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Doctoral student researching soot to find cleaner-burning fuel

Aug 26th, 2020

Arash Khabazipur in front of computer

Finding ways to make fossil fuels burn cleaner is the focus of a new research project by a doctoral candidate in UWindsor’s Faculty of Engineering.

Arash Khabazipur is looking at ways to interfere with soot formation by diluting fuel with gases such as nitrogen and hydrogen. Using an algorithm that replaces lab experiments with numerical code, he runs computer simulations to find permutations that result in reduced soot emissions.

“This research project directly addresses the environmental issues arising from hydrocarbon fossil fuel combustion,” Khabazipur said. “Canada and the U.S. are among the top fossil fuel consuming countries in the world, so this area of research is in intense demand.”

Khabazipur is among 107 UWindsor students who have received $6,000 research training grants in a recent funding call. His project is being funded by the University of Windsor and Mitacs, a national not-for-profit organization that creates partnerships among Canadian academia, private industry, and government to provide research and training opportunities.

Engineering students win world recognition

Aug 21st, 2020

Picture of Field​

The University of Windsor’s student chapter of the Association of Energy Engineers has attracted international notice for its outstanding achievements.

The chapter will be recognized virtually in late fall by the Association of Energy Engineers (AEE) at its world conference, receiving an award in the association’s international division for hosting the Best Student Chapter Meeting, which included a panel session with industry professionals from the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority, CanWEA, and Chall.Eng. Corporation.

Investment by industry and NSERC to spur research into electric vehicles

Aug 10th, 2020

Frank and Carolyn Ewasyshyn Electrical Engineering Suite​

An injection of nearly $4.3 million in federal and industry funding will spur University of Windsor next–gen electric vehicle research conducted in collaboration with the Canadian auto industry.

A multidisciplinary team of University of Windsor researchers led by the Faculty of Engineering’s Dr. Narayan Kar has received funding from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) in the amount of $1.9 million with additional industry cash and in-kind investment of $2.4 million to develop lightweight, compact, aluminum–intensive induction motors for electric vehicles as well as motor testing technologies.

These high–efficiency, high–performance motors have the potential to significantly reduce costs and extend the driving range of electric cars to meet aggressive 2025 traction motor targets set by the U.S. government, automakers and energy companies.

Ford Motor Company of Canada, D&V Electronics and Nemak are partnering on and providing funds toward the research project that includes UWindsor experts in materials, electrical, mechanical, thermal and software engineering.

Dr. Mirhassani named amongst top Canadian women in cyber security

Jul 28th, 2020

Mitra Mirhassani​

UWindsor Engineering professor Dr. Mitra Mirhassani has been recognized as one of Canada's top 20 women in cyber security. 

Mirhassani, an associate professor in electrical and computer engineering, was honoured by IT World Canada (ITWC) for her innovative cyber security research and dedication to helping others better understand the function and connectivity of our devices.

She was chosen out of more than 170 nominations for women working in cyber security across a wide variety of organizations and roles, including CISOs, company founders, professors, directors and women holding numerous specialty positions in both the public and private sectors.

“What worries me most is the health and security of the devices that we build and buy,” says Mirhassani, who leads UWindsor’s Analog and Mixed Signal Research Lab.” There are many challenges in our way to understand the complexity of the process.” 

Mirhassani’s latest research includes the investigation of cybersecurity issues that arise when using electric vehicle fleets with battery charging infrastructure and improving the security of autonomous and connected vehicles.

Researchers study municipal resiliency in pandemics

Jul 9th, 2020

Windsor Riverfront ​

What is it about some communities that allows them to manage a pandemic and return to normalcy faster than others?

A UWindsor team led by engineering professor Edwin Tam will delve into that question with sweeping research into municipalities’ experiences under COVID-19. The research team will examine demographics, governance, infrastructure, and services to create a template to help Windsor and Essex County and other cities prepare for future pandemics.

“We hypothesize that specific municipal characteristics enhance a community’s resiliency,” said Dr. Tam. “Our overall goal is to assess if there are physical characteristics, demographic profiles, infrastructure, policies, and practices specific to a community that enhance its ability to withstand and overcome a pandemic.”

Put simply, he said: “We want to know what it is about a city that helps it combat the spread.”

The Ritual of the Calling of an Engineer (RCE) in a Time of Global Crisis 2020

Jun 24th, 2020

Attending the Ritual of the Calling of an Engineer (RCE) marks a moment of sober reflection, professional contemplation, and of course, companionable joy for many engineers, particularly for those who are about to graduate from their engineering program. This year, 2020, is uniquely different because of our changed view of the challenges facing our global and local communities. The increased awareness of the devastating effects from climate change; the very immediate threats of the COVID-19 pandemic; and the renewed calls for social justice mean the new normal that will emerge will not be like the old normal. This is perhaps a very good thing: the old ways were in hindsight undeniably unsustainable. We as engineers - with our problem solving skills and commitment to society – must rise to the task of helping shape a world that is sustainable and just. 

