Seven U of T Engineers were awarded grants from the Ontario government to support projects that will improve the lives of people around the world and create skilled jobs within the province.
The funds were provided by the Ministry of Research and Innovation on July 25 through its Research Infrastructure (RI) and Early Researcher Awards (ERA) programs.
The grants were awarded to the following U of T Engineering teams:
- Professor Aimy Bazylak (MIE) won $111,325 for “Microscale Energy Systems Transport Phenomena” via Research Infrastructure. Professor Bazylak aims to create clean energy technologies, such as low temperature fuel cells, that could be used to provide clean power for vehicles and other devices. Her work could give Ontario’s fuel cell and clean energy industries important competitive advantages;
- Professor Goldie Nejat (MIE) won $96,363 for “The Next Generation of Robotic Helpers” via Research Infrastructure. Professor Nejat is developing smart robots that can act as human assistants in homes, health care facilities, workplaces and the community. The U of T Engineer’s work could help Ontario meet the challenges posed by an aging population – and keep the province at the forefront of the multi-billion dollar personal and service robotics industry;
- Professors Zeb Tate (ECE), Jason Anderson (ECE) and Natalie Enright Jerger (ECE) won $269,975 for “Multicore Applications, Architectures and Algorithms for Complex Systems” via Research Infrastructure. The U of T Engineers are developing an emerging computing technology, which enables more computationally intensive research than previously capable. Their work will eventually help reduce the province’s energy footprint by accelerating research into low-power computers and efficient green energy distribution;
- Professor Olivier Trescases (ECE) won $100,000 for “Advanced Power Electronics and Smart Power IC Research” via Research Infrastructure. Professor Trescases studies advanced power converters. He is concentrating on improving energy efficiency in a wide range of applications, including solar, and commercializing the energy-efficient converters he develops. His work will help Ontario’s alternative energy companies become global leaders in clean technology; and,
- Professor Timothy Barfoot (UTIAS) won $190,000 for “Visual Navigation of Mobile Robots in Extreme Environments” via Early Research Awards. The U of T Engineer is developing smart robots that can explore environments and conduct experiments without constant human instruction. His work will help many sectors, including Ontario’s space and resources industries.
“We’re proud of the exceptional work that our Toronto researchers do,” said Glen Murray, Ontario’s Minister of Research and Innovation. “Their contributions are making the world a better place, starting right here with new ideas and jobs, which fuel job creation and economic growth and our government is proud to support them.”
“The winners of these awards are a diverse group who are tackling some of today’s most pressing questions,” said Professor Peter Lewis, U of T’s Associate Vice-President, Research. “I extend my congratulations to them. I am also grateful to the province for this investment. In addition to supporting research today, it will help ensure future health and prosperity for all Ontarians.”
The Early Researcher Award helps promising newly-appointed researchers build and maintain a team of experts. Each recipient won $140,000 from the province plus an additional $50,000 from the University.
The Research Infrastructure (RI) Program provides Ontario’s researchers with competitive, state-of-the-art infrastructure and helps them leverage awards from the Canada Foundation for Innovation, a federal research infrastructure funding body.
