Lassonde School of Engineering

06/05/2026

A team of Lassonde engineering students recently had the opportunity to present their work at the Canadian Space Agency in Ottawa.

The Differential Image Motion Monitor was developed as part of their final year capstone project in partnership with the CSA. The project helps improve understanding of atmospheric conditions that affect quantum communication between satellites and ground stations.

It's a great example of what can happen when students get the opportunity to work on real-world challenges with industry and government partners.

Congratulations to Riyaz Alli, Simra Nizamuddin and Basak Babadagi, who presented the project under the supervision of Professor Regina Lee.

06/03/2026

3D-printed concrete construction is moving from concept to reality.

Professor Liam Butler is working with Markham-based startup Aretek to develop lower-carbon concrete mixes, run full-scale structural tests, and build the evidence needed for regulatory approval.

Once secured, Aretek can proceed with a three-storey student housing project at the University of Windsor, set to become the largest 3D-printed concrete building in North America by volume.

A key factor is Lassonde’s CD3 facility, giving researchers and industry partners access to full-scale industrial 3D printing and helping accelerate the path from research to deployment.

Read more: https://bit.ly/4ff68Sr

Using industrial-scale 3D printers at York’s Keele Campus, researchers supported durability and performance testing that secured regulatory approvals for a massive construction project.

05/29/2026

This week, we were delighted to welcome a delegation from Brno University of Technology, Masaryk University, and the South Moravian Region to explore opportunities for research collaboration and innovation. The visit brought together researchers and leaders working across areas including AI, advanced manufacturing and materials, sustainable energy, biomedical research, and semiconductors. Our guests toured the York Microfabrication Centre and connected with Lassonde researchers including Professors Hina Tabassum, Thomas Cooper, Ebrahim Ghafar-Zadeh and Gerd Grau.

These kinds of global partnerships matter more than ever as universities work together to address complex challenges and help shape a more sustainable and connected future.

05/28/2026

AI could help save lives by improving outcomes for cancer and liver transplant patients. Professor Ali Sadeghi-Naini is developing AI tools coupled with medical imaging to characterize, monitor, and predict biological processes in various cancers.

They're helping oncologists make more informed treatment decisions, from predicting chemotherapy response in breast cancer patients to distinguishing radiation necrosis from tumour recurrence in brain cancer patients.

In collaboration with Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and Women's College Hospital, his research is on the path to commercialization through Innovation York.

Read the full feature in York's Ascend Magazine: https://bit.ly/4vku4Zs

Talk to any researcher in the artificial intelligence (AI) space and their excitement for the possibilities of how it could transform many aspects of health care is palpable, and for good reason. They are developing ethical AI tools that can be integrated into clinical elements in ways that could br...

05/26/2026

What if robots could help older adults live longer, healthier, and more independent lives? That's the question driving the work of Lassonde Professor James Elder.

He is co-leading 'Co-creating Intelligent Neuro Technologies for Healthy Aging' (CINTHeA), alongside Professor Shayna Rosenbaum from York's Faculty of Health, and Professor Vincent DePaul from Queen's University, with $1.5M of funding as part of the York-led $318+M Connected Minds program.

The project brings together engineers, neuroscientists, social scientists, and elder care experts to develop AI-powered robots that can support older adults in care settings, helping extend their independence and quality of life.

Read more in York's Ascend Magazine: https://bit.ly/4f4Fo71

Throughout the decades, robots have often been depicted as a threat to human survival, but American science-fiction writer Isaac Asimov saw them differently, and in his seminal short story collection “I, Robot” he portrays them as benevolent helpers. At York University, a team of researchers is ...

05/25/2026

Research helping shape more reliable and secure energy systems has earned Lassonde Professor Pirathayini Srikantha a renewed Canada Research Chair in Reliable and Secure Power Grid Systems.

Her work focuses on AI driven and transactive energy solutions designed to strengthen the resilience of electrical power grids.
Read more: https://bit.ly/4e3PZOt

A $2.1-million investment will support four Canada Research Chair appointments at York, advancing work in health, digital governance, Indigenous knowledge and critical infrastructure research.

05/21/2026

Lassonde students are developing the kinds of leadership, communication and teamwork skills employers are looking for alongside strong technical talent.

Congratulations to Electrical Engineering student Tariq Salim on receiving the 2026 Robert J. Tiffin Student Leadership Award. From leading Lassonde’s WeekZer0 orientation to advocating for students and supporting the Bethune College Council, Tariq has made a lasting impact on the student community.
See all the 2026 recipients: https://bit.ly/4dmXvUu

Twelve York students are among the 14th cohort of Robert J. Tiffin Student Leadership Award recipients in recognition of their contributions that strengthen student life, inclusion and community engagement at the University.

05/20/2026

AI powered robots could one day help humans live and work in space, but first, researchers need to solve some major challenges around trust, safety, radiation, and extreme environments. At Lassonde, researchers are already working on it.

Professor George Zhu is developing robotics and AI technologies for future applications with MDA Space, including:

• AI vision systems trained for low-light space conditions
• Teams of robots that can work together on complex tasks
• AI-powered robotics that can learn skills like grip control

Meanwhile, Professor Michael Bazzocchi’s wearable robotics research is helping firefighters reduce physical strain on Earth and could also help astronauts maintain muscle strength in zero gravity through resistance based exoskeletal technology. The work highlights how advances in AI, robotics and human centred engineering could shape the future of space exploration while also improving life here on Earth.

Read the full feature in York’s Ascend Magazine: https://bit.ly/49c6hSP

Space is infamously inhospitable to life, but what is less universally understood is that it is also inhospitable to many technologies. The same high-energy radiation exposure that poses health risks to astronauts from solar particle events also renders the chip in a smartphone, a technology used by...

05/19/2026

Can renters trust the water coming from their taps? That's the question driving new federally funded research led by Professor Stephanie Gora.

Thanks to $250,000 in funding from the Government of Canada's New Frontiers in Research Fund, Gora and her interdisciplinary team can examine drinking water quality in multi-unit rental buildings where aging plumbing, water stagnation, and limited tenant oversight create real risks.

Congratulations to everyone involved in this exciting project: Katherine Perrott, Judy Duncan, Liam Butler, Razieh Salahandish, and Brian Doucet.

Learn more: https://bit.ly/49uItK7

Does this research sound interesting to you? Professor Gora is currently seeking new graduate students. Explore Civil Engineering graduate programs at Lassonde: https://bit.ly/4uWb5UH

Only applicants selected for an interview will be contacted.

With support from the New Frontiers in Research Fund, York researchers will assess tap water risks inside apartment buildings through community engagement and point-of-use tools.

05/15/2026

At a recent York University Thought Leadership Series panel on securing Canada’s digital industrial future, leaders from academia and industry discussed the role universities can play in strengthening Canada’s innovation economy and digital infrastructure.

In the video below, Chris Smith, Corporate Vice President at AMD, discusses York’s Digital Technologies program, Canada’s first fully work integrated degree program, and why new approaches to industry-academic partnership are becoming increasingly important as demand for digital and AI talent continues to grow.

The discussion also featured Hany Farag speaking about the smart energy and grid infrastructure needed to support Canada’s growing AI and data centre demands.

Hosted by York’s Office of the Vice-President Research & Innovation as part of its thought leadership series exploring Canada’s economic future and the role of academia in nation-building initiatives.