Three SFU technology innovators named Fellows of the Canadian Academy of Engineering

June 21, 2019

Three Simon Fraser University researchers and professors have been named as Fellows of the Canadian Academy of Engineering (CAE). Mechatronics professors Majid Bahrami and Farid Golnaraghi, along with computing science professor Jiangchuan (JC) Liu’s career-spanning achievements are recognized as having made key contributions to Canada’s engineering profession, including sustainable energy systems, cloud computing and online content distribution, and biomedical devices used in cancer detection.

Bahrami, Golnaraghi and Liu were elected to join the academy to contribute their expertise and leadership to national and global public policy while serving as role models for others in their field.

“I am very proud of these three SFU researchers—and intellectual leaders—to be rightfully named as Fellows of the Canadian Academy of Engineering,” says Joy Johnson, SFU’s vice-president, research and international. “This well-deserved recognition stands as a testament to SFU’s excellence in research and commitment to innovations for the benefit of society.”

The CAE is a founding academy within the Council of Canadian Academies that represents the finest minds in Canada. The CAE advises on solutions to challenges such as Canada’s adoption of clean energy technologies, reducing greenhouse gases, arctic resource extraction and sovereignty in Canada’s North, and addressing Canada’s aging transportation infrastructure.

Past SFU inductees to the academy include professors Ash Parameswaran and Nimal Rajapakse from the School of Engineering Science. Thomas Calvert, an emeritus professor in the Schools of Computing Science, Engineering Science, and Interactive Arts and Technology; and the Department of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology is also a Fellow.

For more information on the Canadian Academy of Engineering and its new Fellows in 2019, see https://www.cae-acg.ca/fifty-four-new-fellows-inducted-into-the-canadian-academy-of-engineering/

About the SFU Fellows:

Farid Golnaraghi, professor and director, School of Mechatronic Systems Engineering

Golnaraghi is the founding director of SFU’s School of Mechatronic Systems Engineering. He holds 17 patents and his research is the foundation of four companies, including Surrey-based anti-concussion start-up, Shield-X Technologies. His work addresses challenges in such diverse fields as wearable technologies, fuel cells, intelligent sensor systems for cars, assistive devices for people with visual impairment and breast cancer detection. Golnaraghi has written several textbooks and published hundreds of journal and conference papers over his career.

Jiangchuan (JC) Liu, professor, School of Computing Science

Liu researches large-scale multimedia communications and content distribution. His work has been key in the development of many now-ubiquitous technologies such as live-streamed video, interactive social media, cloud media and online games. He also develops applications for Internet of Things, RFID and advanced driver assistance technology. He’s contributed his expertise to new products at several Canadian companies and spent many summers working at Microsoft Research Asia. He is also an IEEE Fellow and recipient of an NSERC E.W.R. Steacie Fellowship.

Majid Bahrami, professor, School of Mechatronic Systems Engineering, Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Alternative Energy Conversion Systems

Bahrami specializes in developing technologies that can improve energy conversion efficiency. This includes research on thermofluidic transport phenomena, advanced materials and novel sustainable energy–water systems. His innovations have contributed to areas such as waste-heat driven air-conditioning, heat exchangers, thermal storage, passive cooling, fuel cells, batteries and atmospheric water harvesting. In addition to his research and publications, Bahrami is also accomplished in technology transfer, entrepreneurship and the training of engineers and engineering professors.

Industry advisor, expert collaborator also named a CAE Fellow

Also inducted as a CAE Fellow is Shanna Knights, director of research at Ballard Power Systems. Knights has been a member of the Faculty of Applied Sciences' External Advisory Council for over eight years, providing her expertise to guide the faculty in developing high-quality engineering programs. Her fuel-cell research areas since joining Ballard in 1995 include durability, reliability, performance and operational behaviour, and span several fuel cell applications including bus, light-duty automotive, materials handling, back-up power, stationary power generation and cogeneration.