Steven Rogak is a Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of British Columbia's Faculty of Applied Science. He holds a P.Eng. license and degrees including a B.A.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering from UBC, and M.Sc. and Ph.D. from Caltech. P.Eng., University of British Columbia B.A.Sc., University of British Columbia M.Sc., Ph.D., California Institute of Technology His research focuses on aerosol science, particularly solid nanoparticles from combustion processes, their climate and health impacts, and mitigation strategies. Key areas include: Soot morphology and transport properties Engine emission reduction via fuel injectors Indoor air filtration systems Membrane-based energy exchangers Atmospheric particulate analysis The 15 most recent articles span experimental and theoretical studies on soot characterization, membrane technologies, and aerosol dynamics, with applications in climate modeling, healthcare ventilation, and sustainable materials. Collaborations include Westport Innovations and interdisciplinary teams. Rogak leads the Aerosol Laboratory at UBC, where he applies fluid mechanics and heat transfer fundamentals to address environmental and health challenges. He emphasizes experimental rigor and welcomes graduate students with expertise in these areas.
Dr. Amir Hakami is a Professor in the Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering at Carleton University , where he leads the Carleton Atmospheric Modelling Group . His research focuses on advanced air quality modeling techniques to inform environmental policy. Degrees: B.Sc. (Polytechnic of Tehran), M.Sc., Ph.D. (Georgia Tech), Postdoc (Caltech) Contact: Office 3454 Mackenzie Building, Phone: 613-520-2600 ext. 8609, Email: amir.hakami@carleton.ca Research Interests: Air quality modeling at multiple spatial scales Adjoint sensitivity analysis for atmospheric response Inverse modeling and data assimilation techniques Uncertainty quantification in environmental systems Interdisciplinary applications in policy, public health, and economics Teaching: Courses include Environmental Engineering Systems Modeling , Contaminant Transport , and Air Pollution & Emissions Control at undergraduate and graduate levels. Research Group: The group includes Ph.D. candidates, postdoctoral fellows, and alumni working on topics ranging from atmospheric chemistry to sustainable energy systems. Members come from diverse backgrounds in engineering, science, and policy disciplines.
Gregory Paradis is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Forest Resources Management at the University of British Columbia (UBC) Faculty of Forestry. His research focuses on sustainable forest management, integrating operations research, mathematical optimization, and systems modeling to address complex interactions between ecosystems, industries, and society. He works with the FRESH Lab and collaborates with the Integrated Remote Sensing Studio, emphasizing ecological and economic integration in forest planning. Sustainable Forest Management Operations Research Forest Economics Data Science Risk Assessment GIS-based Methods His research spans forest inventory optimization, climate change adaptation strategies, wildfire risk modeling, and decision support systems for invasive species. He develops computational frameworks to enhance wood supply planning, carbon management, and ecological resilience. Recent work includes machine learning applications for fire safety in timber structures and automated road planning tools for wildlife conservation. Paradis’s publications highlight trends in applying optimization methods to sustainable forestry, with a focus on biodiversity, climate adaptation, and value chain innovation. He advocates for interdisciplinary approaches that bridge silviculture, industrial engineering, and data science to tackle emerging challenges in forest ecosystems. As an educator, he seeks motivated students with quantitative and creative problem-solving skills. His lab collaborates on remote sensing integration, risk assessment models, and policy-relevant forest management strategies, ensuring plans account for uncertainties like insect infestations or windthrow events.
Mazdak Nik-Bakht is an Associate Professor at Concordia University's School of Building, Civil, and Environmental Engineering. His work bridges construction engineering with digital innovation, focusing on smart infrastructure and sustainable development. PhD, Construction Engineering & Mgmt., University of Toronto PhD, Structural Engineering, Iran University of Science & Technology MASc & BASc, Structural and Civil Engineering, Iran University of Science & Technology His research integrates Artificial Intelligence and Social Network Analysis into construction management systems. Key areas include: Smart infrastructure and urban computing Deconstruction and circular economy principles Building Information Modeling (BIM) and digital twinning Process mining in Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry Decision models in construction project management Semantic computing and computational linguistics applications Recent publications show a focus on BIM analytics , urban resilience , and social media's role in infrastructure planning . Papers often combine AI and network theory to solve complex construction challenges. 2015 Outstanding paper award - Built Environment Project and Asset Management journal He teaches courses on: Big Data Analytics for Smart City Infrastructure Building Information Modeling (BIM) for Construction Building Economics Project Cost Estimating
Mariana Resener is an Assistant Professor in the School of Sustainable Energy Engineering at Simon Fraser University (SFU). She holds a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering (2016) from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, alongside M.Sc. (2011) and B.Sc. (2008) degrees in the same field. Her research focuses on optimizing power systems, particularly in distributed energy resources, energy storage, and volt/var control. She teaches courses like Power Electronics and Power Systems Analysis & Design. Her work emphasizes sustainable development in grid planning and energy infrastructure. As a Senior Member of IEEE and an Associate Editor for the Energy Systems Journal (Springer), she contributes to advancing smart grid technologies and renewable integration. Her research spans metaheuristic optimization, stochastic modeling, and grid resilience strategies for distributed systems. Recent projects include hybrid renewable energy systems for substations, EV charging station optimization, and fault analysis in unbalanced grids. She collaborates with industry on practical solutions for grid modernization and reliability enhancement.
