News

Nanotechnology Engineering graduate (2013) Duncan Strathearn is helping to bring nanotechnology to the masses with an affordable and easy-to-use atomic force microscope (AFM) that can fit in the palm of your hand.

Because AFMs are normally very large, extremely expensive and complex, they are typically part of exclusive academic and industry laboratories, which limits access to these high resolution microscopes – and the wonders they reveal.

At the recent Velocity Fund Finals, Nanotechnology Engineering student Ryan Brown and his colleagues at Salient Energy won a grand prize of $25,000, the top hardware prize of $10,000, and admission to the Velocity Garage where they can continue development of their technology.

Recent graduates of the University of Waterloo’s Nanotechnology Engineering program demonstrated their pitching talent, which is a key to entrepreneurial success, by winning the Digifest 2016 IT’S A START Pitch Competition.

Congratulations to Nanotechnology Engineering students Ciara Azam, Manasa Kaniselvan, Natalie Pinchin and Software Engineering student Tammy Liu for their achievements at the annual International Conference for Robotics and Automation (ICRA), hosted by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) in Sweden.

Dr. John Saad, lab instructor for the Nanotechnology Engineering program, has been recognized by the Engineering Society for his ongoing efforts to make fourth-year nano labs interesting, useful and challenging for students.

Attendees of the third annual Norman Esch Pitch Competition witnessed Nanotechnology Engineering students at their persuasive best. Three Nanotechnology Engineering teams, Amilent, Arylla and GraFET, were among a competitive group that pitched the business plan they developed as part of the Capstone Design Project. Congratulations to the Amilent and GraFET teams for their successful pitches, which won each team a $10,000 prize.

The Davis Centre buzzed with excitement as 21 Nanotechnology Engineering teams presented their fourth year design project research and poster displays at this year’s Capstone Design Symposium on March 16, 2016. Projects were categorized within the four themes of study: NEMS, nanoelectronics & nanofluidics; instrumentation & nanophotonics; nanofunctional materials; and nanobiotechnology & biomedical.

Fourth-year University of Waterloo Nanotechnology Engineering students Laura Bahlmann, Eric Beauregard, Wenbo Cui and Stuart Murray won second place in the Innovative Design category of the Canadian Engineering Competition, which was held at McGill University March 3-6, 2016.

Competitors at this invite-only event must first beat their peers at their own university and then at a regional competition. The GraFET team did this on their home turf, at the Ontario Engineering Competition held at Waterloo in January.

In some circles, the study of nanotechnology has a reputation for leading to a career in research. One of University of Waterloo’s successful nanotechnology engineering undergraduate students, Katarin Ilic (class of 2013), knows firsthand that it can also be a springboard to many other exciting opportunities.

The GraFET team (L-R): Stuart Murray, Wenbo Cui, Eric Beauregard and Laura Bahlmann.

Congratulations to fourth-year University of Waterloo nanotechnology engineering students Laura Bahlmann, Eric Beauregard, Wenbo Cui and Stuart Murray for their achievements at the recent Ontario Engineering Competition, held at the University of Waterloo January 29-31, 2016.