Meet the Team

Core Team:

Catherine Burns

Dr. Catherine Burns
Program Director
Email: catherine.burns@uwaterloo.ca

Dr. Burns is the founding Director of the Centre for Bioengineering and Biotechnology at the University of Waterloo. In this role she works with 150 researchers
to progress their science and move their technology into actual use. Her work has significantly increased the research funding and academic environment for researchers and students at the University of Waterloo.

Her own research, in human factors engineering, explores how people work with new technologies, and develops more effective designs. Catherine has published over 250 papers in her field, 7 books, and graduated nearly 60 graduate students, 46% of which have been women. She is active in her scientific community, a leader at the university, and has participated in many different roles in government science funding. She has won awards for research, teaching and graduate student supervision from the University of Waterloo.

Kenrick Vassall
Program Co-ordinator
Email: kenrick.vassall@uwaterloo.ca

Co-Applicants

Co-applicants Profile [PDF]

	Dr. Maud Gorbet Associate Professor, Systems Design Engineering, University of Waterloo Training Program Developer Dr. Gorbet is a leading expert in biological-technological interactions and biocompatibility. She holds personal and collaborative experience in launching biomedical companies. Through her position as Academic Director of the Biomedical Engineering undergraduate program, Dr. Gorbet has experience in trainee program development and management. She has contributed to the design of the international summer school and will teach multiple program courses.
	Dr. Thomas Willett Assistant Professor, Systems Design Engineering, University of Waterloo Training Program Developer Dr. Willet will contribute expertise in tissue and composite biomaterial mechanics. He has multiple clinical connections at Mt. Sinai Hospital and can support students who wish to collaborate with clinicians. Dr. Willett has a significant contribution in developing the CREATE training module in the CREATE program.
	Dr. Karim Karim Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Waterloo As an expert on medical imaging devices and both micro- and macro-electronics, Dr. Karim will supervise trainees interested in imaging technology. He will teach the Design for Adoption course. Karim has extensive management and commercialization experience as Director of the Silicon Thin Film Applied Research Laboratory and founder of KA Imaging. He has many connections in the imaging industry. He has experience in the development of trainees through a previous CREATE grant.
	Dr. Alex Wong Associate Professor, Systems Design Engineering, University of Waterloo Canada Research Chair in Medical Imaging Systems As Director of the Vision and Image Processing Research Group, Dr. Wong is an expert in medical imaging and will supervise students working in this field. He provides a key link to clinical personnel through his work with Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre. He is a co-founder of the medical artificial intelligence startup Elucid Lab.
	Dr. Safieddin Safavi-Naeini Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Waterloo C-COM Industrial Research Chair Dr. Safavi-Naeini will provide trainees with access to his state-of-the-art electromagnetic device characterization laboratory (CIARS) and expertise in electromagnetics, energy harvesting and networked devices.
	Dr. Ning Jiang Assistant Professor, Systems Design Engineering, University of Waterloo Dr. Jiang is an expert in signal processing algorithms and machine intelligence. His research trainees will investigate brain-computer interfaces, prosthetics, and wearable devices.
	Dr. Clark Dickerson Professor, Kinesiology, University of Waterloo Tier II Canada Research Chair in Shoulder Biomechanics Dr. Dickerson will mentor trainees interested in his expertise on shoulder and joint biomechanics and rehabilitation.
	Dr. Lora Giangregorio Associate Professor, Kinesiology, University of Waterloo Schlegel Research Chair in Mobility and Aging Dr. Giangregorio is an expert in osteoporosis, exercise and rehabilitation. She brings a wealth of information on clinical trial design and knowledge translation for trainees interested in patient-centred research.
	Dr. Lyndon Jones Professor, School of Optometry and Vision Sciences, University of Waterloo University Research Chair As Director of the Centre for Contact Lens Research (CCLR), the largest ocular clinical trial facility, Dr. Jones will provide trainees with extensive exposure to ocular biotechnology and connections to clinical professionals.
	Dr. Evelyn Yim Associate Professor, Chemical Engineering, University of Waterloo Dr. Yim will share her expertise in Nano-biotechnology, tissue engineering and regenerative medicine with trainees. Her experience as Director of the Regenerative Nanomedicine Lab adds experience in developing biomaterials for surgical applications in collaboration with clinicians.

