Jennifer Howcroft

Jennifer Howcroft is an Associate Professor, Teaching Stream and Associate Chair, Academic in the Department of Systems Design Engineering at the University of Waterloo's Faculty of Engineering. Her dual expertise bridges pedagogical innovation in engineering education and technical research in clinical rehabilitation, with leadership roles shaping departmental academic strategy and teaching excellence.

Her educational foundation includes:

• Doctorate in Systems Design Engineering from the University of Waterloo (2016)
• Master's in Clinical Engineering from the University of Toronto (2011)
• Bachelor of Applied Science in Biological Engineering from the University of Guelph (2009)

Dr. Howcroft's research integrates two complementary domains: pedagogical investigations into engineering design, holistic education frameworks, and empathy development; and technical work on naturalistic driving assessment for older adults, human movement analysis via wearable sensors, and AI-driven signal processing. Her approach emphasizes real-world stakeholder engagement and ethical considerations in engineering practice.

Recent publications (2021-2024) reveal a clear trajectory toward human-centered engineering education, with growing emphasis on empathy cultivation, stakeholder co-design methodologies, and pandemic-responsive learning models. Technical publications demonstrate consistent innovation in applying wearable sensor analytics to geriatric mobility assessment, bridging rehabilitation engineering and AI.

Her teaching excellence has been recognized through multiple prestigious awards:

• 2024 Ron Britton Engineering Education Vanguard Award (CEEA)
• 2024 & 2020 Outstanding Performance Awards (Faculty of Engineering)
• 2023 Boyce Family Award for Teaching Excellence
• 2022 SFF Teaching Excellence Award
• 2019 SAGE Elite Reviewer Award (Prosthetics & Orthotics International)

As Associate Chair, Academic (2024-2025) and former Teaching & Learning Champion (2022-2024), she drives curriculum innovation while currently teaching core courses including BME 161/162, SYDE 161/162/261, and specialized SYDE 660 graduate workshops. Though not currently accepting graduate students, her Biomedical Stakeholder Café initiative exemplifies her commitment to connecting classroom learning with community needs through authentic design experiences.