Faculty members in the Department of Chemical Engineering & Applied Chemistry frequently look for students to help out with research projects. These projects are suitable for a Fourth Year thesis (CHE499Y, or ESC499Y), a project for a Master of Engineering (MEng) degree, or a Summer Research project in the Summer Research Abroad program.
All faculty have research projects for students. Not all projects are listed below. You can contact faculty members directly to inquire about other possible projects or to propose your own project.
Project Descriptions and Contact Information
Air pollutant emissions from the oil sands and impact on the local First Nations community: Fort McKay
Faculty advisor: Professor Jeffrey Brook
The Canada-Alberta Oil Sands Monitoring Program (OSM) operates a heavily instrumented atmospheric monitoring site in Fort McKay, a First Nations community surrounded by the oil sands development. Many pollutants are being measured with high time resolution, including some measures in the vertical and space-based measurements from satellites. Hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides, fine particulate matter, dust and odours are notably critical air quality issues. A large, publicly-available dataset is available which represents an important opportunity to improve understanding of how the oil sands is impacting the community, its people and its environment, and to apply a range of data analysis techniques.
Research projects of interest will harness novel data mining techniques to learn more about what aspects of the oil sands activities are responsible, when and why they occur (e.g., meteorology) and potentially which industries are responsible.
Contact: Jeffrey Brook at jeff.brook@utoronto.ca
Analysis of liquid and solid samples from a pulp and paper mill
Looking for an MEng student to analyze liquid and solid samples from a pulp and paper mill, specifically focusing on wood extractives and sulfur compounds. The aim of this project is to uncover the underlying processes behind the formation of organic deposits within the black liquor evaporation system at a collaborating pulp and paper mill in New Brunswick. These deposits have consistently posed a challenge across multiple mills, leading to significant equipment downtime and revenue loss.
The chosen student will have the opportunity to visit the mill and gain insight into the operational procedures and machinery. Cutting-edge analysis techniques, such as Pyrolysis-GC/MS, LC/MS, ICP, and/or MALDI-TOF-MS, will be employed for the investigation. Analyses will be implemented by the student within our labs, or by other UofT labs. Furthermore, the student will be tasked with integrating the outcomes from all analyses into a cohesive understanding.
Knowledge about organic chemistry and experience with any of the aforementioned techniques is an asset but not a requirement. The ideal MEng candidate is meticulous and committed to producing repeatable and publishable data.
The project duration is flexible, but an immediate start date is preferred.
Contact: Torsten Meyer at torsten.meyer@utoronto.ca, and Nikolai DeMartini at nikolai.demartini@utoronto.ca
Applying machine learning to biomaterials design
Contact: Interested students should contact Professor Gu (f.gu@utoronto.ca) with a copy of their resume and unofficial copy of their grades.
Aspen Simulations
To do simulation on the scalability of several materials we have developed for organic solar cell applications and for applications within the dye and pigment space. You may be aware of Aspen simulation and why we do it to also look into things as an engineering perspective.
Contact: Professor Timothy P. Bender
Biochar as a tool for alleviating climate change
Trees are crucial to humankind's survival, releasing the oxygen we breathe, growing the fruits we eat, and supplying wood to build and warm our shelters. Heating wood at high temperatures with little or no oxygen creates wood biochar, a carbonaceous product. Wood biochar monoliths have a continuous carbon matrix and morphological features that resemble anatomical elements in a tree, including xylem and phloem, which transport water from the root and deliver sugars from leaves to individual cells. Structurally and chemically, monolithic wood biochar belongs to nanoporous carbons (NPCs) consisting of carbon nanotubes arrays and integrated graphene sheets. Researchers have extensively explored NPCs as functional materials for applications essential to sustainability, including electrical energy storage, water purification, and CO2 capture. However, the lack of scalable manufacturing technology continues to hinder the large-scale utilization of NPCs despite their demonstrated superiority in enhancing materials performance. Derived from abundant woody biomass with simple processes, wood biochar offers a new opportunity for overcoming this limitation. Focusing on electrical energy storage and water purification, the Green Technology Lab at the University of Toronto explores wood biochar’s potential in areas critical to sustainability and develops wood biochar into a greener, more cost-effective, and scalable nanoporous functional material.
Contact: Professor Charles Q. Jia at cq.jia@utoronto.ca
Posted: Fall 2023
Bouillon cube fortification
Bouillon cubes (soup or chicken cubes) - testing of iron and multi micronutrient premixes in fortifying bouillon cubes. In West Africa and Latin America the cubes are widely used, and are therefore good potential carriers of food fortificant. As the cubes contain some 40% salt, salt fortification technology may be applicable to the cubes.
