Ƶ are receiving President’s Teaching Awards, the university’s highest honour for teaching excellence, educational innovation and educational leadership.

President’s Teaching Award recipients are given an annual professional development allowance of $10,000 per year for five years, and are designated as members of the university’s Teaching Academy for a minimum of five years. Academy members may be invited to participate in a range of university events including addressing convocation ceremonies, delivering public lectures, participating in conferences and new faculty orientations, or facilitating teaching and learning workshops.

The winners of the 2024 President’s Teaching Awards are:

Stavroula Andreopoulos – professor, teaching stream, department of biochemistry, Temerty Faculty of Medicine
Franco Taverna – associate professor, teaching stream, human biology program, Faculty of Arts & Science
Timothy Chan – professor, department of mechanical and industrial engineering, Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering and associate vice-president and vice-provost, strategic initiatives
David Tang-Wai – professor, departments of medicine, neurology and geriatric medicine, Temerty Faculty of Medicine and co-director UHN Memory Clinic

U of T Engineering dean, professor and alumni elected to Canadian Academy of Engineering

rahul.kalvapalle — Fri, 17 May 2024 13:56:13 +0000

U of T Engineering dean, professor and alumni elected to Canadian Academy of Engineering

Community

rahul.kalvapalle Fri, 05/17/2024 - 09:56

Alumni

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

landscape

Top row, left to right: Alfred Yu and Natalie Enright Jerger; bottom row, left to right: Benoit Boulet, Susan Doniz and Christopher Yip (supplied images)

Five members of the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering community have been elected fellows of the Canadian Academy of Engineering.

Christopher Yip, dean of the faculty, Natalie Enright Jerger, a professor in the Edward S. Rogers Sr. department of electrical and computer engineering, and three alumni – Benoit Boulet, Susan Doniz and Alfred Yu – are among 54 new fellows elected to the academy in 2024.

The Canadian Academy of Engineering is a national institution through which individuals who have made outstanding contributions to engineering in Canada provide strategic advice on matters of critical importance to Canadians.

“I am honoured to be joining this extraordinary group of engineers, which includes more than 50 U of T faculty members providing national leadership in engineering and engineering education,” said Yip.

“On behalf of the faculty, congratulations to all the newly elected fellows from the U of T Engineering community.”

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Nicolas Papernot receives AI2050 Early Career Fellowship from Schmidt Sciences

rahul.kalvapalle — Mon, 13 May 2024 14:24:47 +0000

Nicolas Papernot receives AI2050 Early Career Fellowship from Schmidt Sciences

Research & Innovation

rahul.kalvapalle Mon, 05/13/2024 - 10:24

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

Artificial Intelligence