Dear faculty, staff, and students,
I am very pleased to announce the appointment of Professor Cathy Chin as the Associate Chair, Research, for a three-year term from July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2026.
Cathy joined the Department of Chemical Engineering & Applied Chemistry in 2011. She holds a Canada Research Chair (CRC) Tier II in Advanced Catalysis for Sustainable Chemistry. Cathy is a recipient of Alexander von Humboldt Fellowship (2018), Carl Friedrich von Siemens Fellowship (2018), Emerging Leader of Chemical Engineering Award (2017), Ontario Early Researcher Award (2014), and Imperial Oil University Research Award (2014). She has also won Bill Burgess Teacher of the Year Award (2015) for her outstanding undergraduate teaching. Cathy has trained 11 Ph.D. students, four M.A.Sc. students, two M.Eng. students, 13 Postdoctoral Fellows, nine Undergraduate Thesis students, 33 Undergraduate Research Assistants, and 15 Visiting Scholars. She published more than 70 peer reviewed papers, four book chapters, and has 26 patents or patent applications. She delivered over 110 invited talks and 48 oral presentations, including two plenary talks, 10 keynote speeches, two Gordon Conference lectures, three invited talks to catalysis club meetings in North America, and 47 departmental seminars. She holds several editorial and advisory board positions including Editor of Journal of Catalysis, Editorial Board Member of Applied Catalysis B: Environmental, Member of International Advisory Board of The Canadian Journal of Chemical Engineering, Member of Advisory Board of the Reaction Chemistry and Engineering, and Advisory Board Member of Chem Catalysis. In addition, she is Vice President of the Canadian Catalysis Society, Director at Large of the North American Catalysis Society, Chair of the North American Catalysis Society Meeting in 2027, Representative of Canada at the Board of International Catalysis Society and at the Ethic Committee of the 18th International Catalysis Society Meeting, and the academic advisor of the University of Toronto Chemical Vehicles (UTCV).
In her new role, Cathy will focus on supporting the Chair in developing and implementing strategic initiatives to advance research efficiency, productivity, and intensity of the Department, aligning with the U of T’s Institutional Strategic Research Plan; facilitating multi-researcher multi-disciplinary collaborative research initiatives in ChemE to better utilize our research space and facilities; fostering research partnership opportunities with the industry, government agencies, NGOs, and research institutions; cultivating/expanding collaboration with other units within FASE and across U of T; promoting the preparation of large research grants and contracts by ChemE colleagues; and providing research support to junior faculty members, among others.
Please join me in congratulating Cathy on her new appointment.
I also wish to take this opportunity to thank Professor Emma Master who served the Department as our Associate Chair, Research since 2020. Emma was instrumental in rebranding our research activities around ‘research themes’ and fostering collaborative research and supporting the transition of our research laboratories during the pandemic. In particular, Emma has initiated a series of activities to promote the professional network and career development of post-doctoral candidates of our Department. Please join me in thanking Emma and wishing her all the best as she will be taking on a new role as the BioZone Director.
Sincerely,
Ramin Farnood
Professor & Chair, Department of Chemical Engineering & Applied Chemistry