Contact: Levente Diosady at l.diosady@utoronto.ca or Juveria Siddiqui juveriam.siddiqui@utoronto.ca
Posted: Fall 2023
Centre for Management of Technology and Entrepreneurship (CMTE) projects using machine learning and data science related to operations and finance with industry sponsors
Chemical Engineering Education: Chemical Engineering Curriculum Revitalization Project
The Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry is in the process of reviewing and renewing it's undergraduate curriculum. This project involves:
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- Completing a short review study on chemical engineering curriculum in North America. The focus will be looking at content and delivery and to learn about others recent attempts at curriculum modernization (frameworks used in their review and implementation)
- creating short surveys for students, staff, and faculty. Surveys will be develop in collaboration with the Department Curriculum Committee, Teaching Lab Committee and Jessie Richards, Curriculum Development Specialist in the vice-Provost Office.
Contact: Professor Jennifer Farmer at jennifer.farmer@utoronto.ca or Professor William Cluett at will.cluett@utoronto.ca
Comparing encapsulation processes by spray drying and for interface coagulation
The pharmaceutical and polymer industries developed a number of techniques for producing microcapsules containing active drugs or micronutrients. the student will review the literature of these technologies with a view to developing a technique for encapsulating iron in hot and cold beverages such as tea and fruit extracts, useful in International Development
Contact: Professor Levente Diosady at l.diosady@utoronto.ca
Posted: Fall 2023
Data-driven Genome-scale Models
Faculty advisor: Professor Mahadevan
Genome-scale models are organism-specific computational models that utilize genomic information to build constraint-based models informed by reaction stoichiometry. Our goal is to utilize data-driven methods, including data mining, optimization, and deep learning model predictions, to constraint the GEMs even further, producing more accurate and representative models.
This project is great for students interested in working at multiple scales of coding expertise (starting from beginner Python skills and wanting to learn more about dealing with large data structures and models, to someone who has a lot of deep learning experience and is interested in applying those skills in a biological context).
Contact: Rana Ahmed Barghout at rana.barghout@mail.utoronto.ca
Posted: Fall 2023
Data Science and Analytics in Engineering Education I
Data science and AI technologies have enabled educators to make data-driven decisions on policy and best practices. This MEng project is aimed to develop a supervised machine learning algorithm and apply data mining techniques, including descriptive statistics, to discover factors impacting students’ academic performance.
Contact: Professor Ariel Chan ariel.chen@utoronto.ca
Posted: Fall 2023
Data Science and Analytics in Engineering Education II
The “Leaky Pipeline” Effect in Higher Education: Attrition in Underrepresented Graduate Students in the STEM field
The term “leaky pipeline” refers to a phenomenon where there is a disproportionate attrition, of women (including minority women) as they progress in their careers in fields such as Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). Historically, women are under-represented in doctoral programs and faculty positions, and the disparity becomes even more obvious at higher-level faculty positions. Reportedly, this trend is more pronounced in STEM fields. The Canadian Science Policy Centre (CSPC) reported in May 2022 that women only represent 12% of full-time STEM professorships in Canada and an even smaller percentage are found at higher-level faculty positions. Blacks and other minority races are also disproportionately underrepresented in higher-level positions in STEM academia. In a previous study by Figueiredo (2023) in which the intersectionality of being female and belonging to the Black or other minority races was considered, an even greater disparity was observed as progress was made along the academic pipeline.
This study aims to identify the key stressors that might contribute to the “leaky pipeline” effect for first-generation female immigrant doctoral students who self-identify as black or other ethnic minority groups as they progress in their academic careers. The effect of different stressors on the willingness to continue in academia will be evaluated using a mixed-method research, mata-analysis approach, interviews and surveys. The project will also deploy data analytics approaches to process the large dataset and find unique patterns in this study.
Contact: Professor Ariel Chan ariel.chen@utoronto.ca
Posted: Fall 2023
Design of novel photocatalytic reactors
The world is currently facing a host of challenges as we are in the search of sustainable energy solutions. The conversion of biomass into valuable products is a promising approach to address this challenge. This is where the photocatalytic biomass conversion in supercritical CO2 solvent is of interest. This cutting-edge approach allows for the sustainable transformation of biomass feedstocks into valuable chemicals, fuels, and energy carriers. The utilization of supercritical CO2 as a solvent offers unique advantages, including its tunable properties, environmentally friendly nature, and ability to enhance reaction rates and selectivity.
The prospective student will be responsible for developing novel photoreactors, preparing photocatalytic nanomaterials and their characterization, performing reactions, analyzing products using GC-FID, acquiring publication worthy data, and writing technical reports/manuscripts for peer-reviewed publications.
Contact: Professor Ramin Farnood at ramin.farnood@utoronto.ca
Posted: Fall 2023
Development of method for field testing for folic acid in salt
There is need for folic acid fortification of salt due to very high prevalence of infant mortality in Ethiopia and some Central American countries. we have a technique for adding the folic, but need a way of confirming its presence in the field - qualitatively, but preferably quantitatively.
