We sadly lost Dr. Mojgan Daneshmand, an ex-graduate of the University of Waterloo. She was one of the victims of the Ukrainian plane crash that occurred at early morning of January 8th, 2020. She passed away at the age of 43.
Dr. Mojgan Daneshmand was with the CIRFE Research Group at the University of Waterloo over the period 2002-2008 as a PhD graduate student and as a Post Doctoral Fellow. She joined the University of Alberta in 2008 as an Assistant Professor and became a Full Professor in 2018. She held a Canada Research Chair Tier II on RF sensing and communication for applications in energy systems, wireless and biomedical devices. She was involved in pioneering research on non-contact microwave sensing devices and advanced RF front components for wireless systems.
Dr. Daneshmand was one of the 2018 Martha Cook Piper Research Prize recipients at the University of Alberta for outstanding promise as researchers. She had also received 2016 IEEE Antenna and Propagation Society Lot Shafai Distinguished Mid-Career Award for her scientific contribution to the field of microwave communication and sensing technologies and for being a role model for women in engineering. She received many other awards and recognitions from IEEE APS, IEEE IMS and the Canadian Microsystem Corporation (CMC).
Dr. Daneshmand was an Associate Editor of IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, IEEE Journal of Electromagnetics, RF and Microwaves in Medicine and Biology (J-ERM), and IEEE Canadian Journal of Electrical and Computer Engineering for 2014-2016. She served as a co-chair of the IEEE Joint APS/MTTS Northern Canada Chapter. Dr. Daneshmand was also a member of IEEE MTT-S International Microwave Symposium (IMS) Technical Program Review Committee (TPRC) and was a member of the steering committees of ANTEM and IEEE AP-S Conferences.
To those who know her in person, Mojgan would always represent enthusiasm and an upbeat attitude with ever ready smile. She was intelligent, charming and thoughtful.
Sadly, Mojgan’s husband, Pedram Mousavi, and her daughters Daria and Dorina were also on the Ill-fated Ukrainian flight.
Mojgan’s departure is an immeasurable loss to Canada and to the Microwave Research Community. She will be always remembered.
Vigil was held in Alberta on January 12th, 2020 for the Canadian victims of the Ukrainian plane crash. Prof. Mansour shared his memories of Dr. Mojgan Daneshmand.