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

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

Faculty

St. George

Artificial Intelligence

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

Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering

Faculty of Law

landscape

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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20 U of T researchers awarded new or renewed Canada Research Chairs

rahul.kalvapalle — Wed, 13 Mar 2024 13:09:09 +0000

20 U of T researchers awarded new or renewed Canada Research Chairs

Research & Innovation

rahul.kalvapalle Wed, 03/13/2024 - 09:09

Dalla Lana School of Public Health

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

Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work

Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering

Faculty of Arts & Science

IHPME

Institute of Biomedical Engineering

Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing

Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute

Rotman School of Management

St. Michael's Hospital

Sunnybrook Research Institute

Temerty Faculty of Medicine

U of T Mississauga

Unity Health

landscape

Twenty faculty members from the ��Ƶ have been awarded Canada Research Chairs in support of their research in areas ranging from LGBTQ2S+ youth mental health to quantum photonic technologies and sustainable suburban housing.

Awarded by the Government of Canada, Canada Research Chair positions are designed to reinforce academic research and training excellence with a view to improving depth of knowledge and quality of life, strengthening Canada’s international competitiveness and helping train the next generation of highly skilled people.

“I would like to congratulate all the ��Ƶ scholars who have newly been appointed Canada Research Chairs or had their positions renewed in this latest cohort,” said Leah Cowen, U of T’s vice-president, research and innovation, and strategic initiatives. “From cognitive neurobiology to household finance and urban environmental science, these researchers are furthering knowledge and spurring innovation in areas of critical importance.”

The latest cycle of Canada Research Chair appointees from U of T includes eight new and 12 renewed positions:

New Canada Research Chairs

Alex Abramovich at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Dalla Lana School of Public Health and department of psychiatry in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine – Tier 2 in 2SLGBTQ+ Youth Homelessness and Mental Health

Claire Célérier in the Rotman School of Management – Tier 2 in Household Finance

Natalie Coburn at the Sunnybrook Research Institute and the department of surgery in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine – Tier 1 in Cancer Outcomes

Li Qian in the Edward S. Rogers Sr. department of electrical and computer engineering in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering – Tier 1 in Quantum Photonic Technologies

Alison McGuigan in the department of chemical engineering and applied chemistry and the Institute of Biomedical Engineering in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering – Tier 1 in Tissue Engineering and Disease Modelling

Zahra Shakeri Hossein Abad in the Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation in the Dalla Lana School of Public Health – Tier 2 in Health Informatics and Precision (Public) Health

Mina Tadrous in the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy – Tier 2 in Real-World Evidence and Pharmaceutical Policy

Marianne Touchie in the department of civil and mineral engineering in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering – Tier 2 in Sustainable Urban Housing

Renewed Canada Research Chairs

Rachel Barney in the departments of classics and philosophy at the Faculty of Arts & Science – Tier 1 in Ancient Philosophy

Marie-Josée Fortin in the department of ecology and evolutionary biology at the Faculty of Arts & Science – Tier 1 in Spatial Ecology

Paul Frankland at the SickKids Research Institute, the department of psychology in the Faculty of Arts & Science, and the department of physiology and Institute of Medical Science in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine – Tier 1 in Cognitive Neurobiology

Anne-Claude Gingras at the Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Sinai Health and the department of molecular genetics in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine – Tier 1 in Functional Proteomics

Tara Gomes at St. Michael’s Hospital, Unity Health Toronto and the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy – Tier 2 in Drug Policy and Substance Use

Daniel Grace in the Dalla Lana School of Public Health – Tier 2 in Sexual and Gender Minority Health

Marc Johnson in the department of biology at U of T Mississauga – Tier 2 in Urban Environmental Science

Sheena Josselyn at the SickKids Research Institute, the department of psychology in the Faculty of Arts & Science and the department of physiology in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine – Tier 1 in Memory Function and Dysfunction

Carmen Logie at Women's College Research Institute and the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work – Tier 2 in Global Health Equity & Social Justice with Marginalized Populations

Ito Peng in the department of sociology in the Faculty of Arts & Science – Tier 1 in Global Social Policy

Navindra Persaud at St. Michael’s Hospital, Unity Health Toronto, the department of family and community medicine in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine and the Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health – Tier 2 in Health Justice

Martine Puts in the Lawrence Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing – Tier 2 in Care of Frail Older Adults

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Baochun Li elected Fellow of the Engineering Institute of Canada

rahul.kalvapalle — Thu, 11 Jan 2024 16:58:19 +0000

Baochun Li elected Fellow of the Engineering Institute of Canada

Research & Innovation

Community

rahul.kalvapalle Thu, 01/11/2024 - 11:58

Faculty

St. George

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

Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering

landscape

Professor Baochun Li (supplied image)

Baochun Li, a professor in the Edward S. Rogers Sr. department of electrical and computer engineering in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering, has been elected a 2024 Fellow of the Engineering Institute of Canada in recognition of his excellent contributions to engineering and services to the profession and to society.

