Mihaela Vlasea

Mihaela Vlasea
Associate Professor
Location: EC4 1011
Phone: 519-888-4567 x48329

Biography

Additive manufacturing is rapidly changing the manufacturing landscape. Dr. Vlasea’s research focuses on innovative design, process optimization and adoption of new materials for powder bed fusion and binder jetting additive manufacturing processes. The research goals are to bridge the technological gaps necessary to improve part quality, process repeatability and reliability.

Research Interests

  • Additive manufacturing
  • Advanced manufacturing
  • Powder bed fusion
  • Binder jetting
  • Process modeling
  • Digital design optimization
  • Process optimization
  • Process modeling
  • Data analytics
  • Monitoring and controls strategies

Scholarly Research

Dr. Vlasea’s research focuses on innovative design process optimization and adoption of new materials for powder bed fusion and binder jetting additive manufacturing. Her research goals are to bridge the digital and technological gaps necessary to improve part quality process repeatability and reliability. She is currently the Associate Research Co-Director of the Multi-Scale Additive Manufacturing (MSAM) Lab at the University of Waterloo. Dr. Vlasea is also involved with the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) on the Additive Manufacturing Technical Advisory Group and the SME Digital Design and Manufacturing Advisory Committee. Dr. Vlasea has also a member of the ASTM F42 standards committee on AM technologies Standards Council Canada ISO/TC 261 - additive manufacturing committee.

Industrial Research

Dr. Vlasea collaborates closely with industry partners across the additive manufacturing supply chain to provide holistic solutions to current economic and environmental sustainability challenges in additive manufacturing technology adoption. Industry collaborations with powder producers such as RioTinto, Metal Powder Works, AP&C Powder Metallurgy enable solutions ranging from low-cost material systems, environmentally-friendly powder synthesis approaches, to powder solutions for high productivity and high quality part production. Collaborations with applications-focused industry such as Dana Canada Inc., MIBA Sinter Austria, Borrum Energy Solutions, The Barnes Global Advisors, etc. drive advancements in design innovation and process optimization to create disruptive products and novel applications. Additionally, collaborations with industry partners that support characterization, sensors, and instrumentation for additive manufacturing such as Xiris Automation, Fijifilm VSI, continues to empower robust quality assurance and process intelligence pathways.

Education

  • 2014, Doctorate Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering, University of Waterloo, Canada
  • 2011, Diploma Space Studies Program, International Space University, France
  • 2008, Bachelor of Applied Science Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering, University of Waterloo, Canada

Awards

  • 2022/05 AMNOW Metals Challenge – Phase 1 and Phase 2 | Technical challenge for deployment of artificial intelligence and data analytics to metal additive manufacturing industrial datasets.
  • 2022/04 President’s Excellence in Teaching and Research Award
  • 2022/04 Engineering Society's Igor Ivkovic Teaching Excellence Award
  • 2022/02 University of Waterloo 2021 Department Teaching Recognition
  • 2021/06 Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) 20 Most Influential Academics
  • 2021/05 Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) Digital Manufacturing Challenge – 1st Prize
  • 2021/02 University of Waterloo 2020 Department Teaching Recognition
  • 2020/10 Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) Outstanding Young Manufacturing Engineer (OYME) Award
  • 2020/09 University of Waterloo 2020 Faculty of Engineering Distinguished Performance Award

Service

  • 2022/01 – present Waterloo Institute for Sustainable Aeronautics (WISA) Associate Director
  • 2022/01 – present Engineering Graduate Studies Committee (EGSC) MME Faculty Representative
  • 2016/01 – present Faculty of Engineering, Women in Engineering, Faculty Rep
  • 2017/01 – present TronCon Mechatronics Engineering Alumni Symposium Event Advisor
  • 2017/01 – present NSERC HIAM Conference Event Advisor

Professional Associations

  • 2021/01 – present Rapid Prototyping Journal – Regional Editor
  • 2016/05 – present SME Additive Manufacturing Community Advisor
  • 2016/01 – present SME Digital Design and Manufacturing Advisor
  • 2020/04 – 2021/05 Society of SME Additive Manufacturing Community Advisor – Chair

Teaching*

  • ME 561 - Fluid Power Control Systems
    • Taught in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023
  • ME 739 - Manufacturing Processes Topics
    • Taught in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
  • MTE 322 - Electromechanical Machine Design
    • Taught in 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025

* Only courses taught in the past 5 years are displayed.

Patents

  • van Houtum GJJ, Vlasea M. (2021). Method and system for active learning. US Provisional Patent filing TBD-21-0009 (K8002539USP).
  • Toyserkani E, Vlasea M, Shanjani Y. (2014). Systems and methods for AM of heterogeneous porous structures and structures made therefrom. Canada. WO 2014110679 A1. 2014-01-17.

In The News

Graduate studies