Welcome to Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) at the University of Waterloo

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.

Learn more about our research →

News

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.

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.

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.