Amin Hammad is a Professor at the Concordia Institute for Information Systems Engineering, with an additional appointment as Affiliate Professor in Building, Civil, and Environmental Engineering at Concordia University. His research focuses on advancing construction technology through digital transformation, automation, and AI integration. He leads work in BIM applications, 4D simulation, robotic systems, and sustainable infrastructure management. His interdisciplinary approach bridges civil engineering with computer science and data analytics. Key research areas include: Automation and robotics in construction (Construction 4.0) BIM and digital twin lifecycle management AI-driven defect detection and inspection systems Occupational safety through exoskeleton performance evaluation Multi-purpose utility tunnel optimization Energy-efficient building systems Recent work emphasizes applying machine learning to construction equipment activity recognition, UAV path optimization for infrastructure inspection, and ontology development for integrated systems. His research addresses industry challenges in productivity, safety, and sustainability through data-driven solutions.
Ahmed Hammad is an Associate Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Alberta's Faculty of Engineering, where he also serves as Director of Academic Integrity, ENG WIL, Co-op and Career Connections. With 25 years of industry experience as a Project Planning & Control Manager on global mega-projects (including Oil Sands, LNG, and Infrastructure across Canada, UAE, Australia, and Egypt), he brings extensive practical expertise to academia. Education: Doctorate of Philosophy, Construction Engineering & Management, University of Alberta (2009) Master of Science, Construction Engineering & Management, University of Alberta (1999) Master of Engineering, Construction Engineering and Management, Cairo University (1996) Bachelor of Science, Civil Engineering, Mansoura University (1989) Research Focus: Dr. Hammad's work centers on applying smart tools to achieve sustainable construction through maximizing efficiency and minimizing waste . His research employs Machine Learning , Multi-Criteria Decision Making , Knowledge-Based Decision Support Systems , and digital twin technologies to optimize project planning, resource allocation, and sustainable material selection. He investigates the integration of BIM and Augmented Reality to enhance construction processes while reducing environmental impact. Publication Trends: Recent publications (2023-2025) emphasize sustainable construction methodologies, with 60% focusing on GHG reduction, resource optimization, and decision support systems. Key themes include machine learning for labor estimation, TOPSIS/MCDM for sustainable material selection, and digital twins for production planning, reflecting his NSERC-funded projects on KBDSS and construction-oriented digital twins. Scientific Recognition: Best Paper Award at 8th International Conference on Industrial Engineering and Operations Management (2018) Best Paper Award at HBRC Green Smart Sustainable Buildings Conference (2024) Research Leadership: Dr. Hammad secures major industry-academic partnerships, including NSERC Mission Alliance Grants ($1.2M+) with 16 industry partners for GHG reduction projects and NSERC Alliance Grants with 9 partners for digital twin development. His completed projects include collaborations with the City of Edmonton and Alberta Ministry of Infrastructure on resource allocation models. Research Ecosystem: As leader of the Sustainable Construction Research Group (SCRG), he fosters industry-academia collaboration through regular workshops with construction firms and government agencies, focusing on translating research into practical tools for sustainable project delivery.
Dr. Ralph Evins is an Associate Professor and Director of the Graduate Program in the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of Victoria. He holds affiliations with the Urban Energy Systems laboratory at Empa and ETH Zurich in Switzerland. His expertise spans building energy simulation, energy system optimization, and machine intelligence applications in sustainable design. Evins holds an MEng from Imperial College London and an EngD from the University of Bristol. His research focuses on computational problem-solving in energy systems, including surrogate modeling, optimization algorithms, and machine learning. He develops tools like the Holistic Urban Energy Simulation (HUES) platform and BESOS software framework to bridge building, district, and city-scale energy analysis. His work emphasizes holistic systems thinking, integrating energy hubs, thermal modeling, and digital twin technologies. Recent articles explore surrogate model refinement, inverse modeling for building characterization, and decarbonization strategies. He collaborates with industry to translate academic innovations into practical solutions. Evins advises students in energy systems and leads projects on net-zero building design, retrofit prioritization, and smart grid integration. His research addresses challenges in climate adaptation, energy efficiency, and sustainable urban development through interdisciplinary approaches.
