Prof. Ramakrishna Gokaraju is a Professor and Graduate Chair in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Saskatchewan. His academic journey includes roles as Assistant Professor (2003), Associate Professor (2009), and full Professor (2015). He holds a B.E. from NIT Trichy (1992), M.Sc. and Ph.D. from the University of Calgary (1996, 2000). His research focuses on power system protection, smart grids, and sustainable energy systems, including small modular reactors (SMRs) and renewable integration. He has advised 8 PhD and 25+ Master’s students, with over 80 publications in top journals/conferences. Dr. Gokaraju’s honors include the Izaak Walton Killam Memorial Scholarship (1998–2000) and the Professor of the Year Award (2008). He has held visiting roles at the University of Manitoba (2009–2010), IIT Kanpur (2018), and institutions in Australia and India. His work emphasizes high-speed digital relaying, PMU-based solutions, and transient stability protection. Current research includes wind generator modeling, SMR integration, and energy storage systems for remote communities. His technical contributions span fault location algorithms, grid resilience enhancement, and GPU-based optimization for transport systems. Ongoing projects explore hybrid energy systems combining SMRs with renewables. Lab affiliations include the Power Systems Research Group at the University of Saskatchewan, focusing on smart grid innovation and sustainable energy solutions.
Magdy M. A. Salama is a Professor and University Research Chair at the University of Waterloo's Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Faculty of Engineering. He holds a P.Eng. license and is a Fellow of the IEEE. His research spans Energy Systems (Power Quality, Smart Grids, Renewable Energy) and Biomedical Engineering (Medical Imaging, Sleep Analysis). He has authored/co-authored over 460 publications and supervised numerous graduate students. Education: PhD (University of Waterloo), M.Sc. and B.Sc. (Cairo University). Awards include the IEEE Fellow distinction, University Research Chair, and multiple teaching/research awards from the University of Waterloo. Research trends in his articles focus on Smart Grid resiliency, renewable integration, cyber-physical security, and biomedical applications of AI. Notable projects include voltage sag mitigation, EV fleet electrification, and blockchain-based energy trading platforms. Scientific Awards: IEEE Fellow, University Research Chair, Teaching Excellence Award (2000) Grants/Consultation: Extensive industry and institutional collaborations on power systems and biomedical tech. Labs/Teams: Active in High Voltage Lab, Smart Grids Research Group, and Medical Image Processing Lab.
Ahmad Al-Dabbagh is an Assistant Professor in Manufacturing Engineering and holds a Principal's Research Chair in Control Systems (Tier 2) with the School of Engineering at The University of British Columbia. As a Senior Member of IEEE and ISA, he contributes significantly to the field of resilient automation and control systems through research, teaching, and professional service. His academic journey includes postdoctoral fellowships at Imperial College London, the University of Toronto, and the University of Alberta, where he also earned his PhD in Electrical and Computer Engineering. Dr. Al-Dabbagh's research focuses on designing resilient automation and control systems by addressing critical challenges in fault diagnosis, cyber security, and alarm management. His work spans theoretical foundations and practical applications in industrial control systems, with particular emphasis on detection and isolation of faults and cyber attacks, control reconfiguration, event-triggered control, remote state estimation, and alarm systems design. His research interests also extend to causality analysis, prediction methods, and root cause analysis for industrial processes. His extensive publication record demonstrates consistent contributions to control systems security and reliability, with recent work focusing on sophisticated methods for detecting false data injection attacks, analyzing alarm correlations using advanced machine learning techniques, and developing recommender systems for human operators in industrial environments. The trajectory of his research shows an evolution from foundational control theory toward increasingly complex applications in cyber-physical security and human-system interaction in industrial settings. NSERC Postdoctoral Fellowship NSERC Alexander Graham Bell Canada Graduate Scholarship (CGS – D3) Queen Elizabeth II Graduate Scholarship Governor General's Academic Medal (Gold) As a graduate student supervisor, Dr. Al-Dabbagh mentors the next generation of control systems engineers while maintaining an active research program. He serves as an Associate Editor on the IEEE Control Systems Society Conference Editorial Board and is a licensed Professional Engineer in British Columbia and Ontario. His teaching portfolio includes courses such as System Identification, Digital Enterprise, Systems and Control, and Internet of Things, reflecting the breadth of his expertise. Dr. Al-Dabbagh leads the Okanagan Laboratory for Control Systems Research, where his team develops innovative approaches to enhance the security and reliability of industrial automation systems. The laboratory serves as a hub for interdisciplinary research that bridges theoretical control engineering with practical industrial applications, particularly in the energy, manufacturing, and process industries.
