Organizing Committee

Chair

Technical Committee Chair

 

symposium chairs

Alex Inoma (he/him)

Alex is currently pursuing a Master of Science degree in mechanical engineering at the University of Alberta. His research centers on design optimization techniques for additive manufacturing, including the development and characterization of novel strut-based lattice structures. He is also a student member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) and demonstrates a keen interest in advancing sustainable development through engineering principles and practices.

Paola Vottero (she/her)

Paola is a second-year PhD student in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Alberta. Her research focuses on integrating computational physics-based methods for modelling and simulating biological systems with artificial intelligence to develop computational methods and tools to tackle global health challenges. In particular, her main interests are cancer chemotherapy, COVID-19, and Alzheimer’s disease.

Chandra Prakash (he/him)

Chandra Prakash is pursuing a Ph.D. in the Department of Chemical and Material Engineering as a visiting research scholar. His research focuses on electrochemical water splitting for hydrogen and oxygen evolution reaction.

Ehsan Shahini (he/him)

Ehsan, a fifth-year PhD candidate at the University of Alberta, specializes in the study of graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) for applications in environmental cleanup and energy storage. His pioneering work on liquid-phase exfoliation (LPE) has identified optimal solvents through molecular dynamics simulations and machine learning, streamlining the production of g-C3N4 nanosheets. His notable achievements include discovering new solvents for LPE and experimental validation of these findings, contributing significantly to sustainable materials science. Ehsan's research excellence is acknowledged by the prestigious Alberta Innovates Graduate Students Scholarship, highlighting his commitment to advancing greener solutions for pressing global challenges.

 

Co-chairs

External and Industry Relations

 

Amirhossein Taghipour

Amir is a mechanical engineering PhD student at the University of Alberta. His background is in chemical engineering with a focus on thermodynamics and reactor design. His current research involves membrane technologies for water treatment, wastewater treatment, and desalination. Amir is a member of the Advanced Water Research Lab (AWRL) and is investigating a novel approach to produce thin-film composite (TFC) membranes.

Mahsa YousefiKhanghah (she/her)

Mahsa is a second-year PhD student in mechanical engineering at the University of Alberta, building upon her background in Chemical Engineering. Her research focuses on exploring decarbonization pathways for oil sands operations through the application of techno-economic and life cycle assessment tools. By investigating sustainable solutions, she aims to contribute to reducing the environmental impact of the oil sands industry. Outside of her studies, Mahsa loves biking and hiking, connecting with nature and staying active outdoors.

Nastaran Gholizadeh (she/her)

Nastaran completed her PhD studies in software engineering and intelligent systems at the University of Alberta in December 2023. She is currently a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Alberta. Her research focuses on responsible AI and machine learning for addressing various challenges in power systems.

Ali Mirzazade Akbarpoor (he/him)

Ali is a dedicated 3rd-year PhD student in mechanical engineering at the University of Alberta. Specializing in heat transfer, thermo-fluid system design, and applied renewable energy, his research at the U of A centers on creating a cost-effective solution for disinfecting pathogenic microorganisms within HVAC systems. Passionate about advancing technology's role in public health, Ali's work aims to enhance the safety and efficiency of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems.

 

Sponsorship and Funding

Negar Riahi (she/her)

Negar is a PhD student in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Alberta, specializing in the intricate field of biomechanics and human movement analysis, with a particular focus on exoskeletons. Her research revolves around using musculoskeletal modeling techniques to understand how exoskeletons impact the human body. By studying this relationship, she aims to identify ways to enhance exoskeleton recommendation and design for optimal usability and effectiveness.

Fouzia Khazi (she/her)

Fouzia is a first-year Master of Engineering student in Software Engineering at the University of Alberta. Prior to pursuing her master's degree, she worked as a Software Engineer at Medtronic, a multinational company. During her time at Medtronic, she became interested in machine learning, which ultimately motivated her to pursue her masters in Software Engineering. In her spare time, she participates in online forums to stay up-to-date with the latest trends and advancements in the field. She is always eager to learn and grow, and demonstrates a positive attitude towards her work. Apart from academics, she is also passionate about volunteer work and contributes greatly to society.

Seyedhashem Moosavian (he/him)

Seyedhashem (Hashem) is currently in his fourth year pursuing a PhD in mechanical engineering at the University of Alberta, specializing in the mathematical modelling of polymeric materials. His research interests are primarily focused on the statistical mechanics of biopolymer gels, particularly emphasizing their extreme behaviour and fracture analysis. Hashem has been recognized for his scholarly achievements with prestigious scholarships, including the Alberta Innovates Graduate Students Scholarship, highlighting his dedication to excellence in research and academia. Hashem has also actively assisted newly admitted students through his involvement with the Iranian Students' Association of the University of Alberta.

