Meet our Students

Benjamin Beelen 

Program/Department: MASc, Civil and Environmental Engineering 

Starting Term: Spring 2020 

Supervisor: Dr. Wayne Parker 

Previous Degree: The University of Waterloo, BASc in Environmental Engineering 

Type of Fellowship: EEF-M 

Research focus? 

I am researching the effect of food waste grinders (or garburators) in multi-unit residential buildings on wastewater infrastructure and greenhouse gas emissions. I’ve coordinated a long-term wastewater sampling program, solid waste audits and a household waste survey in addition to modelling greenhouse gas emissions from wastewater treatment plants and sewer systems. My research ensures the sustainability of our organic waste disposal, while preventing adverse effects on existing systems. 

Favourite activities? 

I am a wilderness camper and an indoor rock climber. I also enjoy carpentry, reading, video games, and have recently become an amateur baker.  

Why UWaterloo? 

The University of Waterloo and the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering have the resources and support network to ensure their students are well equipped and successful. Additionally, my supervisor is an excellent professor, supervisor, and industry leader in wastewater research. 

How has your experience been so far in your program? 

Despite the entirety of my graduate degree being online thus far, my time at Waterloo has been excellent; I am still completing my degree requirements and thesis work from home. My favourite part of my degree has been working with an interdisciplinary team of peers for my core water research course. This work has provided me with new perspectives on how researching water subjects can be done and on the social impact of my work; something I wasn’t able to see as an undergraduate. 

Future aspirations? 

I aim to work for an Ontarian municipality’s wastewater division where I will complete the requirements to become a Professional Engineer of Ontario. Wastewater treatment plants are always optimizing and testing new technologies; I plan on using my research background and process understanding to test new technologies and optimize plant processes using techniques that are often lost between the research and practical world. 

Tyler Hull

Program/Department: MASc, Civil and Environmental Engineering

Starting Term: Fall 2019

Supervisors: Dr. Daniel Lacroix and Dr. Eugene Kim

Research Focus: The behaviour of timber structures and mass-timber construction

Previous Degree: University of Waterloo, BASc

Type of Fellowship: EEF-M

Favourite activities? 

Outside of my research, I enjoying playing volleyball, hockey, baseball and golf in the community, as well as here at the University of Waterloo. One of my favourite clubs here is the UW SERVE volleyball club. I also enjoy the opportunity to help mentor undergraduate students at events such as Engineering Design Days. Away from the university, I enjoy spending time with family and friends, travelling, and getting outdoors.

Engineering/current research inspirations?  

From a young age, I was always interested in buildings. Driving through large cities I would marvel at these impressive structures and the immense impact their design has on our lives. Additionally in school, I enjoyed and excelled the most in math, physics and problem-solving. Combining both these interests eventually lead me to find structural engineering. Structural engineering became a perfect mix between my interest in buildings and their design, and the school subjects I enjoyed the most.

Why UWaterloo? 

I chose UWaterloo for graduate studies for the opportunity to be involved in the growing wood building research group here at the university. With numerous innovations and improvements in wood building materials in recent years, wood is challenging concrete and steel as the default materials for some of our largest buildings. Being able to contribute to improving our knowledge base on these structures was an opportunity I truly valued and is why I chose UWaterloo to begin my graduate studies.

Future aspirations? 

In the future, I hope to be a part of a collaborative and supportive structural engineering team that is continually challenged by new and innovative projects.

Caleb Jefferies 

Program/Department: MASc, Civil and Environmental Engineering

Starting Term: Fall 2020

Supervisor: Dr. Bill Annable

Previous Degrees: University of Waterloo, BASc in environmental engineering

Type of Fellowship: EEF-M

Research focus?

I am investigating fluvial erosion thresholds in cohesive sediment by using an in-situ testing methodology.

Favourite activities?

I enjoy anything that will get me outdoors rather than stuck inside staring at a screen.

Why UWaterloo?

The university of waterloo provides excellent networking opportunities into industry and allows for an interdisciplinary learning environment through the collaborative water program.

How has your experience been so far in your program?

My favourite part thus far has been the dynamic and collaborative research environment.

Future aspirations?

