´óÏó´«Ã½

Tell us about yourself.
I got into computer science after my dad strongly suggested (not quite forced) that I try it as he was in the field and knew I would like it. At first I protested quite heavily as I knew nothing about coding, but once I tried it, I loved it and knew that this is what I wanted to do. Since then, I’ve loved working at FAS Outreach, helping other youth to discover this passion too!

What was your most memorable moment from your time at ´óÏó´«Ã½?
One of my most memorable ´óÏó´«Ã½ experiences was attending the ´óÏó´«Ã½ cybercrime field school in Scotland. Through this opportunity I got to make new friends both within computer science and criminology! I also think it was amazing to see how computer science and other fields can collaborate on meaningful projects. Finally, this experience helped me realize that cybersecurity was a field that I wanted to pursue further!  

How has your experience at ´óÏó´«Ã½ prepared you for your career path?
One thing I learned from my experience at ´óÏó´«Ã½ is the value in chasing opportunities that excite you. At ´óÏó´«Ã½, I found so many experiences and chances to grow, and I discovered that going after one often led to others. Taking initiative opens doors you don’t expect and often seems to snowball into new paths!

If you could give one piece of advice to incoming students, what would it be?
Pursue opportunities that interest you! There are so many amazing free or low-cost opportunities that exist at university – don’t be afraid to chase the ones that excite you. Along those lines… definitely read your emails! Your ´óÏó´«Ã½ inbox will be full of different events, workshops, jobs, volunteer work, clubs, etc. that you may want to pursue. Don’t miss out!

What are your future plans?
In September, I plan on pursuing my Professional Master's in Cybersecurity here at ´óÏó´«Ã½! I also intend to keep working with FAS Outreach to continue to teach coding and digital skills to youth!

Tell us about yourself.
Growing up I have always been passionate about Astronomy but never thought I could find a space that would nurture both my passion for the night sky and coding skillsets. Attending Starry Nights and looking through the Trottier Observatory’s telescope for the first time was a pivotal moment in my decision to chart my own path here at ´óÏó´«Ã½ and I’m forever grateful for all the opportunities that it has brought me. From becoming the President of ´óÏó´«Ã½ Astronomy Club to working for the Canadian Space Agency to build a mission planning tool for Canada’s upcoming lunar rover, I’ve learned that the most fulfilling work comes from being able to contribute to something that matters to you.

What was your most memorable moment from your time at ´óÏó´«Ã½?
Being given the chance to grow through experiences on campus or opportunities such as moving to Montréal to work at the Canadian Space Agency has been one of my highlights at ´óÏó´«Ã½. Another important experience I take away from my time here is how I restarted the ´óÏó´«Ã½ Astronomy Club with people I now consider my life-long friends. Whether it was developing a queuing application to help eliminate line-ups for the crowds at the Trottier Observatory or watching new club members continue the legacy of the Astronomy club, the moments that have stayed with me are the ones where I saw our efforts contribute to something lasting.

How has your experience at ´óÏó´«Ã½ prepared you for your career path?
A few professors had a major impact on shaping how I think, work and grow. Some classes will give you lessons that last a lifetime. One of my first formative experiences at ´óÏó´«Ã½ was through a software development project that paired some groups with industry partners. Through that, I joined a team at BGC Engineering, which became both a contract and later a co-op. It was the first time I discovered how my interests in databases and user design could come together and where I found out how much I enjoyed turning ideas into real and meaningful applications.

If you could give one piece of advice to incoming students, what would it be?
Your academic journey doesn’t need to be straightforward; some of the most significant opportunities will come from following your curiosity and seeking new paths. I arrived with a love for astronomy and when I found there was no student club, I decided to start one. Trying out design electives at SIAT gave me a chance to form important soft skills. Virtual Reality isn’t taught within the Computing Science curriculum, but seeking out a practicum with the Centre of Digital Media allowed me to co-develop a project I showcased at an XR conference at Harvard University. ´óÏó´«Ã½ does have space for exploration but you may need to go off path to find it.

What are your future plans?
In addition to continuing development on a virtual queueing web application at the Trottier Observatory, I am currently exploring roles as a full-stack software developer. I would love to continue working on projects that are meaningful to me, whether in science, education or creative spaces. Just like my academic path, I am open to interdisciplinary opportunities that spark my curiosity, from software development for real-world use to scientific research or virtual reality.

