On the cover: Biomaterial breakthrough
Research led by Dr Hossein Heris of the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Dr Jamal Daoud of the Department of Biomedical Engineering is featured on the cover of the journal Advanced Healthcare Materials. Their article describes the successful adhesion of human fibroblast cells to a scaffold biomaterial composed of hyaluronic acid and gelatin composite microgels.
Mecheng students shine at AeroTech Conference
Mechanical Engineering majors Hussain Buxwala a
Quirks & Quarks features Bergthorson research
Don't miss the January 15, 2016, edition of CBC Radio's Quirks and Quarks to learn how Prof Jeff Bergthorson and colleagues are finding ways for energy to be stored and transported via iron and other metals, a novel and potentially important method for delivering fossil-fuel-free power.
Tips from a top student
Mechanical Engineering student, Da-Eun Kim, is one of five CEMF Engineering Ambassador Scholarship recipients this year. The scholarships, awarded by the Canadian Engineering Memorial Foundation, recognize the achievements and community engagement of top female engineering students in Canada. Ms Kim represents the Québec region. In the following Q&A, she shares more about her volunteer activities, Mecheng experience and plans for the future.
Inna Sharf to speak at CANARIE Summit
Mechnanical Engineering Professor Inna Sharf will speak at the 2015 CANARIE National Summit on September 23-24 in Ottawa.
A parade of honours
The 2015 Wighton Fellowship Award was awarded to Dr Amar Sabih for his exceptional and innovative contribution to the instruction of laboratory-based, undergraduate engineering courses in Canada. The fellowship is funded by a generous endowment from the late Dr J.L. Wighton, a professor with a commitment to the laboratory component of engineering curricula.
Michael Kokkolaras awarded tenure
Congratulations to Dr Michael Kokkolaras on being granted tenure! A member of McGill's research community since 2012, Dr Kokkolaras studies multidisciplinary optimization, simulation-based engineering design, uncertainty quantification, decomposition and coordination methods, modeling and validation, systems of systems, product families and optimization applications in engineering.
Mecheng alum featured in "McGill dans la ville"
Department of Mechanical Engineering alumnus Kieran Humphries is featured, along with electrical engineer Diego Mascarella, in the May 2015 edition of McGill's French-language publication McGill dans la ville. "Diego and Kieran are both young and bright McGill-trained research engineers," said Prof Benoit Boulet, who supervises their work on the e-drivetrain APC project, which engages industry partners such as Linamar, TM4, Infolytica and Purolator.
In memory of Prof Lucjan Kops
Professor of Mechanical Engineering Lucjan Kops died peacefully at his home on Tuesday, May 19, approximately one year after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. His friend and colleague Dr Helmi Attia was with Prof Kops at the time of his death. “He was in comfort and in the care of a doctor and nurse who were taking very good care of him,” Dr Attia said.
Microdevice papers gather accolades
Students Pengfei Song, Weize Zhang and Alexandre Sobolevski, under the supervision of Professor Xinyu Liu, won the Best Paper Award in the Microfluidics Symposium at the 2014 ASME IMECE conference. The team developed a microfluidic device for on-chip culture, chemical perfusion and phenotype identification of the nematode worm C. elegans, a promising development for worm-based, high-throughput chemical testing.
Museum time for the Lessard team
Musical instruments created by students Steven Phillips and Ajith Damodaran, under the supervision of Prof Larry Lessard, were displayed at the Design Museum in Ghent, Belgium, during the month of April 2015. An exhibition called “Kunststof Natuurlijk,” or “Synthetic by Nature,” showcased 50 objects made from flax, hemp, bamboo and other biocomposites.
New funding for biosensor research
Prof Xinyu Liu is one of 10 McGill researchers to receive a 2015 NSERC Strategic Project Grant.
Larry Lessard promoted to full professor
Congratulations to Dr Larry Lessard on his promotion from associate to full professor! A member of McGill's research community since 1989, Prof Lessard studies composite materials and their structures, with applications in fields as diverse as aerospace engineering, sporting equipment and musical instrument design, and robotics.
Leading the charge toward sustainability
Professor Jeffrey Bergthorson in the Department of Mechanical Engineering has been named the first Panda Faculty Scholar in Sustainable Engineering and Design at the Trottier Institute for Sustainability in Engineering and Design (TISED). Also recently appointed Associate Director of TISED, Prof Bergthorson began a 3-year term in both roles on January 1, 2015.