News & Updates

Edgar Acosta, Gisele Azimi, and Frank Gu among 14 recipients of the 2023-24 Connaught Innovation Award

July 11, 2024

Three professors from U of T’s Department of Chemical Engineering & Applied Chemistry – Edgar Acosta, Gisele Azimi, and Frank Gu – have been named recipients of the 2023-24 Connaught Innovation Award, recognizing and supporting their groundbreaking contributions to innovative technologies that have meaningful social utility and impact. The Connaught Innovation Award provides crucial seed […]

ChemE’s Erin Ng and Yuxin (Sindy) Zhang grace U of T Engineering’s 2024 list of Grads to Watch

July 4, 2024

Each year, U of T Engineering complies a list of graduates nominated by their departments for demonstrating exceptional dedication and promise during their tenure as students. This year’s list of 14 grads includes two from ChemE: Erin Ng (ChemE 2T3 + PEY) and Yuxin (Sindy) Zhang (ChemE MEng 2T4). The following was taken directly from Grads to Watch […]

ChemE Future Leader: Badr Abbas (ChemE 2T4 + PEY)

June 26, 2024

Badr Abbas (ChemE 2T4 + PEY) is a driven Chemical Engineering student on a mission to tackle climate change. He’s contributed extensively to the ChemE community through roles as a teaching assistant, F!rosh Week volunteer, Chembook co-producer, and as a founding member of the Academic Success & Support Committee within Chem Club. In his PEY […]

ChemE’s 2024 Student Life Catalyst Award winners recognized at convocation reception

June 26, 2024

ChemE’s 2024 Student Life Catalyst Award winners were recognized at this year’s convocation reception. The Student Life Catalyst Awards recognize deserving undergraduate and graduate students for their significant contributions to the ChemE student-life experience. Congratulations to this year’s winners!   Tristyn Alexander Haghgoo (ChemE 2T3 + PEY) Tristyn has demonstrated leadership throughout his undergraduate career […]

Alumni Making an Impact: Bo Zhang

June 26, 2024

Bo Zhang (ChemE 1T4 + PEY) graduated from ChemE in 2014 before pursuing his Ph.D. at Oxford University. Pairing his interest in human biology with the analytical and problem-solving skills acquired through his engineering education, Zhang has had a successful career in the life sciences industry. He recently moved back to Toronto and currently works at […]

Alumni Making an Impact: Jeffrey Michael Karp

June 26, 2024

Jeffrey Michael Karp (ChemE PhD 0T4) completed his Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering with a collaborative specialization in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Toronto in 2004. He is currently a professor at Harvard University, and holds appointments at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and MIT. Dr. Karp’s path to success was far from easy: diagnosed with learning […]

Molly Shoichet named inaugural Pamela and Paul Austin Chair in Precision and Regenerative Medicine

June 20, 2024

University Professor Molly Shoichet (ChemE, BME) has been named the inaugural Pamela and Paul Austin Chair in Precision and Regenerative Medicine. The chair, situated within the Department of Chemical Engineering & Applied Chemistry, was created in November 2023 via a gift from the The P. Austin Family Foundation. It will strengthen and expand research on personalized approaches to […]

Hao Yang Xu and Long Ye chosen as the 2024 MEng Project of the Year award recipients

June 19, 2024

The MEng Project of the Year award, which began last year and honours two MEng students for outstanding achievement in their MEng project, has been awarded to Hao Yang Xu and Long Ye for the 2023-24 academic year. Xu’s project – Evaluation of Sampling Techniques and Their Impact on Key Performance Indicators in Machine Learning […]

ChemE PhD candidate Erica Di Pede wins Scientific Frontiers Student Award at Probiota Americas conference

June 13, 2024

At the recent Probiota Americas conference in Salt Lake City, Erica Di Pede (ChemE PhD candidate) claimed the Scientific Frontiers Student Award for her work on the functionality and efficacy of a novel mannan-oligsaccharide (MOS) prebiotic. Di Pede’s project involves the application of MOSs from coconut, investigating their functionality as prebiotics to support health. She […]

Team lead by Gisele Azimi designs new way to recycle steel, with potential to usher in a circular steel economy

June 13, 2024

U of T Engineering researchers have designed a new way to recycle steel that has the potential to decarbonize a range of manufacturing industries and usher in a circular steel economy.  The method is outlined in a new paper published in Resources, Conservation & Recycling and co-authored by Jaesuk (Jay) Paeng (ChemE PhD candidate), William Judge (MSE PhD 2T1) and Professor Gisele Azimi (ChemE, […]

