Lassonde fuels student success through NSERC CREATE Annual Summit

In late April, York University’s Lassonde School of Engineering hosted the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) Collaborative Research and Training Experience Program (CREATE) Annual Summit.

The NSERC CREATE Annual Summit is tailored toward student trainees in NSERC CREATE programs, providing opportunities for networking, knowledge sharing and professional skill development. This year, Lassonde welcomed more than 100 students from over 15 universities spanning six Canadian provinces. Attendees also included professors, researchers and industry professionals from institutions and organizations across the country – as well as distinguished guests of honour, NSERC President Alejandro Adem and NSERC CREATE program officer, Samantha Gollop, who flew in from Ottawa to attend the conference.

Left: NSERC President, Alejandro Adem.  Right: NSERC CREATE program officer, Samantha Gollop.

The NSERC CREATE program provides accomplished researchers with the necessary tools and funding to develop industry-driven research training programs for highly qualified students. Each program aims to solve complex challenges within a specific area of science and engineering.

Lassonde is home to six NSERC CREATE programs, including AM-EDGE, DITA, GMD-MSTI, MTA, SMART-ART and TABES, each with their own unique research focus, academic leaders, industry partners and student trainees. These programs allow students to develop technical skills and support cutting-edge research, while participating in professional skill building, mentorship and collaboration opportunities.

During this year’s NSERC CREATE Summit, trainees participated in three days of engaging activities, including presentations from researchers and keynote speakers – and a thought-provoking, interactive career panel. Students also had opportunities to share their ongoing research through both formal and poster presentations, promoting professional development and learning opportunities.

Student trainees with their research posters at the NSERC CREATE Annual Summit.

This event marks the second time that each of Lassonde’s CREATE programs joined together to establish a multidisciplinary summit, offering knowledge building across a range of subjects from biotechnology and space engineering to 3D printing and artificial intelligence.

The 2024 NSERC CREATE Summit was successful, and each year, the event is projected to grow. By providing engaging opportunities for knowledge and skill building, as well as networking and idea sharing, this initiative supports Lassonde’s goal of tackling global challenges through collaboration and research advancement.

Left: Guest speaker, Andrea Ngo speaks about intellectual property and the patent process. Right: Career panel at the NSERC CREATE Summit.

Learn more about the NSERC CREATE programs at Lassonde:

AM-EDGE – Additive Manufacturing in Engineering Design and Global Entrepreneurship

Program Director: Aleksander Czekanski, professor in Mechanical Engineering

Additive Manufacturing in Engineering Design and Global Entrepreneurship (AM-EDGE) focuses on training students to design, develop, implement and operate 3D printing technologies. The program offers unique, experiential learning opportunities and prepares students to become leaders in the field through entrepreneurial training with experts from research centres and within the industry.

DITA – Dependable Internet of Things

Program Director: Marin Litoiu, professor in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

The longest standing CREATE program at Lassonde, Dependable Internet of Things (DITA), provides an environment for students to analyze, acquire, architect, design, develop and evaluate dependable Internet of Things (IoT) systems that fulfill individual and societal needs. Students build hands-on application skills through industrial internships and collaborative research projects, focusing on research areas ranging from smart transportation to security, privacy and ethics for IoT.

GMD-MSTI – Geomagnetic Disturbance in Modern Societies and Technological Infrastructures

Program Director: Afshin Rezaei-Zare, associate professor in Electrical Engineering & Computer Science

The newest CREATE program at Lassonde, Geomagnetic Disturbance in Modern Societies and Technological Infrastructures (GMD-MSTI), launched in early 2024, aims to assess and address the impact of geomagnetic disturbances on infrastructure and society through advanced techniques and interdisciplinary research. 

MTA – Microsystems Technologies and Applications

Program Director: Regina Lee, professor in Earth and Space Science and Engineering

Microsystems, Technologies and Applications (MTA) is the youngest of the five CREATE programs at Lassonde, focused on addressing the need for innovation in microsystems technologies. This program allows students to develop transferable skills for designing and optimizing microsystems for environmental, space engineering and biomedical applications.

SMART-ART – Smart Autonomous Robotic Technology for Space Exploration

Program Director: George Zhu, professor in Mechanical Engineering

Supporting the future generation of researchers in space robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) for space exploration, the Smart Autonomous Robotic Technology for Space Exploration (SMART-ART) program provides essential training to highly qualified students focused on working in the space industry. This program allows students to develop research skills in areas including AI, computer vision, autonomous robotics and systems engineering.

TABES – Training in Applied Biotechnology and Environmental Sustainability

Program Director: Satinder Kaur Brar, professor in Civil Engineering

Training in Applied Biotechnology for Environmental Sustainability (TABES) is an interdisciplinary, industry-oriented program where students develop both technical and professional skills to tackle real-world challenges related to waste management. This program aims to prepare students for the growing biotechnology industry, through advanced training and research opportunities in areas such as microorganism applications and bioproduct development.