Dr. Sarah GAGLIANO TALIUN is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine and Neuroscience at the University of Montreal, affiliated with the Montreal Heart Institute (ICM) and IVADO. Her research focuses on computational genetics, leveraging big data to uncover genetic contributors to complex traits and diseases, particularly cardiovascular diseases and neurodegenerative disorders. She employs advanced statistical and machine learning methods, including sex-stratified analyses and Mendelian randomization. Education: BSc in Biochemistry and Genetics, University of Toronto (2012) PhD in Biomedical Sciences, University of Toronto (2016) Postdoctoral Fellowship in Biostatistics, University of Michigan (2020) Research Interests: Computational genetics, sex-specific genetic effects, genome-wide association studies (GWAS), genetic epidemiology, and the intersection of cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases. Her lab develops predictive models for personalized medicine, particularly in sex-stratified cardiovascular risk assessment. Grants and Awards: FRQS Junior 2 Scholar Award (2024-2028) CIHR Project Grant (2024-2028) IVADO Startup Fund (2022-2023) Weston Brain Institute Fellowship (2016) Lab and Team: The Gagliano Taliun Lab is part of the ICM and collaborates with IVADO. Current members include postdocs, graduate students, and interns. Projects include computational investigation of chromosome X variants and sex-specific genetic effects in Alzheimer’s and cardiovascular disease.
Samira Gharehkhani is an Assistant Teaching Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Victoria. Her research focuses on sustainable advanced materials for energy and environmental applications, with expertise in advanced functional nanomaterials, energy materials, biomass, and heat transfer. She holds a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering (Thermofluids) from the University of Malaya (2016) and has held postdoctoral positions at institutions including UBC, Imperial College London, and Lakehead University. Her teaching emphasizes real-world applications of thermal-fluid sciences and inclusion in academia, advocating for diversity and support for underrepresented groups. She has published over 20 peer-reviewed papers and received the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions fellowship (H-2020) for her work on green energy storage devices. Research interests span nanofluid synthesis, biomass utilization, and pedagogical innovation. Her work integrates experimental and computational approaches to enhance material performance and educational equity. Current projects include sustainable paper production via nanocellulose reinforcement and energy-efficient biomass processing techniques.
Shanshan Yao, PhD, is an ATS Assistant Teaching Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Alberta's Faculty of Engineering. She specializes in teaching and research focusing on unconventional resources, hydraulic fracturing, reservoir characterization, and drilling engineering. Her courses include PET E 275 (Petroleum Reservoir Fluids), PET E 364 (Drilling Engineering), and advanced reservoir and production engineering modules. Dr. Yao's research interests span pore-scale processes in porous media, pneumatic percussion drilling, and pumped storage hydropower systems. Her recent articles highlight contributions to proppant dynamics, fluid mechanics in fracturing, and optimization of drilling technologies. While no awards or grants are explicitly listed, her work reflects active engagement in petroleum engineering and reservoir science. She currently teaches across multiple terms, demonstrating a commitment to both education and applied research in energy systems.
Chibueze Amanchukwu serves as Assistant Professor at the Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, where he leads the Amanchukwu Lab focused on electrolyte design for sustainable energy technologies. His research integrates experimental and computational approaches to address critical challenges in battery systems and electrocatalytic CO 2 conversion, with significant contributions to fluorinated electrolytes, solid-state systems, and AI-driven materials discovery. His educational background includes: PhD in Chemical Engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Texas A&M University Dr. Amanchukwu's research program centers on manipulating ion solvation phenomena to control electrochemical processes. His group pioneers strategies for converting CO 2 into valuable chemicals using renewable energy, while simultaneously developing next-generation electrolytes for high-energy-density batteries. Key innovations include solvent-free molten salt electrolytes, PFAS-free alternatives, and AI-accelerated electrolyte property prediction. His work bridges fundamental interfacial science with practical applications in decarbonization and energy storage. Analysis of his publication record reveals a clear trajectory toward integrating machine learning with experimental electrolyte science, particularly for ionic conductivity prediction and novel material discovery. Recent work emphasizes environmentally sustainable alternatives and solvent-free systems that address safety and performance limitations in conventional battery technologies. His scientific recognition includes: NSF CAREER Award (2022) ECS Toyota Young Investigator Fellowship (2021) DOE Early Career Award (2023) MIT Technology Review Innovators under 35 (2024) CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholar (2022-2024) Dr. Amanchukwu actively mentors PhD students, having graduated three doctoral candidates while supervising numerous undergraduates and postdoctoral scholars. His lab secures substantial funding including the NSF CAREER Award and DOE Early Career Award, supporting both fundamental research and impactful outreach initiatives like the RENEU program for Nigerian undergraduates. The group maintains strong collaborations with Argonne National Laboratory and industry partners including BASF and BMW. The Amanchukwu Lab operates advanced facilities for battery fabrication, electrocatalysis testing, and materials characterization. Through the RENEU program and US-Nigeria PhD workshops, the lab actively builds international research capacity while maintaining strong community engagement through Museum of Science and Industry events and Chicago-area STEM initiatives.
