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.

Clockwise from back left: Rafid Mahmood (IndE PhD candidate), Yusuf Shalaby (IndE 1T7), Ben Potter (IndE MASc candidate), Albert Loa (EngSci Year 3), Professor Tim Chan (MIE) and Michael Shin (EngSci Year 4). (Credit: Marit Mitchell)

Engineering the perfect NHL team: U of T Engineering researchers create draft optimizer for new Las Vegas expansion

Data-driven draft predictor designed by Professor Tim Chan and his team accounts for player performance, cost and availability

Postdoctoral researcher Lukas Kohl (ChemE) and undergraduate student Cynthia Jing (Year 2 EngSci) will sample homes in northern Alberta for ash left over from last summer’s wildfire. (Photo: Tyler Irving)

U of T Engineering researchers search for toxins in the aftermath of Fort McMurray wildfire

Project aims to test household dust for evidence of ash, lead contamination and more

Optimizing traffic flow between the City of Oshawa, at right, and Toronto, lower left, is one challenge that Master of Engineering students in the Cities Engineering and Management program at U of T will study in the newly established ‘teaching city.’ (Image: Google Maps).

New partnership establishes a Canadian teaching city for engineering students

A first in Canada, the agreement between academia, industry and the City of Oshawa launches the municipality east of Toronto as a ‘living lab’ for exploration in fields from traffic to urban planning

Left to right: Rahim Rezaie (U of T Engineering), Erastus M. Mwanaumo (Assistant Dean, School of Engineering, University of Zambia) and Professor Murray Metcalfe (U of T Engineering) at the University of Zambia. A partnership between U of T Engineering and various institutions in Africa aims to prepare the engineering leaders who will build the world’s fastest-growing cities.

Preparing the next generation of engineering leaders to grow Africa’s megacities sustainably

U of T Engineering initiative to offer scalable online education in partnership with universities in Mauritius, South Africa, Zambia and others

Anna Jiang (MIE MASc candidate) demonstrates her passive water controller for community members in Pedro Arauz, Nicaragua. The device could help farmers make more efficient use of irrigation water. (Photo: Anna Jiang)

U of T Engineering invention could help Nicaraguan farmers save water

Electricity-free solution developed by master’s student ensures that water is delivered only when crops require it

Professor Baher Abdulhai, seen here with civil engineering undergraduate students Andrew Lau and Marie-Sophie Wint, has created a new research centre dedicated to studying the impact of transformative transportation systems, from car sharing to self-driving vehicles. (Photo: Neil Ta).

Driverless cars, artificial intelligence and e-sharing are transforming transportation. Are our cities ready?

U of T Engineering transportation research institute aims to model the impact of self-driving cars, car-sharing and other transportation innovations

Shreya Shukla (third from right) meets stem cell pioneer James Till (second from right), as he tours the laboratory of Peter Zandstra (right) in July 2015. Also pictured are graduate students Jennifer Ma (front) and Nimalan Thavandiran (left). (Photo: James Poremba).

U of T Engineering research paves way for an off-the-shelf supply of cells for immunotherapy

Two new papers led by U of T Engineering grad students could lead to new cell therapies for boosting patients’ immune systems against disease, and for cancer immunotherapy, in which immune cells can be engineered to attack tumours

Left to right: U of T Engineering students Oliver Wu, Andrew Ilersich, Erik Chau, Winston Liu, Kevin Dong, Kevin Xu, Rikky Duivenvoorden and Spencer Zhao. This team took first place at the Unmanned Systems Canada UAS Student Competition. (Courtesy: UTAT)

U of T Engineering student team takes first place at national drone competition

Students built and programmed drones to survey goose populations and retrieve eggs for research

Professor Paul Santerre (IBBME), pictured with PhD candidates Yasaman Delaviz and Meghan Wright, is among the six recipients of the 2017 Governor General’s Innovation Awards. (Credit: Neil Ta).

U of T inventor-entrepreneur to be honoured with Governor General’s Innovation Award

Professor Paul Santerre honoured among outstanding Canadians who contribute to the country’s success and inspire the next generation