Contact: Professor Levente Diosady at l.diosady@utoronto.ca
Posted: Fall 2023
Development of method for field testing for iodine in salt
Salt iodization programs are now in place in some 190 countries. UNICEF needs a robust technique for field testing the efficiency of salt iodization programs. We will define a simple, inexpensive technique that can reliably estimate iodine content of salt without electronic instrumentation. We will work with one of our grads who is a senior scientist at UNICEF and one of our LLE speakers this year.
Contact: Professor Levente Diosady at l.diosady@utoronto.ca
Development of Polymer Composites for Carbon Capture and Storage Technologies
Project Description:
The global shift toward climate solutions has positioned Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) as a critical technology for reducing industrial CO₂ emissions. Polymer composites, with their lightweight nature, corrosion resistance, and design flexibility, are promising candidates for use in CCS infrastructure - including pipelines, liners, and sealing systems. This project focuses on the design, processing, and evaluation of advanced polymer composite materials specifically tailored for CCS technologies. The work will involve both material innovation and hands-on experimentation to understand how composite structures can be optimized for performance in CCS-relevant environments. As the successful candidate, you will gain experience with:
- Design of Experiments (DoE) to guide material formulation
- Compounding and mixing using twin-screw compounder
- Injection and compression molding for fabricating composite samples
- Characterization techniques including:
- Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC)
- Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA)
- Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM)
- Rheological and mechanical testing, including Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA)
- Gas permeation testing under controlled conditions to simulate CCS applications
This project offers a unique opportunity to contribute to sustainable materials development in support of clean energy and emission-reduction technologies, which will help you build a strong foundation in polymer processing, materials characterization, and applications in the energy sector.
Contact: Professor Hani Naguib (hani.naguib@utoronto.ca)
Posted: March 2025
Engineering Education Research
Collaborative Specialisation in Engineering Education
The following opportunities are for BASc and MEng students:
- Student perspectives on remote learning
- Data Mining of student educational experience
- Development of instructional videos and other digital learning objects
- Development on-line instructional modules
For more information about any of these projects, please contact Greg Evans at greg.evans@utoronto.ca.
Engineering of organic solar cells
Engineering of organic solar cells. Also potentially taking the organic solar cells onto the roof of the Wallberg Building.
Contact: Professor Timothy P. Bender
Extraction of Rare Earth Elements from Ionic Clays
Faculty advisor: Professor Vladimiros Papangelakis
Aqueous Process Engineering and Chemistry Group
Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry
Rare earth elements (REE) are critical commodities with high accessibility risk due to monopolistic practices of suppliers and increased demand. The development of green and hi-tech applications such as clean energy and advanced catalysis created ongoing requirements for REE in the international markets, with an emphasis on identifying new resources to ensure adequate supply and access.
The present project investigates the use of ionic clay ores as an economical source for REE. Rare earth ions are physically adsorbed on clay minerals, with concentrations ranging from 0.05 to 0.5 wt.%, and can be easily recovered under mild, ambient conditions via ion-exchange leaching with monovalent salt solutions (such as ammonium sulphate or sodium chloride). This project is of high interest for the mining industry, as it addresses the recovery aspect of REE from ores, as well as the processing industry, as it provides an additional REE supply alternative.
A standardized desorption procedure will be established to systematically investigate the influence of leaching conditions such as lixiviant type, concentration and pH on desorption kinetics and REE extraction levels, aiming to identify the optimum conditions that achieve maximum REE recovery.
The MEng student will be tasked with performing the leaching experiments under various conditions and have the opportunity to be trained in Inductively-Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES) analytical technique. Furthermore, the student will be tasked with integrating the outcomes from all analyses into a cohesive understanding, by processing and plotting data, discussing/comparing trends and findings, and preparing presentations. The prospective student will work closely with Dr. Georgiana Moldoveanu, who will provide training and ongoing support.
Knowledge about aqueous chemistry and previous laboratory experience are an asset but not a requirement. The ideal MEng candidate is meticulous and committed to producing repeatable and publishable data. The project is going, so the student is welcomed to join at the moment
Contacts:
Prof. Vladimiros Papangelakis: vladimiros.papangelakis@utoronto.ca
Dr. Georgiana Moldoveanu: georgiana.moldoveanu@utoronto.ca
Posted: Fall 2023
Feasibility Study of Producing In-House Biodiesel to Supply Fuel on Campus
Faculty advisor: Daniela Galatro
In this feasibility study, we will perform a techno-economic evaluation of existing facilities (ChemEng labs) and/or potential modular plants, considering different raw material sources, blending and standalone options to produce in-house biodiesel for transportation purposes. This project includes elaborating process engineering design deliverables (e.g., equipment sizing, process flow diagram, process simulation, utility analysis), cost analysis, and vendor selection.
Requirements: Knowledge of process engineering/design and simulation (Aspen Plus or equivalent).
