Announcing the 2026 GRADflix winners
Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs is delighted to announce the winners of the 2026 GRADflix competition!
GRADflix is a research communication competition inviting graduate students to create a 60-second video showcasing their research for a non-specialized audience. This competition celebrates graduate research excellence while helping participants strengthen their storytelling and communication skills, expand professional networks, and gain visibility across campus and beyond.
At the GRADflix Showcase on March 10 at Federation Hall, an audience of graduate students, staff, faculty, friends, family, and community members enjoyed the premiere of all the finalists' videos. Awards were presented for first, second, and third, as well as the Finalist’s Choice Award, where finalists voted for their favourite peer video.
2026 GRADflix winners
First place
Alicia Pan, Electrical and Computer Engineering
Alicia Pan is developing Mirrly, a robot designed to help children with amblyopia (lazy eye) follow eye-patching treatment. By gamifying patching education in eye clinics, the robot aims to reduce stigma, increase engagement, and improve treatment adherence, so more children can successfully preserve their vision.
GRADflix video: Meet Mirrly: A Social Robot for the Eye Doctor's Office
Second place
Chuchi Chen, Chemical Engineering
Chuchi Chen is engineering microalgae as a new type of cell factory for producing useful proteins such as medicines and enzymes. By designing and inserting specific DNA sequences, her work aims to harness fast-growing, low-cost algae to create sustainable and affordable ways to manufacture life-saving proteins.
GRADflix video: Genetic Engineering: Programming Cells
Third place
Madeleine Kenyon, Philosophy
Madeleine Kenyon studies how consent is taught in sex education, particularly around alcohol and intoxication. Her research examines how simplified or even partially false messages about consent are sometimes used intentionally to reduce the risk of sexual harm, highlighting the tension between nuanced realities and safety-focused education.
GRADflix video: Saying (True) Things About Sexual Consent
Finalists' Choice
Jeswin Joseph, Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering
Jeswin develops physics-based digital twin models to predict surface temperatures on hypersonic vehicles during flight. By combining fundamental physics with high-fidelity flow data, his models estimate heat loads using minimal sensors, helping engineers design safer hypersonic systems while reducing the need for expensive flight testing.
GRADflix video: Digital Twins for Hypersonic Systems
Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs extends our sincere gratitude to the 2026 judging panel for their thoughtful reviews, expertise, and support of graduate research communication:
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Parisa Sadatmousavi, Associate Director, Productization and Spaces, Velocity
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Zachary McKendrick, Postdoctoral Scholar, Cheriton School of Computer Science and Department of Communication Arts
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Jenn Willoughby, Director, Student Life Communications
All 2026 GRADflix finalist videos are now available on YouTube.