Lecture

AI and the Weaponization of Information with DarwinAI CEO Sheldon Fernandez

Amanda Guderian — Mon, 21 Oct 2019 15:26:52 +0000

AI and the Weaponization of Information with DarwinAI CEO Sheldon Fernandez Amanda Guderian Mon, 10/21/2019 - 11:26

**This event is SOLD OUT! Thank you for your interest, registration is now closed.**

Join DarwinAI CEO Sheldon Fernandez (BASc 2001, Computer Engineering) for this timely talk on misinformation in the digital age. Pizza lunch will be provided at 12:15pm, with the talk following at 12:30pm. All students, alumni, staff and faculty are welcome to register for this free event using the registration link below.

Talk Summary

“Communication has been weaponized, used to provoke, mislead and influence the public in numerous insidious ways. Disinformation was just the first stage of an evolving trend of using information to subvert democracy, confuse rival states, define the narrative and control public opinion.

Using large, unregulated, open environments that tech companies once promised would “empower” ordinary people, disinformation has spread rapidly across the globe. The power that tech companies offered us has become a priceless tool in propagandists’ hands, who were right in thinking that a confused, rapidly globalising world is more vulnerable to the malleable beast of disinformation than straightforward propaganda. Whatever we do, however many fact-checking initiatives we undertake, disinformation shows no sign of abating. It just mutates.”¹

During this talk our speaker, Sheldon Fernandez, CEO of DarwinAI, will explore the role of Artificial Intelligence in weaponizing information. Irrespective of your ideological sensitivities, the scope and power of the technologies you use every day may surprise you.

Sheldon, who received the University of ��ݮ��Ƶ's Faculty of Engineering Young Alumni Achievement Medal for his professional and humanitarian endeavors, has substantial experience in this area, having spent time on the ground in Kenya after the country’s tumultuous election in 2007. He also obtained a Master’s degree in theology at the University of Toronto and underwent professional training at the Montreal Institute for Genocide Studies at Concordia University.

Sheldon Fernandez Bio

Sheldon Fernandez is the CEO of DarwinAI, a local venture commercializing IP from Professor Alexander Wong and his academic team. Darwin’s unique technology facilities edge and explainable AI and is being leveraged in numerous industries including autonomous vehicles, consumer electronics, and aerospace.

Throughout his career, Sheldon has coupled his entrepreneurial endeavors with non-technical pursuits, resulting in an interdisciplinary approach that is critical to the intelligent application of AI. He received the University of ��ݮ��Ƶ's Faculty of Engineering Young Alumni Achievement Medal for his professional and humanitarian endeavors and has substantial experience in this area, having spent time on the ground in Kenya after the country’s tumultuous election in 2007. He also obtained a Master’s degree in theology at the University of Toronto and underwent professional training at the Montreal Institute for Genocide Studies at Concordia University.

Undergraduate Lecture | Introduction to Proteins and their Applications, by Dr. Yael Zilberman-Simakov

Linda Sherwood — Thu, 19 Sep 2019 14:46:13 +0000

Undergraduate Lecture | Introduction to Proteins and their Applications, by Dr. Yael Zilberman-Simakov Linda Sherwood Thu, 09/19/2019 - 10:46

The Chemical Engineering Department is hosting a special undergraduate lecture about proteins and their applications by Dr. Yael Zilberman-Simakov.

A pizza lunch will be provided, please RSVP if you plan on attending.

Biographical Sketch

Dr. Yael Zilberman-Simakov received her BSc, MSc and PhD in Chemical Engineering from the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology. During her graduate study, she worked on composite sensors based on discotic liquid nanocrystals for detection of volatile organic compounds exhaled from breath, for non-invasive chronic disease diagnostics.

Dr. Zilberman-Simakov conducted her postdoctoral training at Tufts University, one of the leading universities in the Greater Boston region. First, she trained at the Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, working on the development of microfluidic optical sensors. Next, she trained at the Department of Chemistry, studying catalytic activity of synthetic peptides.

After moving to Canada, she has received a prestigious Mitacs Elevate Postdoctoral Fellowship and was a group leader at Professor Shirley Tang’s lab in the Department of Chemistry at the University of ��ݮ��Ƶ. She worked in collaboration with LeNano Diagnostics on the development of a portable biosensor based on microfluidics and advanced composite nanomaterials for rapid point-of-care testing of heart failure.

