Dear colleagues,

As we begin the winter term, I’m filled with pride reflecting on the exceptional accomplishments of our community during a successful fall term. Our shared dedication to excellence in teaching, research, innovation, and equity continues to drive the Gina Cody School forward.

Accreditation Visit

This fall, we proudly hosted the Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board (CEAB) visiting team for the accreditation of our undergraduate engineering programs. The visit was extremely successful, according to the exit statement of the chair the visiting team. While we await the formal report this Spring, I want to take this moment to sincerely thank everyone involved. Your meticulous preparation and teamwork showcase the best of our school. 

Championing Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

Equity, diversity, and inclusion remain central to our values. This past term, we recognized the inspiring efforts of Bahareh Goodarzi, Navid Sharifi, and Leila Kosseim with the EDI Awards. Additionally, Sandra Cespedes’ visionary "Eagle and the Condor" project, which promotes digital equity with Indigenous communities, was honoured with the EDI Research Grant. These initiatives reflect our commitment to fostering an inclusive and equitable environment.

Advancing Research and Partnerships

Our research initiatives and partnerships continue to achieve remarkable success. Highlights from the fall term include the launch of the $1.7 million CREO-Concordia project, and our designation as Ericsson’s first Tier 1 university partner in North America. Professor Andreas Athienitis secured a $2 million NSERC Alliance grant to advance energy management in smart buildings, and Professor Emad Shihab received the Most Influential Paper Award at ICSME 2024. These achievements underscore the transformative impact of our research on global challenges.

Celebrating Student Achievements

Our students continue to excel. Amanda Sanderson received the distinguished Dave Caddey Memorial Scholarship, and Space Concordia President Simon Randy secured a coveted internship with SpaceX. We also celebrated Isabella Walter, who was named a Rhodes Scholarship finalist for her outstanding academic and extracurricular accomplishments. These milestones highlight the exceptional talent of our student community.

Welcoming New Faculty

This fall, we welcomed ten exceptional new faculty members whose expertise and enthusiasm will enrich our school. Their arrival marks an exciting step as we continue shaping the future of engineering and computer science education at Concordia.

Looking Ahead

As we embrace the opportunities of the winter term, I want to thank each of you for your dedication, collaboration, and passion. Together, we are building the Gina Cody School’s reputation as a global leader in engineering and computer science and shaping a brighter, more innovative future for all.

Thank you for being part of this incredible journey. Here’s to a winter term filled with inspiration, excellence, and achievement.

Best regards,

Dr. Mourad Debbabi
Dean & Professor
Gina Cody School of Engineering and Computer Science
Concordia University

Celebrating the Successful Completion of Our Accreditation Process

I am pleased to share that the Accreditation process for our undergraduate engineering programs has been successfully completed. I want to thank each and every member of our faculty and staff who were involved for their contributions—whether you were preparing documentation, coordinating logistics or supporting behind the scenes. Your hard work, dedication, and collaboration reflect the quality, integrity and reputation of the Gina Cody School. We now wait for the report this Spring, but I want to thank everyone of you for your dedication.

Our Research Excellence Shines in Engineering, Computer Science and AI

Concordia’s rise in the 2024 Canada’s Top 50 Research Universities rankings underscores the transformative contributions of the Gina Cody School in engineering, computer science and artificial intelligence (AI).

We rank first in Quebec among comprehensive universities and fifth in Canada. This milestone also marks Concordia’s highest national placement at 21st overall, a remarkable leap from 34th in 2014.

The university’s strength in AI research is particularly noteworthy, ranking second in Canada for AI-related publications, which accounted for 9.4% of Concordia’s total research output between 2018 and 2022—the highest percentage nationwide.

With strategic investments like the Volt-Age program and groundbreaking initiatives in smart building technologies and quantum research, Concordia and the Gina Cody School continues to drive innovation that addresses global challenges.

Congratulations to Isabella Walter, who has been selected as a finalist for the prestigious Rhodes Scholarship!