Dr. Yuping He is a Professor in the Department of Automotive and Mechatronics Engineering at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT). He holds a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Waterloo (2002) and has extensive academic and industry experience, including postdoctoral fellowships at the University of Windsor and University of Waterloo. His research focuses on autonomous driving, vehicle dynamics, chassis design, and active safety systems, with expertise in modeling and simulation techniques. Education: PhD (Mechanical Engineering), University of Waterloo, 2002 MASc (Automotive Engineering), Tsinghua University, China, 1991 BASc (Automotive Engineering), Hubei Automotive Industries Institute, China, 1985 Research interests include automated design synthesis, multidisciplinary optimization, and driver-hardware-in-the-loop simulations. He has contributed to advancements in heavy vehicle stability control, trailer steering systems, and energy-saving strategies for steer-by-wire vehicles. His work bridges mechanical systems, control engineering, and real-time simulation technologies. Awards include the 2010 Research Excellence Award from UOIT’s Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, and a nomination for the Governor-General’s Gold Medal (2003). His publications span journals like Vehicle System Dynamics and ASME Journal of Computational and Nonlinear Dynamics , with a focus on improving vehicle safety and performance through advanced control strategies. Advising and Grants: Dr. He has advised student teams in capstone projects, including the 2010 FEAS Capstone Design Competition-winning team. His research integrates industrial collaboration, as seen in roles like Senior Product Engineer at American Axle & Manufacturing (2005). His work emphasizes practical applications in automotive and mechatronic systems.
Majid Ghaderi is a Professor in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Calgary, Faculty of Science. His expertise spans network algorithms, secure communication, and machine learning applications in network control. He holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of Waterloo (2006), and M.Sc. and B.Sc. degrees in Software Engineering from Sharif University of Technology (2001 and 1999). Education: Ph.D. Computer Science, University of Waterloo, 2006 M.Sc. Software Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, 2001 B.Sc. Software Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, 1999 Research Interests: Dr. Ghaderi focuses on optimizing network algorithms, securing communication in distributed systems, and leveraging machine learning for network control. His work addresses challenges such as secure wireless protocols, SDN-based network management, and efficient resource allocation in data centers. He explores proactive traffic scheduling and anomaly detection in critical infrastructures like industrial control systems and vehicular networks. Publications Trends: His recent work emphasizes covert communication in heterogeneous networks, adaptive federated learning in edge environments, and low-overhead diagnostic systems for cloud networks. He also investigates cybersecurity defenses against hardware vulnerabilities and dynamic threat landscapes. Awards: Best in-session Presentation Award, IEEE INFOCOM 2018 Municipal Excellence Award, Government of Alberta 2018 Faculty of Science Excellence in Teaching Award 2012 Advising & Grants: While no specific advisees are listed, his research has been supported by grants focusing on network security, edge computing, and IoT applications. He teaches CPSC 441 (Computer Networks) and maintains an active lab focused on network systems and cybersecurity. Labs & Teams: His research group collaborates on projects involving software-defined networks, vehicular communication, and industrial IoT security. The team develops open-source tools for network monitoring and anomaly detection.