Contact: Daniel Galatro at daniela.galatro@utoronto.ca
Generative Modeling for Enzyme Design
Faculty advisor: Professor Mahadevan
In this project, we utilize deep learning generative models (diffusion-based and transformer models) to generate novel enzyme sequences informed by reaction promiscuity. This project utilizes large protein-reaction datasets for this task and looks at benchmarking the developed deep learning models against MCMC-based methods for new sequence generation.
Contact: Rana Ahmed Barghout at rana.barghout@mail.utoronto.ca
Posted: Fall 2023
Green and solvent free polymeric membrane fabrication for harsh chemical separation settings
Faculty advisor: Professor Ramin Farnood
Ultrafiltration techniques (UF) play a crucial role in various industries such as water and wastewater treatment, dairy, and food processing. However, the conventional approach to manufacturing ultrafiltration membranes through phase inversion techniques has proven unsustainable due to the use of toxic solvents like DMF and NMP, leading to the generation of organic wastewater.
In response to these challenges, membrane research is now trending towards the development of solvent-free membranes fabrication. These innovative membranes utilize aqueous soluble polymers that solidify upon a chemical trigger, significantly reducing the environmental impact by eliminating the need for toxic organic solvents.
The primary objective of this research project is to create a green phase inversion fluoropolymer membrane with outstanding flux rates and selectivity. Through subsequent post-modification processes, the aim is to produce a polymeric membrane that is not only chemically and thermally stable but also capable of withstanding severe chemical separation environments.
Students participating in this project will acquire expertise in various areas, including membrane fabrication, surface and material characterization using techniques such as SEM and EDS, tensile testing, and standard separation testing. These skills are essential for contributing to advancements in membrane technology while aligning with sustainable and environmentally friendly practices.
Contact: Yaozhong Zhang at yaozhong.zhang@mail.utoronto.ca
Posted: Fall 2023
Green production of fine chemicals from renewable resources using photocatalysis
Can biochar, a type of carbon produced by the pyrolysis of biomass, be used for more than just adsorption? Inspired by this question, our lab has recently reported that acid modification of biochar can produce sustainable solid-acid catalysts that can activate hydrogen peroxide under visible light radiation. Farnood’s lab is currently looking for a highly motivated MEng student to test the applicability of our phosphoric acid-modified biochar as catalysts for (1) treating emerging contaminants in wastewaters, and (2) lignin depolymerization into valuable dicarboxylic acids.
The prospective student will be responsible for performing anoxic pyrolysis of biomass, acid treatment of carbon samples, photo-Fenton studies, UHPLC analysis with MS, spectrophotometry, analyzing and interpreting NMR/EPR data.
Previous hands-on experience with any of the aforementioned techniques and knowledge of advanced oxidation processes is an asset but not a requirement.
Contact: Professor Ramin Farnood at ramin.farnood@utoronto.ca
Posted: Fall 2023
Intelligent Design of Biomaterials for Mucoadhesion
We are looking for an MENG student to work in Professor Gu’s group on a project briefly described below.
The student will work in Professor Gu's lab on this project will work directly with a PhD student (Jeff Watchorn).
The interactions between materials and proteins are fundamental to the biological fate of bio-interfacting materials yet these interactions are not well understood. Our work focusses on understanding these interactions by mapping them with atomic precision leveraged by nuclear magnetic resonance. These maps are then used to elucidate the underlying structure-activity relationship that governs their biological fate. We are seeking a flexible M.Eng student with interests in both wet lab and simulations experience to prepare NMR samples as well as to work on refining our machine learning models.
Contact: Interested students should contact Professor Gu (f.gu@utoronto.ca) with a copy of their resume and unofficial copy of their grades.
Making of proteins for diabetes prevention from granado beans
Granado beans grown in Chile may have an ability to prevent diabetes. We will work with a colleague who was my post doctoral fellow, in refining technology to isolate proteins from Granado beans, based on ultrafiltration.
Contact: Professor Levente Diosady at l.diosady@utoronto.ca
Posted: Fall 2023
MEng Student Researcher - Literature Review for Selenium Removal Cost Analysis
Faculty advisor: Professor Frank Gu
Overview:
We are seeking a highly motivated and detail-oriented Meng Student Researcher to assist in conducting a comprehensive literature review aimed at gathering cost analysis data related to selenium removal from water treatment processes (both active and passive treatment). This position will play a pivotal role in supporting our ongoing research efforts to assess the economic feasibility of various selenium removal technologies.
Key Responsibilities:
Literature Review: Conduct a systematic and thorough review of scientific literature, academic journals, research papers, reports, and relevant publications to gather data on the costs associated with selenium removal from water sources.
Data Extraction: Extract and compile cost-related information from identified sources, including capital costs, operational expenses, maintenance costs, and any other pertinent economic data.