Professor Grant Allen wins 2024 R.S. Jane Memorial Award

June 6, 2024

Professor Grant Allen (ChemE) has been selected as the 2024 R.S. Jane Memorial Award recipient. The R. S. Jane Memorial Award is presented to a person who, while residing in Canada, has made an exceptional achievement to the field of chemical engineering or industrial chemistry. Professor Allen is the Frank Dottori Chair in Pulp and […]

Jennifer Farmer awarded the 2024 Wighton Fellowship

May 24, 2024

Professor Jennifer Farmer (ChemE) has been chosen as the 2024 recipient of the Wighton Fellowship. Awarded by the Sandford Fleming Foundation to just one recipient nationwide each year, the fellowship recognizes excellence in the development and teaching of laboratory-based courses in undergraduate engineering programs. Farmer, who joined ChemE in 2016, is a teaching-stream faculty member who received […]

ChemE Ph.D. Pratish Gawand making tastebuds – and the planet – happier with startup Ardra Inc.

May 23, 2024

Natural ingredients may seem better for the planet, but that’s not always the case. Consider rose oil. It takes thousands of kilograms of rose petals to extract a single kilogram of the popular fragrance ingredient. “If a multinational cosmetics or consumer goods company said tomorrow, ‘We’re not going to use any artificial rose oil,’ we […]

ChemE undergrad Adrianna Noble selected as the Best & Brightest from the Rotman MBA Class of 2024

May 16, 2024

Adrianna Noble (ChemE 2T2), a student in the full-time MBA program at UofT’s Rotman School of Management, was included on the Poets&Quants 2024 annual list of the “Best & Brightest MBAs”.  The list, which honours 100 of the world’s leading students from the Class of 2024, was compiled by Poets&Quants after they considered nominations from […]

U Of T Engineering To Introduce New Certificate Program In Electric Vehicle Design

May 9, 2024

The University of Toronto’s Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering will launch a new electric vehicle design certificate for undergraduate students this fall. The program aims to prepare the next generation of electric vehicle (EV) engineers for professional and research opportunities in the growing industry. “EVs have tremendous potential to improve local and global climates, which fits […]

Molly Shoichet leads $19 million project to fast-track bio-manufacturing training

May 9, 2024

Molly Shoichet (ChemE) is leading a $19 million project aimed at accelerating bio-manufacturing training. Her initiative, which involves collaboration with over 20 industry partners, focuses on providing young scientists with the necessary experience to swiftly enter the bio-manufacturing field, thereby bolstering Canada’s capacity to respond to future pandemics. Read the full Globe and Mail news article […]

PhD graduate Natashya Falcone pioneers hydrogel breakthroughs in cancer therapy at Terasaki Institute

September 28, 2023

Natashya Falcone (ChemE PhD), a recent ChemE PhD graduate, specializes in peptide-based hydrogel materials with diverse applications. Her research delved into stimuli-responsive properties, such as pH and temperature sensitivity, along with their biocompatibility. Notably, she explored hydrogels for enzyme support, stem cell matrices, and controlled drug delivery systems. Her work garnered prestigious awards like NSERC-CGS-D […]

ChemE alumnus John Lo founds first-of-its-kind non-profit, voluntary carbon credit standard organization

September 28, 2023

John Lo (ChemE 9T1 + PEY) began his career in the energy sector after graduating from ChemE before transitioning to focus on sustainability. He recently founded the Asia Carbon Institute (ACI), a non-profit organization that focuses on certifying and registering carbon credits, particularly in technology-based and urban projects. His shift from energy to sustainability was […]

Welcome back to school from the Chair

September 7, 2023

Dear ChemE students, faculty, and staff: As the Chair of the Department of Chemical Engineering & Applied Chemistry, I would like to welcome you all to the start of another exciting academic year. This is a particularly exciting time of year for me as I get to see and meet so many fresh new faces, […]

Innovative and sustainable transportation and logistics solutions: Lamya Ezzeldin

August 31, 2023

Lamya Ezzeldin (ChemE 1T5) applies the methodical approach to problem solving she learned while pursuing her Chemical Engineering degree at U of T to her current role in product management at startup GoBolt, a sustainable, tech-forward fulfillment and last mile delivery logistics provider. After graduating from ChemEng and securing a job at Procter & Gamble […]