Isabella is currently pursuing a BEng in Mechanical Engineering at the Gina Cody School.

She is an executive member of the Troitsky Bridge Building Competition and EngiQueers Concordia and a member of Women in Engineering - Concordia University and Concordia Engineering Games / JDG Concordia.

Isabella received an NSERC Undergraduate Student Research Award for her research in satellite thrusters, the Gina Cody Scholarship and the Governor General’s Academic Medal.

The Rhodes Scholarship offers a funded opportunity to pursue a graduate degree at the University of Oxford.

SpaceX recruits Concordia undergrad for his dream internship

I want to highlight that Space Concordia president Simon Randy has gotten an internship with SpaceX. Congratulations to him and to the Space Concordia team.

Congratulations to Amanda Sanderson, a second-year Aerospace Engineering student, who received the 2024 Dave Caddey Memorial Scholarship from the Aerospace Industries Association of Canada (AIAC)!

Amanda’s passion for aerospace innovation shines through in her work as she specializes in aerodynamics and propulsion. Beyond her studies, she serves as an ambassador for Women in Engineering - Concordia University, inspiring the next generation of women in STEM.

Volt-Age Expands Opportunities in Electrification Research

The Gina Cody School’s Volt-Age program now offers 250 fully funded PhD opportunities, focusing on advancing electrification research. Supported by $123 million from the Canada First Research Excellence Fund, Volt-Age addresses critical challenges in decarbonizing energy and electrifying transportation. PhD candidates will receive $35,000 annually for four years, access cutting-edge labs, and engage in interdisciplinary projects. Led by Karim Zaghib, professor of chemical and materials engineering, the program emphasizes training in scientific innovation, commercialization, and industry collaboration to drive the transition to net-zero and foster economic growth through electrification.

Congratulations to the recipients of the 2023-2024 Gina Cody School EDI Awards and EDI Research Grant! This year’s EDI Awards celebrate the dedication of Bahareh Goodarzi, Navid Sharifi and professor Leila Kosseim for their outstanding contributions to equity, diversity, and inclusion in teaching and research.

Additionally, Sandra Cespedes, recipient of the 2023-2024 Gina Cody School EDI Research Grant, is leading the impactful "Eagle and the Condor" project. Her work aims to improve digital equity through a multidimensional approach co-developed with Indigenous communities in North and South America, emphasizing digital tools and methodologies rooted in Indigenous knowledge and values.

Centraide

A heartfelt thank you to Marisa Ward and Nadia Conte for their efforts in helping with the School’s contributions to this year’s Centraide campaign. Your dedication to coordinating events like the coffee breaks ensures our school plays an active role in supporting this important cause. Thank you for your hard work and thank you to everyone who contributed.

Celebrating Convocation and Honoring John Sicard’s Leadership

Thank you to everyone who attended the convocation ceremony earlier this fall. It was a wonderful celebration for our graduates, and we were thrilled to honor John Sicard, CEO of Kinaxis, with an honorary doctorate. His leadership and contributions to the tech industry serve as an inspiration to our community.

Also, we proudly recognized John Sicard, BCompSc ’88, with an honorary doctorate. As the president and CEO of Kinaxis, John is a visionary leader driving innovation in supply chain management.

Concordia becomes Ericsson’s first Tier 1 university in North America

We had a very important event in September with the official designation of Concordia as a Tier 1 University partner with Ericsson. This announcement builds on over two decades of cutting-edge collaboration with our researchers to drive advancements in cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and the future of 5G and 6G telecom networks.

Concordia is a regional finalist for the Grands Prix de la CNESST — for the second year in a row!

I’d like to congratulate Khaled Galal, Belal Abdelrahman, Alexis Gosselin, Riccardo Gioia, and Duncan Chisholm for their outstanding work, which has led to Concordia being named a regional finalist for the Grands Prix de la CNESST for the second year in a row. Their innovative project to safeguard a high-capacity testing frame in the Structures and Infrastructure Testing Laboratory has once again highlighted our commitment to improving occupational health and safety at the Gina Cody School. We are incredibly proud of their efforts and the recognition they have earned.