Nicola Nicolici is a Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at McMaster University. His research focuses on methods and algorithms for the design of digital integrated circuits and systems, with significant contributions in manufacturing test, post-silicon validation and debug. His work has expanded to include embedded systems, low-energy computing, and custom hardware-accelerated computing systems. Professor Nicolici's research interests span multiple areas of digital system design and validation. His early work focused on manufacturing test methodologies and power-aware testing strategies for integrated circuits. More recently, he has made significant contributions to post-silicon validation techniques, including constrained-random stimuli generation, trace signal selection, and bit-flip detection. His research has evolved to address emerging challenges in embedded computing systems, low-energy design, and specialized hardware acceleration for various applications including deep neural networks and signal processing. His recent publications reveal a strong trend toward hardware acceleration for specialized computing tasks. The research spans matrix multiplication algorithms (Strassen and Karatsuba), memory system optimization (DDR5 calibration), FPGA-based radar processing, and neural network acceleration. His work consistently bridges theoretical algorithm development with practical hardware implementation considerations, particularly focusing on precision analysis, fault tolerance, and energy efficiency. The research demonstrates a clear progression from traditional digital circuit testing to more complex system-level validation and acceleration techniques. Professor Nicolici has been actively involved in teaching courses related to system-on-chip design and test, digital systems, and embedded systems. His teaching portfolio includes advanced courses such as System-on-Chip (SOC) Design and Test and Digital Systems Design , reflecting his expertise in the field. While specific grant information isn't detailed in the provided text, his extensive publication record suggests ongoing research funding support. His research has contributed significantly to the fields of digital circuit testing, post-silicon validation, and hardware acceleration. The work has practical applications in semiconductor manufacturing, embedded systems design, and specialized computing architectures. His recent focus on neural network acceleration and memory system optimization reflects the evolving landscape of computer architecture research.
Kamal Al Haddad is a Lecturer in the Department of Electrical Engineering at École de technologie supérieure (ÉTS). He holds a Doctorate from INTP, Toulouse, and advanced degrees from UQTR. His research focuses on power electronics, renewable energy integration, and smart grid technologies. He leads the GREPCI research group, specializing in Power Electronics and Industrial Control. Education: B.Eng., M.Sc.A. (UQTR), Doctorate (INTP, Toulouse). Research interests span energy conversion, industrial electronics, power quality, and electromagnetic interference. He emphasizes sustainable energy solutions, electric traction systems, and high-efficiency power sources. His work includes developing advanced power electronic converters and grid stability solutions. Recent articles highlight advancements in modular converters for STATCOM, AI-driven fault detection in hydrogenerators, and renewable energy policy frameworks. He has received notable awards, including the 2014 IEEE Eugene Mittelmann Prize and Fellowships from IEEE and other institutions. Supervised over 60 students, including doctoral theses on topics like hydrogenerator diagnostics, EV charging systems, and renewable energy integration. His research also involves real-time simulation of power systems and FPGA-based implementations. Labs/Teams: GREPCI – Power Electronics and Industrial Control Research Group, leading projects on smart grids and energy efficiency.