Amir Michalovich is an Assistant Professor of Literacies Education at the Faculty of Education, University of Manitoba. He specializes in digital and multimodal literacies, focusing on newcomer youth from refugee and marginalized backgrounds. Education: PhD (2023) and MA (2017) from Tel Aviv University, BFA (2015) from Tel Aviv University His research explores digital multimodal composing as a tool for language and literacy learning, teacher professional development in multiliteracies, and participatory media. Recent work examines refugee-background youth's use of video production for identity expression and ethical challenges in research-based theatre. Amir's publications highlight trends in digital storytelling, multimodal data analysis, and multilingual education. He integrates arts-based research and qualitative methodologies into classroom practices. Scientific Awards: SSHRC Postdoctoral Fellowship (2023) He is affiliated with the American Educational Research Association, Canadian Association of Applied Linguistics, and other professional networks. His background as a filmmaker and multilingual education policy manager in Israel informs his interdisciplinary approach.
Rachid Boukhili is a Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Polytechnique Montréal, where he has established himself as a leading researcher in composite materials and mechanical engineering. His academic career spans multiple decades with continuous research productivity through 2025, demonstrating sustained scholarly impact. He is affiliated with the Centre de recherche sur les systèmes polymères et composites à haute performance (CREPEC) and contributes to multiple Centers of Excellence including Innovative materials, Transport and Sustainable Infrastructure, and Energy, Water and Resources. Professor Boukhili's research focuses on composite materials, with particular expertise in optimization of composite manufacturing parameters, analysis of bonded and bolted assemblies, characterization of physical and mechanical properties, and behavior of composites under fatigue and mechanical shock. His work bridges fundamental material science with practical engineering applications, particularly in aerospace, automotive, and hydraulic power generation sectors. He has made significant contributions to understanding damage tolerance, durability, and failure mechanisms in composite structures. His publication record shows a clear progression from foundational work on composite mechanics to increasingly specialized applications and advanced testing methodologies. Recent publications (2023-2025) emphasize sustainable manufacturing techniques, recycling of composite materials, and advanced characterization methods using digital image correlation. This trajectory reflects both continuity in core expertise and adaptation to contemporary engineering challenges related to sustainability and advanced manufacturing. Scientific Recognition: 1996 - Prix d'excellence en enseignement et en recherche, École Polytechnique de Montréal Professor Boukhili has supervised 16 PhD students and 24 master's students throughout his career, demonstrating significant mentorship impact. His teaching responsibilities include MEC4330 - Composite Materials, MEC3420 - Polymer Materials, and MEC6306A - Mechanical Behavior of Composite Materials, directly connecting his research expertise with student education. His research group at CREPEC continues to produce high-impact work in composite materials characterization, manufacturing optimization, and sustainable processing techniques. As a member of multiple Centers of Excellence, Professor Boukhili's work bridges fundamental research with practical applications in transportation infrastructure, energy systems, and sustainable technologies. His recent focus on recycling technologies and sustainable manufacturing reflects contemporary priorities while maintaining his core expertise in composite materials mechanics and characterization.