Concordia’s Shawinigan campus to host innovation hub on battery research

In October, Concordia has signed a new memorandum of understanding with the National Research Council of Canada to advance the development of an innovation hub on battery research at the Shawinigan campus. This is great news as the Gina Cody School will be involved with researchers mainly from Chemical and Materials Engineering and who are involved in Volt-Age.

On behalf of Gina Cody and myself, thank you to everyone who helped us raise an impressive total of $32,270 for Shuffle 35.

We were recognized as the top fundraising team of the year!

A special thank you to Dr. Ahmed M. Soliman and Duncan Chisholm, for their outstanding contributions as the top faculty/staff fundraisers.

These funds will make a meaningful difference by supporting our Gina Cody School students.

We are grateful for the 62 people who joined our team and the 118 donations that supported our cause.

A special thanks to our corporate sponsors, CAPREIT, Sienna Senior Living and CIMA+.

Concordia celebrates a record year at the Royal Society of Canada

Congratulations to Catherine Mulligan from BCEE who received the Miroslaw Romanowski Medal for her pioneering work in sustainable environmental engineering. It’s a top honor in Canada in environment.

Also, congratulations to Muthu Packirisamy who was inducted as a fellow of the Royal Society, for his cross-disciplinary research and innovative contributions.

Finally, congratulations to Xia Li from CME who was inducted in the the Royal Society’s College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists. She was recognized as an emerging leader in her field, specifically the next generation of batteries.

It was a pleasure visiting Ericsson in Santa Clara, CA, to explore opportunities for further collaboration in research, innovation, and training. I am deeply grateful to Dr. Mallik Tatipamula, CTO of Ericsson Silicon Valley, for his outstanding hospitality, generosity, and highly appreciated support—I cannot thank him enough. I also want to extend my heartfelt thanks to Meral Shirazipour, Global Partnering & Ecosystem Director, and Y.-P. Eric Wang, Research Leader at Ericsson Research, for the engaging and productive discussions on potential collaborative avenues.

It was a privilege to host a delegation from Hanoi University of Mining and Geology, led by Professor Nguyễn Thị Hoài Nga, to explore opportunities for collaboration. I would like to thank my colleagues, Professor Sarah Turner and Professor Jochen A.G. Jaeger, from the Department of Geography, Planning & Environment, for their presentations and participation in the discussion. I also thank JULIO SEVILLA from Concordia International for his contribution and support.

Thanks to everyone who joined us to celebrate the achievements of our faculty and teaching assistants who have demonstrated dedication and innovation in education:

• Excellence in Teaching by a Junior Faculty Member: Mohamed Ouf, Department of Building, Civil and Environmental Engineering
• Sustained Excellence in Teaching: Stuart MacMillan, Centre for Engineering and Society
• Leadership and Innovation in Teaching: Leila Kosseim, Department of Computer Science and Software Engineering

Excellence in Teaching by a Teaching Assistant:

• Murad Aldoun, Department of Building, Civil and Environmental Engineering
• Dhilippan M. Panneerselvam, Department of Mechanical, Industrial and Aerospace Engineering
• Saghar Vahidi, Concordia Institute for Information Systems Engineering

Welcome to our new faculty members!

A warm welcome to the newest members of the Gina Cody School family! I’m thrilled to introduce our new faculty members who recently attended the new faculty orientation:

·         Jonathan Wald

·         Ali Ayub

·         Chris Yee Wong

·         Xinxin Zuo

·         Gengrui (Edward) Zhang

·         Moataz Chouchen

·         George Bepete

·         Yassine Yaakoubi

·         Tommaso Schettini

·         Honghao Fu

Concordia-led partnership looks to transform energy management in buildings across Canada

Great news from BCEE Professor Andreas Athienitis who received a NSREC Alliance grant worth $2,012,000 in cash and $770,000 in kind over five years with partners Hydro-Québec, Régulvar, CanmetENERGY and BGI Analytics. The funding supports a research initiative that seeks to better integrate renewable energy resources into buildings and enhance interaction with the smart grid, an electricity network that uses digital technology to monitor and manage the transport of electricity. This is great news and shows his leadership in the field of smart cities and electrification.