Jing Jiang is a Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Western Ontario (Western University), where he holds the NSERC/UNENE Senior Industrial Research Chair in Nuclear Instrumentation and Control since 2003. He is a registered professional engineer (P. Eng.) in Ontario and a Fellow of multiple prestigious organizations including the Canadian Academy of Engineering, IEEE, and the Engineering Institute of Canada. Dr. Jiang's research focuses on: Fault-tolerant control of safety-critical systems Advanced control of nuclear power plants Integration of renewable energy resources in microgrids Instrumentation and control systems Advanced signal processing for fault diagnosis Industrial wireless sensor networks His educational background includes a Ph.D. from the University of New Brunswick (1989), MESc. from the University of New Brunswick (1984), and BESc. from Jiaotong University in Xi'an, China (1982). Dr. Jiang has been with Western University since 1991, progressing from Assistant Professor to Full Professor in 1999. Dr. Jiang has established the Control, Instrumentation and Electrical Systems (CIES) research group and two state-of-the-art laboratories: the NPP I/C research lab and the distributed generation (DG) research lab. His research has significant industry impact, particularly in nuclear power plant instrumentation and control systems, with collaborations with the Canadian nuclear industry and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Professional Recognition Professional Engineers Gold Medal (2025, 2021) Canadian Association for Graduate Studies Award for Outstanding Graduate Mentorship (2021) Distinguished University Professor (2018) Fellow of IEEE (2017) RBC Top 25 Canadian Immigrant Award (2016) Fellow of Canadian Academy of Engineering (2010) Dr. Jiang has served on numerous technical committees including ISA 100.11a (Wireless Systems for Automation), ISA 67 (Nuclear Power Plant Standards), and IEC SC 45A (Nuclear Instrumentation). He has been actively involved with the IAEA as an expert consultant on various nuclear-related technical matters. He leads a research team consisting of post-doctoral fellows, research engineers, and graduate students. His NPP I/C lab includes a CANDU NPP simulator, physical simulators, various control systems (ABB, Siemens, DeltaV, Honeywell), safety PLC systems, and industrial wireless sensor networks. The DG lab features a reconfigurable microgrid with renewable energy sources, energy storage devices, and advanced power electronics control systems.
Amir Asif is a Professor at the Lassonde School of Engineering, York University, and concurrently serves as Vice President, Research and Innovation. His academic leadership roles include Dean of the Gina Cody School of Engineering and Computer Science at Concordia University (2014-2020). He specializes in signal processing, communications, and their applications in healthcare, power grids, and distributed systems. Asif holds a PhD from Carnegie Mellon University and a Harvard certification in executive leadership. Education: PhD, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University (1996) MS, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University (1993) BSc, University of Engineering and Technology Lahore (1990) Harvard Certificate in Leadership for Senior Executives (2018) Research Interests: Asif’s work spans signal processing for medical imaging (e.g., ultrasound elastography), smart grid optimization, and cybersecurity in power systems. His recent publications address hydrogen energy systems, EMG-based gesture recognition, and resilient control frameworks against cyberattacks. Grants & Leadership: He leads NSERC-funded projects on federated learning and resilient algorithms. He chairs the Ontario Council of University Research and serves on TRIUMF Innovations and the Richmond Hill Board of Trade. His grants include SSHRC funding for equity initiatives and NSERC support for distributed signal processing. Teaching & Mentorship: Asif has supervised over a dozen graduate students and taught courses like Digital Communications and Statistical Signal Processing Theory. Notable advisees include Arash Mohammadi (PhD, 2014) and Nick Sajadi (PhD, 2017).
Dr. Marjan Alavi is an Assistant Professor at McMaster University's W Booth School of Engineering Practice and Technology, affiliated with the Mechanical Engineering department as an Associate Member. She holds a Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) license in Ontario and has over 15 years of academic and industrial experience in electrical engineering. Her research focuses on model-based and data-driven approaches for fault diagnosis, prognosis, and fault-tolerant control in hybrid systems, with applications in power electronics, energy systems, and smart infrastructure. Education: B.Sc. (2004) from K.N. Toosi University of Technology, M.Sc. (2007) from Sharif University of Technology, Ph.D. (2014) from Nanyang Technological University (Singapore), and a Postdoc (2015) at the University of Toronto's Energy Systems Group. Teaching: Instructs courses on Real-Time Systems (SEP 6ES3, SFWRTECH 4ES3), Smart Cities and Communities (SMRTTECH 4SC3), integrating real-world engineering challenges with theoretical frameworks. She emphasizes hands-on learning through remote labs and experiential projects. Professional Contributions: Serves as IEEE Toronto Section Executive Member, Technical Reviewer for IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics, and Vice Chair of IEEE Industrial Applications Society (2015). Founded Intelligent Diagnosis Corporations, a Canadian startup focused on research and innovation in diagnostics technologies. Key Projects: Developed fault diagnosis strategies for electro-hydraulic actuators, vehicle-mounted infrastructure monitoring systems, and remote laboratory platforms for emergency traffic control. Research spans predictive maintenance, smart city technologies, and railway systems certification benefits. Awards: Recipient of the Singapore International Graduate Award (SINGA) 2010. Recognized for her work in bridging academic research with industrial applications, particularly in enhancing system reliability through advanced control methodologies.