Data Synthesis: Organize and summarize the collected data in a clear and structured manner. Create comprehensive databases or spreadsheets to facilitate data analysis.
Quality Assurance: Ensure the accuracy and reliability of the gathered information by critically evaluating the sources and methodologies used in the original studies.
Documentation: Maintain detailed records of all information sources, data extraction processes, and any assumptions or limitations associated with the gathered data.
Report Preparation: Collaborate with the research team to prepare reports or presentations summarizing the findings of the literature review, emphasizing cost-related aspects.
Data Analysis: Support data analysis efforts by assisting in the interpretation of cost data and contributing to discussions regarding the economic viability of different selenium removal methods.
Team Collaboration: Work closely with senior researchers and fellow team members to align the literature review with the broader research objectives and provide input into research strategies.
Qualifications:
- Strong research and literature review skills, with the ability to critically assess scientific literature.
- Familiarity with water treatment processes, environmental science, and chemistry.
- Proficiency in data extraction, organization, and analysis.
- Excellent attention to detail and ability to work independently.
- Effective communication skills, both written and verbal.
- Familiarity with active and passive water treatment technologies, specifically nanofiltration, reverse osmosis, electrodialysis, electrocoagulation, photocatalysis, and saturated rock fill is a plus.
Contact: Professor Frank Gu at f.gu@utoronto.ca
Posted: Fall 2023
Metabolic Engineering for Bio-Nylon Production
Faculty advisor: Professor Radhakrishnan Mahadevan
Nylon is an essential component of modern life and is made from a polymer of adipic acid and hexamethylenediamine. Current methods of production are accompanied by a significant release of greenhouse gases (such as N2O) and are energy intensive. Hence, there is significant interest in developing bioprocesses for the production of nylon.
As part of this project, the objective will be to engineer yeast strains for improved adipic acid production, tolerance, and high growth rates. The project will involve a combination of modeling and experimental methods to accomplish this goal. The successful candidate will learn a variety of approaches and tools from systems biology and synthetic biology including CRISPR-Cas based manipulation of the genome, metabolomics characterization and other assays including liquid chromatography, mass spectrometry and will also learn fermentation techniques.
Pre-requisites: Basic knowledge of biochemistry and biochemical engineering; Knowledge of molecular biology tools will be a plus.
Contact: Radhakrishnan Mahadevan at krishna.mahadevan@utoronto.ca
Microencapsulation of micronutrients for salt fortification
Salt is one of the very few staple foods that is universally consumed at a predictable rate. Building on our long experience of double fortification of salt with iron and iodine, we will test salt fortified with iron and a number of B vitamins tailored to specific regions with multiple micronutrient deficiencies. We can have 4 projects:
- Adding vitamin A to salt
- Microencapsulating ferrous sulphate by spray drying then agglomerating to form salt grain sized premix particles;
- Microencapsuliating iron and B vitamins by extrusion followed by coating
- Developing a protocol to test the quality of encapsulation in iron premixes
Contact: Professor Levente Diosady at l.diosady@utoronto.ca
Posted: Fall 2023
Microencapsulation of micronutrients for tea fortification
Tea is widely consumed in South and East Asia. We will develop techniques of adding iron to tea by encapsulation to prevent the formation of off-colours and flavours that would form iron - tea polyphenol complexes.
Contact: Professor Levente Diosady at l.diosady@utoronto.ca
Posted: Fall 2023
Modelling carbon stocks using machine learning techniques
Carbon stocks (CS) intend to quantify the amount of carbon stored/sequestered in various systems or reservoirs. Machine learning models can address the modelling complexity, enhancing the accuracy of CS predictions.
This project aims (i) to perform a literature-based comparison of the existing machine learning models used to predict carbon stocks, (ii) to analyze existing datasets in terms of spatial resolution, layers, temporal coverage, and sources, (iii) set the basis for a common modelling framework, and (iv) build a preliminary carbon stocks prediction model using machine learning.
Prerequisites: Knowledge of data analysis/machine learning, and software such as R or Python.
Contact: Daniela Galatro at daniela.galatro@utoronto.ca
Posted: Fall 2024
Multifunctional sensors array for smart skin applications
Human skin is the largest sensory organ in our bodies allowing us to safely maneuver within our surrounding environment. This physical barrier which enables us to interact with our physical world comprises several sense receptors through which information from a physical contact transduces into electrical signals. An artificial skin, also referred to as smart skin or electronic skin (e-skin), with human-like sensory capabilities can make a significant impact on the autonomous artificial intelligence as well as smart wearables. This can be achieved by providing a sensory perception even better than their tradional counterparts. In addition to force sensing as the primary function of human skin, other functionalities such as mechanical/electrical/thermal along with flexibility/stretchability are of great importance to be considered in an e-skin. The project will investigate the design and fabrication of a pressure sensor mimicking the main characteristics of natural skin, potential of using conducting and nanomaterials as piezoresistive sensors for electronic skin applications.