Recently, Dr. Zilberman-Simakov joined the Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of ��ݮ��Ƶ as a lecturer, teaching Engineering Biology and Bioprocess Engineering. Her current research interests lie in the area of noninvasive medical diagnostics, focusing on optoelectronic biological nano-sensors and wearable devices.

Tsinghua-��ݮ��Ƶ Joint Forum on Advances in Energy and Environmental Technologies

Engineering Advancement Coop — Tue, 21 May 2019 15:30:42 +0000

Tsinghua-��ݮ��Ƶ Joint Forum on Advances in Energy and Environmental Technologies Engineering Ad… Tue, 05/21/2019 - 11:30

The Tsinghua-��ݮ��Ƶ Joint Forum on Advances in Energy and Environmental Technologies will bring together leading experts in the fields of sustainable energy management, novel energy production, biofuels, pollution mitigation, fuel cells, and next-generation rechargeable energy systems. The four-day Forum will include internationally renowned plenary speakers, scientific presentations on technological advances in energy, round-table discussions on research and entrepreneurship, and networking events.

Undergraduate Lecture | Unsupervised Learning – Principal Component Analysis, by Dr. Qinqin Zhu

Linda Sherwood — Thu, 21 Feb 2019 15:21:35 +0000

Undergraduate Lecture | Unsupervised Learning – Principal Component Analysis, by Dr. Qinqin Zhu Linda Sherwood Thu, 02/21/2019 - 10:21

All undergraduate Chemical Engineering students are invited to a special undergraduate lecture, Unsupervised Learning – Principal Component Analysis, by Dr. Qinqin Zhu, a research scientist from Facebook Inc.

Undergraduate Lecture | An Introduction to Regression Analysis, by Dr. Ahmad W. Al-Dabbagh

Linda Sherwood — Thu, 07 Feb 2019 18:41:29 +0000

Undergraduate Lecture | An Introduction to Regression Analysis, by Dr. Ahmad W. Al-Dabbagh Linda Sherwood Thu, 02/07/2019 - 13:41

The Chemical Engineering Department invites all undergraduate students to a lecture on regression analysis given by Dr. Ahmad W. Al-Dabbagh, Post-Doctoral Fellow at the University of Toronto's Institute for Aerospace Studies.

Biographical Sketch

Ahmad W. Al-Dabbagh holds an NSERC Postdoctoral Fellowship at the Institute for Aerospace Studies at the University of Toronto. His research interests include networked control systems, alarm systems, and process operation and automation.

Dr. Al-Dabbagh received his Ph.D. degree in control systems from the University of Alberta in 2018, M.A.Sc. degree in electrical and computer engineering from the University of Ontario Institute of Technology in 2010, and B.Eng. degree in electrical engineering from Ryerson University in 2007. He has received several awards and scholarships, including an NSERC Alexander Graham Bell Canada Graduate Scholarship (CGS D3), a Governor General's Academic Medal (Gold), and a Graduate Student Teaching Award. Dr. Al-Dabbagh has more than three years of industrial experience in development and commissioning of control, monitoring, and automation solutions for process applications. He is a licensed Professional Engineer with Professional Engineers Ontario.

IPR Seminar | Biomedical Applications of Metal-chelating Polymers and Lanthanide Nanoparticles, by Prof. Mitchell A. Winnik

Linda Sherwood — Mon, 07 Jan 2019 14:40:49 +0000

IPR Seminar | Biomedical Applications of Metal-chelating Polymers and Lanthanide Nanoparticles, by Prof. Mitchell A. Winnik Linda Sherwood Mon, 01/07/2019 - 09:40

Please join the Institute for Polymer Research (IPR) on Tuesday, February 5, 2019 for a guest lecture by Professor Mitchell Winnik, University Professor of Chemistry at University of Toronto, speaking on Biomedical Applications of Metal-chelating Polymers and Lanthanide Nanoparticles.

