Professor Jennifer Farmer (ChemE) is a teaching-stream faculty member who received her PhD in chemistry from York University. She will bring her expertise in synthetic and organometallic chemistry to undergraduate courses. Professor Naomi Matsuura (MSE, IBBME) completed her PhD in the Department of Materials Science & Engineering at U of T and worked five years as a researcher at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre. Her research focuses on the application of nanotechnology, including injectable nanoparticles used as imaging agents, to the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. Professor Alison Olechowski (MIE, ILead) completed her undergraduate studies at Queen’s University and her PhD at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). She uses a systems engineering approach to develop improved methods for corporate processes such as product development and risk management. As a teaching-stream faculty member, Professor Olechowski will share these useful tools with future engineers to enhance their leadership capabilities. Professor Ira Daniel Posen (CivE) studied at Princeton University and Carnegie Mellon University, where he received his PhD in Engineering and Public Policy. He specializes in greenhouse gas emissions in the chemical industry, including assessing the effects of bio-based products using life-cycle analysis and examining the impact of renewable fuel standards on emissions. Professor Shoshanna Saxe (CivE) studied at McGill University, MIT and the University of Cambridge, where she completed her PhD. She is an expert on public transit, in particular the impact of public infrastructure investments on society and the environment. Professor Vahid Sarhangian (MIE) completed his PhD at U of T’s Rotman School of Management and conducted postdoctoral research at Columbia Business School. He specializes in operations research, including optimizing the storage and delivery of blood products and other perishable commodities. Professor Patricia Sheridan (ILead) received her PhD from the Collaborative Program in Engineering Education at U of T Engineering. She has developed novel tools to teach and evaluate team effectiveness and leadership competencies in undergraduate engineering courses. Professor Hamid Timorabadi (ECE) completed his PhD in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at U of T. He is a teaching-stream faculty member who specializes in lab-based courses relating to power electronics and computer organization.
Professor Marianne Touchie (CivE, MIE) completed her PhD in the Department of Civil Engineering at U of T and has worked for the Toronto Atmospheric Fund. Her research focuses on improving the energy performance and indoor environmental quality of existing buildings through comprehensive retrofits. Professor Chirag Variawa (First Year Program) received his PhD from the Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering at U of T. He is a teaching-stream faculty member who applies artificial intelligence, computational linguistics, and neuroscience to improve the design of engineering learning environments.
Diversity in Engineering and Leadership We have made significant progress since 2006, a time when our Faculty had no women in academic leadership positions. Today women engineers lead many of our academic units and our multidisciplinary research centres and institutes. They also hold senior leadership positions of significant responsibility at the University level. Dean Cristina Amon (MIE) has led the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering since 2006. She holds the Alumni Chair in Bioengineering and has been inducted into the Canadian Academy of Engineering, the Spanish Royal Academy, the Royal Society of Canada and the U.S. National Academy of Engineering. She has received the Achievement Award from the Society of Women Engineers, and in 2012 was among Canada’s 25 Most Influential Women. In 2015 she received the Ontario Professional Engineers Gold Medal, the organization’s highest honour. Professor Aimy Bazylak (MIE) is the Canada Research Chair in Thermofluidics for Clean Energy and Director of the Institute for Sustainable Energy. This multidisciplinary institute brings together researchers, students, and educators from across the University, together with partners from industry and government, to increase energy efficiency and reduce the environmental impact of energy use and conversion. Distinguished Professor Yu-Ling Cheng (ChemE) is Director of the Centre for Global Engineering. The Centre brings together researchers and students to tackle some of the world’s most critical challenges, such as sanitation, alternative energy, drinking water and global health. Professor Cheng has also served as Chair of Engineering Science (2000–2005), Acting Chair of the Department of Chemical Engineering & Applied Chemistry (2006), Speaker of Faculty Council (2007–2010) and Acting Dean of the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering (2012 and 2013).
Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering | Annual Report 2016 | Chapter 10: Diversity
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