People

Amy Bilton, P.Eng

Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering
PhD, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
MS, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
BASc, University of Toronto
Email: bilton [at] mie [dot] utoronto [dot] ca

Amy is an Associate Professor in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Toronto. She directs the Water and Energy Research Lab (WERL), which focuses on developing innovative water and energy technologies using computer-based design methods. She is also currently Director of the Centre for Global Engineering (CGEN), leading the initiative in addressing issues in healthcare, sanitation, and energy around the world – most notably in developing countries. She completed her PhD and MS in Aeronautics and Astronautics at MIT and her BASc in Engineering Science (Aerospace) from the University of Toronto. Prior to her time at U of T, Amy has also worked as a Systems Engineer at Pratt and Whitney Canada and Honeywell Aerospace.

Jordan Bouchard

Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering
PhD, University of Toronto
MASc, University of Toronto
BASc, University of Waterloo
Email: jordan [dot] bouchard [at] mail [dot] utoronto [dot] ca

Jordan completed his PhD in Thermofluids (U of T), his MASc in wastewater processing in the Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry at U of T, and his BASc in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Waterloo. He has a broad range of research interests including filtration, traditional and renewable energy systems, conventional and alternative agricultural systems, heat transfer, interface science, building science, and psychology. His primary goal and approach to research is adapting laboratory research into practical solutions faced by industry. Prior to coming to U of T for graduate studies, Jordan worked as a design engineer for consulting companies in Toronto designing HVAC, plumbing, and fire protection systems for commercial buildings.

Nitish Ranjan Sarker

Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering
PhD, University of Toronto
MSc, University of Alberta
BSc, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology
Email: nitish [dot] sarker [at] mail [dot] utoronto [dot] ca

In addition to his postdoctoral research at U of T, Nitish also supports CGEN as its strategy and outreach lead. As a cross-disciplinary researcher, he focuses on technological and systemic innovation of drinking water and clean-energy technologies (broadly relevant to climate resiliency and UN sustainable development goals) and their appropriate customization based on target communities’ needs and constraints. Additionally, he sits on the executive committee of the International Water Association Young Waters Professionals in Canada (as a program director) and manages Pan-Canadian events to dissipate the social, economic, and technological aspects of Canadian water research. As a recognition of his exceptional leadership and research on water and energy accessibility in low and middle-income countries, Nitish is the recipient of many prestigious sustainability accolades, including the 2022 Mortenson Global Engineering Award.

Pablo Cotera Rivera

PhD Candidate
MSc, University of Sheffield
BE, Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey
Email: pcotera [at] mie [dot] utoronto [dot] ca

Pablo completed his MSc in Advanced Manufacturing Technologies at the University of Sheffield and then worked in Mexico at a national research center (CONACYT) developing embedded systems for industrial robotics applications. He worked for two years in academia before starting his PhD, drawn by his interest in Engineering for Development. His project aims to find sustainable sanitation alternatives for peri-urban areas, mainly developing improved dry toilets and composting methods for waste management. His field work is based in two peri-urban settlements around Mexico City.

Nikita Dawe

PhD Candidate
MASc, University of Toronto
BASc, University of Toronto
Email: nikita [dot] dawe [at] mail [dot] utoronto [dot] ca

Nikita is a PhD candidate in Industrial Engineering and the Collaborative Specialization in Engineering Education (EngEd). Her engineering education research investigates how undergraduate engineering programs prepare alumni to be lifelong learners in the context of their careers. This work is part of the Division of Engineering Science’s Realigning Outcomes with Learning Experiences (ROLE) project.

Mina Mahdian

PhD Candidate
MASc, University of Toronto
BASc, University of Tehran
Email: mmahdian [at] mie [dot] utoronto [dot] ca

Mina completed her BASc and MASc in chemical engineering at the University of Tehran and University of Toronto, respectively. Her research focuses on modifying the surface chemistry of sponges for bacterial removal from drinking water.

Noshin Saiyara Karim

PhD Student
BASc, University of Calgary
Email: noshin [dot] karim [at] mail [dot] utoronto [dot] ca

Noshin graduated from the University of Calgary with a BASc in Mechanical Engineering and a minor in Mechatronics. She is currently a PhD student in mechanical engineering, focusing on the development of a solar powered UV-LED/RO system for water disinfection in remote, off-the-grid areas in Bangladesh and Tanzania.

Monisha Naik

PhD Student
MASc, University of Toronto
BASc, University of Waterloo
Email: monisha [dot] naik [at] mail [dot] utoronto [dot] ca

Monisha completed her MASc at the University of Toronto with a thesis on acoustic microassembly in the field of microrobotics. She completed her BASc in Mechatronics Engineering at the University of Waterloo. Currently, her PhD research is focused on fecal sludge management for the Indian context in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Technology’s CTARA group.

Puwaner Guo

Research Assistant
MASc, University of Toronto
BASc, Case Western Reserve University
Email: puwaner [dot] guo [at] mail [dot] utoronto [dot] ca

Puwaner recently completed her MASc with WERL, and is continuing her research involving the development of oil spill clean-up technologies.  She is currently working on surface-engineered sponges for enhanced emulsified crude oil removal. She previously completed her BEng in Polymer Science and Engineering at Case Western Reserve University.

Calvin Rieder

MASc Student
BASc, University of Toronto
Email: calvin [dot] rieder [at] mail [dot] utoronto [dot] ca

Calvin graduated from the University of Toronto with a BASc in Mechanical Engineering. He is currently an MASc candidate whose research focuses on design optimization of wind-powered systems for aerating aquaculture ponds.

Alex Choi

MASc Student

Alex Zhou

MASc Student
BASc, University of Alberta
Email: az [dot] zhou [at] mail [dot] utoronto [dot] ca

Eren Rudy

MASc Student
BASc, University of Waterloo
Email: eren [dot] rudy [at] mail [dot] utoronto [dot] ca

Eren completed his BASc in Mechatronics Engineering at the University of Waterloo. Before coming to U of T, Eren worked as a Research Assistant at UW, where he developed sensors for biomechanics research.

Adrianna Diaz Lozano Patiño

BASc Student
Email: a [dot] diazlozanopatino [at] mail [dot] utoronto [dot] ca

Adriana is currently on her last year of her Bachelors of Applied Science degree in Engineering Science. Currently, she is working on understanding adoption of rainwater harvesting technologies in low-income communities in collaboration with CGEN and Isla Urbana.