Abstract

One of the goals of modern bioanalytical chemistry is the simultaneous (multiplexed) detection of multiple biomarkers in individual cells. A biomarker can be broadly defined as a characteristic protein, gene or small molecule that can be objectively measured and evaluated as an indicator of normal biological or pathogenic processes. The classical approach to high throughput biomarker detection employs flow cytometry, in which antibodies (Abs) are labelled with fluorescent dyes. Here spectral overlap limits the number of dyes that can be detected simultaneously and restricts the number of biomarkers per cell that can be detected.

Mass cytometry (MC) is a much newer technique in which various Abs are labelled with different heavy metal isotopes. Cells are injected into the plasma torch of an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer with time of flight detection. Here signal intensity increases linearly with the number of copies of an isotope carried by each Ab.

Professor Winnik's research group's contribution to this technique is the synthesis of metal-chelating polymers (MCPs) with 20 to 50 chelators for carrying a metal ion and functionality at one end for covalent attachment to the Ab. In this way, each Ab can carry up to 200 copies of an isotope and, with these reagents, detection and quantification at high throughput of 40 to 45 biomarkers per cell is now routine.

There is a need to increase the sensitivity of MC by one to two orders of magnitude to detect as few as 100 molecules per cell. To address this problem, heavy metal nanoparticles, such as 12 nm NaHoF4 NPs, that contain on the order of 15000 Ho atoms are synthesized. The two main challenges are passivating the NP surface to prevent non-specific interactions with cells and introducing functionality for attachment of Abs.

Professor Winnik's research group is also part of a team led by R. M. Reilly in the University of Toronto's Faculty of Pharmacy to develop MCPs as radioimmunotherapeutic agents for imaging tumors and treating pancreatic cancer. MCPs are attached to therapeutic antibodies or antibody fragments. The conjugates are labelled with 111In for µSPECT imaging or 64Cu for PET imaging. Electrons emitted by the radiometals enhance the cytotoxicity of the antibodies. 111In undergoes Auger decay, emitting electrons that are highly destructive to cells but travel only short distances (up to 1 µm). For effective use in therapy, polymer conjugates that target tumor cells and are transported to the cell nucleus to ensure localized destruction of nuclear DNA must be developed. For studies in animal models and for eventual clinical applications, the polymers must be designed to maximize blood circulation time and minimize uptake in the body by healthy tissues like the liver and spleen.

In his talk, Professor Winnik will summarize his group's progress in meeting these challenging goals.

Biographical Sketch

Mitch Winnik is Professor of Chemistry at the University of Toronto, specializing in fundamental and applied aspects of polymer science. His research group provided new scientific knowledge that helped the coatings industry develop the environmentally friendly paints that are now sold commercially.

In parallel, Professor Winnik collaborated with Ian Manners to pioneer the study of crystallization-driven self-assembly of block copolymer micelles in solution. In 2005, he joined a team of scientists who were developing mass cytometry for rapid multiparameter cell-by-cell analysis of biomarker expression. He and his students created polymer reagents for this technique.

More recently, he has become involved in a collaboration to develop metal-chelating polymers into targeted reagents for radioimmunotherapy treatment of breast cancer and pancreatic cancer.

He is an ISI “Most cited author” in chemistry, with 730+ publications and 20,000+ citations. His contributions have been recognized by an Alexander von Humboldt Senior Scientist Award (Germany); the 2013 national award in Applied Polymer Science of the American Chemical Society; the 2004 CIC Medal and the 2011 LeSueur Memorial Award, Society of the Chemical Industry, Canada. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, and in 1998 he was named University Professor, the University of Toronto’s highest recognition for scholarly achievement.

CERC Research Lecture | Supramolecularly Engineered Cells for Targeted Therapy by Professor Ruibing Wang PHD, FRSC

Sarah Fischer — Thu, 13 Nov 2025 15:40:00 +0000

CERC Research Lecture | Supramolecularly Engineered Cells for Targeted Therapy by Professor Ruibing Wang PHD, FRSC Sarah Fischer Thu, 11/13/2025 - 10:40

Join us for a CERC Research Lecture by Professor Ruibing Wang PHD, FRSC.

Abstract:

Cells, as the fundamental units of life, represent powerful and naturally optimized drugs or drug delivery vehicles. To harness this potential, we have established a "supramolecular cell engineering" approach to targeted therapy. This technique uses non-covalent chemistry to self-assemble nanomedicines and biomaterials directly onto or inside cells. By functionally engineering the surface or interior of cells—such as leveraging the inflammatory tropism of immune cells—we create emerging targeted cell therapeutics. We have demonstrated that these engineered cells can deliver therapeutics with high efficiency to diseased tissues, treating inflammatory diseases, cardiovascular disease, and solid tumors. This supramolecular cell engineering strategy opens a new frontier in cell-based therapeutics, and we are just beginning to explore its vast potential.

