Thursday, March 17, 2022

Planning your Research Trajectory: Strategies for Success coming up in April

A message from the Office of Research.

Learn how to develop a dynamic research strategy by attending “Planning your research trajectory: Strategies for success” for early career researchers (in the first three years of a tenure-track appointment) but open to any faculty member who would like to attend on Wednesday, April 6 from 9 to 11:30 a.m. via MS Teams. Please register to attend.

Hosted by the Office of Research, this session will focus on research planning and funding strategies. The event will help researchers understand how to develop a strategic research trajectory and manage research funding. Some of the topics that will be covered include grant writing and development strategies, climbing the research funding ladder, knowledge mobilization and research data management, research partnerships, intellectual property and commercialization, student training and mentorship, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) in research design and practice, research ethics and financial administration of research funds and research communications.

Building a smart cloud-based battery management system

By Claire Francis. This article was originally published on Waterloo News.

“I've always called this era the renaissance of energy innovation,” says Manh-Kien Tran, a Chemical Engineering PhD student. His research centers on an innovative field: cloud-based battery management, with a focus on lithium-ion batteries.

Lithium-ion batteries are extremely prevalent, found in everything from household electronics to electric cars. Explaining how batteries store energy, Tran says, “I think of them as a new type of fuel tank.”

To ensure the battery technology functions properly, batteries in most devices are connected to what’s known as a battery management system (BMS). “The BMS is technically the brain of the battery,” Tran says. It controls and optimizes the way the battery charges and discharges, and ensures system safety during operation.

Although they’re an important step in battery innovation, today’s battery management systems aren’t perfect. They require frequent calibration and cannot store a large amount of battery data. “That’s where the cloud comes in,” Tran says. “Using cloud platform for battery management will allow us to have a one-size-fits-all BMS with better battery algorithms.” The BMS’s universality is an important innovation, and cloud technology will allow us to store seemingly endless amounts of battery data.

From undergrad student to Vanier Scholar

Tran first began his journey at the University of Waterloo as an undergraduate student in 2013. Today, he is a PhD student and Vanier scholar. The Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship is one of the nation’s most prestigious doctoral scholarships, recognizing leadership and scholarly achievement in the natural sciences and engineering, social sciences and humanities, and health-related fields.

Tran believes that from the beginning of his time at Waterloo as an undergrad, he was primed for success. “One of the biggest reasons I chose Waterloo for my undergrad studies was because of the co-op program. And I never regretted it. I think that's probably one of the best decisions I made.”

During those early years in co-op, Tran learned about the importance of collaboration and honed his ability to work both as an individual, and a part of a team. He chose to stay at Waterloo for his doctorate because of its “world-class research facilities, knowledgeable and reputable advisors, and amazing community.” As a graduate student today, his instructors include Dr. Michael Fowler, Canada Research Chair in Zero-Emission Vehicles and Hydrogen Energy Systems.

“I'm familiar with the city. I'm familiar with the environment. I have a community and access to research, top-notch facilities and top-notch supervisors. You can't go wrong.”

As a recipient of a Vanier scholarship, Tran is motivated to reach his full potential and contribute to this important research field.

A critical advancement for an energy-efficient future

Still, Tran understands why people might not have battery evolution on their radar. “They’re not a new solution. They’re already here.” And yet batteries give Tran and his fellow researchers hope. “They’re going to be more common and more usable.” And as a result, “we're going to have cleaner, cheaper energy.”

For example, a reliable BMS is a critical component in electric vehicles. There, Tran explains, “it's communicating with the motor, it's communicating with the driver, and the brain of the car as well.”

Looking ahead at the impact of electric vehicles on our future, Tran cites countries such as Norway where, as of September of this year, nine of 10 cars sold were either electric or rechargeable hybrid models. Canada and other nations have realized the critical role vehicles play in conquering climate change. On June 29, 2021, the Canadian government announced a zero-emissions target of 2035 for all new cars and passenger trucks. In pursuit of this goal, the automotive industry will be revolutionized. Battery-related advancements will be more important than ever before.

Tran is optimistic about the future and believes advancements in energy storage systems will pave the way to a cleaner, more energy-efficient society. He welcomes innovation both in and outside his specialty. “I think the future overall involves having cleaner solutions.” It’s a future that he wholeheartedly embraces.

Pharmacist-run mobile vaccine clinic supports vaccination for people with developmental disabilities

March is Pharmacy Appreciation Month. This month, in our #PAM2022 series, the School of Pharmacy is looking back on the many ways that our pharmacy community has supported Canadians through the pandemic.

Angie Puim (BScPharm2011) and her sister Gina DiVizio (BScPharm2013) are Waterloo Pharmacy alumni and co-owners of Preston Medical Pharmacy in Cambridge. The pharmacy was founded by their father thirty-five years ago.

At Preston, they’ve built a partnership with Community Living Cambridge, an organization that supports people with development disabilities.

