Electrical and computer engineers shape the future through innovation. They develop and improve systems that serve everyday needs of society spanning from high-voltage engineering and sustainable energy, to breakthroughs in wireless technology. Our faculty and students do everything from creating low-cost digital x-ray imagers to combat tuberculosis in developing countries, to building real-time embedded systems to advance the design and reliability of commercial products. ECE - the future is what we do.
Research
The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering is a dynamic and innovative hub of cutting-edge advancements in technology and engineering. Faculty members lead pioneering research in areas such as robotics, artificial intelligence, communications, embedded systems, and renewable energy, addressing real-world challenges and driving technological breakthroughs.
Resources
Events
PhD Defence Notice: A study on field-free spin-orbit torque devices with a topological insulator and covalent 2D magnet
Candidate: He Ren
Date: February 11, 2026
Time: 9:00 AM
Location: Online — contact the candidate for more information.
Supervisor: Miao, Guo-Xing
IEEE Solid-State Circuits Society K-W Section and UWaterloo Student Branch Chapter Distinguished Lecture
Title: Analog-to-Digital Converter Enhancement Techniques in Advanced CMOS Technologies
Speaker: Dr. Pieter Harpe, Eindhoven University of Technology, the Netherlands
Date: February 11, 2026
Time: 10:00am to 11:30am
Location: EIT 3142
All are welcome!
News
Robots turn music into paintings of light
Ever wondered what music might look like in motion? Electrical and computer engineering professor Dr. Gennaro Notomista and his team at the University of Waterloo are using swarms of robots to turn sound into stunning paintings of light. By translating musical features like tempo and chords into movement and illumination, the robots create live, interactive works of art that blend technology, creativity, and human input.
This exciting work highlights how robotics, art, and music can come together in unexpected ways.
Electrical and computer engineering researchers win Best Paper Award at IEEE Electrical Power and Energy Conference 2025
PhD student Ahmed Shaban Omar and Dr. Ramadan El-Shatshat of the University of Waterloo’s Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) have received the Best Paper Award at the IEEE Electrical Power and Energy Conference (EPEC) 2025. The award recognizes their innovative research on intelligent energy management for microgrids.
The theme of EPEC 2025 focused on the decarbonization of energy systems, highlighting the importance of smart energy technologies in the transition to a more sustainable electricity grid.
Electrical and computer engineering professor, Dr. Raafat Mansour receives Faculty of Engineering Award of Excellence in Graduate Supervision
The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) is pleased to announce that Professor Dr. Raafat Mansour has been selected as the recipient of the 2025–2026 Faculty of Engineering Award of Excellence in Graduate Supervision.
This award recognizes faculty members who demonstrate outstanding commitment to mentoring graduate students, fostering academic excellence, and supporting the professional development of future researchers and leaders. Dr. Mansour’s dedication to graduate supervision has had a lasting impact on students across multiple generations, many of whom have gone on to successful careers in academia, industry, and research leadership.