About the Speaker:

Prof. Ruibing Wang is a Full Professor of Supramolecular Biomaterials at the University of Macau. He earned his BSc from Jilin University and his PhD from Queen’s University. His research focuses on supramolecular biomaterials, cell-mimetics, and cell-based therapeutics. With over 270 publications in prestigious journals such as Matter, Nat. Commun., Sci. Adv., JACS, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed, and Adv. Mater. his work has garnered over 14,350 citations and an H-index of 68 (Google Scholar). As a recipient of multiple Macau Science and Technology Awards and Teaching Excellence Award, he is consistently ranked among Stanford's World's Top 2% Scientists. Prof. Wang also serves as an international grant examiner for multiple national funding agencies, and an Associate Editor for ACS Applied Bio Materials and Chinese Chemical Letters.

Graduate Seminar| Polymeric Applications of Waste Mussel Shell, by Dr. Chanelle Gavin

Sarah Fischer — Fri, 03 Oct 2025 13:42:19 +0000

Graduate Seminar| Polymeric Applications of Waste Mussel Shell, by Dr. Chanelle Gavin Sarah Fischer Fri, 10/03/2025 - 09:42

The Chemical Engineering Department is hosting a special graduate lecture on Polymeric Applications of Waste Mussel Shell.

Abstract:

New Zealand currently produces approximately 90,000 tonnes of mussels each year. This is expected to increase as the country looks to grow mussel production from a $300 million enterprise to $1.5 billion by 2035 in accordance with government strategy. Mussel processing removes either all or half of the mussel shell before sale generating 55,000 tonnes of waste shell each year which consists primarily of calcium carbonate. This seminar will discuss some preliminary work which looked at incorporating this into polymeric materials.

Biography:

Dr Chanelle Gavin is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Waikato, New Zealand, whose research focuses on biomaterials and sustainable engineering processes. Working at the intersection of materials, chemical, and environmental engineering, she explores a wide range of topics that support New Zealand’s bioeconomy—particularly in the agriculture, horticulture, and aquaculture sectors.

Her research includes the development of bioplastics (such as protein-based thermoplastics and biopolymers), the extraction and separation of high-value compounds (including antimicrobial peptides), nutrient management at the individual farm level, and waste management from industrial processes.

Chanelle has expertise in plastics processing, characterisation and thermal analysis, including advanced techniques like synchrotron FTIR. She also works with protein chromatography and protein identification methods, as well as environmental modelling and monitoring.

Motivated by a passion for applied research, she focuses on enhancing the efficiency, value, and sustainability of primary industries, using her interdisciplinary skill set to address complex, real-world challenges.

Graduate Seminar| Designing New Enzymes for Sustainable Fertilizer, by Dr. Bajaj & Dr. Scott

Sarah Fischer — Fri, 06 Jun 2025 18:31:13 +0000

Graduate Seminar| Designing New Enzymes for Sustainable Fertilizer, by Dr. Bajaj & Dr. Scott Sarah Fischer Fri, 06/06/2025 - 14:31

Designing New Enzymes for Sustainable Fertilizer

The Chemical Engineering Department is hosting a special graduate lecture on Designing New Enzymes for Sustainable Fertilizer.

Abstract:

The Global Institute for Food Security (GIFS) at the University of Saskatchewan is dedicated to advancing sustainable agriculture through cutting-edge research and innovation. Our institute offers a suite of Technology Platforms and services that support discovery, development, and deployment of innovative solutions. In this presentation, we will highlight our platform capabilities and focus on a technical case study titled "Designing New Enzymes for Sustainable Fertilizer." Global agriculture relies heavily on synthetic phosphorus (P) fertilizers, which are environmentally damaging, finite, and geographically limited in availability. Unlike nitrogen, P is not cycled through the atmosphere and is released slowly from mineral sources, contributing to CO₂ emissions and water eutrophication.

