Current graduate students

Two MME students have received the annual Paul-Niessen Teck Award, established in memory of distinguished professor Paul Niessen from the Department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering. The distinction is awarded to students who demonstrate leadership and skill in materials science and manufacturing within the department.  

The Art of Engineering and Architecture research photo contest 2025 had a wide range of beautiful entries all of which truly represented the heart of the contest, showcasing the beauty of their fields. Second-place, with a prize of $500, was taken by Mikhail Malmyguine, a graduate student in mechanical and mechatronics engineering.

Researchers in MME have developed a device that generates enough energy to power a calculator, using a versatile food—walnuts.  

A palm-sized device created by researchers within our department detects E. coli in water supplies to reduce illness and save lives.

Sometimes, complex physics hides within mundane fixtures of daily life – like a bathroom. Researchers in the Department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering are applying groundbreaking physics to tackle an annoying problem: urinal splashback. They recently published their work developing new urinal designs in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) Nexus  (with a few fun puns in the process). The research also collaborated with a team at Weber State University in Utah. Their new technology will allow users to void without voiding their pants.  

Co-led by professors Dr. Beth Weckman and Dr. Vinny Gupta, the University of Waterloo Fire Research Facility (UWFRF) is dedicated to fire research and education on safety. The team has been examining how wildfires are evolving and identifying new measures that need to be taken to combat these fires and protect communities.  

Joseph Nonso Orakwe, a PhD candidate in MME, was the winner of the 2024/2025 ASME K-16 Committee on Heat Transfer in Electronic Equipment and EPS - IEEE Electronics Packaging Society Student Cold Plate Design Competition, along with a student at the University of Alberta, and their supervisors, which included Dr. Ehsan Toyserkani within the Department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering and director of the Multi-Scale Manufacturing (MSAM) Lab.   

Ahmed Shahin, a PhD student in mechanical and mechatronics engineering, has received the prestigious Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship—one of the top graduate scholarships in the country. The award is presented to exceptional graduate students. It is valued at $50,000 per year for up to three years, supporting doctoral students who demonstrate strong research potential, leadership, and academic excellence.  

Maryam Soleimani, a senior PhD candidate in the Department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering, has received three prestigious awards over the last few years: two CWB Foundation Graduate Scholarships and the Nanofellowship Award.