Dr. Joshua Brinkerhoff is an Associate Professor in Mechanical Engineering at the University of British Columbia Okanagan Campus. He serves as the Associate Director for Research & Industrial Partnerships in the School of Engineering and leads the UBC-Okanagan Computational Fluid Dynamics Laboratory. His research spans computational fluid dynamics, turbomachinery, multiphase flows, hydrogen safety, wind energy, and biofluid mechanics. He teaches courses in mechanics of materials, alternative energy systems, turbulence, computational fluid dynamics, and aircraft design. PhD, Aerospace Engineering (Carleton University, Ottawa, ON) BEng, Aerospace Engineering (Carleton University) Dr. Brinkerhoff’s research interests include: Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) for laminar-to-turbulent transition and instability analysis Wind energy systems and turbine aerodynamics Hydrogen storage and safety protocols for transportation Biofluid mechanics for respiratory diseases and aneurysm modeling Multiphase flows in industrial and environmental contexts His publications focus on CFD simulations for: Aerosol dispersion and mitigation in indoor environments Wind farm interactions and atmospheric gravity waves Cavitation and phase transitions in cryogenic and LNG systems Heat transfer optimization in industrial and thermal systems Instability dynamics in buoyancy-driven and swept flows Turbulent structures in fluidized beds and reactors Dr. Brinkerhoff has no listed scientific awards in the provided data but has extensive contributions to renewable energy, hydrogen safety, and medical fluid dynamics. His laboratory develops open-source tools like TOSCA for large-eddy simulations and investigates practical applications in urban air quality, dental aerosol control, and turbine wake modeling.
Mustafa Gül is a Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Alberta’s Faculty of Engineering. He also serves as Director of Internationalization at the Faculty of Engineering’s Deans Office. His research focuses on smart, sustainable, and resilient cities, with an emphasis on infrastructure monitoring and energy-efficient systems. Education: PhD in Civil Engineering (University of Central Florida, 2009), MSc in Electrical Engineering (University of Central Florida, 2011), MSc in Civil Engineering (Boğaziçi University, 2004), BSc in Civil Engineering (Boğaziçi University, 2002). Dr. Gül’s research spans two primary domains: Crowdsensing-based Monitoring of Built and Natural Environments (CoMBiNE) using AI, signal processing, and data analytics for infrastructure health; and Energy-Efficient Smart Cities through solar PV integration, IoT applications, and net-zero energy homes. His work bridges structural engineering, machine learning, and sustainable urban development. Recent publications highlight advancements in smartphone-based damage detection, UAV-assisted disaster assessment, and AI-driven energy systems. His team’s work on crowdsensing bridges, solar PV optimization, and smartphone analytics has been widely recognized in journals like Structural Control and Health Monitoring and Energy and AI . Notably, his 2017 paper earned the Best Paper Award at ISARC. Students supervised include Azim, R. , Keskin, M. , and Do, N. T. , among others. Scientific Awards: Best Paper Award, 34th International Symposium on Automation and Robotics in Construction (ISARC 2017) Dr. Gül’s projects often involve interdisciplinary collaboration, leveraging sensor networks, computer vision, and optimization algorithms to address urban resilience and energy sustainability. His leadership extends to course CIV E 779 and ongoing research initiatives in Alberta, Canada.
Dr. Paul G. O'Brien is an Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at York University, Canada, affiliated with the Lassonde School of Engineering. His research focuses on interdisciplinary clean energy solutions, including energy storage, thermophotovoltaic systems, decarbonization of buildings, and life cycle assessments. He leads the Advanced Materials for Sustainable Energy Technologies (AM-SET-Lab) and has authored over 50 journal articles. His work spans materials science, photonic crystal engineering, and radiative cooling technologies. Research interests include optimizing thermal energy storage systems, photonic crystal-based filters for solar applications, and CO2 capture via direct air capture systems. His lab develops materials for passive cooling, solar-thermal integration, and advanced photocatalytic CO2 reduction. Dr. O’Brien collaborates across engineering disciplines to address global energy challenges. Recent publications highlight innovations in ellipsoidal optical cavities for thermophotovoltaics, radiative cooling materials, and techno-economic assessments of carbon capture technologies. His work bridges fundamental material science with applied engineering solutions for sustainable energy systems.
Dr. Gabriel Wainer is a Professor in the Department of Systems and Computer Engineering at Carleton University's Faculty of Engineering and Design. He leads the Advanced Real-Time Simulation Lab and specializes in modeling and simulation methodologies, particularly focusing on discrete event systems, real-time modeling, cellular automata, and DEVS formalism. Research Interests: Discrete event systems, DEVS formalism, cellular automata, real-time simulation, IoT applications, and parallel/distributed simulation Affiliation: Carleton University Recent publications highlight his work in advanced simulation frameworks, energy-efficient 5G systems using deep reinforcement learning, and pandemic modeling with cellular automata. His lab develops tools like PROMETHEUS and Devsmap for standardized DEVS model representation, while also exploring applications in wireless communication, building energy systems, and behavioral epidemiology.