Pursuing a graduate degree has emphasized the fact that curiosity is a good thing that should be nurtured, and I strive to remember that asking "why" is never a bad thing regardless of what professional role I end up in.

Michelle Chien

Program/Department: MASc, Civil and Environmental Engineering

Starting Term: Fall 2019

Supervisor: Scott Walbridge

Research Focus: Brittle fracture in steel bridges

Previous Degree: University of Waterloo, BASc

Type of Fellowship: EEF-M

Favourite activities? 

I enjoy experimenting with various art mediums including acrylics, graphite, digital photography, and charcoal.

Engineering/current research inspirations?  

A retired civil engineer once showed me the volunteer work he had done in designing infrastructure for communities in need around the world. My passion also lies in helping people, and my civil engineering profession allows me to make a meaningful difference.

Future aspirations? 

I hope to work full-time as a bridge engineer, while also volunteering part-time for organizations or design teams to provide isolated communities with safe bridges to access the services they need.

Bernard Tung

Program/Department: MASc, Electrical and Computer Engineering 

Starting Term: Fall 2021

Supervisor: Slim Boumaiza 

Previous Degree: University of Waterloo, BASc

Type of Fellowship: EEF-M 

Research focus? 

To enable the 5th Generation (5G) of wireless communication through transformational research into semiconductor devices, high-performance circuits, and novel systems.

Favourite activities? 

I enjoy bird watching, latte art, snowboarding, lifting weights and listening to Kanye's "Donda Chant" in my spare time. I also recently got into Astrology and League of Legends.

Why UWaterloo? 

I really enjoyed my time at the University of Waterloo as an undergrad. I believe Waterloo is at the forefront of innovation and the extensive network of researchers here will bolster my academic prospects and professional career. The RF community here at Waterloo is great!

How has your experience been so far in your program? 

My experience so far has been wonderful. My favorite part so far has been connecting and working with my fellow graduate students in the Emerging Radio Systems Group!

Future aspirations? 

I hope to continue to work in Radio Frequency research and contribute to the 5G infrastructure bring up in Canada.

Laura Graves

Program/Department: MASc,Electrical & Computer Engineering

Starting Term: Fall 2019

Supervisor: Vijay Ganesh

Research Focus: Security of AI

Previous Degree: Memorial University, BSc

Type of Fellowship: EEF-M

Favourite activities? 

Cooking, baking and hiking.

Why UWaterloo? 

The research and innovation in Waterloo, combined with a great AI research community.

Armin Smajevic

Program/Department: MASc,Electrical & Computer Engineering

Starting Term: Fall 2019

Supervisor: Raafat Mansour

Research Focus: RF Microwave Engineering/CIRFE

Previous Degree: University of Regina, BASc

Type of Fellowship: EEF-M

Engineering/current research inspirations? 

I chose to study engineering because of several teachers I had while in high school. These individuals shared the same passion that I have for the sciences and encouraged me to pursue a career in a STEM field.  The inspiration to study my current research came from a single class I took in my undergrad which was Antennas and Transmission Lines. After the class was finished, I decided that I needed to learn more about this field and chose to pursue a Master's degree.

Why UWaterloo? 

I chose the University of Waterloo because of the expertise that many professors here have in my field of research. Also, the availability of modern facilities will allow me to take my theoretical understanding and apply it using a hands-on approach.

Future aspirations? 

After obtaining my MASc degree, I hope to work in industry for several years with the plan to eventually return to school and complete a PhD. After working for a few more years, I would like to return to academics to perform research while guiding and teaching the next generation of engineers.

Craig Lalumiere 

Program/Department: MASc, Electrical and Computer Engineering 

Starting Term: Fall 2020 

Supervisor: Daniel Miller 

Previous Degree: University of Waterloo, BASc in Electrical Engineering 

Type of Fellowship: EEF-M 

Research focus? 

Adaptive control of systems with unknown and time-varying dynamics. 

Favourite activities? 

Building new inventions in the E5 student machine shop. 

Future aspirations? 

I plan to pursue a PhD, and then either become a professor or do significant controls research in areas such as the aerospace industry. 