Sandeep Singh Parmar

With a passion for joining materials, Sandeep is pursuing higher studies as a MEng student in materials engineering at the University of Alberta. In his capstone project, he will develop and analyze a weld repair procedure for a material used in the hydropower industry in a welded condition for correlating microstructure and hardness. He has behind his back extensive range of experience joining most of the metallic materials for various industries such as oil, energy (thermal, steel, hydro, wind), automotive, and railways as a welding engineer who worked with many individuals in middle management roles with certifications in welding, auditing, and nondestructive testing.

 

Advertising and marketing

Emran Hamzehnezhadabkenari

Emran is presently a second-year MSC student in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Alberta, specializing in Biomechanics. His research interests lie in integrating AI, signal processing, and ML algorithms in the healthcare sector. Emran's dedication to using technology for positive change underscores his commitment to innovation and community impact. Moreover, he possesses strong leadership skills, complementing his passion for public speaking and participation in team activities.

Lixing Lin (he/him)

Lixing is a second-year PhD student in petroleum engineering. His research focuses on enhanced oil/gas recovery and greenhouse gas mitigation in unconventional reservoirs with over 15 technical publications. Beyond academia, he has been serving as Vice-President Academic at the Graduate Students' Association for civil and environmental engineering (CEEGSA), and a councillor at the Faculty of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies (FGPS) at the University of Alberta, Energy4me Ambassador for the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) and volunteered for other various roles in SPE and the community.

Sheryl Prasanna

Sheryl Shaina Prasanna is a second-year MEng student specializing in chemical engineering at the University of Alberta. With a deep-rooted interest in clean energy and a sustainable future, Sheryl is currently engaged in an innovative capstone project focused on advancing battery technology. Throughout her academic journey, she has been actively involved in various projects, showcasing her versatility and commitment to addressing key challenges in the field of sustainable energy.

Mustajab Safarov

Mustajab is a second-year MSc student at the School of Petroleum Engineering. He is a driven and motivated student with ample experience in teaching and research on Gibbsian thermodynamics and data science. His current research focuses on the fluid phase behavior of multicomponent systems that involves building and validating computational models using Cubic Equations of State (EOS). Apart from his academic prowess, he is also volunteering for the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) the University of Alberta Chapter as a Vice President organizing various events, conferences, and technical talks in cooperation with the Canadian Energy Executive Association (CEEA), Young Canadians for Resources (YCR) and many big Energy Companies of today. He is a lifetime learner, an engineer, an avid reader and writer, a language enthusiast, and chess player.

 

Logistics and finance

Faranak Yadegari (she/her)

Faranak is a second-year Ph.D. student in Chemical Engineering with a joint specialization in Biopreservation. Faranak's interdisciplinary research involves applying solution thermodynamics and mathematical modeling to develop optimization tools for cryopreservation processes, preserving biological materials at ultra-low temperatures. Cryopreservation holds significant importance in various fields, including medicine, biotechnology, and research, enabling the long-term storage of cells, tissues, and organs for medical treatments, scientific studies, and biobanking purposes.
As a Teaching Assistant for the Engineering Thermodynamics course (CH E 243), Faranak demonstrates her passion and commitment to both research and education.

Saurav Singh

Saurav is a second-year MSc student in the Department of Mechanical Engineering. His research focusses on the Lifecycle Assesment of critical minerals cruicial in Energy transitioning alon with their detailed techno-economic assesments. Saurav is also an expert in Energy Management, Operational Excellence and Critical technology analysis. He has also aided as a Teaching Assistant for couple of Graduate and Undergraduate courses at University of Alberta and mentored several High schools students. In his spare times, he likes to play badminton and read novels.

Venkata (Duvvuri) Sai (she/her)

Duvvuri is a first-year masters student in electrical and computer engineering majoring in software engineering at University of Alberta. Her academics and work experience is inclined towards information technology and software engineering.

Armin Bonakdar (he/him)

Armin is a second-year MSc student in mechanical engineering at the University of Alberta, specializing in mechatronics, biomechanics, controls and dynamics, and machine learning algorithms. His research interests lie in the assessment and analysis of biomechanical motion through the motion capture system, inertial measurement units (IMUs), and muscle synergy analysis via electromyography (EMG), specifically focusing on performance fatigue detection. Armin demonstrates strong communication, leadership, collaboration, project and time management, and analytical and problem-solving skills.