David Churchill is an Associate Professor in the Department of Computer Science at Memorial University of Newfoundland (MUN), specializing in Artificial Intelligence and Real-Time Strategy (RTS) Game AI. He holds a PhD from the University of Alberta and has been actively involved in AI research since 2009. His work focuses on AI for RTS games like StarCraft, emphasizing heuristic search, combat simulation, and build order optimization. He organizes the annual AIIDE StarCraft AI Competition and maintains open-source projects like UAlbertaBot and SparCraft. Education: BSc in Pure Mathematics and Computer Science (MUN) MSc in Computer Science (MUN, 2009) PhD in Computing Science (University of Alberta, 2016) Research Interests: AI in video games, heuristic search algorithms, RTS game strategies, multi-agent systems, and robotics. His work bridges theoretical AI with practical applications in competitive gaming and robotics. Publications & Awards: Notable contributions include Search Ordering for StarCraft Build Order Optimization (2024) and Hierarchical Portfolio Search in Prismata (2017, Best Student Paper Award). His research has advanced combat simulation (SparCraft) and build-order planning (BOSS) in RTS games. Awards: Best Student Paper Award (2017) Best Paper Award (2013, 2022) Advising & Labs: Supervised over 20 graduate and undergraduate theses at MUN. Leads the StarCraft AI Competition and contributes to open-source projects like UAlbertaBot and STARTcraft. Currently not accepting new graduate students due to funding constraints.
Hua Ge is a Professor in the Department of Building, Civil and Environmental Engineering at Concordia University's Faculty of Engineering and Computer Science. She holds a Tier II Concordia University Research Chair in High Performance Building Envelope for Climate Resilient Buildings and leads extensive research in building science and climate adaptation. Her research focuses on wind-driven rain analysis , hygrothermal performance of building envelopes , advanced building facades , innovative wood-frame construction , and low-energy buildings . Current work examines climate change impacts on wind-driven rain loads, urban micro-climate effects, climate-resilient building envelopes, dynamic facades, and low-carbon healthy buildings. Her methodology combines large-scale laboratory testing, field monitoring, and computational modeling. Her 15 most recent publications demonstrate strong trends in nature-based climate resilience solutions , overheating risk mitigation in educational buildings , advanced hygrothermal modeling of wood-frame systems , and carbon sequestration strategies for buildings. The work spans multiple sub-disciplines including computational fluid dynamics, life cycle assessment, stochastic modeling, and field validation studies across Canadian climates. Tier II Concordia University Research Chair (CURC) in High Performance Building Envelope for Climate Resilient Buildings Professional Engineers of Ontario American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-conditioning Engineers ASHRAE TC4.4 Building materials and building envelope performance (Subcommittee Chair) Professor Ge has supervised 42 graduate students (26 PhD, 16 MASc), including current advisees working on nature-based solutions, climate-resilient envelopes, and building integrated photovoltaics. Her research is supported by Concordia University Research Chair funding and collaborative projects with institutions like BCIT. She directs activities at Concordia's Building Envelope Test Facility and contributes to national standards through ASHRAE.
Dr. Sylvie Albert is a Professor of Strategy and Leadership at the University of Winnipeg, former Dean of the Faculty of Business and Economics, and past Associate Dean of Laurentian University's Faculty of Management. With 15 years in academia, she has extensive experience in municipal/provincial governance, management consulting, and economic development. A leading expert in smart cities and digital urban innovation, her work bridges academia, policy, and practice through roles like Senior Advisor to Infrastructure Canada's Smart Cities Challenge and lead jurist for the Intelligent Community Forum. Her research focuses on sustainable urban development, digital governance, and community telecommunication networks, informed by activism on local-to-international boards and think tanks. She is authoring her fourth book on smart cities and has led projects nationwide through her consultancy, Planned Approach Inc. Education & Experience: 12 years in government roles 10 years in management consulting Founder/owner of Planned Approach Inc. (economic development consulting) Leadership roles in Northern Ontario economic development corporations Research Interests: Her interdisciplinary work examines strategy development , entrepreneurship , innovation ecosystems , and the intersection of digitalization with urban policy. Key themes include: Smart/intelligent/sustainable city frameworks Community wireless networks and ICT adoption Online learning pedagogy in business education Labour market barriers for immigrant professionals Grants & Advising: Her advisory contributions include: Global Forum on Digitalization in Europe (yearly participation) Infrastructure Canada's Smart Cities Challenge (Senior Advisor) UN Voluntary Local Reviews methodology development Her consultancy work emphasizes economic development projects and smart community planning across Canada. Labs & Collaborations: Engaged with global networks like the Intelligent Community Forum and cross-sectoral partnerships to advance urban innovation, digital equity, and participatory governance models.
