Twenty-two researchers at the University of Waterloo have been awarded more than $10 million to support their research from the Ontario Research Fund (ORF).
The ORF Research Excellence program provides up to one-third of the total value of a research project with major strategic value to the province.
"When we invest in research, we invest in our province's future," says Nolan Quinn, Minister of Colleges and Universities. "These critical investments will ensure Ontario's researchers can continue making discoveries that drive key sectors, create good-paying jobs, and improve the lives of all Ontarians."
Among this round of ORF winners are Waterloo researchers who are tackling big future-focused problems facing humanity and our planet. Through disciplinary and interdisciplinary work across five interconnected faculties, their research is poised to transform technologies, health, societies and sustainability for a better future.
"Thank you to our provincial government partners for this significant investment in research operations and infrastructure," says Charmaine Dean, vice-president, Research and International. "From enabling sustainable commercialization of metal additive manufacturing to developing the future of 5G communications to advancing sustainability in the automotive sector, Waterloo's successful projects not only drive innovation in Ontario but also have clear commercialization potential, maximizing the value of the investment.
The following researchers received $2 million ORF Research Excellence funding:
Dr. Raouf Boutaba | Faculty of Mathematics
$2,000,000
Dr. Raouf Boutaba and a team of Waterloo researchers are advancing the next generation of 5G and 6G network innovations to meet the demands of new and innovative mobile network applications such as autonomous vehicles, industrial automation and healthcare delivery. Their project will be conducted in collaboration with three private sector partners: Rogers Communications, Rockport Networks and NoviFlow. Rogers will provide access to its experimental 5G testbed, while technologies from Rockport and NoviFlow form an integral part of Waterloo's in-lab 5G testbed.
Dr. Slim Boumaiza | Faculty of Engineering
$2,000,000
Dr. Slim Boumaiza will lead a research initiative with private sector partners to develop practical mid-band 6G radio systems. His team will focus on advanced antenna arrays, transceivers and digital signal processing algorithms to create high-performing prototypes. By addressing key 6G challenges, their work aims to unlock its commercial potential, ensuring these systems are ready for real-world use and advancing faster, more reliable and innovative communication technologies.
Dr. Hamid Jahed | Faculty of Engineering
$2,000,000
With the aim of making the automotive industry more sustainable, Dr. Hamid Jahed's research will explore using cold spray to reduce vehicle weight and control emissions, join different materials with coatings, repair parts to cut waste and improve electric vehicle battery heat management with 3D printing. His objective is to make vehicles lighter and more efficient, ultimately helping to build a greener future for transportation.
Dr. Ehsan Toyserkani | Faculty of Engineering
$2,000,000
Dr. Ehsan Toyserkani is advancing the sustainability of metal additive manufacturing (3D printing) for serial production. His research integrates real-time sensors and artificial intelligence algorithms to detect and correct defects during various additive manufacturing processes. By enhancing efficiency and reliability, his work aims to make additive manufacturing more accessible to industries while supporting the development of standards that foster innovation and practical applications.
The following Waterloo researchers received ORF Research Infrastructure funding for their projects.
Faculty of Health
Dr. Kaylena Ehgoetz Martens: $100,000
Dr. Nikolas Knowles: $100,000
Faculty of Engineering
Dr. Kyle Daun: $300,000
Dr. Christian Euler: $84,721
Dr. Yue Hu: $100,000
Dr. Milad Kamkar: $80,000
Dr. Tianyuan Li: $100,000
Dr. Yilan Liu: $80,000
Dr. Alana Lund: $110,000
Dr. Veronika Magdanz: $80,000
Dr. Cosmin Munteanu: $80,000
Dr. Elisabeth Prince: $92,689
Faculty of Environment
Dr. Chantel Markle: $76,000
Faculty of Mathematics
Dr. Khuzaima Daudjee: $220,000
Dr. Aukosh Jagannath: $80,000
Dr. Ruodu Wang: $80,000
