Momentum: FEAS Newsletter, Summer 2026
A season of milestones, momentum, and well-earned celebration
As we move into the final weeks of the academic year and look ahead to summer, I find myself reflecting on just how much this community has accomplished together. It has been a season of meaningful progress, and I want to take a moment to share some of it with you.
Research that puts FEAS on the map
I am thrilled to share that FEAS has been awarded two highly competitive NSERC CREATE grants, totalling $3.3 million over six years. Led by professors Naimul Khan and Helen Stopps, these two initiatives represent exactly the kind of bold, interdisciplinary research that Elevate FEAS was built around.
These grants are not simply a funding milestone. They are a signal to the broader research community that FEAS is a destination of choice for high-quality, relevant, and impactful scholarly, research, and creative activity. I could not be prouder.
Governance and programs
At the April and May Senate meetings, three major FEAS-related items were approved. The result of months of dedicated work, careful planning, and genuine collaboration among FEAS faculty and staff, I want to acknowledge and express my sincere gratitude to everyone who contributed. I am also grateful to Senate for their consideration and support.
1. FEAS Faculty Council
FEAS will have its very own Faculty Council, launching in the 2026-2027 academic year. As I shared at our town hall, this has been a priority of mine since I arrived. A Faculty Council creates a formal forum for collaborative governance, bringing our six departments together to advance our academic agenda with shared purpose and stronger communication across the faculty. This is a community building exercise, not a top-down one, and I look forward to seeing it take shape with your involvement.
2. Combined Engineering & Commerce degree
Senate has also approved a combined double degree in Bachelor of Engineering and Bachelor of Commerce, set to begin in Fall 2028. This is a historic collaboration between engineering and management, and a meaningful signal of where the profession is heading. Graduates who can speak both languages, technical and business, will be exceptionally well-positioned for the careers of tomorrow.
3. 12-week instructional model
Beginning in Fall 2027, FEAS will move to a 12-week instructional model with a reading week in the fall semester and an aligned winter semester start date consistent with the rest of TMU. This change gives students and faculty more room to breathe, to pursue research, to engage in experiential learning, and to strengthen the connections between what happens inside and outside the classroom.
Convocation and a note of gratitude
On June 19th, we will celebrate our graduating class at convocation, and I hope to see many of you there. That ceremony is, for me, one of the most meaningful moments of the academic year. Every student who crosses that stage carries with them the mentorship, dedication, and care that each of you has contributed. The impact you make on our students is real, and it lasts a lifetime.
As you head into summer, I encourage you to take time to rest and recharge. The work we do asks a great deal from all of us, and a well-rested community is a stronger one.
Before you sign off for the season, I have one small ask. The CCG team is collecting feedback on Momentum, and I would genuinely love for your voice to be part of shaping future issues. Please take two minutes to complete the reader survey linked below. Tell the team what is working, what you want to see more of, and how we can make this newsletter even more useful.
Thank you for an extraordinary school year.
Sri Krishnan
How a FEAS researcher and an AI-powered app are cutting the years-long wait for endometriosis diagnosis
For the one in ten women affected by endometriosis, getting a diagnosis can take an average of five years and sometimes up to twelve. Biomedical engineering professor Dafna Sussman, is working to change that. Backed by a $1-million allocation from a historic $5-million gift to Sinai Health, Sussman is co-leading development of DANA, an AI-powered app designed to analyze symptoms, ask smart clinical questions, and get patients to the right specialist faster. The project is a compelling example of FEAS engineering research driving equity and impact in women's health.
Kids Help Phone partners with FEAS on $3.2M AI-powered crisis responder training tool
TMU and Kids Help Phone have launched a five-year research partnership backed by $3.2 million from Wellcome, one of the world's largest charitable foundations. This collaborative initiative, including co-applicant Naimul Khan, will involve developing a generative AI simulator built on more than 750,000 de-identified KHP transcripts, giving crisis responder trainees a safe, realistic, and culturally accurate environment to practice before working with youth in crisis. The tool will also provide real-time performance feedback aligned with KHP's clinical standards, representing a meaningful application of responsible AI in digital mental health.
