Engineering Research Office - Research Chairs and Awards

Waterloo Engineering is home to dozens of award-winning researchers and chair holders. The awards and chairs held by our outstanding researchers are outlined below. Check out other faculty awards and award recipients.
(Updated December 15, 2021)

Canada 150 Research Chairs

Canada Excellence Research Chairs

Mombaur, Katja - cross-appointed in Systems Design Engineering and Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering (since 2020) Canada Excellence Research Chair (CERC) in Human-Centred Robotics and Machine Intelligence [CERC Profile]

Canada Research Chairs (Tier 1)

Burns, Catherine - Systems Design Engineering (since 2021) Canada Research Chair in Human Factors and Healthcare Systems.

Chen, Zhongwei - Chemical Engineering (since 2017) Canada Research Chair in Advanced Materials for Clean Energy [Canada Research Chair Profile]

Cronin, Duane - Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering (since 2018) Canada Research Chair in Trauma Biomechanics and Injury Prevention [Canada Research Chair Profile]

Eliasmith, Chris - Systems Design Engineering (since 2016) Canada Research Chair in Theoretical Neuroscience [Canada Research Chair Profile]

Fowler, Michael - Chemical Engineering (since 2019) Canada Research Chair in Zero-Emission Vehicles and Hydrogen Energy Systems [Canada Research Profile]

Khajepour, Amir - Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering (since 2008) Canada Research Chair in Mechatronic Vehicle Systems [Canada Research Chair Profile]

Mansour, Raafat - Electrical and Computer Engineering (since 2010) Canada Research Chair in Micro and Nano Integrated RF Systems [Canada Research Chair Profile]

McPhee, John - Systems Design Engineering (since 2014) Canada Research Chair in Biomechatronic System Dynamics [Canada Research Chair Profile]

Rosenberg, Catherine - Electrical and Computer Engineering (since 2010) Canada Research Chair in the Future Internet [Canada Research Chair Profile]

Toyserkani, Ehsan - Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering (since 2017) Canada Research Chair in Multi-Scale Additive Manufacturing [Canada Research Chair Profile]

Wang, Zhou - Electrical and Computer Engineering (since 2019) Canada Research Chair in Multimedia Quality-of-Experience [Canada Research Chair Profile]

Yang, En-Hui - Electrical and Computer Engineering (since 2001) Canada Research Chair in Information Theory and Multimedia Data Compression [Canada Research Chair Profile]

Zhou, Norman - Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering (since 2017) Canada Research Chair in Advanced Materials Joining and Processing [Canada Research Chair Profile]

Zhuang, Weihua - Electrical and Computer Engineering (since 2010) Canada Research Chair in Wireless Communication Networks [Canada Research Chair Profile]

Canada Research Chairs (Tier 2)

Mehrizi, Hossein Abouee - Management Sciences (since 2013) Canada Research Chair in Health-Care Operations Management [Canada Research Chair Profile]

Cao, Dongpu - Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering (since 2019) Canada Research Chair in Driver Cognition and Automated Driving [Canada Research Chair Profile not yet available]

Craig, James - Civil and Environmental Engineering (since 2016) Canada Research Chair in Environmental Modeling and Analysis [Canada Research Chair Profile]

Golab, Lukasz - Management Sciences (since 2015) Canada Research Chair in Data Analytics for Sustainability [Canada Research Chair Profile]

Narasimhan, Sriram - Civil and Environmental Engineering (since 2014) Canada Research Chair in Smart Infrastructure [Canada Research Chair Profile]

Ricardez-Sandoval, Luis - Chemical Engineering (since 2017) Canada Research Chair in Multiscale Modelling and Process Systems [Canada Research Chair Profile]

Smith, Stephen L. - Electrical and Computer Engineering (since 2017) Canada Research Chair in Autonomous Systems [Canada Research Chair Profile]

Wong, Alexander - Systems Design Engineering (since 2013) Canada Research Chair in Medical Imaging Systems [Canada Research Chair Profile]

Early Researcher Award Recipients

Endowed Chairs

Boxin Zhao - Chemical Engineering

Canizares, Claudio - Electrical and Computer Engineering (since 2010) - Hydro One Research Chair

Chaudhuri, Sujeet - Electrical and Computer Engineering, Val O'Donovan Chair in RF/Microwaves and Photonics