Wylie Stroberg is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering within the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Alberta. He leads the Computational BioSystems Lab, where he conducts research at the interface between cell biology, physiology and engineering using a range of computational and theoretical techniques. His research interests span multiple areas including: Biomechanics and Biomedical Engineering Biomaterials Mechanics and Materials Composites and Polymers Nano and Micro Materials Computational Mechanics Systems Biology of Proteostasis and the Unfolded Protein Response Reactions in Crowded Cellular Compartments Wetting Phenomena of Nanoscale Structures Dr. Stroberg's research focuses on developing new quantitative techniques for studying complex biological systems across disparate length and time scales. His work has significant implications for understanding cellular physiology, protein homeostasis, and developing new therapeutic approaches for age-associated and protein folding diseases. He employs advanced computational methods including multiscale modeling, machine learning, and theoretical analysis to investigate biological phenomena from the molecular to cellular level. His research group has published extensively in mathematical biology and computational mechanics, with a consistent focus on enzyme kinetics, cellular stress responses, and computational modeling of biological processes. The publications demonstrate a strong interdisciplinary approach combining techniques from mechanical engineering, computational science, and molecular biology. Dr. Stroberg has received recognition for his work in mathematical biology and systems biology, with publications in journals such as the Journal of Theoretical Biology, Biophysical Journal, and Mathematical Biosciences. He currently advises several graduate students working on diverse projects including multiscale modeling of enzymatic nanosensors, protein-based modulation of endoplasmic reticulum shape, development of machine learning-based coarse grained models for high-entropy alloys, and simulation of high-entropy alloys for thermal-spray deposition. His lab has trained undergraduate and master's students who have gone on to further academic pursuits. The Computational BioSystems Lab maintains active collaborations with other researchers at the University of Alberta and beyond, working at the intersection of engineering, biology, and computational science.
Victor Ezeugwu is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy at the University of Alberta's Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine. He is a Physical Therapist and research affiliate with the Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital. Dr. Ezeugwu is also a member of multiple research institutes including the Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute (NMHI), the Institute for SMart Augmentative and Restorative Technologies and Health Innovations (iSMART), the Women and Children's Health Research Institute (WCHRI), and the Sedentary Behaviour Research Network (SBRN). His educational background includes: Postdoctoral Fellowship - Canadian Healthy Infant Longitudinal Development (CHILD) Cohort Study, University of Alberta PhD - Rehabilitation Science, University of Alberta MSc - Physical Therapy, Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria BMR - Physical Therapy, University of Nigeria Dr. Ezeugwu's research primarily focuses on precision rehabilitation, utilizing wearable technologies, behaviour change techniques, and ecological approaches to study movement behaviours across the lifespan. His work involves personalizing rehabilitation interventions for individuals living with stroke, Parkinson's disease, frailty, and Long COVID. He has developed expertise in accelerometer-based movement behavior assessment and has contributed significantly to understanding how sedentary behavior impacts health outcomes in various populations, with particular emphasis on compositional approaches that consider physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep together rather than in isolation. Analysis of Dr. Ezeugwu's publication record reveals a strong progression from foundational work on movement behavior patterns to targeted clinical interventions. His recent high-impact publications in journals like The Lancet Neurology demonstrate his growing influence in stroke rehabilitation research. A distinctive theme throughout his work is the application of ecological momentary assessment approaches to understand real-world movement behaviors and develop practical, evidence-based interventions that can be implemented in clinical settings. His research increasingly focuses on precision rehabilitation approaches that integrate multiple movement behaviors rather than addressing them separately. Dr. Ezeugwu teaches PTHER 546 - Adult Neurology, covering theory and application of physical therapy for adults with neurological conditions. The course includes assessment, intervention, outcome evaluation, therapeutic exercise, electrophysical agents, and evidence-based skills. While specific scientific awards are not explicitly mentioned in the available information, his research has been published in high-impact journals including The Lancet Neurology, PLoS One, and Journal of Physical Activity and Health. As a research affiliate with the Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital, Dr. Ezeugwu maintains strong clinical connections that inform his research agenda. His work with the CHILD Cohort Study demonstrates his commitment to longitudinal research that tracks movement behaviors from early childhood through development. His current research program addresses critical gaps in rehabilitation science, particularly in developing evidence-based approaches to reduce sedentary behavior and promote optimal movement patterns across various patient populations and conditions.