FEAS Research and Innovation workshops uniting industry and academia
Over the past several months, the FEAS Research and Innovation Office has been working with workshop chairs to host a number of important workshops on critical research themes. These successful events have brought together leading professionals with TMU researchers, and sparked new conversations and partnerships.
The Department of Architectural Science (DAS) showcases Indigenous-led courses
As part of CAFÉ 2026: Indigenous Knowledge and Design, DAS hosted a week-long exhibition of student work from Indigenous-led courses at the department. Presented by the Canadian Architecture Students Association (CASA-ACÉA), the exhibition showcased select student work from ARC920 Advanced Architecture Design Studio led by Erik Skouris (Two Row Architect), and AR8106 Current Topics in Architectural Praxis: Indigenous Form Making led by James Bird (Moriyama Teshima Architects / Massey College), along with other Indigenous curriculum development initiatives in DAS, which have been underway since Spring 2024.
Making a global impact
This work, along with other research and initiatives across FEAS is helping to address the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). By demonstrating how our faculty contributes to these goals, we also bolster TMU’s global rankings. View the latest rankings.
Professor Bala Venkatesh receives prestigious IEEE Canada award
Congratulations to professor Bala Venkatesh of the Department of Electrical, Computer, and Biomedical Engineering, who has been named a recipient of the IEEE Canada P.D. Ziogas Electric Power Award. One of the highest honours in Canadian power engineering, Venkatesh was recognized for his outstanding contributions to the field of electric power systems. His decades of leadership in smart grids, energy storage, and power systems optimization, including solutions now operationally used by Toronto Hydro, reflect exactly the kind of real-world impact this recognition celebrates.
(PDF file) Read more about the award and Venkatesh’s contributions on page 10 (external link)
Civil engineering students win big at provincial water design competition
Congratulations to two TMU civil engineering teams who placed 1st and 3rd in the 2026 WEAO Pond-er student design competition. Teams tackled a real-world challenge: proposing upgrades to Newmarket's Pond 88 Leslie Valley Dry Pond, a stormwater system originally built in the 1990s, to meet current standards for water quality and capacity. First place winners Erwin Lin, Iris Lin, and Sina Rokhsari will now represent WEAO at the WEF Student Design Competition at WEFTEC 2026 in New Orleans. Congratulations to all nine students across Teams 1, 2, and 3 on this outstanding achievement.
Innovation Boost Zone secures $430,000 to turn Ontario research into real-world ventures
TMU's Innovation Boost Zone (IBZ) has been selected by Intellectual Property Ontario (IPON) to deliver a new Innovation Fellowship program launching this summer. The $430,000 investment will support 30 Fellows from across Ontario, equipping student co-inventors with IP strategy, mentorship, and hands-on incubation support to bring their research to market. Fellows will move through four programming streams tailored to their stage of development, culminating in a Demo Day pitch competition before deep-tech investors. It is a significant milestone for FEAS's commercialization ecosystem and Ontario's innovation pipeline.
New Iron Ring Statue built entirely by TMU’s engineering community
When you next visit the George Vari Engineering and Computing Centre, you’ll find a new Iron Ring statue standing proudly in the hallway. Every component of the statue was designed, prototyped, tested, casted and installed by TMU’s engineering community. Developed over 18 months, the statue’s creation was led by six undergraduate students and united fellow students, alumni, technical staff, faculty members, and design teams – with each person sharing their unique skills and perspectives.
Engineering and Architectural Science Day 2026
This past April, it was another exciting and thriving Engineering and Architectural Science Day, where final-year undergraduates showcased their Capstone projects. Industry partners were in full force, taking in the poster presentations and networking with students at the Employer Exhibition, hosted by the FEAS Co-op team. The event capped off with the Dean’s Office Program Awards presentation, where one exceptional project from each department received $1,000 for their innovative work. Congratulations to all of the faculty, staff and students who made this big day possible!
