Major Group Research Initiatives in 2009–2010 Electron Beam Lithography Lab In 2009, our Faculty opened a new nanofabrication lab. The heart of this facility is the $6.5-million Electron Beam Lithography system, a tool that can define features as small as 10 nanometres — about 10,000 times narrower than the width of a human hair. The facility forms part of the Emerging Communications Technology Institute and is open to researchers from within and outside of the University. It is already becoming a hub for nanofabrication research in Ontario, supporting users from industry, teaching hospitals and universities across Ontario.
Industrial Research Chair for Concrete Durability and Sustainability Professor R. Doug Hooton (CivE) was appointed to a new NSERC Industrial Chair in Concrete Durability and Sustainability. The Chair’s funding is valued at $1.8 million over five years, with contributions from the University of Toronto, NSERC, the Cement Association of Canada, Holcim Canada and Whitemud Resources. Professor Hooton’s research involving the degradation of concrete by alkali-silica reaction and the rate of corrosion of steel in concrete bridges has already been adopted by the Ontario Ministry of Transportation and by the American Standards for Testing and Materials.
Novel Cultures and Enzymes Discovered for Environmental and Biofuels Applications Professor Elizabeth Edwards (ChemE) and her industrial partner, Geosyntec Consultants, were awarded the 2009 NSERC Synergy Award for Innovation in the Large Company Category. The Synergy Award for Innovation recognizes outstanding partnerships in research and development between universities and industry. This partnership focuses on the development of effective techniques for using bacteria to clean contaminated groundwater sites. This has led to the development of the bioaugmentation culture KB–1, which breaks down the chlorinated solvents used in drycleaning and industrial degreasing. Most recently, Professor Edwards and Geosyntec received a $10-million grant from Genome Canada towards the discovery and commercialization of novel cultures and enzymes for environmental and biofuels applications.
New Space Centre to Cultivate “Microspace” Opportunities The $10-million Microsatellite Science and Technology Centre (MSTC), directed by Dr. Robert Zee (AeroE), will be a networking hub for space science and technology researchers to bring new nanosatellite and microsatellite
technologies and space mission concepts to maturity for implementation. Funded by the Canada Foundation for Innovation and the Ontario Ministry of Research and Innovation, the MSTC will address the current lack of a dedicated Canadian program to cultivate new microspace opportunities (new missions, payloads and technology) with internationally recognized researchers. It will leverage the existing, highly successful UTIAS Space Flight Laboratory program, while advancing state-of-theart microsatellite research and technology development.
Students Collaborate Through Three NSERC CREATE Programs The NSERC Collaborative Research and Training Experience (CREATE) Program supports the professional development of students and postdoctoral fellows through training programs that encourage collaborative and integrative approaches while addressing significant scientific challenges associated with Canada’s research priorities. In 2009–2010, our Faculty was awarded almost $5 million from NSERC CREATE to fund three such programs over the next six years: 1. The Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Program emphasizes the integration of electronics and photonics at the nanoscale while providing our undergraduate, graduate and postdoctoral fellows with opportunities for professional and research skills development. 2. Unique in Canada, the interdisciplinary Academic Rehabilitation Engineering Program prepares our students to become global leaders at the interface of engineering and rehabilitation sciences. Students are supervised by faculty within Engineering and in health-related fields. 3. A graduate training program at the University of Toronto and York University, the Program in Microfluidic Applications and Training in Cardiovascular Health equips our students with the scientific, technical and professional skills required to lead the development of transformative microfluidic technologies in industry and academia.
Innovative Plastics Developed for Canadian Industry The microcellular and nanocellular plastics group led by Professor Chul Park (MIE), Canada Research Chair in Microcellular Plastics, has received a $5-million NSERC grant to develop innovative plastic materials, giving numerous Canadian industries a global competitive edge. Over the last decade, Canadian plastic manufacturers have reduced their in-house research and development due to economic setbacks. This project proposes to remedy this decline in R&D with a comprehensive set of research initiatives into both the scientific and technological aspects of plastic materials and related manufacturing processes.
Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering | Annual Report 2010 | 5. Research | 47