Lassonde researchers receive essential funding from NSERC

This story originally appeared in YFile

Twelve researchers from York University’s Lassonde School of Engineering have been awarded nearly $1 million combined from the Natural Sciences & Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) in support of ongoing research programs spanning diverse areas from space engineering to artificial intelligence (AI).

The latest NSERC funding, announced by the Government of Canada on June 14, includes Discovery Grants, Discovery Launch Supplements, Sub-atomic Physics (SAP) Discovery Grants, Northern Research Supplements, and Research Tools and Instruments (RTI) Grants.

“NSERC’s latest investment in York University’s research excellence strengthens the institution’s leading position in the natural sciences and engineering and reflects the high-calibre talents of our researchers,” said Amir Asif, vice-president research and innovation. “York continues to increase its annual research revenue on a consistent basis and this year’s NSERC Discovery awards are the highest in the University’s history. Congratulations to all of York’s recipients, especially to the 15 early career researchers, for their dedication to advancing new knowledge and shaping the future of their fields.”

Ten researchers from Lassonde received Discovery Grants, while three received Research Tools and Instruments (RTI) grants – representing a record year for RTI funding at the School.

For a complete list of Lassonde recipients and their projects, see below.  

Discovery Grants (DGs)

Earth & Space Science & Engineering Department

Michael Bazzocchi, assistant professor

Intelligent and Autonomous On-orbit Robotics for Inspection, Assembly, Manufacturing, and Servicing
$32,000 per year for a five-year term (*Discovery Launch Supplement $12,500)

Sunil Bisnath, professor

Resilient satellite-based precise positioning and navigation
$43,000 per year for a five-year term

Jianguo Wang, professor

Intelligent Data Fusion Methodology for Multisensor-Integrated Kinematic Positioning and Navigation
$43,000 per year for a five-year term

Electrical Engineering & Computer Science Department

Elisabeth Burjons, assistant professor

Online Algorithms with Reservation and Preemption
$25,000 per year for a five-year term (*Discovery Launch Supplement $12,500)

Hung Pham, assistant professor

Leveraging Model Interactions to Improve the Reliability of Machine Learning Systems
$24,000 per year for a five-year term (*Discovery Launch Supplement $12,500)

Ali Sadeghi-Naini, associate professor

Smart ultrasound platform for tissue characterization and monitoring
$41,000 per year for a five-year term

Ping Wang, professor

AI-empowered Intelligent network management for next generation wireless communications networks
$55,000 per year for a five-year term

Civil Engineering Department

Dan Palermo, professor

Resilient and Sustainable Concrete Structures: Mitigation of Residual Displacements and Concrete Damage
$43,000 per year for a five-year term

Mechanical Engineering Department

Paul O’Brien, associate professor

Development of Photothermal and Radiative Cooling Surfaces and Structures for Environmental Sustainability
$32,000 per year for a five-year term

George Zhu, professor

Computational Control Framework and Application for Flexible Spacecraft
$99,000 per year for a five-year term

Research Tools and Instruments (RTI) Grants

Ronald Hanson, associate professor, Mechanical Engineering

Camera System for Particle Image Velocimetry with Upgraded Stereo Measurement Feature
$127,979

Marina Freire-Gormaly, assistant professor, Mechanical Engineering

Fast Mobility Particle Sizer Tool for Effective Particulate and Aerosol Emissions Characterization
$150,000

George Zhu, professor, Mechanical Engineering

Ground Experiment System of Free-Floating Dual-Arm Space Robot for Autonomous On-Orbit Service
$150,000