Professor Leila Marie Farah’s co-edited book receives a RAIC Architectural Journalism and Media Award
Congratulations to professor Leila Marie Farah on the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC) Architectural Journalism and Media Award for her book Mobs and Microbes: Global Perspectives on Market Halls, Civic Order and Public Health. Farah co-edited the book and authored a chapter on Toronto’s St. Lawrence Market, investigating its urban landscape and colourful history. Going beyond food, the book explores how markets around the world have been shaped by public health crises, acted as a catalyst for resilience against authorities and served as demonstration grounds for community-led mobilization efforts.
Download and read the book from Leuven University Press. (external link)
Learn more about the book and RAIC award on the RAIC website. (external link)
Shawzma Multani representing FEAS at CACUSS 2026
From June 3 – 4, Shawzma Multani, Manager, Advising and Academic Initiatives at the First-Year Engineering Office, will present two sessions at the 2026 Canadian Association of College and University Student Services (CACUSS) conference. This conference brings together academic and student affairs professionals from colleges and universities across Canada. The sessions, inspired by the Engineering Tune-Up Advising Cafes and The Assignment Calculator, highlight innovative approaches for supporting students. Congrats Shawzma!
FEAS researchers showcase their innovations at DiscoveryX
At DiscoveryX 2026, artificial intelligence (AI) took centre stage as TMU researchers and students showcased the strength of the university’s innovation ecosystem. From life-saving infant heart rate monitors and AI-driven medical imaging tools to self-powered wearables, flexible robotic drone arms and advanced vertical farming, their work demonstrated how leading-edge ideas translate into real-world impact.
Congratulations to our faculty, staff, partners and volunteer award recipients!
Over the past few months, Toronto Metropolitan University has announced numerous FEAS award recipients for 2026. These prominent awards range from scholarly, research and creative excellence to teaching and community impact. Award categories include:
- Teaching and Education Awards
- Scholarly, Research and Creative (SRC) Activity Awards
- Service and Leadership Awards
- Long Service Milestones Celebrations
FEAS faculty tenure and rank announcements
Congratulations to our faculty members who have received promotions in rank, including:
Dr. Ehsan Rezazadeh Azar, Department of Architectural Science
Transferred to tenured faculty and promoted to Associate Professor
Dr. Nariman Yousefi, Department of Chemical Engineering
Transferred to tenured faculty and promoted to Associate Professor
Dr. Faezeh Ensan, Department of Electrical, Computer, and Biomedical Engineering
Transferred to tenured faculty and promoted to Associate Professor
Dr. Mohammadreza Fakhari Moghaddam Arani, Department of Electrical, Computer, and Biomedical Engineering
Transferred to tenured faculty and promoted to Associate Professor
Dr. Muhammad Owais Khan, Department of Electrical, Computer, and Biomedical Engineering
Transferred to tenured faculty and promoted to Associate Professor
Dr. Bilal Farooq, Department of Civil Engineering
Promoted to the rank of Professor
Dr. Sharareh Taghipour, Department of Mechanical, Industrial, and Mechatronics Engineering
Promoted to the rank of Professor
Norman Esch Lecture Hall unveiled at TMU
TMU has named a lecture hall in honour of Norman Esch, recognizing the transformative impact of the Norman Esch Foundation's partnership with FEAS since 2013. Esch-supported student ventures have raised more than $122 million and created over 250 jobs, empowering hundreds of student entrepreneurs to turn bold ideas into thriving companies.
TMU researchers reveal the hidden carbon cost of going electric
A first-of-its-kind simulator developed by PhD student Tareq Alsaleh and professor Bilal Farooq in TMU's Laboratory of Innovations in Transportation (LiTrans Lab), reveals that EV supply chain emissions may account for up to 25% of total pre-operation carbon output. This is a gap long overlooked by the industry. The research, published in Nature, also shows that smarter supply chain design could cut regional emissions vulnerability by up to 80%.