Dr. Thia Kirubarajan is a Professor and Distinguished Engineering Professor in the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department at McMaster University. He holds the NSERC/General Dynamics Mission Systems-Canada Industrial Research Chair in Target Tracking and Information Fusion. His expertise spans Estimation Theory, Multisensor-Multitarget Tracking, Information Fusion, and Signal Processing. He has led the Estimation, Tracking and Fusion Research Laboratory (ETFLab) with over 50 students and researchers, including PhD candidates and postdoctoral fellows. His academic journey includes degrees from Cambridge University (B.A., M.A.) and the University of Connecticut (M.S., Ph.D.). Education: B.A./M.A. (Cambridge, UK), M.S./Ph.D. (University of Connecticut, USA) Research Interests: Multisensor tracking, sensor fusion, fault diagnosis, and autonomous systems Dr. Kirubarajan has received notable awards including the Barry Carlton Award and Ontario Premier's Research Excellence Award. He teaches advanced courses like Algorithms for Parameter and State Estimation (ECE 771) and has advised numerous students across PhD, M.A.Sc., and undergraduate levels. His research lab collaborates internationally, hosting visiting scholars and fostering innovation in smart systems and transportation.
Tina Shoa is an Associate Professor in the School of Sustainable Energy Engineering at Simon Fraser University. She holds a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from the University of British Columbia (2010), an M.Sc. from the University of Manitoba (2004), and a B.Sc. from Iran University of Science and Technology (2000). Her research focuses on battery performance modeling, electrochemical methods for fault detection, sustainable battery manufacturing, and AI-based diagnostics. Education: Ph.D., Electrical Engineering, University of British Columbia, 2010 M.Sc., Electrical Engineering, University of Manitoba, 2004 B.Sc., Electrical Engineering, Iran University of Science and Technology, 2000 Research Interests: Battery performance modeling, analysis, and optimization Electrochemical and ultrasound-based battery fault detection Sustainable battery manufacturing processes AI-driven battery diagnostics Teaching and Courses: Advanced Battery and Fuel Cell Technologies Power Plant Systems Smart Grids Practicum SEE 354 D100 Energy Storage (Summer 2025) Patents: Battery State-of-health Determination upon charging (US Patent 11079437B2, 2022) Battery State-of-health Determination using multi-factor normalization (US Patent 10,302,709, 2019) Apparatus and Method for testing electrochemical systems (US Provisional Patent 62/994687, 2020) Key Contributions: Her work integrates electrochemical principles and AI to advance battery diagnostics and sustainable energy storage solutions. She has authored over 15 publications in top-tier journals and conferences, addressing battery aging, state estimation, and novel manufacturing techniques.
Jun Yan is an Associate Professor and Concordia University Research Chair in Artificial Intelligence in Cyber Security and Resilience at the Concordia Institute for Information Systems Engineering (Concordia University). His research focuses on cybersecurity, smart grid systems, and AI-driven solutions for energy and communication networks. He supervises graduate students in programs such as Information Systems Security (MASc), Computer Science (MCompSc), and Information and Systems Engineering (PhD). Research Highlights : Cybersecurity of distributed energy systems, AI penetration testing frameworks, and resilient transactive energy markets. Awards : Holds a prestigious university research chair in AI-driven cybersecurity. His work integrates machine learning with domain-specific challenges in smart grids, IoT security, and multi-agent systems. Notable contributions include frameworks for detecting adversarial attacks on power systems, optimizing renewable energy integration, and developing AI tools for penetration testing. His articles reflect a strong emphasis on interdisciplinary solutions blending cybersecurity, energy systems, and advanced computing. Yan’s research also addresses policy and infrastructure challenges in sustainable energy systems, including waste management policy analysis and optimal configuration of hybrid renewable systems. He has pioneered open-source co-simulation platforms like PEMT-CoSim and Quantum-Sim for secure energy trading and quantum communication in grids. He actively engages in grant-funded projects and advises on both academic and applied aspects of cybersecurity and intelligent systems.
