Research news

Learn more about the latest discoveries and innovations from the U of T Engineering community. Our researchers are developing new ways of capturing and storing clean energy, medical devices that can save and extend lives, smarter ways to design and build cities and much more.

Professor Peyman Mohajerin Esfahani (MIE) approaches his course material through demonstrating how operations research and mathematical programming solve real-world problems. (photo by Aaron Demeter)

Making decisions under uncertainty: Meet MIE Professor Peyman Mohajerin Esfahani

“Decision-making under uncertainty is a research area that shows up across many disciplines, so it’s common for researchers with different backgrounds to work on related problems. That’s one of the things I enjoy about being at U of T: the opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration are everywhere.”

SymbI uses its self-driving lab to identify the best combination of microorganisms for breaking down organic waste and producing the ingredients required for a palm kernel oil alternative. (photo courtesy of SymBL Innovations)

AC-U of T startup converts organic waste into high-value bioproducts

Backed by the Acceleration Consortium, SymBL Innovations uses AI-designed microbiomes to develop palm kernel oil alternative

Left to right: Alumnus Nan Ge (MechE 1T3, MIE MASc 1T6, PhD 1T9) and Professor Aimy Bazylak (MIE) are the co-founders of Cardinal Volta. (photo by Paola Varhen Pacheco)

New commercialization funding will help this U of T Engineering startup turn waste heat into power

Cardinal Volta has been named the Stage 2 recipient of the Eva and Allen Lau Commercialization Catalyst Prize

"If nobody outside a company can see what these systems are doing, it’s very hard to tell whether they’re safe," says Professor Nicolas Papernot (ECE). (photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

U of T researcher calls for independent testing of powerful AI models

Nicolas Papernot (ECE) says universities can be a “transparency bridge” by investigating new AI models for cybersecurity threats before they are released to the public

Left to right: Weixiang Ben (Year 3 MSE), Jiaze Wu (MSE PhD student) and Professor Kai Huang (MSE) are three members of the team who designed a new type of nanoparticle that can upconvert light from low-energy photons into high-energy ones. (photo by Tyler Irving)

New light-emitting nanoparticles can detect subtle chemical differences to enhance pharmaceutical manufacturing, pollution prevention and more

Innovative diamond-shaped nanoparticles can absorb low-energy photons and convert them to high-energy photons, enabling highly sensitive chemical sensing

University Professor Elizabeth Edwards (ChemE) has conducted groundbreaking research on the remediation of contaminated groundwater, wastewater treatment and anaerobic digestion. (photo courtesy of Daria Perevezentsev)

University Professor Elizabeth Edwards awarded the Royal Society of Canada’s Miroslaw Romanowski Medal

Award recognizes significant contributions to the resolution of scientific aspects of environmental issues or for important improvements to the quality of an ecosystem brought about by scientific means

Professor Mark Fox (MIE) was one of the first researchers to explore the use of artificial intelligence in industrial systems. (photo courtesy of MIE)

Professor Mark Fox elected to the Royal Society of Canada

Fellowship in the Royal Society of Canada is one of the highest honours a Canadian scholar can achieve

IBET Momentum Scholar Connor Isaac (MechE 2T5 + PEY, MIE PhD student) on U of T’s St. George campus. (photo by Tyler Irving)

IBET Momentum Scholar Connor Isaac investigates how to help Indigenous communities explore the potential of clean energy generation and storage

Isaac will be part of the CANSTOREnergy project, which works to integrate policy and community engagement in the early stages of design and execution of energy systems

A person stand on a bridge with a small body of water and trees behind them

U of T research finds AI scribes save doctors’ time and may ease administrative burden

A new study with Women’s College Hospital compared appointments with and without the digital tools to understand their impact on workflow