News

Each year, the University of Waterloo’s Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) Capstone Design program turns the bold ideas of its final-year students into innovations that shape the future. This highly anticipated event is more than just an academic milestone—it's a launchpad for cutting-edge technology, where creativity meets real-world problem-solving. From next-generation hardware to AI-powered solutions, Capstone projects push the boundaries of what’s possible, showcasing the ingenuity, technical skill, and entrepreneurial spirit that define Waterloo engineers.

Oleksandr Hrabar, a Master of Applied Science (MASc) student in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) at the University of Waterloo, has earned top honours in the 2024 International Youth Math Challenge (IYMC), securing a place among the top 1% of all 5280 participants. Hrabar’s outstanding performance has been recognized with the prestigious Gold Honour, along with the 2nd Prize Senior and the 1st National Award for Canada.

Mohammad Abuyaghi, a PhD student in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) at the University of Waterloo, has been selected as a recipient of the prestigious Sandford Fleming Foundation (SFF) Teaching Assistantship Excellence Award. This award, presented annually in each academic department, recognizes individuals who demonstrate exceptional dedication to their students and go beyond in their teaching responsibilities. Abuyaghi’s selection for this award highlights his ability to inspire and engage students, as well as his unwavering support for their academic success.

Gurshaant Singh Malik, an electrical and computer engineering (ECE) PhD student at the University of Waterloo, has been honoured with the prestigious Best-Paper Award at the 2024 International Conference on Field-Programmable Technology (FPT) held in Sydney, Australia.

Thirteen University of Waterloo researchers have received $16.2 million in funding for 16 projects aimed at advancing quantum science and technology. This funding is part of the Government of Canada’s National Quantum Strategy (NQS), which seeks to strengthen Canada's leadership in quantum research and accelerate the development of quantum technologies.

The announcement was made by Sherry Romanado, on behalf of the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, and Professor Alejandro Adem, President of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), at the INRS Énergie Matériaux Télécommunications Research Centre in Varennes, Québec.

Four professors from the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) are among the recipients of these grants.

After a record-breaking number of registrations for the 2025 GRADflix competition, Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs announced the finalists whose videos will be featured at the upcoming GRADflix Showcase. The competition, which invites graduate students from across campus to create 60-second videos showcasing their research, highlights students’ ability to combine creativity and scientific communication while gaining visibility for their work and expanding their professional networks.

The Broadband Communication Research Group in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Waterloo has achieved remarkable success at the IEEE Global Communications Conference (GLOBECOM) 2024, held in Cape Town, South Africa, from December 8-12, 2024. The group’s innovative research and exceptional talent were recognized with two major awards at one of the IEEE Communications Society’s flagship conferences, which is renowned for fostering advancements in communication technologies.

Congratulations to the authors of a collaborative research paper, including electrical and computer engineering adjunct associate professor Dr. George Shaker, for receiving a Best Paper Award (second place) in the General Paper Category at the prestigious 2024 IEEE Microwaves, Antennas, and Propagation Conference (MAPCON).

The paper, titled “Radar-Based In-Home Monitoring System for Supporting Aging and Wellness,” presents innovative advancements in the use of radar technology to enable in-home health monitoring, addressing critical challenges faced by aging populations.

On November 28th, the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) at the University of Waterloo unveiled the future of software engineering with its second Project Showcase for the graduate course Engineering Self-Adaptive Software Systems (ESASS). Led by Dr. Ladan Tahvildari, this innovative course, with support from IBM, integrates cutting-edge industry technologies with research-driven, hands-on learning to tackle real-world challenges in software adaptability.

Congratulations to Ryan Liu, a PhD student in electrical and computer engineering (ECE); Shreya Shinde, ECE alum from the MEng program; Dr. Ladan Tahvildari, Professor in ECE; and IBM collaborators Dr. Mark Stoodley, Dr. Marius Pirvu, and Vijay Sundaresan on their remarkable achievement!

Their paper, "Using Semeru Cloud Compiler to Enhance Cloud-Native Java Application Performance," was honored with the Best Paper Award at the 34th International Conference on Collaborative Advances in Software and Computing (CASCON).