Gostick, Jeff - Chemical Engineering,  (2021) Azzam-Dullien Endowed Professorship

Nathwani, Jatin - Civil and Environmental Engineering/Management Sciences Engineering (since 2007) - Ontario Research Chair in Public Policy and Sustainable Energy Management

Tighe, Susan - Civil and Environmental Engineering (since 2011) Norman W. McLeod Chair Professor in Sustainable Pavement Engineering

Wasilewski, Zbig - Electrical and Computer Engineering (since 2014) Waterloo Endowed Chair in Nanotechnology

Industry-sponsored Chairs

Hasan, Anwar - Electrical and Computer Engineering - Ripple - University Blockchain Research Initative Chair (since 2018)

Rosenberg, Catherine - Electrical and Compurter Engineering - Cisco Canada Chair in 5G Systems (since 2018)

Karray, Fakhri - Electrical and Computer Engineering - Loblaw Companies Limited Chair (since 2018)

NSERC Industrial Research Chairs and Chairs in Design Engineering

Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) Industrial Research Chairs (IRC) are funded jointly by NSERC and industry, to build on existing strengths to achieve the critical mass required for a major engineering research endeavour. Industrial Research Chairs at Waterloo Engineering include:

Huck, Peter - Civil and Environmental Engineering (Since 1993) - NSERC Industrial Research Chair in Water Treatment [NSERC Profile]

Inal, Kaan - Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering (Since 2016) - NSERC Industrial Research Chair in Modelling, Simulation and Finite Elements Methods [NSERC Profile]

Khandani, Amir - Electrical and Computer Engineering (Since 2010) - NSERC Ciena Industrial Research Chair in Information Theory of Optical Networks [NSERC Profile]

Khajepour, Amir - Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering (Since 2016) NSERC Industrial Research Chair in Mechanical Systems adn Instrumentation [NSERC Profile]

Pandey, Mahesh - Civil and Environmental Engineering (Since 2004) - NSERC Industrial Research Chair in Management of Engineering Systems [NSERC Profile]

Safavi-Naeini, Safieddin - Electrical and Computer Engineering - NSERC C-COM Industrial Research Chair in Intelligent Antenna and Radio Systems for Next Generation Millimeter-Wave Mobile Communications [NSERC Profile]

NSERC Chairs in Design Engineering (CDEs) were established to improve the level and quality of design engineering activity within Canadian universities. At Waterloo Engineering, Prof. Sanjeev Bedi holds one of these Chairs:

Bedi, Sanjeev - Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering (Since 2015) - NSERC Chair in Immersive Design Engineering Activities (IDEAs) [NSERC Profile]

University Research Chairs

The University of Waterloo (UW) owes much of its reputation and stature to the quality of its professors and their scholarly accomplishments. UW recognizes exceptional achievement and pre-eminence in a particular field of knowledge through the designation 'University Research Chair'.

Basu, Nandita - Civil and Environmental Engineering (2019)

Chen, Pu - Chemical Engineering (2015)

Feng, Xianshe - Chemical Engineering (2016)

Gong, Guang - Electrical and Computer Engineering (2017)

Haas, Carl - Civil and Environmental Engineering (2019)

Karray, Fakhreddine - Electrical and Computer Engineering (2018)

Li, Xianguo - Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering (2014)

Long, John - Electrical and Computer Engineering (2015)

Matsen, Mark - Chemical Engineering (2014)

Mazumdar, Ravi - Electrical and Computer Engineering (2013)

Polak, Marianna - Civil and Environmental Engineering (2019)

Tam, Michael - Chemical Engineering (2018)

Worswick, Michael - Mechanical and Mechatronics (2018)

Yeow, John - Systems Design Engineering (2019)

Past Chairs

Cronin, Duane - Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering (2016)

Culham, Richard - Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering (2010)

Huck, Peter - Civil and Environmental Engineering (2003)

Jayaram, Shesha - Electrial and Computer Engineering (2012)

Kamel, Mohamed - Electrical and Computer Engineering (2008)

Mazumdar, Ravi - Electrical and Computer Engineering (2005)

Ng, Flora - Chemical Engineering (2006)

Rosenberg, Catherine - Electrical and Computer Engineering (2004)