Colton Pankhurst

Program/Department: MASc, Electrical and Computer Engineering

Starting Term: Fall 2020

Supervisors: Claudio Cañizares, Kankar Bhattacharya

Previous Degrees: University of Waterloo, BASc

Type of Fellowship: EEF-M

Research focus?

Virtual power plants formed through peer-to-peer interactions.

Favourite activities?

I enjoy playing hockey, chess, and doing outdoor activities such as hiking.

Why UWaterloo?

I chose the University of Waterloo as my supervisors have extensive expertise in my areas of research. I felt that with the support of my supervisors and research group, I could make meaningful contributions to the research area of transactive energy and future power systems.

How has your experience been so far in your program?

I had a positive undergraduate experience at the University of Waterloo and decided to return for my graduate degree. My favourite part of my current program has been the opportunity to explore leading research in the power and energy field.

Future aspirations?

I plan to work in the power and energy industry supporting the Canadian decarbonization transition, whether that be at a utility, government, or in private industry. My graduate degree will give me the skills necessary to perform novel research and understand ongoing research in the power and energy field. This technical background will be useful in addressing the intersection of technical and policy challenges necessary to support a clean electricity system.

William Pitman

Program/Department: MASc, Electrical and Computer Engineering

Starting Term: Fall 2020

Supervisor: Alfred Yu

Previous Degrees: Queen’s University, BASc

Type of Fellowship: EEF-M

Research focus?

My research involves using deep learning to interpolate additional ultrasound data from a smaller set of received data. This work has the potential to lower the data rate in high frame rate ultrasound imaging (as we can transfer less data from probe to system), as well as to improve ultrasound image quality in settings with limited data available.

Favourite activities?

I love going for bike rides and dancing in my spare time!

Why UWaterloo?

I found the research directions and culture of the LITMUS lab at the University of Waterloo aligned very nicely with my own interests.

How has your experience been so far in your program?

Being surrounded by the extremely talented and hardworking individuals here has been a great experience, as there have been so many opportunities to learn from my peers.

Future aspirations?

I would love to work in a setting where I can develop and apply cutting edge machine learning and signal processing algorithms on biomedical data. I am hoping that the experience I acquire over my MASc will help prepare me for such a career, whether it be in industry or academia.

Danyka Byrnes

Program/Department: PhD, Electrical and Computer Engineering

Starting Term: Winter 2020

Supervisor: Nadita Basu

Previous Degree: University of Waterloo, MASc and BSc

Type of Fellowship: EEF-D

Research focus? 

My research is at the crossroads of hydrology and biogeochemistry, focused on how humans' use of nutrients from farming and fossil fuel combustion impact water quality across space and time.

Favourite activities? 

Like a true Northern Ontarian, when I am not at my desk, you can find me outside hiking, mountain biking, or skiing.

Why UWaterloo? 

I have always been interested in tackling one of the world's wicked problems. I chose UW because it is a water research hub and promotes interdisciplinary work, crucial for tackling water issues. Few institutions can give students this real-world experience, and I consider myself incredibly lucky to have this type of training. I would be remiss not to mention that I also chose UW to work with Dr. Nandita Basu precisely because of her boundary-pushing research portfolio and mentorship. Dr. Basu is a trailblazing scholar, highly respected among her peers and her (many) students.

How has your experience been so far in your program? 

There have been many great memories throughout my 8-year tenure at the university, from undergrad to PhD. Some of the highlights include the field trips with the Water Institute's Collaborative Water Program cohort, after-work socializing with my colleagues at the Grad House, and the overall camaraderie of my incredible lab group.

Future aspirations? 

Research is incredibly rewarding, and I anticipate being a research scientist in some capacity, whether as a professor or at an institute. During my PhD, I have gleaned many skills that can be transferred to different career paths. For example, I am learning how to work with large messy environmental datasets to tease out useful information and patterns. I am also fortunate to interact with social scientists that have taught me the importance of looking at problems through an interdisciplinary lens. I, however, always leave room in my life for a stroke of serendipity. Ultimately, I care about where water is relevant to people. With increasing risks to our water resources, from decades of pollution and climate change, I believe being a water expert will allow me to contribute to society in meaningful ways, in whatever capacity I choose.