A leading researcher in multimedia systems, networking, cloud computing and distributed systems, Li’s research on cloud computing security has significantly improved privacy and security when sharing files through the cloud, allowing third-party auditors to verify the integrity of shared files.

A Bell Canada Endowed Chair in Computer Engineering since 2005, Li has worked closely with industry partners such as Bell Canada and Microsoft to advance the networking and video streaming sectors.

“We celebrate Professor Li’s leadership and recognition in areas of networking, cloud computing and distributed systems,” said Professor Christopher Yip, dean of the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering. “His research is making the networks we use more efficient and more secure. On behalf of the faculty, my warmest congratulations on this well-deserved honour.”

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J.J. Garcia-Luna-Aceves and Patricia Romero-Lankao appointed Canada Excellence Research Chairs

rahul.kalvapalle — Fri, 17 Nov 2023 21:51:40 +0000

J.J. Garcia-Luna-Aceves and Patricia Romero-Lankao appointed Canada Excellence Research Chairs

Research & Innovation

rahul.kalvapalle Fri, 11/17/2023 - 16:51

Faculty

St. George

Scarborough

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

Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering

U of T Scarborough

landscape

(photo by Matthew Tierney and supplied image)

Professors J.J. Garcia-Luna-Aceves and Patricia Romero-Lankao have been appointed Canada Excellence Research Chairs in recognition and support of their cutting-edge research in areas that align with Canada’s priorities in science, technology and innovation.

Awarded by the Government of Canada, Canada Excellence Research Chair positions are designed to help world-renowned scholars and scientists further their research, train young researchers and help Canadian post-secondary institutions attract and retain top talent.

Garcia-Luna-Aceves, a professor in the Edward S. Rogers Sr. department of electrical and computer engineering in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering, was named a Canada Excellence Research Chair in Intelligent Digital Infrastructures. His research looks to advance the networking architecture, protocols and algorithms that power the internet, with a view to increasing its benefits for marginalized communities and industries.

“It’s an opportunity like very few others,” says Garcia-Luna-Aceves, who plans to launch a multi-disciplinary research hub to reimagine the internet. “It’s a clean slate to pursue my research. That I can do so in one of the best, most inclusive cities in North America is an added blessing.”

“Professor Garcia-Luna-Aceves has his sights on an ambitious and impactful project. Everything in his distinguished career suggests he’s the person for the job,” said Professor Deepa Kundur, chair of the Edward S. Rogers Sr. department of electrical and computer engineering. “I enthusiastically congratulate him on his CERC, a well-deserved recognition of his incredible talent.”

Romero-Lankao, a professor in the department of sociology at U of T Scarborough, was named a Canada Excellence Research Chair in Sustainability Transitions. Her research explores how transitions to clean energy can be made more equitable, so that a net-zero future doesn’t arrive at the cost of marginalized communities.

“There is more to our transition than all our beautiful technological ideas; there is a decision-making that politicians and coalitions have to make differently with communities, and this reconfiguration of power is something to catalyze,” says Romero-Lankao.

Romero-Lankao, who has spent decades working to integrate social sciences considerations into environmental work, wants to create a hub to connect her group’s research with teaching, students and community-centered learning. “I want to be very experimental and risk-seeking, and ensure that we are known for doing amazing work in a couple of years.”

Read the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering story about J.J. Garcia-Luna-Aceves

Read the U of T Scarborough story about Patricia Romero-Lankao

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Hoi-Kwong Lo and J.J. Garcia-Luna-Aceves honoured by IEEE

lanthierj — Tue, 03 Oct 2023 21:36:10 +0000

Hoi-Kwong Lo and J.J. Garcia-Luna-Aceves honoured by IEEE

Research & Innovation

lanthierj Tue, 10/03/2023 - 17:36

Faculty

St. George

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

Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering

IEEE

landscape

From left: Professors Hoi-Kwong Lo and J.J. Garcia-Luna-Aceves (supplied images)

Professors Hoi-Kwong Lo and J.J. Garcia-Luna-Aceves have been selected by IEEE, the world’s largest technical professional organization, as 2023 recipients for prestigious, career-spanning awards.