Phytase enzymes can unlock bioavailable P from phytate in soil and manure, but existing enzymes are not optimized for these environments. Leveraging advanced protein design tools, our project aims to engineer novel phytases with enhanced activity and stability in manure, offering a renewable alternative to synthetic P fertilizers. These enzymes will be expressed in microbial systems and screened using high-throughput automation, showcasing how GIFS integrates innovation and infrastructure to address global food security challenges.

Biography:

Megha Bajaj, Business Lead- Global Institute for Food Security Megha holds a Ph.D. in Cell and Molecular Biology from the University of Alberta and an M.Sc. from MS University, India. She oversees the business operations of the Engineering Biology Platform at the Global Institute for Food Security (GIFS), where she supports grant writing, customer outreach, quoting, and contract negotiation and management. Prior to joining GIFS, Megha worked at Innovate Calgary—the technology transfer office and business incubator of the University of Calgary—where she contributed to intellectual property strategy and the commercialization of new inventions.

She brings extensive experience in establishing productive collaborations with diverse stakeholders, negotiating legal and financial terms in revenue-generating agreements, and fostering industry partnerships. Megha also held a similar role at the University of Alberta’s technology transfer office (formerly TEC Edmonton). In her spare time, she volunteers with the Saskatoon Open Door Society, supporting fundraising efforts for immigrant services, and serves as a board member with the SIGMA program at the University of Saskatchewan, mentoring technology-based startup companies.

Ben Scott holds a B.Sc. in Life Sciences and an M.Sc. in Medical Sciences from McMaster University, as well as a Ph.D. in Cell & Systems Biology from the University of Toronto. He leads the technical operations of the Engineering Biology Platform at the Global Institute for Food Security (GIFS). Prior to joining GIFS, Ben completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), where he worked at their microbial biofoundry in Maryland. He later returned to Canada to lead business development at the Concordia University Genome Foundry. These roles deepened his appreciation for laboratory automation and its potential to expand the scale and scope of engineering biology.

In 2018, Ben founded SynBio Canada, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to strengthening the national synthetic biology research community, advocating for trainee needs, and showcasing their achievements. He currently serves as a board member of SynBio Canada and as an advisor for New Harvest’s Cellular Agriculture Prairies Ecosystem (CAPE) project.

Graduate Seminar| Development of High-Energy-Density Lithium-Ion Batteries, by Dr. Hey Woong Park

Sarah Fischer — Wed, 19 Jun 2024 13:49:44 +0000

Graduate Seminar| Development of High-Energy-Density Lithium-Ion Batteries, by Dr. Hey Woong Park Sarah Fischer Wed, 06/19/2024 - 09:49

The Chemical Engineering Department is hosting a special graduate lecture on Development of High-Energy-Density Lithium-Ion Batteries.

Abstract:

The increased weight of electric vehicle batteries presents significant challenges, such as road damage, accelerated tire wear, and reduced driving range. Addressing these issues is crucial for the advancement and adoption of electric vehicles. This seminar will explore key challenges in enhancing the energy density of lithium (Li)-ion battery technology, with a focus on commercially feasible material and structural designs to improve energy density, safety, and battery longevity.

Firstly, Silicon (Si) as an anode material will be introduced. Si is the most promising anode material due to its high gravimetric energy density. Although Si was introduced as an anode material some time ago, its use in batteries is limited due to the intrinsic drawback of its enormous volumetric change during charge and discharge cycles. However, Si remains one of the key materials for improving the energy density of Li-ion batteries. Potential solutions based on practical research will be discussed. Secondly, the unique concept of the hybrid Li metal battery will be presented. This concept involves utilizing lithium metal, which is deposited on existing anode materials while the battery is charging. This approach reduces the amount of anode material required in the battery and allows for the use of conventional anode materials, thereby increasing energy density and reducing costs. Lastly, solid-state electrolytes for next-generation batteries will be discussed. Solid electrolytes have recently become the most attractive research topic in the battery field due to their potential to create safe and energy-dense batteries. Practical and applicable research for battery applications will be covered, including the proposal of a hybrid all-solid-state battery.

In conclusion, the strategies discussed in this seminar could pave the way for next-generation, high-energy-density, durable, and commercially viable lithium-ion batteries, driving significant advancements in electric vehicle technology and beyond.