Navjot Khaira

Program/Department: PhD,Electrical & Computer Engineering

Starting Term: Spring 2019

Supervisor: Raafat Mansour

Research Focus: Monolithically Integrated PCM based Phase Shifter for millimeter wave applications

Previous Degree: University of Waterloo

Type of Fellowship: EEF-D

Favourite activities? 

Reading, painting.

Engineering/current research inspirations? 

I have always loved Physics since my childhood and was fascinated by the microchips that are in several electronic devices around us. I used to wonder how they design them and how are these able to catch EM waves from the air. This curiosity was my drive for choosing Electrical and Computer Engineering with specialization in Microsystems and RF devices.

Why UWaterloo? 

UWaterloo is the best school for Radio Frequency devices research with excellent faculty and a state-of-the-art cleanroom and other lab equipment

Rebekah Maffett 

Program/Department: PhD, Electrical & Computer Engineering

Starting Term: Spring 2019

Supervisor: Alfred Yu

Research Focus: Biomedical Ultrasound

Previous Degree: University of Waterloo, BASc

Type of Fellowship: EEF-D

Favourite activities? 

My favourite activities are cycling, running, going for coffee, and hanging out with my dog.

Engineering/current research inspirations?  

I'm very interested in imaging technology in general. I love the idea of engineering new ways to visualize and understand the world around us, particularly if these innovations can help improve people's lives.

Krishna Sabareesh Rajangom

Program/Department: PhD, Management Sciences, Fall 2018

Starting Term: Fall 2018

Supervisors: Qi Ming He, Fatih Safa Erenay

Research Focus: Operations Research in health care

Previous Degree: NMIMS-EMBA, IIT Madras-MTech, NIT Calicut-BTech

Type of Fellowship: EEF-D

Favourite activities?

Spending time with family.

Why UWaterloo?

Great school, good scholarship.

Future aspirations? 

I hope to become a professor at a reputable university.

Khaled Mostafa Shah   

Program/Department: PhD, Management Sciences, Fall 2018

Supervisors: James H. Bookbinder, Sibel A. Alev

Research Focus: Freight Consolidation in Hub Location

Previous Degree: U of Lethbridge-MSc, U of Dhaka-MS, U of Dhaka- BSC

Type of Fellowship: EEF-D

Favourite activities? 

Travelling.

Engineering/current research inspirations?

The study of engineering would enable me to provide smart solutions to large-scale problems surrounding us.

Why UWaterloo? 

I liked the supervisors, and the prestigious fellowship I got here.

Future aspirations? 

I want to become a professor at a renowned university in Canada/USA.

Alexander DiPaola

Program/Department: MASc, Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering 

Starting Term: Fall 2021

Supervisor: Beth Weckman

Previous Degree: University of Waterloo, Mechanical Engineering BASc

Type of Fellowship: EEF-M 

Research focus? 

I am investigating the behaviour of underventilated fires in residential settings.

Favourite activities? 

In my free time, I enjoy woodworking, kickboxing, watching movies, and going on hikes.

Why UWaterloo? 

I chose to pursue my graduate studies at the University of Waterloo because of the research opportunity. I am studying under a well-known professor in fire research and the capabilities of the Fire Research facility are unique to Waterloo.

How has your experience been so far in your program? 

My experience has been equally challenging and exciting. This pushes me to continue learning and growing as a researcher, which I greatly value. My favourite part has been getting to run large-scale fire tests over the summer.

Future aspirations? 

I hope to make a positive impact on society throughout my career. I grew up with an inclination for mechanical engineering and a fascination for the field of aerospace. My passion for cutting-edge research and technology has drawn me to pursue my master’s degree. During my undergraduate experience, I gained exposure to fire research which requires knowledge and skills that align well with my career goals.

Curtis Stewart 

Program/Department: MASc, Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering 

Starting Term: Fall 2020 

Supervisor: Behrad Khamesee 

Previous Degree: University of Alberta, BSc  

Type of Fellowship: EEF-M 

Research focus? 

My research is related to utilizing a Magnetic Levitation Floor (MagFloor) with the aid of computer vision, advanced control systems, and machine learning for application in flexible manufacturing.

Favourite activities? 

