McLean Award

rahul.kalvapalle Wed, 08/21/2024 - 19:17

Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering

Connaught Fund

Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering

landscape

Amy Bilton (photo by Pam Walls)

Amy Bilton, an associate professor in the department of mechanical and industrial engineering at the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering and director of the Centre for Global Engineering, has received the 2023-24 McLean Award.

Jointly funded by the University of Toronto’s McLean endowment and the Connaught Fund, the McLean Award is given to an early-career scholar to assist in attracting and supporting graduate students and post-doctoral fellows involved in basic research in physics, chemistry, computer science, mathematics, engineering sciences or statistical sciences.

Bilton’s research lies at the intersection of theoretical design and control techniques and the development of physical electromechanical systems – with applications in water purification, desalination and renewable energy. She is the director of the Water and Energy Research Lab, which focuses on developing innovative water and energy technologies and computer-based design methods.

“Amy Bilton has distinguished herself as an exceptionally accomplished researcher in the field of sustainable energy and design for global development,” said Leah Cowen, U of T’s vice-president, research and innovation, and strategic initiatives. “From finding ways to encourage adoption of rainwater harvesting to leveraging solar-powered systems to improve water quality for fish aquaculture, her research stands to have a real-world impact on communities in Canada and around the world.

“I would like to congratulate her on this most deserved recognition of her work.”

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Shubhangi Saraf receives 2022–23 McLean Award

rahul.kalvapalle — Thu, 09 Nov 2023 21:10:21 +0000

Shubhangi Saraf receives 2022–23 McLean Award

rahul.kalvapalle Thu, 11/09/2023 - 16:10

Department of Computer Science

Connaught Fund

Department of Mathematics

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Shubhangi Saraf (photo by Matt Hintsa)

Shubhangi Saraf, an associate professor in the Faculty of Arts & Science’s departments of computer science and mathematics, is the 2022-23 recipient of the McLean Award. 

The McLean Award is part of the University of Toronto’s Connaught Fund and is given in support of basic research in physics, chemistry, computer science, mathematics, engineering sciences or statistical sciences. It is awarded to an outstanding researcher early in their career to assist in attracting and supporting graduate students and post-doctoral fellows as part of their research team. 

“I feel deeply honoured and also incredibly grateful for the award and for the support from my colleagues,” Saraf says.  “The McLean Award will greatly help in enabling and advancing the growth of junior researchers in my field.” 

A global research leader in computational complexity theory and coding theory, Saraf’s work brings together diverse areas of mathematics, allowing her to produce cutting-edge research that addresses some of the most challenging and fundamental questions in theoretical computer science. 

“Through her rigorous research and outstanding record of achievement, Shubhangi Saraf is advancing our understanding of open questions in computer science and mathematics, such as the power and limitations of efficient computation,” says Leah Cowen, U of T’s vice-president, research and innovation, and strategic initiatives. “The insights she harnesses from both computing and mathematics demonstrate the power and impact of interdisciplinary research.”

“The University of Toronto congratulates her on this important recognition of her work.”

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David Curtin and Sophie Rousseaux recognized with McLean Awards for 2022

lanthierj — Mon, 14 Nov 2022 18:25:59 +0000

David Curtin and Sophie Rousseaux recognized with McLean Awards for 2022

Faculty of Arts & Science

lanthierj Mon, 11/14/2022 - 13:25

Department of Chemistry

Department of Physics

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Sophie Rousseaux (L) and David Curtin

The Faculty of Arts & Science’s David Curtin, a theoretical particle physicist, and Sophie Rousseaux, an organic chemist, are recipients of the University of Toronto’s McLean Award for 2022.

Supporting basic research in physics, chemistry, computer science, mathematics, engineering sciences or statistical sciences, the award assists an outstanding researcher early in their career to attract and support graduate students and post-doctoral fellows for their research team.

“It’s a great honour to win the award,” says Curtin, an assistant professor in the department of physics who holds a Canada Research Chair in Theoretical Particle Physics. “It’s wonderful validation of the research I’m doing and I’m very grateful for it. But I also see it as recognition of the amazing people already in my group and the incredible wellspring of motivated, talented undergraduates and graduate students that ��οattracts.”

Renée Hložek wins McLean Award

lanthierj — Tue, 12 Oct 2021 16:52:12 +0000

Renée Hložek wins McLean Award

lanthierj Tue, 10/12/2021 - 12:52

David A. Dunlap Department of Astronomy & Astrophysics

Dunlap Institute for Astronomy & Astrophysics

Faculty of Arts & Science

landscape

(Photo courtesy of Renée Hložek)

Renée Hložek of the Faculty of Arts & Science is this year’s winner of the McLean Award which recognizes an emerging research leader at the University of Toronto.

An assistant professor with the Dunlap Institute for Astronomy & Astrophysics and the David A. Dunlap Department of Astronomy & Astrophysics, Hložek studies problems in theoretical and observational astronomy, seeking to better understand the composition and structure of the universe and how it changes with time.

“I spend so much of my time working on results, dreaming of new science, and often debugging code,” Hložek said. “Normally that is its own reward, but it’s really incredible to be recognized for some of the work I’ve done and the scientific risks I’ve taken.”

Jointly funded by the Connaught Fund and the McLean endowment, the $125,000 award supports outstanding basic research in computer science, mathematics, physics, chemistry, engineering sciences and statistics – and assists the awardee in attracting and supporting graduate students and post-doctoral fellows of great promise.

It’s the latest in a series of honours for Hložek. In 2020, she was awarded a prestigious Sloan Research Fellowship and earlier this year she was awarded the Harvey B. Richer Gold Medal by the Canadian Astronomical Society.

“Renée Hložek’s research is already having a significant impact on our understanding of the universe,” said Professor Leah Cowen, U of T’s associate vice-president, research. “Her work with the Simons Observatory collaboration will help us better understand the impact of the Big Bang and her work with the Rubin Observatory Dark Energy Science Collaboration will help unravel some of the mysteries of cosmic acceleration.”

“The university congratulates her on this important recognition of her accomplishments and leadership.”

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Aimy Bazylak wins McLean Award

lanthierj — Fri, 21 Aug 2020 13:34:37 +0000

Aimy Bazylak wins McLean Award

lanthierj Fri, 08/21/2020 - 09:34

Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering