Research Institutes, Centres and Groups
Research entities at Ontario Tech University often use cross-Faculty collaboration and, potentially, external partnerships to capitalize on available expertise to address today's multifaceted issues.
Their aim is to enhance or challenge current knowledge with new activities that may lead to new avenues of research. They are formal bodies which must be approved by the university's Board of Governors. Below are the current approved entities.
Research institutes are the largest and most formal of all research entities and conduct research into a number of areas of study. Membership includes faculty members from at least two Ontario Tech University Faculties, as well as significant involvement from other universities, governments, non‐profit organizations and/or businesses.
Ontario Tech University is embarking in developing strategic research areas and research institutes are an important part of this goal. Below is the currently approved research institute.
Digital Life Institute (DLI)
The Digital Life Institute (DLI) is an official research entity at Ontario Tech University. It examines the human and social dimensions of current and projected digital technologies. The Digital Life Institute will be a hub for critical analysis and will build upon the work of scholars interested in the social implications of disruptive technological advancement. It will position the social and ethical analysis of technology at the forefront of Ontario Tech University’s role as a leader advancing the strategic research mandate of “technology with a conscience” within the context of national and international research spheres. Its founding partners include University of Minnesota, Shizuoka University, and Temple University.
Contact information:
Isabel Pedersen, PhD
Associate Professor, Faculty of Social Science and Humanities
Canada Research Chair in Digital Life, Media, and Culture
Director of Digital Life Institute
Director of Decimal: Digital Culture and Media Lab
College Member, The Royal Society of Canada
Ontario Tech University
isabel.pedersen@ontariotechu.ca
Institute for Cyber Security and Resilient Systems (ICSRS)
The Faculty of Business and Information Technology has taken a major initiative to develop a cybersecurity research institute, called the Institute for Cyber Security and Resilient Systems (ICSRS), with a mandate to research the intersection of technical, legal, social, economic and ethical implications of privacy, security and trust technologies. The institute will create a focal point within Ontario Tech University, for research, teaching, and outreach in the field of cyber security protection (e.g. critical infrastructure protection, identity management, protection from social engineering, secure software system, password protection) to enhance online and offline cyber protection and innovation. The focus of the Institute will be broadly to examine issues surrounding the use and protection of emerging technologies in both public and private sectors.
Contact information:
Khalil El-Khatib, PhD
Professor, Faculty of Business and Information Technology
Ontario Tech University
Research centres are more formal than research groups and have a wider research mandate may involve university resources. Membership includes faculty researchers from different Faculties and disciplines and, perhaps, small‐scale partnerships with other universities, governments, non‐profit organizations or businesses.
Ontario Tech University is embarking in developing strategic research areas and research centres are an important part of this goal. Below are the currently approved research centres.
Centre on Hate, Bias and Extremism
The focus of the Centre on Hate, Bias and Extremism is to explore the ways in which hate, bias and extremism challenge values of inclusion and equity, along lines of race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability and other relevant status characteristics, both singly and interactively. It recognizes the historical continuities that underlie contemporary patterns of discrimination, exclusion and violence directed toward those who are targeted.
Barbara Perry, PhD |
Centre for Small Modular Reactors (CSMR) - more information to come
Contact information:
Kirk D. Atkinson, PhD |
Ontario Tech University is embarking in developing strategic research areas. Joint research centres support that goal by engaging in official agreements with external entities to focus on and promote training and research on a global scale. Below are the current joint research centres at Ontario Tech U.
Joint Research Centre in AI for Health and Wellness
The Joint Research Centre in AI for Health and Wellness is a unique collaborative research centre between Ontario Tech University and the University of Technology Sydney, Australia. Nowhere else in the world exists a similar innovative advanced prototyping and simulation environment to support next-generation health and wellness solutions.
In addition to exciting, new research opportunities, the centre opens vast potential for students at the undergraduate and graduate level.
More information is coming! Follow them on Twitter using @OntarioTechHIR and #AI4HW.
Contact information:
Carolyn McGregor AM, PhD, SMIEEE
Professor, Faculty of Business and IT
Director, Joint Research Centre in AI for Health and Wellness
Research Excellence Chair in Health Informatics
Canada Research Chair (Alumni) in Health Informatics
carolyn.mcgregor@ontariotechu.ca
Centre for Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation
The Centre for Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation brings together health research and innovative supportive agencies, educational partners, health-care delivery institutions, industry
Contact information:
Pierre Côté, PhD
Professor, Faculty of Health Sciences
Canada Research Chair in Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation
Scientist, Centre for Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation
Ontario Tech University
https://twitter.com/CSDPRResearch
Ontario Tech University is embarking in developing strategic research areas and research groups are an important part of this goal.
Research Groups
Advanced Energy Systems Research Group |
Igor Pioro, PhD |
Advanced Networking Technology and Security (ANTS) Research lab |
Shahram Heydari, PhD shahram.heydari@ontariotechu.ca Richard Pazzi, PhD Khalil El-Khatib, PhD |
Biomolecular Research Group |
Denina Simmons, PhD |
Salma Karray, PhD Professor and Associate Dean of Research Faculty of Business and Information Technology |
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Ken Pu, PhD Associate Professor, Faculty of Science |
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Forensic Science Research Group |
Helene Leblanc, PhD helene.leblanc@ontariotechu.ca Theresa Stotesbury, PhD theresa.stotesbury@ontariotechu.ca
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MaxSIMhealth Research Group |
Adam Dubrowski, PhD (Lead)
alvaro.quevedo@ontariotechu.ca Sayyed Ali Hosseini, PhD |
Power Electronics and Drives Applications Lab (PEDAL) |
Mohamed Z. Youssef, Ph.D, P.Eng, SMIEEE |
Smart Transportation Electrification and Energy Research Group (STEER) | Sheldon Williamson, PhD Associate Professor, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science Canada Research Chair in Electric Energy Storage Systems for Transportation Electrification |
Sport and Physical Activity Research Collaborative |
Meghann Lloyd, PhD Nick Wattie, PhD |