2024 News Archive

Electrical and computer engineering professor Esam Abdel-Raheem is contributing to a work that is paving the way for early detection of diabetic retinopathy, a leading cause of vision impairment and blindness.

Making an earlier diagnosis will help physicians treat the condition and stave off serious deterioration, says Dr. Abdel-Raheem.

A new cohort of more than 200 Master of Engineering students has joined the campus community, and were welcomed with an orientation session on Tuesday, Sept. 3.

The students come from all over the world to acquire advanced skills, hands-on knowledge, and experience in industry, which prepares them for an engineering career in Canada.

The session included addresses by dean of engineering Bill Van Heyst, engineering’s wellness counselling staff and the International Student Centre, in addition to presentations on academic policies, course requirements, and faculty advising.

Darryl Danelon, acting associate dean for professional programs, says the event marked his favourite day so far in the position.

Competing in the Canadian International Rover Challenge was a defining moment for members of the UWindsor Mars Rover team, says mechanical engineering student Rajan Singh.

The competition pits teams against each other in a test of the skills in designing, building, and operating a vehicle in a simulation of tasks for an early colony on an extraterrestrial planet. The UWindsor team “Black Widow” drove to finish first in Ontario, second in Roverolymica, third in Canada and sixth among 26 teams in the international competition.

“We faced relentless challenges that tested not just our technical skills but our resilience as a team,” says Singh. “Our success is a testament to the unwavering support from our supervisors and sponsors, who empowered us to push beyond our limits. Achieving our goals as a first-year team at the University of Windsor makes this accomplishment even more special.”

A UWindsor professor will engage in an exchange of ideas, culture, and exploration as the 2024 Fulbright Canada Research Chair in Computers, Science, and Engineering at Florida Polytechnic University.

Jalal Ahamed, an associate professor in the Department of Mechanical, Automotive, and Materials Engineering, will embark on a four-month journey collaborating with other fellows along with current faculty and graduate students.

“It is a unique opportunity for us to expand and advance our knowledge by going beyond our boundaries to learn from others through research, teaching, and exchange of ideas in a collaborative environment,” Dr. Ahamed says. “It will help us propel a solid and long-lasting academic collaboration between the institutions.”

As the Fulbright Canada Research Chair, he will be working closely with Chris Kelley, is an assistant professor of mechanical engineering at Florida Poly, on research regarding wearable sensing systems for Parkinson’s care. Dr. Kelley specializes in controls, while Ahmad specializes in wearable sensors for human movements.

The Department of Mechanical, Automotive and Materials Engineering has welcomed two new members: Ram Adhikari and Lucas Ribeiro Bruck.

Dr. Adhikari comes to Windsor from the University of Calgary, where he worked in a laboratory for aerodynamics and flow control. He worked in industry as a senior mechanical engineer, with various roles centred on developing new products. His research focuses on computational thermo-fluids and finite element methods.

Adhikari expects to establish a computational design and learning Lab, foster collaboration with faculty and industry partners, and train highly qualified personnel.

A partnership with automotive powertrain manufacturer Vitesco Technologies will see researchers at the University of Windsor develop a more environmentally sustainable and economically viable motor for electric vehicles.

“Our research will help our industry partners to mass produce advanced, lower cost, and sustainable electric machines and gain a competitive advantage in the global electric vehicle marketplace,” says electrical and computer engineering professor Narayan Kar, director of the Centre for Hybrid Automotive Research and Green Energy (CHARGE) lab. “Sustainable production of this technology will reduce EV ownership cost, while addressing the rare earth permanent magnet supply chain risks.”

Electric motors primarily use rare earth-based magnets, but these elements pose several difficulties. They are expensive, accounting for 20 to 30 per cent of the total cost of the motors; are limited in quantity; and their extraction and refinement process can cause environmental damage.

Dr. Kar’s team will develop an electric drive unit with a rare earth free or reduced magnet motor, which will help produce a sustainable solution with lower costs, fewer carbon dioxide emissions, less supply chain risks, and a better ratio of cost to performance.

First-year students of engineering filled the foyer of the Centre for Engineering Innovation on July 31, showcasing their group projects for the mandatory course in cornerstone design.

The class tasks students with designing, programming, and building a product — whether a motion gesture glove, irrigation system, or autonomous vehicle.

During the final showcase, teams competed for a total of $3,000 in prize money.

Claiming top honours were Ibraheem Abdallah, Marian Smoka, Michaela Tape, Gabriel Van Lammeren, and Will Washington for their carbon monoxide detector for the deaf.

Placing second were Zeliha Bayar, Fadel Fouani, and Sabira Siddika for their motion gesture glove.

Participating in the Elevate Scholars program sparked a love of research in civil engineering student Mariah Saad, leading to an honourable mention for her paper at the Canadian Society for Civil Engineering Conference, June 5 to 7 in Niagara Falls.

The second-year student has been a part of the Elevate Scholars program since her first year of post-secondary study. Elevate scholarships afford opportunities to students from equity-deserving groups: those who identify as Black, female, non-binary, or Indigenous. Beneficiaries receive a $5,000 scholarship and upon completion of their first year, a $10,000 summer internship to conduct research with a faculty member.

Posters and presentations by the 2024 cohort of Elevate interns were inspiring, said Jennifer Johrendt, associate dean of engineering for student affairs.

Instituted by dean of engineering Bill Van Heyst, Elevate scholarships afford opportunities to students from equity-deserving groups: those who identify as Black, female, non-binary, or Indigenous. Beneficiaries receive a $5,000 scholarship and upon completion of their first year, a $10,000 summer internship to conduct research with a faculty member.

“Faculty are challenging these students after their first year of engineering and our students are thriving,” Dr. Johrendt said. “The engagement and energy during the event were further evidence of the community we are building within our undergraduate students, and particularly amongst our Elevate students.”

Development of a new engine launched the UWindsor Rocketry Team to success in the Spaceport America Cup, placing second among the 10 Canadian universities in the competition.

A record 122 teams from around the globe made the trek to southern New Mexico to test their technical prowess, June 17 to 22.

The Windsor team of about 45 students from diverse disciplines including engineering and business tackled every aspect of the project: construction of the main body, airbrakes, fins, propulsion, avionics, test flight and operation, and project management and finance.

Entered into the category with a target elevation of 10,000 feet, its entry reached an altitude of 10,372 feet, and was recovered with no damage for a finish of 27th overall.

Engineering major Alessia Pernasilici, the team’s vice-president, credited work on its first-ever fully student-designed hybrid engine.