Playing hockey, skiing, golfing, hiking, and biking. 

Why UWaterloo? 

Waterloo is an innovation hub for mechatronics and robotics and has world-renowned Engineering programs. It is also one of the only areas in North America with this type of Magnetic Levitation research and contains one of the largest levitation platforms in the world. 

How has your experience been so far in your program? 

So far, I have primarily been focussing on my courses in computer vision (image and video analysis), multivariable controls, and pattern recognition. I have also aided in the construction of the MagFloor in the RoboHub and the associated Maglev test bench in the Maglev Lab, and I will begin research once the construction is completed. My favourite part so far has been learning about all the new and interesting state-of-the-art developments in computer vision. 

Future aspirations? 

I wish to work in the cutting-edge of robotics and automation, however, I have not yet decided between industry and academia in the long term. My graduate degree will enable me to learn and gain experience in many aspects of mechatronics that were not addressed in depth during my mechanical undergrad, such as systems design, computer vision, machine learning, and advanced control systems. 

Mark Lim 

Program/Department: MASc, Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering 

Starting Term: Fall 2020 

Supervisor: Xianguo Li 

Previous Degree: University of British Columbia, BASc 

Type of Fellowship: EEF-M 

Research focus? 

I am currently researching catalysts for proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells. 

Why UWaterloo? 

I was drawn to Waterloo Engineering for its emphasis on innovation and making a positive impact through technology. 

How has your experience been so far in your program? 

Although my program has been online so far, I have met people in my courses and research group who are very knowledgeable and are always willing to discuss anything with me. 

Future aspirations? 

I hope to begin a career in R&D related to clean energy technologies (production, conversion, and/or storage), or possibly education. A graduate degree from UWaterloo will equip me with specialized knowledge and skills related to my fields of interest. 

Will Thibault 

Program/Department: MASc, Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering 

Starting Term: Fall 2020 

Supervisor: Katja Mombaur 

Previous Degree: University of Waterloo, BASc in Mechatronics Engineering 

Type of Fellowship: EEF-M 

Research focus? 

My research focus is on benchmarking humanoid robotic manipulation tasks for the Eurobench project. By developing testbeds for humanoid robots that involve moving boxes on shelves and carrying boxes, the manipulation abilities of humanoid robots can be compared through the study of a variety of performance indicators. Specifically, I am studying the ability of the REEM-C robot to perform the manipulation tasks on the testbed I have developed. 

Favourite activities? 

I enjoy snowboarding, golfing and spending time with my dog Pecan (a chocolate Labrador retriever). 

Why UWaterloo? 

I choose to study at Waterloo because of the unique opportunity to work with the REEM-C robot and be supervised by Katja Mombaur, who is an expert in humanoid robotics and holds the Canada Excellence Research Chair in Human-Centred Robotics and Machine Intelligence. 

How has your experience been so far in your program? 

My experience has been good so far; my program allows me to expand my knowledge of robotics and learn about the field of humanoids. I have been working with REEM-C in the lab and simulation which has helped provide the hands-on robotics experience I wanted. Meeting REEM-C during the unboxing was probably my favourite moment. 

Future aspirations? 

My career goals include working in research and development at an advanced robotics company, ideally, one that develops robots with legged locomotion and manipulation tasks, and implementing more robotic use into our society. My research with the REEM-C performing manipulation tasks will prepare me for this by giving me experience with a humanoid robot and advanced control techniques (like optimal control) as well as providing myself with insight into what sort of tasks a robot could perform in the future. 

Hannah Dinovitzer 

Program/Department: MASc, Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering

Starting Term: Fall 2020

Supervisor: Arash Arami

Previous Degrees: Carleton University, BEng

Type of Fellowship: EEF-M

Research focus?

I am working on a lower limb exoskeleton controller design. This involves researching ways to help the user walk with reduced effort while maintaining a natural walking pattern.

Favourite activities?

In my free time, I like to stay active; I enjoy running, hiking, and almost any form of organized sports.

Why UWaterloo?

I chose the University of Waterloo because they have many facilities relating to medical robotics. I am looking to broaden my understanding of many aspects of the biomedical field and these facilities will allow that to be possible. Waterloo’s industrial partnerships have also given the potential for more future opportunities.

