Program

Faculty of Engineering Graduate Research Symposium 2026

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Invite code: FEGRS-2026UA

FEGRS 2026 Schedule

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Download the schedules for oral and poster presentations, as well as the full schedule (PDF).

Keynote Speakers

Dr. Bhushan Gopaluni

Professor, Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of British Columbia

Bhushan Gopaluni is a professor in the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering and a Vice-Provost & Associate Vice-President at the University of British Columbia. He was previously an Associate Dean in the Faculty of Applied Science and an Associate Head in the Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering. He is also an associate faculty in the Institute of Applied Mathematics, the Institute for Computing, Information and Cognitive Systems, Pulp and Paper Center and the Clean Energy Research Center. He was the Elizabeth and Leslie Gould Teaching Professor from 2014 to 2017. He is currently an associate editor for the Journal of Process Control, Control Engineering Practice and IEEE Transactions on Cybernetics. He was previously an associate editor for The Journal of Franklin Institute and Results in Control and Optimization. He held visiting positions at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Uppsala University.

Bhushan received a Ph.D. from the University of Alberta in 2003 and a Bachelor of Technology from the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, in 1997, both in the field of chemical engineering. From 2003 to 2005, he worked as an engineering consultant at Matrikon Inc. (now Honeywell Process Solutions), during which he designed and commissioned multivariable controllers in British Columbia’s forest bio-products industry and implemented numerous controller performance monitoring projects in the Oil & Gas and other chemical and pharmaceutical industries. He is the recipient of the Killam Teaching Prize and the Dean’s service medal from the University of British Columbia and D. G. Fisher Award in Process Control from the Canadian Society for Chemical Engineers and Drishti Award in Science & Technology. He is a Fellow of Canadian Academy of Engineering. 

Dr. Jillian Buriak 

Professor, Chemistry, University of Alberta

Prof. Jillian M. Buriak is Executive Editor at ACS Nano, and Emeritus Professor at the University of Alberta. First, the super old stuff: She graduated with an A.B. from Harvard University in 1990, and a Ph.D. in 1995 from the Université de Strasbourg/Université Louis Pasteur in France, and was an NSERC post-doctoral fellow at The Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, California from 1995-1997. She started her independent career at Purdue University as an Assistant Professor of Chemistry in 1997 and was promoted to Associate Professor with tenure in 2001. In 2003, she moved back to Canada, to the University of Alberta and NRC-NINT in Canada as a Professor of Chemistry and Canada Research Chair. During her time as a researcher/academic, Buriak has also engaged with scientific research as an editor for Science, and two ACS Publications journals, and has seen many changes over the years first-hand - from the end of paper journals, to online-only publications, to open access, and now the widespread use of AI. She was on the Board of Reviewing Editors for Science from 2004-2009, was an Associate Editor for ACS Nano from 2009-2013, and from 2014-2020 was the Editor-in-Chief of the ACS journal Chemistry of Materials. In July of 2020, she rejoined ACS Nano as Executive Editor (to present). She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (UK), the Royal Society of Canada, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Dr. Vivian Mushahwar

Professor, Medicine, University of Alberta

Dr. Vivian K Mushahwar is a Professor of Medicine and Biomedical Engineering at the University of Alberta and Canada Research Chair (Tier 1) in Functional Restoration. She is also the Director of the Institute for Smart Augmentative and Restorative Technologies and Health Innovations (iSMART) and its business arm, Smart Technology (ST) Innovations. She is a Fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering and a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences. Her work focuses on developing intelligent wearable and implantable neuromodulation devices that restore mobility and prevent secondary complications. She also focuses on developing activity-based therapy rehabilitation interventions that are both efficacious and cost-saving. She initiated the development of micro-implants for stimulating the spinal cord to restore standing and walking after complete spinal cord injury, and demonstrated the benefits of simultaneous arm and leg cycling for improving walking capacity after incomplete spinal cord injury. She and her group invented the wearable garments, Smart-e-Pants and the SOCC, for preventing pressure injuries and deep vein thrombosis, respectively. She now leads the multi-million-dollar Smartwear Revolution project, focused on developing transformative assistive technology that can be embedded directly in clothing. Dr. Mushahwar co-founded 4 companies and has been appointed to advisory boards at both academic institutions and industry.