Duration: 2 to 3 terms
Contact: Professor Hani Naguib hani.naguib@utoronto.ca
Novel Lithium-Ion Battery Components for Enhanced Performance and Safety
Research Area: Advanced Battery Materials, Material Science, Energy Storage Technologies
Project Description:
Interested in taking novel materials design all the way through synthesis, characterization, and application testing? The Toronto Smart Materials & Structures (TSMART) lab is seeking motivated students to join our exciting research on novel lithium-ion battery components. Our focus is on designing and optimizing new cathodes, anodes, and separators to enhance battery performance (such as energy density, cycle life) and safety.
As a member of our team, you will engage in hands-on experimental work, including discovering and screening new materials, developing scalable fabrication methods, and studying fundamental principles. This is a unique opportunity to collaborate with an interdisciplinary team, integrating expertise from material science, chemical engineering, and mechanical engineering. There is also great potential to contribute to journal publications and patent developments.
Preferred Qualifications and Attributes:
- Knowledge of electrochemistry and chemical synthesis/handling.
- Experience with circuitry and prototyping (computer-aided design and modeling is advantageous).
- Excellent technical writing and communication skills.
- Ability to work independently and as part of a collaborative research team.
- Curious, committed, and self-motivated
If you are ready to take on this challenge and contribute to developing next-generation battery technology, we highly encourage you to apply.
How to Apply
Interested candidates should submit the following documents, in a single file, to Prof. Hani Naguib (naguib@mie.utoronto.ca):
- A cover letter outlining your interest in the position and relevant experience.
- A current resume or CV.
- Up-to-date transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate studies.
We look forward to receiving your application and exploring the possibility of working together on this innovative project.
Posted: Fall 2024
Phosphorous in the Causticization Plant of Pulp Mills – Kinetic and Equilibrium Studies
Faculty advisor: Professor Nikolai DeMartini
Phosphorous enters pulps mills with the wood used in pulping and with biofuels burned in lime kilns. We are interested in the kinetics and equilibrium of phosphorous uptake by lime during slaking and causticizing reactions. This work will involve carrying out slaking and causticizing experiments under different conditions and analyzing both the solid and liquid products. An important aspect of this work will be solid phase identification using a variety of analytical methods including XRD, ICP and XPF which you will be trained to use. Additionally, the student will work with a research assistant (Maryam Mousavi). This work is important to the increased utilization of biofuels in lime kilns, the main source of fossil CO2 in the industry. It is also important as we attempt to find ways to recover P from the recovery cycle in pulp mills.
Please contact Professor DeMartini (Nikolai.DeMartini@utoronto.ca) with a copy of you resume and unofficial copy of your grades if you are interested in this opportunity.
Plastic waste and biowaste pyrolysis
Faculty advisors: Professor Donald Kirk
The world is facing a number of challenges in the sustainable energy field. Managing GHG emissions as well as wastes are often at odds. A belated realization that plastics do not degrade easily has added to the waste challenges. It is clear that some form of permanent sequestration of carbon is needed to rebalance CO2 emissions with CO2 bioabsorption. The research is focused on conversion of wastes containing sufficient carbon content to produce sequestrable char as a valuable soil amendment and eliminate the production of CO2 and CH4. Biowastes such as sewage sludge, have a limited lifespan in soil or landfills and hence returns to the carbon cycle. Non-recyclable plastics have a longer degradation time but it is clear that degradation producing micro and nano particulates causes global contamination with uncertain consequences. Therefore the conversion of these wastes to char which can be used to enhance crop growth, prevent fertilizer runoff, retain moisture and provide micronutrients for restoring degraded lands is desperately needed.
The research on conversion of some biowastes to char has been completed and demonstrated on a commercial scale in Ontario. More biowastes still need to be studied. Research on conversion of plastic wastes has just been started.
Contact: Donald Kirk at don.kirk@utoronto.ca
Project PS002-2022: Modelling and Simulation of Frosting Behaviour in Contact Ambient Air Vaporizers
The main objective of this project is to build a numerical model in MATLAB to predict the thermal performance of a direct-contact ambient air vaporizer for cryogenic fluids. This model will be validated with commercial vaporizers data.
Requirements: Knowledge in process engineering, heat transfer, and MATLAB. Knowledge in Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) would be a plus.