How has your experience been so far in your program?

So far, I have enjoyed my experience at the University of Waterloo. My favourite part is being able to conduct my own experiments and analysis.

Future aspirations?

I would like to find a role where I am able to work in the biomedical and mechanical engineering fields. Completing this Masters degree will broaden my knowledge in these fields as well as show me which specific aspects I would enjoy most as a future career.

Arpan Singh 

Program/Department: MASc, Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering

Starting Term: Fall 2020

Supervisor: Kyle J Daun

Previous Degrees: University of Manitoba, BEng

Type of Fellowship: EEF-M

Research focus?

My work consists of modelling interfacial heat transfer coefficient in the hot stamping of automotive steels. I have designed my experimental apparatus and will soon be using it to collect temperature data.

Favourite activities?

Playing basketball, watching movies, and tinkering on cars.

Why UWaterloo?

I enjoyed learning topics in mechanical engineering and wanted to learn even more about it.

How has your experience been so far in your program?

Everyone I have met on campus has been super kind and helpful.

Future aspirations?

I want to seek exciting opportunities that are relevant to automotive and aerospace engineering. This graduate degree will help me acquire strong industry connections.

Fan Ye

Program/Department: PhD, Mechanical & Mechatronic Engineering

Starting Term: Fall 2019

Supervisor: Kevin Musselman

Research Focus: Nanomaterials

Previous Degree: Northeastern University-BEng, University of Saskatchewan- MASC

Type of Fellowship: EEF-D

Favourite activities? 

Photography, hiking.

Engineering/current research inspirations?  

I'd like to do interdisciplinary research that has a promising future and can benefit mankind.

Why UWaterloo? 

UWaterloo is one of the innovation hubs in Canada and has various facilities and global talents to conduct state-of-the-art research.

Future aspirations? 

I hope to do R&D work in either industry or academia.

Ahmed Saieed

Program/Department: PhD, Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering 

Starting Term: Winter 2021 

Supervisor: Dr. Jean-Pierre Hickey 

Previous Degree: University of Engineering and Technology- BSc, Universiti Teknologi- MSc 

Type of Fellowship: EEF-D 

Research focus? 

My research is focused on investigating the combustion of nanoparticles dispersed in gas using high-performance numerical computation. 

Favourite activities? 

I enjoy running, biking, cooking, exploring new places and food, video games, and movies. 

Why UWaterloo? 

Conducting research in the aerospace industry was my passion and the research group I am currently a part of at Waterloo is well-known for its research in this domain. 

How has your experience been so far in your program? 

Simply put, it has been an amazing experience. The highlight of this experience is the feeling of inclusion; I never feel left out in this rather long journey of my doctoral studies. In addition, I feel proud to learn from Professors who are setting trends in their research areas. 

Future aspirations? 

After acquiring my doctoral degree, I want to continue working in space exploration. Based on my experience and the skills I am gaining from the University of Waterloo, I am confident that I am close to achieving this goal. 

Andreea Palage 

Program/Department: MASc, Systems Design Engineering 

Starting Term: Fall 2021

Supervisor: Maud Gorbet

Previous Degree: University of Waterloo, BSc

Type of Fellowship: EEF-M 

Research focus? 

I have yet to narrow in on a specific thesis hypothesis, however, my current interests are in developing in-vitro models to study mechanisms of material-induced thrombosis (blood clot formation).

Favourite activities? 

I really enjoy hiking and being outdoors. Some of my other hobbies include baking, yoga and reading.

Why UWaterloo? 

While researching my options for graduate studies, I was impressed by the opportunities at Waterloo. I also enjoyed my time at Waterloo as an undergraduate student and it felt natural to continue my studies here. Kitchener-Waterloo has been home for most of my life and so I looked forward to remaining a Waterloo student.

How has your experience been so far in your program? 

I've had a wonderful experience so far! Through the events hosted by the Systems Design Engineering department, I've gotten to know faculty members and my fellow graduate students. The resources provided have truly helped me with my transition into graduate studies. My favourite part so far has been meeting my fellow lab mates as well as working with them to learn the skills needed for my future thesis work.