This year, Camp 14 (Windsor), suspended its normally scheduled Rituals because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and with that, our many graduates are unable to take their obligations and receive their token, the Canadian engineer’s “iron ring”. Contrary to common opinion, the Ritual and bestowing of the Iron Ring does not commemorate graduation. Historically, the original intent of the Ritual was to mark the new graduate’s journey into the professional career of an engineer, supported by those engineers who have already been on their journeys. As the Ritual closes in on its 100th year anniversary, this essence of the Ritual still holds true, but for many decades now, the Ritual has also welcomed professionals that have been educated and practiced from all over our world, and have then chosen to bring their global expertise to Canada. Our engineering community has grown through its diversity, and in return, Canadian engineers are well respected throughout the world. 

Faculty of Engineering Online Teaching Advisory Group

Jun 11th, 2020

The Faculty of Engineering has assembled an advisory group in preparation for remote teaching in the fall semester.

The Online Teaching Advisory Group (OTAG) will examine challenges with online teaching and learning in engineering and provide alternative recommendations to the Faculty Management Group (FMG). 

Issues under consideration include:

  • Alternatives to labs (videos, simulations, gamification, kits/activities at home, etc.)
  • Synchronous vs. asynchronous teaching (how to maintain consistency across the faculty)
  • Assessment and testing (online assessment and proctoring, non-exam-based alternative forms of assessment or some combination)
  • Equity and access (issues with students’ access to internet, their hardware as well as differences between student learners)
  • GA/TA (their roles and required training)
  • Lab technicians (their roles in online teaching support)
  • IT (hardware/software needs and support required)
  • CTL/OOL (needs and the best ways to utilize and liaise with these units)
  • Students (their voice and engagement)

Live sessions to offer info on online Master of Engineering Management program

Jun 11th, 2020

MEM student stands on staircase holding a portfolio​

The University of Windsor’s Faculty of Engineering and Odette School of Business have launched Canada’s first online Master of Engineering Management degree.

The program is an online version of the University’s weekend Master of Engineering Management (MEM) degree for working professionals. The weekend MEM was launched in 2016 to “address market demands and has become a significant enabler in helping graduates achieve management jobs,” says program co-ordinator and professor Ali AbdulHussein.

“In today’s global economy, employees need to travel and be flexible; this creates a need for an on-demand professional education,” he says. “We’ve had interest from professionals all across North America.”

The program allows working professionals to enhance their technical expertise with business and managerial skills without interrupting their careers. The MEM program has attracted students from all engineering disciplines.

UWindsor research team designing new testing device for COVID-19

Jun 4th, 2020

Professors Jalal Ahamed, Mitra Mirhassani, Simon Rondeau-Gagné, and Yufeng Tong pictures

UWindsor researchers are trying to revolutionize the testing process for COVID-19 by developing a portable device that is quicker, cheaper, and more accurate than current laboratory tests.

Dubbed Lab-on-a-Chip, the device would allow healthcare workers to test and diagnose patients on the spot, said Jalal Ahamed, one of four UWindsor professors behind the research.

“Accurate, rapid, on-site, and point-of-care detection has paramount importance not only in Canada but also worldwide for early intervention and infection control,” Dr. Ahamed said.

“Development of such a device will be highly impactful in our fight against COVID-19.”

Currently, testing is performed in sophisticated laboratory settings. Patients are swabbed and the samples are sent away to labs, with the turnaround time for results usually measured in days. Lab-on-a-Chip devices could give results in minutes.

Ahamed, who is working on the project with fellow engineering professor Mitra Mirhassani, and chemistry professors Yufeng Tong and Simon Rondeau-Gagné, has been awarded a $50,000 grant from Canada’s Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council. It is the third COVID-related project at UWindsor NSERC has funded at the maximum amount available under a special $15 million fund established to address the pandemic.

New scholarship supports engineering students who are helping their peers succeed

Jun 2nd, 2020

Girls who secured the scholarship

Eman ElMasri’s favourite part of tutoring her peers is witnessing them achieve their academic goals.

“It is always rewarding to know that I can make a difference in the learning of others,” says ElMasri, a third-year electrical and computer engineering student who tutors in the Faculty of Engineering’s WINONE Tutorial program.

Established in 2019 by the WINONE Office for First-Year Engineering, the tutorials offer students free one-on-one help with first and second-year engineering course material.

Elmasri and fellow mentor Mahwish Khan are the first recipients of the Liburdi Engineering Mentorship Award, a new $10,000 annual award that supports two senior level undergraduate students who are excelling in math and physics and helping their first and second-year peers with course material and questions about their undergraduate programs.