Sachdev, Manoj - Electrical and Computer Engineering (2008)

Salama, Magdy - Electrical and Computer Engineering (2004)

Shen, Sherman - Electrical and Computer Engineering (2007)

Toyserkani, Eshan - Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering (2015)

Wang, Zhou - Electrical and Computer Engineering (2017)

Zhou, Norman - Mechanical & Mechatronics Engineering (2013)

University Professors

En-Hui Yang Engineering Research Innovation Award

The En-Hui Yang Engineering Research Innovation Award is awarded to one outstanding full-time faculty member in the Faculty of Engineering per year. This award is made possible by Professor En-Hui Yang who has donated proceeds of the 2007 Ontario Premier's Catalyst Award For Innovator of the Year through SlipStream Data Inc., to encourage and support research and innovation by Waterloo Engineering faculty.

2022- Costas Tzoganakis - Chemical Engineering

2022- William Wong- Electrical and Computer Engineering

2014 - Safavi-Naeini, Safieddin - Electrical and Computer Engineering 

2013 - Khajepour, Amir - Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering

2012 - Huck, Peter - Civil and Environmental Engineering

2011 - Penlidis, Alexander - Chemical Engineering

2010 - Tighe, Susan - Civil and Environmental Engineering

2009 - Ng, Flora - Chemical Engineering

2008 - Kofman, Jonathan - Systems Design Engineering

Engineering Research Excellence Awards (EREA)

The Engineering Research Excellence Awards are presented each year to tenure or tenured track faculty members in the Faculty of Engineering in recognition of outstanding research accomplishments. Three awards (one per rank) are presented annually at the Dean's Awards Dinner for Faculty and Staff. Recent recipients of the awards are listed below. 

Professor Category

2022 - Omar Ramahi - Electrical and Computer Engineering

2021 - Liping Fu - Civil and Environmental Engineering

2020 - Robert Jan van Pelt - School of Architecture

2019 - Yu, Alfred - Electrical and Computer Engineering

2018 - Yavuz, Mustafa - Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering 

2017 - Wang, Zhou - Electrical and Computer Engineering

2016 - Elkamel, Ali - Chemical Engineering 

2015 - Gong, Guang - Electrical and Computer Engineering

2014 - Salama, Magdy - Electrical and Computer Engineering

2013 - Jahed, Hamid - Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering

2012 - Clausi, David A. - Systems Design Engineering

2011 - Brodland, Wayne - Civil and Environmental Engineering

2010 - Stashuk, Dan - Systems Design Engineering

2009 - Li, Xianguo - Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering

Associate Professor Category

2022 - Vijay Ganesh -  Electrical and Computer Engineering

2021 - Evelyn Yim - Chemial Engineering

2020 - Jeff Gostick - Chemical Engineering

2019 - Daun, Kyle - Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering

2018 - Mitran, Patrick - Electrical and Computer Engineering

2017 - Zhao, Boxin - Chemical Engineering

2016 - Saini, Simarjeet - Electrical and Computer Engineering

2015 - Li, Yuning - Chemical Engineering

2014 - Abdel-Rahman, Eihab - Systems Design Engineering

2013 - Boumaiza, Slim - Electrical and Computer Engineering

2012 - Ban, Dayan - Electrical and Computer Engineering

2011 - Aziz, Hany - Electrical and Computer Engineering

2010 - Uysal, Murat - Electrical and Computer Engineering

2009 - Burns, Catherine - Systems Design Engineering

Assistant Professor Category

2022 - Elliot Biro - Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering

2021 - Parsin Reza - Systems Design Engineering

2020 - Michael Pope - Chemical Engineering

2019 - Musselman, Kevin - Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering

2018 - Jiang, Ning - Systems Design Engineering

2017 - Basu, Nandita - Civil and Environmental Engineering

2016 - Lee, Hyung-Sool - Civil and Environmental Engineering 

2015 - Ricardez-Sandoval, Luis - Chemical Engineering

2014 - Cui, Bo - Electrical and Computer Engineering

2013 - Kulic, Dana - Electrical and Computer Engineering

2012 - Wong, Alexander - Systems Design Engineering

2011 - Chen, Zhongwei - Chemical Engineering

2010 - Ren, Carolyn - Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering

2009 - Karim, Karim - Electrical and Computer Engineering