Contact: Daniela Galatro daniela.galatro@utoronto.ca
Projects in Air Pollution, Health and Climate
Faculty advisor: Professor Greg Evans
Southern Ontario Centre for Atmospheric Aerosol Research (SOCAAR)
The following opportunities are for BASc and MEng students:
- Measurement of air pollutant exposure in micro-environments
- Statistical mining of air pollution data
- Development and application of inexpensive sensors for smart cities
- Studies of traffic related air pollution
- Occupational exposure to air pollutants
Contact: Greg Evans at greg.evans@utoronto.ca
Projects in Food Engineering
Faculty advisors: Professor Levente Diosady and Dr. Juveria Siddiqui
The Food Engineering Research Group at the Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry performs research on food fortification technologies. Double Fortified Salt (DFS) technology of adding iron and iodine to salt was developed at the Food Engineering Lab, UofT. This Double Fortified Salt aims to reduce anemia which is a major contributing factor to the 200,000 annual maternal deaths and more than one million annual infant and neonatal deaths globally. DFS technology is now pilot tested in India and is reaching more than 60 million people.
The following opportunities are for MEng students:
Iron Fortification: Approximately 2 billion people are iron deficient worldwide. This is best addressed through food fortification, which is transparent to the consumer. Fortification requires a carrier that is universally and uniformly consumed by the target population. For poor rural consumers in South Asia salt and tea are the most promising carriers. Unfortunately, both salt and iron salts are reactive, and the technical challenge is to maintain the bioactivity of the added micronutrients.
This project seeks to develop appropriate technology for adding iron and other micronutrients to either tea or salt.
Mustard Protein Processing: Mustard is a drought tolerant Canadian crop now used for condiments. Its protein content is well balanced and could be a useful food ingredient replacing soy proteins in manufactured food products. The oil is not allowed in food in Canada, but is a potential fuel feedstock.
This project seeks to further develop processes to simultaneously recover food proteins and biodiesel or green diesel from mustard seed.
Work Load: Both projects entail laboratory work in 5-6 hour experiments for 5-6 months.
Contact: Levente Diosady at l.diosady@utoronto.ca or 416-978-4137 and Juveria Siddiqui at juveria.siddiqui@utoronto.ca or 416-978-5231.
Projects in the Green Technologies Lab
Faculty advisor: Professor Charles Jia
The following opportunities are for BASc and MEng students:
- Microwave-assisted Combined Carbonization and Activation of Lignocellulosic Biomass
- Measurement of Conductivity of Porous Carbon Film for Electrode in Super-capacitor
- Targeted Activation of Carbon from Natural Sources for Sub-nano Porosity
- Recovery of Vanadium from Oil-sand Fluid Coke
- Temperature Effect on Sulphurdization of Carbon for Enhanced Hg Adsorption
- Visualization and Elucidation of Hierarchical Porous Structure of Carbonaceous Materials from Lignocellulosic Biomass
Contact: Charles Jia at cq.jia@utoronto.ca or 416-946-3097.
Protein Sequence Functional Inference
Faculty advisor: Professor Mahadevan
Machine learning models have recently been used for functional prediction tasks in the space of protein engineering and modeling. In this project, we explore several machine learning and deep learning techniques for processing protein sequence information in order to obtain state-of-the-art sequence-to-function protein prediction models. This project is suitable for someone with machine learning experience and looking to explore ML applications to biology.
Contact: Rana Ahmed Barghout at rana.barghout@mail.utoronto.ca
Posted: Fall 2023
Sample Analysis and Mill Balances For Mill Sampling Campaign
We are looking for an MENG student to work in Professor DeMartini’s group on a project briefly described below.
The student will work in Professor DeMartini’s lab on this project will work directly with a MASc student (Adam Rogerson).
A sampling campaign will be carried out at a Canadian pulp mill in September. The MENG student will help analyze the samples and perform a steady state mass balance to help correct flows measured at the mill. This is part of a larger dynamic modeling project and these results will be used to help confirm the dynamic model of the mill.
Pulp mill samples will include wood chips, white liquor, pulp, black liquor, salt cake, recovery boiler ash, green liquor, dregs, and lime. Analysis techniques range from inductively coupled plasma – optical emission spectrometry, ion chromatography, bomb calorimetry, auto-titration, total organic carbon analyzer, organic elemental analyzer, auto diluter, and dry solids drying. In-person lab training will be provided on all the required analytical techniques.
Previous lab experience with any of the aforementioned techniques and knowledge of the kraft chemical recovery cycle is an asset but not a requirement. The ideal MEng candidate is meticulous, willing to capitalize on mistakes, committed to producing repeatable and publishable data, and will take personal responsibility to maintain a clean lab space.
Contact: Interested students should contact Professor DeMartini (Nikolai.DeMartini@utoronto.ca) with a copy of their resume and unofficial copy of their grades.
Scale up of a set of materials we developed in the dye and pigment space
Solubility studies for P in the recaust cycle of kraft pulp mills
We are looking for an MENG student to work in Professor DeMartini’s group on a project briefly described below.
The student will work in Professor DeMartini’s lab on the Phosphorus project and will work directly with a PhD student (Maryam Mousavi).
