Wednesday, August 5, 2026

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• From two-way to Texas

• Using a molecule as a quantum sensor

• Environment PhD candidate wins prestigious Weston Family Award for Northern Research

• Test of the ENS system tomorrow

From two-way to Texas

Evan Morrison at bat in the 2023 OUA semifinal (Photographer: Dan Inglis)

By Ben Norris. This is an excerpt from an article that was originally published on Athletics and Recreation's website. 

Sometimes you just need to "give the kid a chance!" 

Former Waterloo Warriors Baseball Head Coach, Brian Bishop, used to say that line countless times each season. Whether being dropped in conversation with an umpire, or as a broader mantra for what Warriors Baseball really stood for — it continues to resonate for our current staff. 

"Give the kid a chance."  In my eyes, that aligns with the way a player like Evan Morrison arrived at the University of Waterloo.  

Recruiting is an essential part of building a contending program in Canadian University Baseball, especially in the OUA. Evan was the kind of talented, motivated, student that excelled on the field and had the lofty prerequisite grades required to earn admission to a school like Waterloo, whose academic reputation is revered around the world. We pursued Evan early, and made sure he knew how much we valued him. 

Normally, a true two-way standout from the Great Lake Canadians would receive plenty of offers to play collegiate baseball south of the border, the most traditional pathway for Canadian kids to put themselves on the map with professional organizations. Some combination of the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on youth sports recruiting, our belief in the kind of difference-making player he could become, and his own desire to pursue a top-rated academic program at Waterloo helped to pave the way for Evan to become a Warrior. 

There are certain players who leave a lasting impression on a program — not simply because of what they accomplish on the field, but because of how they approach every challenge. Evan is one of those players. 

When Evan first joined the Warriors, you could immediately tell he was different. He wasn't interested in simply making the roster or putting together a respectable university career. From day one, he had an insatiable desire to improve. Every practice, every bullpen session, every lift, every conversation — he treated each opportunity as another step toward becoming the best version of himself. 

As a coach, those are the athletes you never have to motivate. Evan showed up expecting to be challenged and ready to work. 

As a first-year, playing mostly second base beside an OUA all-star (Varun Kuo), Evan became an integral part of the lineup, and dominated on the mound as a starting pitcher each weekend as well. By his second year, his ability to defend helped him force his way over to shortstop, and he became the focal point in a stacked Warriors lineup. Tasked with starting some of the toughest assignments on the mound as well, when we gave him the chance to be challenged, he flat out delivered.  

What made him special wasn't just his physical ability. It was the way he embraced these challenges. When things were going well, he stayed hungry. When adversity inevitably arrived, he pushed himself harder. Whether it was making adjustments, battling through difficult stretches, or facing higher levels of competition, he consistently found a way to not just respond, but to excel. That's a rare quality. 

Baseball has a way of testing your resolve more than almost any other sport. Success isn't guaranteed, and failure is part of the journey. Evan understood that. Instead of allowing small setbacks to define him, he used them as fuel. Every obstacle became another opportunity to learn and come back stronger. 

That mindset elevated not only his own game but many others around him. He was part of a program that was developing into one of the strongest in the OUA, and he thrived on being the guy that other teams knew they'd have to try to beat.  

In the summer after Evan's second season with the Warriors, I received a call from Dan Corbin, of the Waterloo Bucks (Iowa) of the Northwoods league, one of the premier collegiate summer baseball leagues in the United States. Dan and I had previously spoken about a couple of OUA players, and his team and league represented the kind of competitive environment that I felt could really challenge a select few of our players.  

The Northwoods League regularly yields top MLB Draft picks and features a lot of NCAA Division 1 players. In late June, Dan called again, looking to add a couple of pitchers for the second half of the season. He wasn't interested in anyone in particular at that point, but we had built enough of a relationship that he trusted that the guys we'd consider sending him would be able to handle the experience. 

This, in my opinion, was the perfect opportunity for Evan. He soaked up every bit of baseball he could, and loved being challenged. I called Evan to discuss the opportunity and put him in touch with Dan. Evan couldn't wait to get started. We gave Evan the chance to get out there and suit up with the Bucks, and boy did he deliver for them!  

When we sent Evan out to Iowa, Alex Gordner (Associate Head Coach), AJ Wideman (Pitching Coach) and I joked that we may never see Evan again. We knew that schools down south would be crazy not to notice him and give him a chance! AJ, more than anyone, knows well what it takes to compete at the highest levels of baseball. AJ was drafted out of high school in the 11th round to the Montreal Expos, was traded straight-up to the Blue Jays for a guy who would play in the big leagues, and also played with Canada's Men's National Team on multiple occasions.  

Fortunately for us, Evan came back from the Northwoods League and returned to the Warriors for the fall season. He did so armed with the knowledge that he could more than hold his own against D1-level players, and that fueled his fire more than ever.  

The results that fall OUA season spoke for themselves and Evan was named OUA MVP, alongside Toronto standout Owen Taylor. Evan was our guy, and he helped us get to within an out of our first OUA Championship. What an accomplishment that would have been to cap off an incredible season! As heartbreaking as it was to be that close to achieving our team goal only to fall short, it didn't stop Evan from pushing himself in search of another chance to compete and to challenge himself.  

He always believed there was another level to reach. 

That mentality, combined with his strong play in the Northwoods League offered Evan opportunities competing in the spring, beyond Waterloo and the OUA's fall season. The next chapter included a transfer to McPherson College in Kansas and later to Grand Valley State University in Michigan, and strong showing with the Chatham Barnstormers in the Intercounty Baseball League in 2025.  