Groundbreaking study seeks to illuminate how DNA-editing protein Cas9 interacts with genetic material

August 13, 2023

Opening the door to new ways of studying gene editing proteins and potential biomedical applications like improved diagnostic technologies, Professor Nicole Weckman (ISTEP, ChemE) has co-authored a new study entitled, Sensing the DNA-mismatch tolerance of catalytically inactive Cas9 via barcoded DNA nanostructures in solid-state nanopores. The research, now published in the prestigious Nature Biomedical Engineering, sheds […]

ISTEP/Troost ILead team gains international recognition for engineering leadership research

August 11, 2023

Researchers at U of T Engineering’s Institute for Studies in Transdisciplinary Engineering Education & Practice (ISTEP), and its Troost Institute for Leadership Education in Engineering (Troost ILead), have produced a series of award-winning research publications focused on the intersections between leadership, ethics and equity in engineering education.  The team includes Professors Cindy Rottmann (ISTEP, ChemE) and Emily Moore (ISTEP, […]

Breakthrough in water and energy harvesting

August 10, 2023

In a collaborative effort between Professor Kevin Golovin’s DREAM Laboratory in the Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering and Professor Ning Yan’s group from the Department of Chemical Engineering & Applied Chemistry, a groundbreaking study will be published in the October 2023 issue of Nano Energy. The research team has developed a nature-inspired surface capable […]

From uncertainty to success: The inspiring journey of chemical engineer and entrepreneur, Constantine Karayannopoulos

July 27, 2023

In a compelling story of determination, passion, and triumph, Constantine Karayannopoulos (ChemE 8T3, MASc 8T8), a prominent figure in the materials technology industry, shares his extraordinary journey from uncertain high school days to becoming a celebrated chemical engineer and successful entrepreneur. Through his experiences and invaluable insights, he offers inspiration and guidance to current chemical […]

New microcredentials to strengthen the talent pipeline for Canada’s biomanufacturing industry

July 26, 2023

U of T Engineering has partnered with CCRM, BioZone and the School of Continuing Studies on a new set of microcredentials that will help workers across Canada’s biomanufacturing industry to upgrade or strengthen their skills.  Biomanufacturing refers to the industrial-scale production of many different products, including pharmaceuticals, vaccines, emerging products such as cell and gene therapies and even commodity chemicals […]

PEO CEO/Registrar shares insights on her career and future goals

July 25, 2023

In a world where science and passion converge, Jennifer Quaglietta (ChemE 0T5 + PEY + MEY + Skoll) emerges as a true leader, reshaping the landscape of engineering and inspiring a new generation of professionals. As the new CEO/Registrar of Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO), her visionary leadership transcends the conventional boundaries of her chemical engineering […]

Frank Gu cofounds lab that will improve formulation of variety of drugs

July 20, 2023

A new autonomous lab being built in the University of Toronto’s Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy will help to design and optimize formulations that will improve bioavailability, stability and efficacy of a variety of drugs, according to a recent article by Education News Canada. Christine Allen, a professor in the faculty whose research focuses on […]

ChemE alumna Caitlin Maikawa appointed assistant professor at the Institute of Biomedical Engineering

July 20, 2023

Caitlin Maikawa (ChemE 1T6) recently joined the Institute of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Toronto as an assistant professor. After studying at U of T’s Department of Chemical Engineering & Applied Chemistry, Maikawa went on to complete her PhD at Stanford University under the supervision of Professor Eric Appel. During this time, she tackled […]

Professor Gisele Azimi pioneers new method of harvesting precious metals from electronic waste

July 20, 2023

Professor Gisele Azimi has been featured in a recent Tech Explorist article regarding her work on developing a method to extract precious metals from electronic waste: Electronic waste (e-waste) is considered the fastest-growing waste stream in the developed world. It comprises a multitude of components with valuable and scarce materials, some containing toxic substances that […]

Collaborative work lead by John Gibson and Ramin Farnood make important discovery about the effect of UV radiation on Delta and Omicron COVID-19 variants

July 13, 2023

Post-doctoral fellow John Gibson, a member of Professor Ramin Farnood’s group, is the lead author of a recently published paper on the effect of UV radiation on the Delta and Omicron variants of SARS-CoV-2 by the American Chemical Society in their bi-weekly Environmental Science & Technology journal. The paper, titled Exploring the Differences in the […]