News & Updates

New effective membrane for oil-water separation

April 13, 2023

Steven Diao (MEng student) and Yaozhong Zhang (PhD student), supervised by Professor Ramin Farnood, have been working on an innovative project titled, Green and Safer Fabrication Method of PTFE Ultrafine Fiber Membrane for Efficient Oil-Water Separation. “Our new membrane could be employed in various sectors, such as gas separation, membrane distillation, and biological applications. It may […]

Chem Club’s 2023 swag have arrived!

April 6, 2023

Chem Club’s 2023 swag have finally arrived! Sweatshirts are $35 and totes are $12. E-transfer chemclub@skule.ca to make a purchase while supplies last.

New study explores ways to reduce second- and third-hand THC exposure from indoor cannabis smoke

April 5, 2023

Since Canada legalized recreational cannabis in 2018, exposure to second-hand marijuana smoke in homes has been steadily increasing. In response to this growing concern, a U of T Engineering lab group, led by Professor Arthur Chan (ChemE), is investigating this source of indoor air pollution.  “We began our research on tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is the psychoactive part of cannabis that causes intoxication, because when […]

Ariel Chan featured in U of T Engineering video series

March 30, 2023

In celebration of National Engineering Month, U of T Engineering ran a video series that highlights the journeys, inspirations, and motivations behind some of its professors, including Ariel Chan, an Assistant Professor, Teaching Stream from ChemE. Professor Chan teaches in the Unit Operations Lab and specializes in experiential learning and curriculum design. She uses immersive technology […]

Michael Sefton aims to eradicate diabetes

March 29, 2023

Type 1 diabetes, which afflicts roughly 8.4 million people worldwide, was almost invariably fatal before insulin was discovered in 1921. With injections of this metabolism-regulating hormone, type 1 diabetes has become a manageable condition. But it’s still life-altering. Michael Sefton, ScD ’74, wants to eradicate diabetes completely. “That is emerging as our big, audacious goal,” […]

Alumni making their mark: Carlos Fiel

March 27, 2023

Inkbox, a Toronto-based startup, is redefining the world of tattoos by providing people with a new avenue to display their individuality and creativity. The company’s plant-based, cruelty-free For Now Ink™ lasts 1-2 weeks on your skin and fades as your skin naturally regenerates. Inkbox’s clients get super realistic, commitment-free tattoos that are easy-to-apply. Carlos Fiel […]

Meet Aseem Partap Singh Gill (ChemE 2T2 + PEY)

March 27, 2023

Aseem Partap Singh Gill (ChemE 2T2 + PEY), an undergraduate student from the Department of Chemical Engineering & Applied Chemistry (ChemE) at the University of Toronto, has caught the attention of many with his innovative use of artificial intelligence (AI) in sports analytics. Aseem recently posted on his LinkedIn profile about his personal project that […]

From tires to brakes, U of T researchers tackle ‘non-tailpipe’ air pollution from vehicles

March 17, 2023

With the increasing popularity of electric vehicles (EVs), car-related air pollution will be less of a concern, right? Think again, say a group of University of Toronto researchers who are studying the effects of air pollution from brakes and tires. While the push to mandate EVs aims to reduce tailpipe emissions such as carbon dioxide — the […]

Understanding involuntary indoor THC exposure

March 15, 2023

Amirashkan Askari, a PhD student supervised by Professor Arthur Chan, has been Modeling the Fate and Involuntary Exposure to Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) Emitted from Indoor Cannabis Smoking. His research will soon be published in a special issue of Environmental Science: Atmospheres, which will be dedicated to indoor air quality studies. This journal is governed by the […]

Iron Ring 2023

March 9, 2023

On Saturday, March 4 our fourth-year students received their Iron Rings. Money raised through the ChemE GRADitude Campaign helped fund their celebrations that evening. A total of $2,639.40 was raised prior to the day, and an additional $1,465 was raised through an auction at the Iron Ring Party for a grand total of $4,104.40. Thank […]