Lo, a professor in the Edward S. Rogers Sr. department of electrical and computer engineering (ECE) in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering, cross-appointed to the department of physics in the Faculty of Arts & Science, was awarded the IEEE Photonics Society Quantum Electronics Award for his research in practical quantum cryptography and quantum networks.

Lo was among the first to prove that the encryption provided by one of the best-known applications of quantum cryptography, called quantum key distribution (QKD), is virtually unbreakable. He says he’s grateful for U of T taking a chance on him.

“They hired me over 20 years ago, back when quantum computing was just an obscure intellectual curiosity, and gave me the opportunity to forge my path,” he says. “Winning this award means a lot to me and hopefully, in a small way, to U of T too.”

Garcia-Luna-Aceves, who was awarded the IEEE Harry H. Goode Memorial Award, joined ECE recently and has decades of research in routing algorithms, protocols and architectures in computer networks. Like Lo, his work has been adopted for everyday technology, such as the routing algorithms for today’s wireless and server networks. He holds 70 U.S. patents and has published three books.

“I am of course very proud of my research,” Garcia-Luna-Aceves says. “However, what has given me most joy is my success in sharing with my students the thrill of discovery and invention. I am thrilled that many former students became great researchers in their own right.

“I would like to think my mentoring had a small part to do with that.”

Having two professors from ECE recognized with such prestigious awards is a testament to the breadth and strength of our department, Professor Deepa Kundur, chair of ECE says. “I’m excited to see where their leadership in their respective fields will take us.”

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13 U of T faculty members named Fellows of the Royal Society of Canada

lanthierj — Tue, 05 Sep 2023 19:43:09 +0000

13 U of T faculty members named Fellows of the Royal Society of Canada

Research & Innovation

lanthierj Tue, 09/05/2023 - 15:43

Department of Biochemistry

Department of Medicine

Department of Philosophy

Department of Psychology

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

Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering

Faculty of Arts & Science

Hospital for Sick Children

Temerty Faculty of Medicine

UHN

landscape

Thirteen faculty members from across the ��Ƶ have been appointed Fellows of the Royal Society of Canada – a prestigious distinction given to the country’s most distinguished scholars, artists and scientists.

“The ��Ƶ congratulates these extraordinary researchers on this important recognition of their dedication, leadership and impact,” says Leah Cowen, U of T’s vice-president, research and innovation, and strategic initiatives. “Across a diverse array of disciplines, they are addressing some of the world’s most pressing challenges – and their contributions to their respective fields continue to break new ground.”

The new Fellows are:

Ryan Balot of the department of political science in the Faculty of Arts & Science
Paul Bloom of the department of psychology in the Faculty of Arts & Science
Tom Chau of Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital and the Institute of Biomedical Engineering in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering
Robert Gerlai of the department of psychology at U of T Mississauga
Alberto Leon-Garcia of the Edward S. Rogers Sr. department of electrical and computer engineering in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering
Jason Moffat of the Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) and the department of molecular genetics in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine
Amit Oza of the University Health Network (UHN) and the department of medicine in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine
Daniela Rotin of SickKids and the department of biochemistry in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine
Aaron Schimmer of UHN and the department of medical biophysics in in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine
William Seager of the department of philosophy at U of T Scarborough
Valerie Tarasuk of the department of nutritional sciences in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine
R. Paul Thompson of the Institute for the History & Philosophy of Science and Technology in the Faculty of Arts & Science
Daniel Trefler of the Rotman School of Management

They join more than 350 Fellows of the Royal Society affiliated with U of T.

Six U of T faculty members named to Royal Society of Canada’s College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists

lanthierj — Tue, 05 Sep 2023 19:16:47 +0000

Six U of T faculty members named to Royal Society of Canada’s College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists

Research & Innovation

lanthierj Tue, 09/05/2023 - 15:16

Faculty

Mississauga

St. George

David A. Dunlap Department of Astronomy & Astrophysics

Department of Family and Community Medicine

Department of Physics

Department of Political Science

Department of Psychology

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

Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering

Faculty of Arts & Science

Royal Society of Canada

Temerty Faculty of Medicine

landscape

Six faculty members at the ��Ƶ – renowned for their pathbreaking leadership in a wide range of disciplines – have been appointed to the Royal Society of Canada’s College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists.