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Workshops

Psychological Resilience | Tuesday, August 18, 2026, 1:15 - 2:15 p.m.

Dr. Jasmine Bajwa

Are self-doubt and setbacks hindering your progress? Equip yourself with th psychological resilience needed to excel. Participate in an upcoming session on Psychological Resilience led by Dr. Jasmine Bajwa, the satellite psychologist for Engineering from Counselling and Clinical Services. While often misinterpreted as merely "pushing through," true resilience involves the capacity to adapt, pause, and regroup during stressful periods. In the demanding world of academia and career building, resilience is a skill that must be developed through intentional, consistent practice.

In this one-hour workshop, attendees will discover practical methods for turning obstacles into opportunities for development, focusing on:

• The fundamental elements of a resilient mindset.
• Techniques for disarming the negative impact of self-doubt and rejection.
• Cognitive reframing strategies to view difficulties as growth prospects while
  embracing personal strengths and values.
• Actionable habits for cultivating the mental grit essential for thriving amidst academic
  rigour and a competitive job market.

Presenter

Dr. Jasmine Bajwa is a Registered Psychologist with Counselling and Clinical Services (CCS) and has served as the Satellite Psychologist in the Faculty of Engineering since 2018. She provides a wide range of services to university students, including individual and couples therapy, group therapy, and psychoeducational workshops.

Dr. Bajwa is passionate about sharing psychological knowledge with the broader community. Her presentations offer practical tools to enhance personal well-being and improve functioning for lifelong success.

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MDPI Workshop: Scientific Publishing: An Introduction and Responding to Peer Review | Tuesday, August 18, 2026, 2:30 - 3:30 p.m.

Barnaby Crook and Diana Tosato

This interactive workshop will provide a practical introduction to scientific publishing, equipping researchers with the knowledge and skills needed for publishing success. In the opening section, participants will receive a brief overview of the history of scholarly publishing before learning how to navigate the modern publishing landscape, including journal selection, indexing, and the meaning of citation metrics. The second part of the workshop will focus on navigating peer review, guiding participants through the peer review process step-by-step and providing practical advice for responding to reviewer comments. Each session will conclude with a dedicated Q&A, giving participants the opportunity to discuss their own publishing questions and challenges with experienced editors.

Presenters

Dr. Barnaby Crook completed an MA in philosophy and neuroscience at the Humboldt University of Berlin in 2021 and a PhD in the philosophy of artificial intelligence at the University of Bayreuth in 2025. After moving from Germany to Toronto, Dr. Crook began working for MDPI as an Assistant Editor with the journal IJERPH. He now works as a Regional Academic Outreach Editor for North America. In this role, Dr. Crook builds and maintains relationships with academic stakeholders, fostering collaboration and developing partnerships. He is passionate about scientific communication and research integrity.

Diana Tosato holds an MSc in Development and Environmental Sciences and a second MSc in Biology from Brock University. After completing her studies, she joined MDPI as an Assistant Editor for the journals Remote Sensing and Heritage. She currently serves as Deputy Managing Editor for journals across North and South America. In addition, Diana serves as External Affairs Coordinator for MDPI, with a focus on Brazil, where she develops and maintains relationships with academic stakeholders, fosters collaboration, and supports strategic partnerships within the research community.

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Networking Mixer Prep: Tips for Success | Thursday, August 20, 2026, 1:15 - 2:15 p.m.

Manoj Ananthanarayanan and Keely Cronin

Keely & Manoj, the career coaches from WorkSpark, will help you feel confident and prepared before the Industry Mixer event. We'll discuss how to introduce yourself when meeting someone new, navigating group dynamics at networking events, and how to follow up on LinkedIn after you make a connection. This session includes networking strategies, opportunities for practice, and the chance to ask questions before the Industry Mixer.

Presenters

Manoj Ananthanarayanan is a dedicated public servant with an MBA and incredible networking skills. After studying and practicing engineering in India, he came to Canada to complete his MBA at the University of Alberta and has since had an exciting career within various ministries at the Government of Alberta. 

Keely Cronin is a career coach, writing instructor, and entrepreneur with a wide network both in Alberta and across Canada. She has a PhD in English Literature from the University of Waterloo and over 10 years of experience helping people excel in their careers.