Future aspirations? 

In the future, my goal is to work in healthcare as a physician. That said, I'm also extremely interested in working with biomaterials so who knows where the future will take me!

Daniel Sola

Program/Department: MASc, Systems Design Engineering

Starting Term: Fall 2019

Supervisor: Andrea Scott

Research Focus: Vision and Image Processing Lab

Previous Degree: University of Calgary, BSc

Type of Fellowship: EEF-M

Favourite activities? 

Backpacking, fishing, climbing, fitness.

Engineering/current research inspirations? 

Interest in applications of deep learning.

Spencer Ferguson 

Program/Department: MASc, Systems Design Engineering 

Starting Term: Winter 2021 

Supervisor: John McPhee 

Previous Degree: University of Windsor, BASc

Type of Fellowship: EEF-M 

Research focus? 

Development of a full dynamic golfer-club model to optimize the biomechanics of the golf swing and the design of equipment. 

Favourite activities? 

I enjoy golfing, 3D printing, and photography. 

Why UWaterloo? 

The University of Waterloo has an excellent reputation in the field of engineering and gave me the opportunity to collaborate with world-class researchers and industry partners. 

How has your experience been so far in your program? 

My experience so far has been great. My favourite part has been working with my supervisor and other members of the Motion Research Group on research projects. 

Future aspirations? 

My career goal is to work in research and development. A thesis-based graduate degree will help me prepare for this role by exposing me to hands-on R&D projects and honing my research skills. 

Ray Valencia

Program/Department: MASc, Systems Design Engineering 

Starting Term: Spring 2020 

Supervisor: Andrea Scott

Previous Degree: University of Calgary, BSc 

Type of Fellowship: EEF-M 

Research focus? 

Statistical Modelling, Machine Learning and Deep Learning, Remote Sensing of Sea Ice.

Favourite activities? 

In my free time I enjoy playing sports, exercising, cooking, music, and gaming.

Why UWaterloo? 

I chose Waterloo as it is a premier school in engineering and research.

Future aspirations? 

In the future, I aspire to work further in the fields of machine learning and data science in research/development.

Ryan Tennant

Program/Department: PhD, Systems Design Engineering 

Starting Term: Spring 2021

Supervisor: Catherine Burns, Kate Mercer

Previous Degree: University of Waterloo, MASc, BASc

Type of Fellowship: EEF-D

Research focus? 

My research focuses on human interaction with intelligent information systems and displays in dynamic healthcare delivery settings. I am specifically examining how the design of these systems can support cognitive workload and shared medical decision-making to improve healthcare outcomes.

Favourite activities? 

In my spare time, I speed skate for the Kitchener Waterloo Sertoma Speed Skating Club. I have been an active member for almost six years now, through volunteering and skating. I also enjoy volunteering in the community. Pre-Pandemic, I volunteered with Community Care Concepts to support their congregate dining events for older adults and persons with a disability. Throughout the pandemic, I found myself being an active volunteer at the Health Sciences Campus COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic, where I regularly supported client flow and vaccine preparation with the pharmacy team.

Why UWaterloo? 

The University of Waterloo has always been my top choice for university in Canada, not only because it is an excellent engineering school but also because it is a school that fosters innovation and entrepreneurship. After positive experiences completing my BASc and MASc at UW, continuing my graduate studies through a Ph.D. program in the Faculty of Engineering was an easy decision to further my education and support my career goals.

How has your experience been so far in your program?

My experiences in the Ph.D. program at the University of Waterloo have been nothing short of exciting so far. I work in the Advanced Interface Design Lab, which is very collaborative with other faculties and departments at Waterloo. Evidently, during my first term in Spring 2021, I collaborated with a research team from the University of Waterloo School of Pharmacy on a systems analysis of mass vaccination clinics in the Region of Waterloo. As part of this project, I developed a mobile application to support clinic workflow, communication, and coordination on vaccine management to reduce cognitive workload and avoid potential vaccine waste. We are now looking towards possible future uses of the application and supporting future immunization events. As a graduate student, I have also enjoyed being a Teaching Assistant for undergraduates. I have assisted in engineering design courses, chemistry, and human factors for Biomedical and Systems Design Engineering students. After taking these courses myself, it has been a gratifying experience to support the undergraduate curriculum on the fundamentals of engineering concepts, especially when teaching has moved to a remote setting.