“From scientific advances in astrophysics, atmospheric physics and social psychology to timely leadership in climate governance, computer security and privacy, and sexually transmitted infection prevention, these scholars and scientists are making an impact on issues that affect the lives of people across Canada and around the world,” says Leah Cowen, U of T’s vice-president, research and innovation, and strategic initiatives.

“The ��Ƶ congratulates them on this significant recognition.”

The new college members are:

Jo Bovy of the David A. Dunlap department of astronomy and astrophysics in the Faculty of Arts & Science
Ann Burchell of Unity Health and the department of family and community medicine in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine
Jessica Green of the department of political science in the Faculty of Arts & Science
Nicolas Papernot of the Edward S. Rogers Sr. department of electrical and computer engineering in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering
Nicholas Rule of the department of psychology in the Faculty of Arts & Science; vice-principal academic and dean, U of T Mississauga
Debra Wunch of the department of physics in the Faculty of Arts & Science

Each faculty member receives a seven-year membership in the college, which recognizes and supports academic leadership and collaboration among those who have received their PhDs within the last 15 years.

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Frank Kschischang awarded the 2023 IEEE Richard W. Hamming Medal

siddiq22 — Wed, 11 Jan 2023 18:51:24 +0000

Frank Kschischang awarded the 2023 IEEE Richard W. Hamming Medal

Research & Innovation

siddiq22 Wed, 01/11/2023 - 13:51

Faculty

St. George

Richard W. Hamming Medal

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

landscape

(photo by Matthew Tierney)

Frank Kschischang, distinguished professor of digital communication at the Edward S. Rogers Sr. department of electrical and computer engineering in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering, has received the 2023 Richard W. Hamming Medal from IEEE ( Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers), the world’s largest professional technical organization.

The IEEE Medal of Honor is presented to those who have made an exceptional contribution to science and technology. The IEEE recognized Kschischang for his contributions to the theory of error-correcting codes (ECCs), which ensure that digital signals can recover lost bits of information when they travel from a transmitter to a receiver.

Winning the medal is “a fantastic honour,” Kschischang says.

“When I was an undergrad, our IEEE student branch showed us Hamming’s video on how to do research, which had a big influence on my decision to continue to graduate studies myself,” he says. “It’s that kind of inspiration that I look to instill in my own students.”

ECCs play a critical role in modern information technology and Kschischang’s factor-graph approach to describing codes and decoding algorithms is now a mainstay in textbooks. Other career highlights include a subspace coding method for network communications that has spawned its own subdiscipline within the field. His more recent work on “staircase” codes for fibre-optic communications is now embedded within a number of international data communication standards.

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Micah Stickel recognized with OCUFA Teaching Award

lanthierj — Fri, 12 Nov 2021 15:04:03 +0000

Micah Stickel recognized with OCUFA Teaching Award

Teaching

lanthierj Fri, 11/12/2021 - 10:04

Faculty

St. George

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

Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering

OCUFA Teaching Award

landscape

(Photo by Laura Pedersen)

Micah Stickel of the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering has been recognized by the Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations (OCUFA) with a 2020-2021 OCUFA Teaching Award.

Stickel is one of three ��Ƶ faculty members receiving with the award, which recognizes exceptional contributions to postsecondary education in Ontario through teaching and leadership. The others are Mairi Cowan of the department of historical studies at the ��Ƶ Mississauga and Dragana Obradovic of the department of Slavic languages and literatures in the Faculty of Arts & Science.

A professor in the teaching stream, Stickel served as vice-dean, first year for U of T Engineering from 2012–2020 and as acting vice-provost, students and vice-provostial adviser on students in 2020–21.

An advocate for greater access, equity and inclusion in postsecondary education, Stickel co-founded and co-chairs the Engineering Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Action Group, and has been a leader in the development and implementation of Engineering’s Broad-Based Admissions Strategy. The recipient of five departmental teaching awards, Stickel was recognized with the President’s Teaching Award – the university’s highest honour for teaching excellence – in 2020.

“Professor Stickel’s leadership has greatly enhanced the student experience across the university and helped to make this a more welcoming and inclusive place to learn,” said Christopher Yip, dean, U of T Engineering. “He is always putting our students first and pushing to ensure that each member of our community can thrive.”

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