FEAS student ambassadors inspire the next generation of engineers at Badge Day
Dozens of Girl Guides visited TMU's campus for Badge Day 2026, a nationwide initiative organized by the Ontario Network of Women in Engineering. Led by FEAS Engineering Outreach student ambassadors, participants built their own lava lamps, explored hands-on science, and walked away with an Ontario Network of Women in Engineering (ONWiE) badge crest celebrating their engineering achievement.
Computer engineering grad turns pro basketball coach in Mexico
Arsalan Jamil (Computer Engineering '08) found basketball on the courts of Scarborough and found himself at TMU. Now he's head coach of a professional team in Mexico's CIBACOPA league, with stops along the way at the Raptors 905, Giants of Africa, and TMU's own men's basketball program. His story is a compelling reminder that a FEAS degree can be the foundation for a life built on purpose, not just profession.
TTC taps FEAS researchers to drive the future of Toronto transit
TMU and the TTC have launched five new research projects through the Transit Innovation Yard, a joint initiative with the DMZ. FEAS faculty are leading projects spanning AI-powered route optimization, drone-based tunnel inspection, digital twins for energy efficiency, and cross-device wayfinding. The research runs 9 to 15 months and reflects exactly the kind of city-embedded, applied research that puts FEAS at the centre of solving Toronto's real-world challenges.
The lasting impact of FEAS outreach, one student's journey at a time
Rehana Motala attended a FEAS Engineering Outreach workshop in high school and found her path to civil engineering at TMU. One year later, she became an outreach ambassador herself, mentoring the next generation of women in STEM at the very same event that inspired her. Stories like Rehana's reflect why this work matters. At FEAS, we are proud to invest in community outreach that opens doors, shifts perceptions, and plants seeds that grow far beyond a single workshop.
37 summer award opportunities for students
Faculty are encouraged to review the new summer research award opportunities available for students.
TMU President Mohamed Lachemi receives Gold Medal from OSPE
Congratulations to TMU President and Vice-Chancellor Mohamed Lachemi, who has been recognized with the Ontario Professional Engineers Awards (OPEA) Gold Medal. A globally recognized leader in sustainable concrete research, Lachemi has spent more than 30 years advancing ultra-high-performance and smart building materials that address pressing infrastructure and climate challenges.
Concrete Canoe student team takes top placements in New Brunswick
Over five days, the Concrete Canoe team represented TMU with pride. The team was awarded:
- #1 in Ontario
- #1 in Project Proposal
- #3 in Enhanced Focus Area
- #4 Overall in Canada
- Most Innovative Construction Technique
New Mechatronics Engineering lab helps undergrads put theory into practice
This past school year, a new undergraduate Mechatronics lab (KHW-169/171) has helped mechatronics engineering students get hands-on with mechatronics, robotics and control systems. Managed by Technical Officer, William (Tianhao) Jiang, the labs encourage students to work in teams to solve complex control problems – from calculating the movements of a robotic arm to controlling the flow of water using pressure sensors and PID controls logic.
Knowledge Mobilization funding for research communications
CCG has been supporting FEAS researchers on Knowledge Mobilization (KM) deliverables funded through their grants, including project websites and visual identity work for the dissemination of research results. Recent examples include professor Sharareh Taghipour's QAI4DO site and professor Jenn McArthur's BEACON site, both designed and developed by CCG's website team and aligned with Elevate FEAS priorities on research impact and translation. Faculty writing new proposals or revising active ones can build communications scope into their KM budget lines, drawing on CCG's expertise in AEM, FEAS brand standards, and website design. To discuss what this could look like for a project, (google form) connect with CCG (external link) .
For more events, news and stories, visit the FEAS Stories & Events webpage.