Tell us about yourself.
I’m a Sustainable Energy Engineering master’s student at ´óÏó´«Ã½, passionate about clean power and smart energy systems. I’ve always been curious about how things work, but I truly found purpose when I realized engineering could help build a more sustainable world. Moving to Canada opened doors to research, community and growth. At ´óÏó´«Ã½, I’ve worked on EV-grid integration and renewable energy and grid planning—and outside the lab, I love cooking, traveling and finding inspiration in new places.

What was your most memorable moment from your time at ´óÏó´«Ã½?
My most memorable moment at ´óÏó´«Ã½ was defending my thesis. After months of modeling, coding and refining, presenting my research felt incredibly rewarding. It wasn’t just about passing—it was proof of how much I’d grown academically and personally. Sharing my work with professors and peers reminded me why I chose this field: to contribute to a smarter, cleaner energy future. That moment made everything—late nights, doubts, breakthroughs—worth it.

How has your experience at ´óÏó´«Ã½ prepared you for your career path?
´óÏó´«Ã½ shaped both my technical skills and my mindset. Through research and collaboration, I learned how to model systems, communicate complex ideas and solve real-world problems. Just as importantly, I gained a strong sense of community and learned to see the bigger picture—how engineering can serve people. That perspective will guide me as I build a meaningful, impactful career.

If you could give one piece of advice to incoming students, what would it be?
Always ask questions and don’t hesitate to reach out for help. People are usually willing to support you, but you must take the first step. Seeking help early can save you time and stress later. I wish I knew this in my first year—it makes learning and growing much easier.

What are your future plans?
I’m starting as a Substation Studies Engineer at Powertech, taking what I learned in my master’s straight into real-world systems. Down the road, who knows—maybe a PhD’s in the cards. For now, I’m pumped to get hands-on experience and make an impact in the power sector.

What was your research focus?
My research focuses on integrating solar PV and EVs into power grids by addressing all three key paradigms: planning, operation and control. I developed a framework for optimal EV charging station placement, smart inverter functions and coordinated scheduling between grid operators to reduce losses, improve voltage stability, and support the transition to a low-carbon energy system.

Tell us about yourself.
My name is Mohammad Reza Mohammadzadeh, and I am a PhD graduate from the School of Engineering Science at ´óÏó´«Ã½. I came to ´óÏó´«Ã½ with a background in mechanical engineering and completed my PhD in engineering science. I have always been a curious person, eager to understand how things work. That curiosity led me to pursue engineering and physics, as I saw them as powerful tools to explore the universe; from the edges of the universe to the heart of the atom.

What was your most memorable moment from your time at ´óÏó´«Ã½?
When I think back on my time at ´óÏó´«Ã½, so many moments come to mind, from my first day on campus to those early Zoom meetings during the pandemic lockdown, when it was unclear how we would continue our experimental work without being on campus. I will never forget the feeling of returning to the lab and seeing friends again after months apart. Through it all, the sense of teamwork and the friendships we built stood strong, and became even more meaningful once we were back together.

How has your experience at ´óÏó´«Ã½ prepared you for your career path?
´óÏó´«Ã½ helped me become a stronger team player and enabled me to engage in multidisciplinary research across various fields of engineering and physics. The School of Engineering Science, in particular, brought together diverse engineering disciplines, giving me the opportunity to explore areas such as semiconductor physics, nanofabrication and electronics, and to develop valuable skills in each of these fields.

If you could give one piece of advice to incoming students, what would it be?
Be open to interdisciplinary learning even if it feels unfamiliar at first. I came from traditional engineering schools where engineering disciplines are clearly divided into departments and was unsure about ´óÏó´«Ã½â€™s integrated approach. But embracing it gave me a broader perspective and valuable skills across fields. Don’t be afraid to step outside your comfort zone; it is often where the most growth happens.

What are your future plans?
After graduation, I will continue my research on 2D materials in Dr. Adachi’s group, where we now focus on developing novel 2D materials to improve sensor performance and reliability. In parallel, we are laying the groundwork to launch a biosensing startup by translating our technology from the lab to the market.

What was your research focus?
During my PhD, I focused on 2D materials and their applications in volatile organic compounds (VOC) sensing and biosensing. My work involved designing sensors that leverage the unique properties of these materials to selectively detect biomarkers at very low concentrations. These sensors facilitate the development of non-invasive methods for disease diagnosis and monitoring of conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease and lung cancer.