Collaborators

	Dr. Kassem Ashe St. Mary's Hospital Regional Cardiac Care Centre, Kitchener Clinical Collaborator Expert in cardiovascular devices and tools for cardiac surgery
	Dr. Jen Boger Systems Design Engineering, University of Waterloo Academic Collaborator Expert in geriatric care and connections within the Schlegel Research Institute for Aging
	Dr. Sofiane Boudadoud and Hamid Kokabi Sorbonne Universities International Collaborators International collaborators, and co-designers of the summer school program
	Dr. Melanie Campbell Physics and Astronomy, University of Waterloo Academic Collaborator Instructor for the Entrepreneurship and Commercialization course
	Dr. Zane Cohen Zane Cohen Centre for Digestive Diseases, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto Clinical Collaborator World leading expert in colorectal surgery and reconstruction, with many clinical connections
	Dr. Duane Cronin Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering, University of Waterloo Academic Collaborator Expert in modelling of the human body and its potential for device design
	Dr. Peter Ferguson Division of Orthopaedic Surgery, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto Clinical Collaborator Expert in skeletal reconstruction
	Dr. Rob Gorbet Knowledge Integration, University of Waterloo Academic Collaborator Delivery of the Interdisciplinary collaboration module
	Andre Hladio IntelliJoint Surgical Inc Industry Collaborator Expert on implant design, intern support and commercialization
	Amol Karnick CEO of KA Imaging Industry Collaborator Entrepreneurial experience and intern support in imaging
	Dr. David Koff McMaster University Clinical Collaborator Expert in clinical radiology and imaging, with access to Hamilton Health Sciences
	Dr. Tina Mah Grand River Hospital, Research and Innovation Clinical Collaborator Coordinates access to appropriate clinicians at Grand River Hospital
	Dr. Alex Mihailidis Toronto Rehab Hospital Clinical Collaborator Expert in rehabilitation needs, with extensive clinical connections
	Dr. George Pinho CEO of Christie Medical Industry Collaborator Mentor on commercialization and guidance on imaging projects
	John Walmsley Starfish Medical Clinical Collaborator Expert in medical device design and manufacturing, and mentor to interns
	Mark Weber Conrad Business, Entrepreneurship and Technology Centre Academic Collaborator Expert in business, entrepreneurship and innovation
	Thas Yuwaraj Synaptive Medical Inc. Industry Collaborator Guide to interns and can provide industry guidance for projects on imaging and surgical contexts

Trainees

Undergraduate Students

Master's Students

Matthew Robichaud
MASc, Systems Design Engineering

Andrew Smiles
MASc, Systems Design Engineering

Dana Toameh
MASc, Systems Design Engineering

Yuan Yao
MASc, Chemical Engineering

Yirou Li
MASc, Systems Design Engineering

Vivian Chan

Vivian Chan
MASc, Health Sciences

nijani

Nijani Nagaarudkumaran
MSc, Vision Science

PhD Students

Olivia Tong

PhD, Systems Design Engineering

Nargess Heydari Beni
PhD, Systems Design Engineering

YeJin
YeJin Jeong
PhD, Chemical Engineering

Ala Eldin Omer
PhD, Electrical and Computer
Engineering

Abdollah Pil Ali
PhD, Electrical and Computer
Engineering

Alan Yee
PhD, Optometry and Vision Science

Yiran Zhou
PhD, Chemical Engineering

Alumni

Sabrina Mattiassi Undergraduate Research Assistant, Chemical Engineering	Hyeok Jun Ahn MASc, Electrical and Computer Engineering	Fairuz Hoque MASc, Systems Design Engineering
Jacob Manuel MASc, Systems Design Engineering	Aravind Ravi MASc, Systems Design Engineering	Ibrahim Ben Daya PhD, Systems Design Engineering

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