As expected, he attacked those opportunities with the exact same commitment and work ethic that had defined him here at Waterloo. New teammates. New coaches. Tougher competition. Higher expectations. 

Of course, he exceeded those expectations as well. None of it changed who he was. He continued doing what he had always done — embracing every challenge and trusting that consistent effort would eventually be rewarded. 

That reward arrived in one of the biggest moments of his baseball journey: Texas. 

Read the full story on Athletics and Recreation's website.

Using a molecule as a quantum sensor

This is an excerpt from an article that was originally published on Waterloo News.

A new quantum sensing technique could enable measurements of single protein structures and other important molecules, with potential applications in drug discovery and structural biology. 

The research team from the Institute for Quantum Computing (IQC) at the University of Waterloo developed the new method that uses a single molecule as a quantum sensor. Quantum sensors use unique properties of quantum mechanics to make ultra-precise measurements that traditional sensors cannot achieve.  

This technique has never been demonstrated before and uses a class of molecules for this purpose for the first time. Precise imaging of single molecules helps researchers understand how single proteins and other biomolecules behave. It can help reveal more information about how diseases develop and the ways drugs interact to potentially design more effective treatment. 

The sensors probe the spin, or local magnetic environment of atoms. Because each atom has a unique resonance frequency, if two are close together, they magnetically affect each other.  

“Our experiment establishes a new paradigm in nanoscale quantum sensing,” said Dr. Raffi Budakian, a professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy as well as faculty at IQC. “There are other milestones to reach before we have a sensor sensitive to single molecules, but we know how to get there, and this is a huge demonstration. We’re not too far away now because of this advancement.” 

A well-established quantum-sensing technique uses synthetic diamonds designed with atomic-scale defects and involves light to read out signals. Budakian’s group used a class of molecules called trityl-OX063 as the quantum sensor. The spin of the sensor is isolated and protected, preserving its quantum properties. And, compared to the diamond sensing technique, it can be placed closer to the target it is sensing to achieve higher sensitivity. 

Their method uses the electron spin of the OX063 molecule. The magnetic fields from nearby nuclear spins change the evolution of that electron spin. The resulting signal is detected mechanically using nanowire probes that are 100 nanometers in diameter, about the size of a virus, and 20 microns long, about the diameter of a human hair.  

“One key challenge was keeping the OX063 spins coherent long enough to make them useful as sensors,” said Sahand Tabatabaei, a PhD candidate at IQC and first author on the paper. “The new control sequence we developed extended the coherence time to 400 microseconds, so it maintained its quantum state roughly 60 times longer than what is achieved with standard spin-echo techniques in the same system.” 

Read the full story on Waterloo News.

Environment PhD candidate wins prestigious Weston Family Award for Northern Research

This article was originally published on the Faculty of Environment's website.

The Canadian north is experiencing rapid environmental change, increasing the need to better understand its ecosystems, biodiversity, and the communities that depend on them. Stephanie Saal, a PhD candidate in the Department of Geography and Environmental Management, is researching how snowpack impacts key ecological relationships, and how best to collect this information at a watershed level. In recognition of her academic achievements and innovative research, Saal has been awarded the 2026 Weston Family Award in Northern Research. Valued at $120,000 over three years, the award is presented to outstanding doctoral students across Canada. Saal was one of eight recipients, placing her among the country's emerging leaders in Northern research.

Saal’s passion for the Canadian north began more than a decade ago when she visited the Yukon. “I was captivated by its wilderness and sense of possibility. After finishing my master’s degree, I returned to work with Yukon College and later Yukon University in cold-regions hydrology research.”

During her time in the Yukon, Saal built a strong community, volunteered in outdoor safety and recreation, and learned what it means to contribute to the region you call home. Her work with First Nations, government, and industry allowed her to develop a unique perspective on the area and its specific environmental concerns.

Saal identified the need for reliable, large-scale snowpack information to support ecological monitoring, flood forecasting, and hydropower management. “Snowpack is a major driver of northern water systems, yet it remains the largest hydrological unknown. Retrieving watershed‑scale snowpack information in mountainous terrain has historically been limited by technology. With new microwave sensors now in orbit, meaningful progress is finally possible.”

Saal chose the University of Waterloo for the opportunity to work with Dr. Richard Kelly, whose expertise in microwave remote sensing aligned with her research goals. In partnership with Kwanlin Dün First Nation (KDFN), Saal uses differential interferometry from synthetic aperture radar satellites to track cumulative snowpack development over the winter, enabling landscape-scale estimates of snow water equivalent. Together with KDFN, she examines how snow influences key ecological relationships, including how snowmelt helps regulate water temperatures for cold-water fish species and how snowpack affects caribou movement.

By advancing snowpack monitoring in Northern regions, Saal's research will help improve our understanding of environmental change and support the communities, ecosystems, and species that depend on these lands. Congratulations to Saal on being recognized for her impressive research and academic achievements.

Test of the ENS System tomorrow

On Thursday, August 6, the University will conduct a campus-wide test of the Emergency Notification System (ENS) provided by Regroup.

The test will send messages through the following channels:

• SMS/text message
• Email
• Regroup Mobile (safety app)
• Desktop Alert
• Campus Safety webpage

What you need to do before the test:

1. Download the Regroup Mobile app and complete the login and recommended settings.
2. Confirm your cell phone number is up to date:
   • Staff: update it in the Regroup app
   • Students: update it in Quest
3. Install the Desktop Alert tool on your computer if it is not managed by the University.

If you have questions about the test or need help installing the Regroup app or Desktop Alert, please email ens@uwaterloo.ca.