BioZone alumni join the University of Waterloo as new faculty

February 23, 2023

In 2010, the Department of Chemical Engineering & Applied Chemistry at U of T introduced BioZone, an innovative multidisciplinary research centre that uses advanced biotechnology to address urgent society needs in energy, environment, and health. For over 20 years, the centre has been creating revolutionary science and technology, as well as training the next generation […]

Meet Sandra Odendahl (ChemE MASc 9T0)

February 23, 2023

On March 31, 2023, Sandra Odendahl (ChemE MASc 9T0) will be attending the 6th ChemE Exhibition & 37th Dinner to participate as a panelist for the event’s discussion on Envisioning the Future of Chemical Engineering Education. Sandra’s career highlights how a degree in chemical engineering from the University of Toronto can lead to many different […]

Four women engineering students on building a monument against sexism

February 17, 2023

On a dark evening in December 2022, members of the U of T Engineering community gathered in front of the Galbraith Building to unveil a student-built monument commemorating the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women.  Fourteen transparent figures stood on a wooden platform, each bearing the name of one of the 14 […]

How mentorship is inspiring the next generation of Black engineering researchers

February 17, 2023

D’Andre Wilson-Ihejirika (ChemE PhD candidate) helped create Engineering Graduate Connections, a program that promotes graduate research opportunities for underrepresented students. Last September, the group held its first event with a theme around building bridges between undergraduate and graduate students. The awareness session introduced students to pathways to research and included discussions on navigating imposter syndrome in […]

Researchers create novel BTEX-eating microbes

February 9, 2023

Postdoctoral fellow Courtney Toth and team have developed unique anaerobic cultures that degrade a toxic set of petroleum hydrocarbons known as BTEX – Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene, and Xylene. It’s no secret we are amid a growing pollution crisis. Anywhere that we produce, use, or store hazardous chemicals is at risk of contamination. Fortunately, nature has […]

Novel bio-based polymers highlighted in ScienceDirect

February 1, 2023

Mohammad Mahaninia started his PhD study at the Department of Chemical Engineering & Applied Chemistry under the supervision of Professor Ning Yan in 2021. His research focuses on the synthesis of bio-based polymers. These types of polymers are anticipated to have considerable applications in many fields (e.g., environmental science, 3-D printing) due to their tunable […]

Catching up with Peter Murphy

January 27, 2023

Peter Murphy (ChemE 1T5+PEY, MASc 1T9) has been an ambassador for the University of Toronto Department of Chemical Engineering & Applied Chemistry (ChemE) since his first year of studies. Throughout his undergraduate and graduate education, he took time out of his schedule (often on weekends) to present our department at recruitment events. Even now as […]

Alumni making their mark: Janani Vedanth

January 18, 2023

Janani Vedanth’s (ChemE 0T7) interest in chemical engineering was fostered from a young age, her father having been a vocal advocate for the profession as a sound career choice. Coming from a family steeped in STEM careers, she’d always had a strong interest in math and science. Vedanth chose to pursue her education in chemical […]

Meet our two new faculty members: Mohamad Moosavi and Nicole Weckman

January 11, 2023

A warm welcome to our two newest Assistant Professors who joined ChemE this month: Seyed Mohamad Moosavi and Nicole Weckman. Moosavi is a Principal Investigator for AI4ChemS group and Faculty Affiliate at the Vector Institute for Artificial Intelligence. Focusing on energy and porous materials, his work involves using machine learning, artificial intelligence, and molecular simulation to […]

ChemE Future Leader: Hazel Fricska

January 10, 2023

U of T has been repeatedly recognized as the best engineering school in Canada, a fact that leads many passionate and talented students like Hazel Fricska (ChemE 2T4 + PEY) to our community. “I felt it was the best institution for me to learn skills to take action and be directly involved in solving the […]