“We’ve provided medications for the Community Living Cambridge residences for the past thirty years,” Angie says. “In April 2021, when it came time to vaccinate their residents and caregivers, they called us to help out.”

Angie and her team jumped on the opportunity to get this vulnerable population vaccinated quickly. They had about a week to put together a clinic, so Angie knew she had to work fast.

Working with people with development disabilities required preparation and compassion. The team visited 24 group homes and residences over three days and provided vaccinations to 600 residents and caregivers. They also administered injections for staff members.

“Vaccinating staff helped ease resident fears,” Angie says. “They modelled the process for the residents. Some of our patients were non-verbal, and so we worked with them and their caregivers who would provide consent for them.”

“We were the only pharmacist-run mobile vaccine clinic in the region,” she says. “Between our members, we were able to look after the whole process: drug preparation, injection and after-care.”

Read the full story on the School of Pharmacy website.

Provost committee calls for nominations

A message from the Secretariat.

James Rush’s first term as Vice-President, Academic & Provost ends on 30 June 2023. As required by Policy 48, The Vice-President Academic & Provost, the Secretariat is preparing to constitute the committee that will be tasked with undertaking consideration of reappointment of Dr. Rush to a second term. Nominations are requested for the following seats on the committee.

• A senator of professorial rank from each Faculty, elected by a vote within that Faculty. (The names of the individuals eligible to stand for nomination are printed on the nomination form.)
  • Faculty Senator Nomination Form
• Two regular faculty members, elected by and from the faculty-at-large of the University. (Eligible regular faculty members are those categorized in Policy 76 under Section 2.a., “Regular Faculty Appointments”.)
  • Faculty-at-large Nomination Form
• Two staff members, elected by and from the regular staff of the University. (Eligible regular staff members are those defined in Policy 54 as “Regular Full-time or Part-time Staff”.)
  • Regular Staff Member Nomination Form

At least three nominators are required in each case. Completed nomination forms should be submitted to by email to Diana Goncalves, by 12 noon on Friday, 25 March.

Elections will follow if necessary.

Questions may be directed to Diana Goncalves, d3goncalves@uwaterloo.ca, or you can consult the Secretariat’s website for more information

Notes on St. Patrick's Day

"This St. Patrick’s Day be smart, stay safe and be respectful of each other and your community," says a message from the Waterloo Undergraduate Student Association (WUSA) to students who might be considering taking advantage of the warm weather today to see what lies at the end of the rainbow. "While you may choose to participate in off-campus St. Patrick’s Day activities, consider avoiding all large non-sanctioned gatherings like house parties, backyard parties and street parties that often happen on March 17. We know it’s an exciting time of year with the weather warming up and more social events being able to happen. Let’s continue the momentum and engage in safe, responsible and respectful fun. Please choose common sense and party responsibly."

Associate Provost, Students Chris Read shared similar sentiments to undergraduate and graduate students yesterday. "The University of Waterloo does not condone these gatherings and we encourage you to find alternative ways to celebrate," Read writes. "Your UWaterloolife is made up of a variety of experiences. Make new friends on campus, through your classes, as part of a club, playing an intramural sport, in your research group, at a local bar or restaurant, or at a friend’s place. Build meaningful connections and friendships that will last and that you’ll cherish – don’t risk those experiences for an overcrowded street party. If you see anything happen and you need immediate support, you can contact urgent help options we have available."

St. Patrick's Day celebrates the eponymous Christian saint who was a 5^th Century missionary to Ireland and is now considered its patron saint. Over the years the event has become a celebration of Irish culture, food and drink. A holiday in the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, and Newfoundland and Labrador, it is often celebrated with parades and other gatherings, and of course the wearing of green. St. Patrick's Day celebrations in Canada date back to 1759, when Irish members of the Montreal Garrison observed the holiday.

The Jewish community on campus and off will be celebrating Purim, which began last night and will conclude this evening. Purim commemorates the saving of the Jewish people from destruction at the hands of Haman, an official of the Persian Empire, and is celebrated with food, readings from the Megillat Esther (also known as the Book of Esther), and general merriment.

"Human Resources (HR) has automated the application process for the Staff Member Initiated Work From Home (WFH) requests, incorporating the application automated into Workday, Waterloo’s Human Resources management system, expanding HR’s self-service tools," says a recent message from Human Resources circulated to employees on March 9. "This improvement will minimize paper processes, provides a consistent approval procedure for the applications, and integrates the approvals with the employee Workday records, giving managers more visibility into the WFH agreements of their workforce. User guides will be available on the Workday website to assist you on the steps of the WFH request."

"Once submitted, the WFH application will go through a series of approvals before being finalized. The approval process begins with the direct manager, with final approval authorized by the Executive Council unit head. The agreement allows for short-term arrangements up to a year, as per WFH guidelines, and are reviewed on an annual basis."

If you have any questions reach out to your HR Partner or contact Human Resources at hrhelp@uwaterloo.ca.