A Message from Dean, Cristina Amon

Our Faculty strives to provide a graduate education that fosters the next generation of global engineering leaders, innovators, researchers and educators. The growing interest and enrolment in our MEng professional master’s program, the development of the ELITE (Entrepreneurship, Leadership, Innovation and Technology in Engineering) and EPP (Engineering and Public Policy) certificates, and the PPIT (Prospective Professors In Training) program are three examples of our recent innovation in graduate programs and our commitment to enhancing graduate education. Our recent Annual Report’s chapter on Graduate Students provides in-depth statistics on our progress and evolution in graduate studies (click here to read).

In this Newsletter we highlight a few of our many remarkable, talented graduate students whose multidisciplinary and innovative work flourishes in partnership with our world-class professors. In addition to opportunities to conduct ground-breaking research, read about one of our graduates’ experiences in PPIT that supports students’ passion for teaching and mentoring. These glimpses demonstrate the rigorous curriculum, diversity and enriched graduate student experiences we offer at the Faculty.

We have made significant progress in our pursuit of excellence this year. Thank you for your commitment, hard work and contributions to the Faculty. I wish you and your families a wonderful holiday, an enjoyable winter break and a rewarding New Year. I look forward to our work together in 2010.

December 17, 2009

Volume 3, Issue 7
In this issue:

Graduate Studies
What's New
Honours and Awards
Research
Events
New Appointments
Governance
News

Graduate Studies

Read the profiles of eight of the Faculty's extraordinary graduate students:

Fall 2009 grad student enrolment

PhD enrolment has increased every year since 2000, from 334 students to 676 this year, the largest cohort ever. MASc and MEng student enrolment has also expanded since 2006. The most recent figures highlight the Faculty's largest cohort within the last 10 years

Q & A with Chris Damaren, Vice-Dean, Graduate Studies

Highlights Faculty's initiatives including proposed Globalization certificate within MEng

Graduate Degrees

Faculty offers three levels of graduate education: MASc, MEng and PhD

Grad Certificates

• ELITE
• Engineering and Public Policy
• Skoll Program: BASc/MBA

PPIT prepares future faculty members

Mohamed Abdelgawad, PPIT Teaching Assistant, tells how program inspires soon-to-be-faculty to become world-class professors

What's New

Dean’s Luncheon

Five former Deans of Engineering met with Dean Cristina Amon to celebrate the Faculty’s recent achievements at luncheon and tour

Final Space Report

Read key findings, recommendations, and activities since Interim Report (PDF)

Tech Tip: Maximize your Google experience

Learn how to search more effectively and utilize multifaceted informational tool functions

Honours and Awards

Four Engineering Professors Named AAAS Fellows

Congratulations to Professors Will Cluett (ChemE), Bryan Karney (CivE), Javad Mostaghimi (MIE) and Edward (Ted) Sargent (ECE). AAAS is largest international organization dedicated to advancing science or its applications on global basis. U of T received four of 48 Fellowships awarded in the Engineering Section, more than any other single institution

For further information on the following awards, please contact Carolyn Farrell, Director, Awards and Honours, at carolyn.farrell@utoronto.ca

Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering Staff Awards – Call for Nominations

Nominate a deserving staff member for one of five staff awards: Emerging Leader Award; Influential Leader Award; Award for Innovation; Quality of Student Experience Award; and Agnes Kaneko Citizenship Award. Call for nominations deadline: Jan. 15, 2010

EAA Awards

Awards honour the many alumni who have been recognized for outstanding achievements. Nominations deadline: Jan. 29, 2010

McCharles Prize for Early Career Research Distinction

Nominations for early career faculty members due March 5, 2010; medal and $25,000 to be awarded April 2010

2010 Awards of Excellence

UTAA accepting nominations for achievements and contributions of exemplary members of the University community – deadlines in Jan. 2010

Gordon Cressy Student Leadership Awards

Central, University and Campus-wide deadline: Dec. 3, 2009 | Divisions, Faculties and Colleges deadline: Jan. 18, 2010

Chancellor’s Award

Nominations due Feb. 16, 2010 recognizing administrative staff for exceptional leadership in advancing the University's mission

Advisory Committee on the Appointment of a Chair, Division of EngSci – Call for Nominations

Nominations due Jan. 6, 2010. Please forward all nominations to Lisa Simpson-Camilleri at lisa@ecf.utoronto.ca

Research

New NSERC Programs to Partner with Industry

Funding Opportunities

• International Research Initiative on Adaptation to Climate Change (IDRC/CIHR/NSERC/SSHRC)
• New NSERC Programs Help Build Industry Ties with University Research
• Ontario Institute for Cancer Research

Engineering Events

Click here for more Engineering events

New Administratitive Appointments

Welcome to new administrative and technical staff to the Faculty and congratulations to colleagues assuming new responsibilities within Engineering

• Grant Bonin | Research Associate, UTIAS
• Howard Buckley | Research Associate, UTIAS
• Mark Champion | Research Associate, UTIAS
• Gina John | Director, EngSci
• Diana Lee | Admissions Officer, Information Analyst, ECE
• Ian Marquez | Information Assistant, Registrar's Office
• Seyed Ali Nabavi Niaki | Research Associate, ECE
• Matthew Nelson | Healthcare Engineering Project Lead, MIE
• Elenita Palmiano | Chemistry & Testing Support Specialist, ECE
• Lukasz Stras | Research Associate, UTIAS
• Tom Vosper | Senior Development Officer, Advancement Office
• Renee Walkom | Admissions and Awards Assistant, Registrar's Office
• Jiao Zhao | Research Associate, ChemE

Governance

2009-2010 Faculty Council Meetings

Save the Date: Feb. 24, 2010 | May 26, 2010
Time: 12:10 - 2:00 p.m. | All meetings take place in the Michael E. Charles Council Chamber (GB202)

Engineering in the News

Masahiro Kawaji (ChemE) contributes to experiments on board recent space mission

Japanese experiment on fluid physics in microgravity performed aboard same mission to International Space Station that former alum Julie Payette (MASc 9T0) visited

Dean Amon discusses difficulties in math for new Engineering students

Informal survey of Ontario math and engineering professors and deans conducted by Legislative Research Service for the Ontario PC caucus

New Canadian research network aims to build a better eye

Company founded by ChemE/IBBME Professor Michael Sefton and alum Michael May (ChemE 9T1), Rimon Therapeutics, among network of 12 university researchers and 10 industry partners to receive more than $6.7M in funding

Newsletter Archives

Did you miss a past issue of the Engineering Newsletter? Revisit past articles and catch up on Faculty news on the Engineering homepage.

The Engineering Newsletter is a twice-monthly summary of key headlines, events and opportunities for faculty and staff in the Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering. If you have questions or comments, please contact: barbara@ecf.utoronto.ca.

Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/uoftengineering