Future aspirations? 

For my plans after graduation, I am excited to look for research opportunities within academia, research hospitals, or the government. During my co-op work terms as part of my BASc, I had fantastic experiences at medical device companies in Canada and Switzerland. I hope to maintain industry connections throughout my career as well. I look forward to opportunities to continue my engineering education throughout my degree and make new connections, which along with the excellent mentorship and guidance from my co-supervisors, will significantly support me towards achieving my career goals.

Austin Kothig

Program/Department: PhD, Systems Design Engineering 

Starting Term: Fall 2021

Supervisor: Kerstin Dautenhahn

Previous Degree: University of Waterloo - MASc, University of Lethbridge, Bsc 

Type of Fellowship: EEF-D

Research focus? 

My research relates to creating engaging human-robot interaction through quantifying and optimizing the embodiment of the iCub humanoid robot.

Favourite activities? 

In my free time, I enjoy cooking, bouldering, hiking, and yoga.

Why UWaterloo? 

I came to the University of Waterloo for the opportunity to work with world-renowned researchers and advanced robotics platforms.

How has your experience been so far in your program?

My experience so far with my program has been very positive. I work closely with a lot of extraordinary people who make the work that I do, that much more enjoyable.

Future aspirations? 

My career aspirations are rooted in doing research in industry, so for myself, graduate studies is an essential part in developing myself into an effective researcher.

Peter Lee

Program/Department: PhD, Systems Design Engineering

Starting Term: Fall 2020

Supervisors: Katja Mombaur, John Zelek

Previous Degrees: Dalhousie University - BCS, University of Waterloo - MASc

Type of Fellowship: EEF-D

Research focus?

My thesis topic aims to apply autonomous robots to perform nasopharyngeal swab tests on patients. A common test for diagnosing COVID-19, the nasopharyngeal swab test involves inserting a flexible swab through the nose and collecting samples from the nasopharynx (back of the throat) that can be used for diagnosing pathogens belonging to strains of coronavirus, influenza, whooping cough, and pneumonia. Applying robots to this task is beneficial as it reduces the risk of infection to human health care workers whom perform this task and can pave the way for robots to do other contact-rich tasks.

Favourite activities?

In my free time I enjoy cycling in the countryside and listening to music.

Why UWaterloo?

I was excited to pursue the research topics with my supervisors, while also being a member of a newly formed Human-Centred Robotics and Machine Intelligence group. In addition, the University of Waterloo, and particularly its engineering department, has a very wide range of research programs. It's reputation as a high-quality research institute and the options to collaborate with others in different fields were also reasons for my enrolment.

How has your experience been so far in your program?

While the start of my PhD has been during the pandemic, I've found that the classes, services, and resources provided by the University have been quite helpful in support of my learning and research. My favourite part so far has been talking and working with my lab-mates.

Future aspirations?

After graduate school I plan to enter the industry, with particular interest to positions in the field of robotics. I hope that the unique skills I have garnered during my degree will allow me to progress the field in a distinct way.

Benjamin Ecclestone

Program/Department: PhD, Systems Design Engineering

Starting Term: Spring 2020

Supervisors: Parsin Haji Reza

Previous Degrees: University of Guelph

Type of Fellowship: EEF-D

Research focus?

Designing and developing label-free optical microscopy systems for biomedical applications, specifically early cancer diagnosis.

Favourite activities?

In my free time I enjoy backpacking, camping, climbing, hiking, and biking.

Why UWaterloo?

The research focus and environment of the PhotoMedicine Labs was a unique draw to the University of Waterloo. Also, the University of Waterloo is a reputable engineering institution, with a strong history of research accomplishment.

How has your experience been so far in your program?

The experience so far has been overwhelmingly positive, I have thoroughly enjoyed the research project and the lab environment. My favourite part has been the opportunity to work closely with clinical and industry collaborators to develop systems suitable for pre-clinical testing.

Future aspirations?

In the future, I hope to continue researching and developing imaging devices for pre-clinical and clinical applications.