I want to congratulate BCEE professor Rebecca Dziedzic (on the right in the picture) who gave a dozen interviews in August following a water main break in Montreal. She gave interviews to CBC, CTV News and also in French to Radio-Canada and TVA Nouvelles. I want thank her for taking the time to share her expertise and showcases how we are connected to the Montreal community.

Gina Cody School researcher looks to transform drug-related inquiries with AI-driven chatbots

Congratulations to Emad Shihab who secured a $210,000 NSERC Alliance with Sandoz Canada grant to develop specialized chatbots and large language models (LLMs) for answering drug-related questions

We are thrilled to have officially kicked off the $1.7 million CREO-Concordia research project! A big thank you to all 32 attendees, including representatives from CREO Solutions, Mitacs, NSERC, our amazing student researchers and interns and Gina Cody School of Engineering and Computer Science’s dedicated professors. Together, we're embarking on a journey to enhance collaboration and efficiency in the construction industry through innovative Requests for Information (RFI) management and digital transformation.

Congratulations to the Concordia Institute for Aerospace Design and Innovation (CIADI) on the launch of their new Certificate in Application of Emerging Cyber Technologies to Aerospace, in collaboration with and Concordia Continuing Education . This 15-week program is designed to help engineers, professionals, and recent graduates develop key skills in AI, cybersecurity, and big data for the aviation industry. Participants will learn from expert instructors, including Matin Komeili from Pratt & Whitney Canada, AI strategist Caroline Pernelle, and cybersecurity professor Jun Yan. The program begins November 15, 2024—an exciting addition to Concordia’s aerospace education offerings.

We extend our sincere thanks to Ali Arasteh, Head of Canada at Mandiant (part of Google Cloud) and Concordia Alumni, for delivering a highly informative talk at the Concordia Cybersecurity Distinguished Seminar Series. His insights on proactive defense strategies and real-world cyberattack case studies provided valuable expertise to our hashtag#cybersecurity community.

We were delighted to welcome the CyberExcellence research project delegation from the CyberWal by Digital Wallonia program.

Their visit provided a great opportunity to exchange insights, explore potential collaborations, and showcase our cybersecurity programs and infrastructure. Thank you to our Belgian colleagues for the engaging discussions and to everyone who contributed to making this visit a success.

We have been recognized as a 2024-25 Celonis Academic Center of Excellence! This distinction places us among only 15 top universities globally for our leadership in Process Mining and Process Intelligence education.

This selection reflects our commitment to equipping students with cutting-edge skills and practical experience in process innovation.

Special thanks to Mazdak Nik Bakht, PhD, PEng, founding director of the Digital Twins Hub, and Shahin Karimidorabati for their efforts at last May’s Process Mining Roadshow.

Strengthening Digital Resilience in West and Central Africa

Concordia has partnered with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Give1Project to launch a cybersecurity initiative aimed at empowering youth in West and Central Africa. This collaboration, part of the Concordia Africa Initiative, emphasizes mutual learning and digital resilience, as faculty and students from the Gina Cody School bring their expertise while learning from local innovations. 

"This project allows our experts to collaborate directly with partners in West and Central Africa, sharing technical expertise and gaining critical insights into the unique challenges and innovative approaches to digital security in the region,” Mourad Debbabi says. "Together, we are building a stronger, more resilient digital future."

We’re thrilled to share that the Law Meets Engineering Speaker Series, hosted by Concordia’s Jurist-in-Residence Morton Minc, has had a fantastic turnout this fall. From exploring AI’s role in revolutionizing access to justice to navigating cybersecurity challenges, these engaging events have brought together Gina Cody School students to learn from leading experts. Thank you to everyone who attended and contributed to the success of this series!