Bhushan Gopaluni is a Professor in the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering at the University of British Columbia, where he also serves as Associate Dean for Education and Professional Development in the Faculty of Applied Science. He holds associate faculty positions in multiple interdisciplinary institutes including the Institute of Applied Mathematics, Institute for Computing, Information and Cognitive Systems, Pulp and Paper Center, and Clean Energy Research Center. He previously held the Elizabeth and Leslie Gould Teaching Professorship from 2014 to 2017. Education: Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering, University of Alberta (2003) Bachelor of Technology in Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Madras (1997) Research Interests: Professor Gopaluni's research spans several critical areas at the intersection of chemical engineering, machine learning, and process control. His primary focus includes the development of advanced process control strategies using reinforcement learning and machine learning techniques. He has made significant contributions to battery technology research, particularly in capacity estimation and remaining useful life prediction for lithium-ion batteries. His work also encompasses sustainable energy systems, industrial process monitoring, fault diagnosis, and the application of digital twin technology in chemical processes. His research methodology emphasizes the integration of data-driven approaches with fundamental process understanding, leading to practical solutions for complex industrial challenges. This includes the development of interpretable machine learning models for industrial applications, real-time optimization strategies, and advanced monitoring systems for process industries. Publications and Research Impact: Professor Gopaluni's recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on cutting-edge applications of machine learning in chemical engineering. His work prominently features battery technology and energy systems, with multiple papers addressing lithium-ion battery capacity estimation and management. He has also contributed significantly to process control applications, including drilling process monitoring, greenhouse gas reduction in marine transport, and renewable carbon tracking in biofuel processing. His research extends to advanced computational methods including deep learning, reinforcement learning, and causal discovery in industrial processes. Awards and Recognition: Killam Teaching Prize (University of British Columbia) Dean's Service Medal (University of British Columbia) D.G. Fisher Award in Process Control (Canadian Society for Chemical Engineers) Elizabeth and Leslie Gould Teaching Professor (2014-2017) Professional Service and Editorial Roles: Professor Gopaluni currently serves as Associate Editor for three prestigious journals: Journal of Process Control, The Journal of Franklin Institute, and Results in Control and Optimization. His service to the academic community extends through his role as Associate Dean for Education and Professional Development, where he oversees educational initiatives across the Faculty of Applied Science. Industry Experience: From 2003 to 2005, Professor Gopaluni worked as an engineering consultant at Matrikon Inc. (now Honeywell Process Solutions), where he designed and commissioned multivariable controllers for British Columbia's pulp and paper industry and implemented controller performance monitoring projects across oil & gas and chemical industries.
Associate Professor Patrick Dumond holds a Ph.D., M.A.Sc., and B.A.Sc. from the University of Ottawa. He is affiliated with the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering. His research focuses on vibration/acoustic system design, inverse eigenvalue methods, biomechanical design, design theory, musical acoustics, and experiential engineering education. He actively contributes to the Centre for Entrepreneurship and Engineering Design (CEED) and advises students in engineering competitions. His work bridges mechanical engineering with biomedical and educational applications, emphasizing practical, hands-on learning. Education: All degrees earned at the University of Ottawa—Ph.D. (2015), M.A.Sc. (uOttawa), B.A.Sc. (uOttawa). Research interests include vibration systems, biomedical prosthetics (e.g., hip joint prostheses), and machine learning for fault diagnosis. He has published extensively on topics like bearing fault detection, data fusion, and educational program design. Professional Involvement: CEED co-development, advising student teams, and advancing multidisciplinary engineering education. Labs/Teams: Core contributor to the Centre for Entrepreneurship and Engineering Design (CEED).
