Iuliia Kotseruba honoured with 2024 John Barron Doctoral Dissertation Award

Dr. Iuliia Kotseruba, PhD alumna and postdoctoral visitor at York University’s Lassonde School of Engineering, was recently awarded the 2024 John Barron Doctoral Dissertation Award from the Canadian Image Processing and Pattern Recognition Society. This national recognition highlights outstanding work in computer vision and robotics. Iuliia’s research earned this recognition for its unique combination of theoretical depth and real-world impact.

Building on her earlier research in visual attention, cognitive systems, and intelligent transportation, Iuliia’s dissertation focused on developing computational models of drivers’ attention in traffic environments. To inform her models, she conducted a comprehensive review of existing research, identifying gaps and developing systems that more closely mirror human behaviour on the road.

These advancements pave the way for safer, more efficient transportation systems. By helping to better understand how drivers interact with their surroundings, Iuliia’s work supports improvements in road safety, driver education, and the design of autonomous and assistive driving technologies.

Iuliia’s doctoral research embodies Lassonde’s commitment to tackling complex global challenges. Her journey at Lassonde began in 2012 when she undertook her MSc in Computer Science. This was followed by several years working as a Research Associate and a PhD in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, leading to her current position as a postdoctoral visitor.

Looking forward, Iuliia is set to begin a tenure-track faculty position at the University of Guelph this summer. Supported by Lassonde’s strong culture of research excellence, Iuliia is well-equipped to lead the way in driving impactful, real-world innovation. As she steps into this new role, she’s excited to continue exploring the field of intelligent transportation and build on the momentum of her award-winning research.