The project will involve conducting solubility experiments for P compounds using alkaline mill solutions, lime (CaO) and lime mud (CaCO3). Different analytical methods such as ICP, IC and XRD which all need a short training for the MEng student will be used. This project is in the experimental phase now and the MEng student can help with the new set of experiments. Another aspect of the project is to learn different preparation methods for the ICP analysis of solutions and solids. The prospective students will use acid digestion on the samples prior to ICP.
The student will be involved in running experiments and analyzing the results as well as conducting a literature review. This will help us to have a better understanding about phosphorus behavior in the chemical recovery cycle of pulp mills and the potential to recover the P from kraft pulp mills. The student will participate in our lab group meetings and have the opportunity to report to our industrial partners.
Contact: Interested students should contact Professor DeMartini (Nikolai.DeMartini@utoronto.ca) with a copy of their resume and unofficial copy of their grades.
Soy Stearin replacement
Soy stearin replacement in micronutrient premix coatings. Although soy stearin is a stable coating, it can be broken down under certain conditions, releasing the iron core of added premix particles, resulting in the loss of other micronutrients, as well as resulting in unsightly dark spots in the food
Contact: Levente Diosady at l.diosady@utoronto.ca or Juveria Siddiqui juveriam.siddiqui@utoronto.ca
Posted: Fall 2023
Stability of Added Vitamins During Food Preparation
To combat birth defects and maternal mortality, iron and B vitamins can be added to salt. However, it is unknown, whether the added vitamins survive during traditional cooking. We will test the effect of cooking, frying and baking on the retention of B vitamins added through quadruple fortified salt. Analytical techniques including HPLC, ICP and wet chemical methods will be used. The candidate will work directly with a post doctoral fellow and/or senior doctorate students.
Contact: Juveria Siddiqui juveriam.siddiqui@utoronto.ca or Levente Diosady l.diosady@utoronto.ca
Posted: Fall 2023
TiO2 replacement as colour masking agent
Titanium dioxide replacement as colour masking agent in micronutrient premixes for salt. Titanium dioxide is used as a whitening agent in many foods and drugs. The EU banned titanium dioxide nanoparticles, and it is prudent to look for an alternative before TiO2 is banned widely. We will test a number of coatings for colour and stability.
Contact: Juveria Siddiqui juveriam.siddiqui@utoronto.ca or Levente Diosady l.diosady@utoronto.ca
Posted: Fall 2023
Using growth conditions to control the production of valuable products from algae
We are seeking a proactive, rigorous, and highly independent Master of Engineering Student to contribute to a project that involves using growth conditions to control the production of valuable products from algae.
The selected Student will work with Dr. Sofia Bonilla and others in the research group led by Prof. Grant Allen. The objective of this M. Eng. project is to develop a lab-scale cultivation process for the optimized production of proteins and specific amino acid profiles from red algae. The Student will help our group to gain a better understanding of growth kinetics and product yields of red algae under different salinities.
Daily activities include sampling and testing algal biomass for protein and amino acid quantification. In addition to experiments, the candidate will be continuously reviewing and summarizing literature. Preferred experience includes laboratory work cultivating, processing, and analyzing biomass. We are looking for a Student to start working on this project immediately.
Contact: Dr. Sophia Bonilla (sofia.bonillatobar@mail.utoronto.ca)
Wastewater-based surveillance for emerging or seasonal pathogens
This research is part of the wastewater surveillance program initiated by Ontario Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) to monitor SARS-COV-2, RSV, and influenza in wastewater samples collected in Ontario treatment plants.
Wastewater samples are transported to the U of Toronto lab where they are processed to extract RNA and detect respiratory viruses in the samples using PCR. The data are reported as virus gene copies per mL of wastewater.
Objectives for M.Eng Student:
- Collate and organize large data sets containing wastewater concentrations of respiratory viruses collected over time from three treatment plants in the Toronto area.
- Review quality of data and metadata; correct as necessary.
- Perform statistical and visualization analyses to determine if wastewater monitoring can be an effective early warning system.
- Establish fundamental workflow for data analysis for other wastewater pathogens monitored in the future.
- Understanding the importance of standardized materials in cross-lab comparisons of virus loads in wastewater
- Learn the workflow (wet lab and data analysis) for wastewater surveillance; participate as needed in sample analysis (wet lab work ~2 hours per week)
Requirements and Interests:
- Fluent usage of Excel data analysis and graphical tools.
- Experience coding in R, Python or other data analysis pipelines is an asset (or willingness to self-teach).
- Good communication skills and comfortable working in a team.
- Interested in participating in weekly wet lab work (~2 hours per week).
- Interested in learning various biomolecular platforms: robotic extraction, robotic plate loader, qPCR, as well as the state-of-the-art gene quantification system: the 5-channel digital PCR machine.
- Interested in learning about public health data that is closely related to our daily lives.
Further information:
Contact: Elizabeth Edwards Elizabeth.edwards@utoronto.ca and Ivy Yang minqing.yang@utoronto.ca
Posted: Fall 2023