Tell us about yourself.
Before I was a computer scientist, I was a forensic anthropologist. I studied Asian religions and archaeology, and I really loved it. But due to family matters I had to come back to BC and decided to change career paths. I studied statistics, French and engineering. After this, I had to decide if I wanted to stick with the more hardware side of things in engineering, or the more software side with computing science. My choice came down less to what I was interested in and more to finding a supervisor I meshed really well with, and this is how I ended up studying computing science at ´óÏó´«Ã½ with Dr. Angelica Lim.

What was your most memorable moment from your time at ´óÏó´«Ã½?
I have been at ´óÏó´«Ã½ for a long time — all my degrees, except a master's that I did not complete in the UK, were at ´óÏó´«Ã½. One big thing for me was my work-study job and working as a lifeguard at the pool. I was at the pool for almost 12 years until it closed for renovations and I made a lot of my current friendships there, as well as was able to support myself through my undergrad. Also working 8 years in the archaeological repatriation lab, even into my engineering and statistics degrees, it kept me connected to something I loved to do. I also have been lucky to travel often for conferences and summer schools, and meet an excellent network of international colleagues. In the human robot interaction community, karaoke at conferences is a big thing â€” and for sure some of the most memorable parts of my PhD.

How has your experience at ´óÏó´«Ã½ prepared you for your career path? 
My supervisor was a big help in creating connections for me. She is the reason I currently live in France via a scholarship program that I never left, and have my current job. I learned a lot of the obvious things, like how to research and more about my research topics, but something I really learned was how to advertise myself and grow my network. Also, just how to navigate academia and the academic industry. Lastly, I really got to improve on my skills in being self-sufficient in my work, I was able to have a lot of experiences in organizing, learning how to supervise and grow projects from the ground up.

If you could give one piece of advice to incoming students, what would it be?
I think that you do not always have to follow your first plan, but you do have to have a plan on how to support yourself through it along the way, both financially and mentally, because it is not always easy.

What are your future plans?
I am still working on way too many things. I am continuing as a research assistant in Institut FEMTO-ST, where I have been for almost 2 years now, and I am also staying on, doing part time post-doctoral work at ´óÏó´«Ã½ in the department of Linguistics. But mostly, I work as an AI engineer specializing in human robot interaction at Enchanted Tools in Paris.

What was your research focus?
My work focuses on adaptive voices for human robot interaction. Specifically, I worked on how a robot should sound when teaching a second language. I explore how to make the robot's voice more expressive and intelligible through psychoacoustic techniques and human studies, combining engineering, signal processing, cognitive science and linguistics. Now, I am working to put aspects of my voice into the robot that we are building at my current company.

Tell us about yourself.
I am a Mechatronic Systems Engineering and Business Double Degree graduate, concentrating in Finance. I have always had a logical curiosity of the world, always figuring out how things worked and the underlying causes and factors. I had a knack for thinking in terms of physics and math and presenting logical solutions to problems, naturally leading me towards engineering. Finance has always been something I am interested in as well, so why not study both!

What was your most memorable moment from your time at ´óÏó´«Ã½?
My most memorable moment at ´óÏó´«Ã½ was the MSE Capstone project. An 8-month project from initial ideation to end-product was an unbelievably challenging yet rewarding undertaking. The various technical facets involved all aspects of Mechatronics, fully utilizing the knowledge gained through our studies. Everything from fluid dynamics to mechanical and aerodynamic design, along with electromechanical systems and a myriad of sensors combined with control systems was involved in integrating the project into a single apparatus.

How has your experience at ´óÏó´«Ã½ prepared you for your career path?
Attending both engineering and business school has built an excellent foundation to begin a successful career on. Engineering school gave me excellent technical abilities and the skills to learn complex concepts quickly and comprehensively. Business school taught me more about how companies operate and how they are managed, along with many soft skills associated with building a great career.

If you could give one piece of advice to incoming students, what would it be?
Try as many things as you possibly can. Finding your passion is not a straight path, but something you tend to stumble upon. Maximize your chances of finding it by growing your comfort zone. However, be vigilant about your own capabilities and avoid overcommitting. Take care of yourself, know your limits and prioritize what is most important to you.

What are your future plans?
I am currently working at Orbis Investments, where I aim to gain experience in the finance and investment industries, aspiring to leverage this business insight and investment acumen in a future engineering career. Overall, my goal is to utilize the technical skills of engineering to develop innovative products along with managerial and business knowledge to successfully bring them to market.