u of t engineering

Introducing Dana Kokoska (ECE 2T0 + PEY)

Dana Kokoska is an Electrical Engineering graduate of the University of Toronto. While at U of T, she held many leadership roles in artistic and community-building/outreach activities, such as Vice-Chair Marketing for F!rosh Week in 2020, Director of Hi-Skule, Resident Advisor at Girls Leadership In Engineering Experience (GLEE), and Graphics Executive on the Frosh Handbook Committee. When she graduated in 2021, she was named a 'Grad to Watch' and received the L.E. (Ted) Jones Award of Distinction from the Engineering Alumni Network.

Read Dana's letter to first-year engineering students during Frosh 2022 here: https://dearfrosh.com/dana.html

Resources mentioned with Links

• Electromagnetic Courses: ECE 320 Fields & Waves, ECE 422 Radio and Microwave Wireless Systems, ECE 424 Microwave Circuits
• DaydreamyDesignShop - Dana's Etsy Shop
• GLEE or Girls Leadership In Engineering Experience
• YNCN - You're Next Career Network
• Honeywell - Careers

How to get in touch with Dana

• Email: dana.kokoska@mail.utoronto.ca
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dana-kokoska/

Submit to our Suggestion Box if you have a great guest idea or request!

This podcast is supported by the Hart House Good Ideas Fund, the Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering, the Department of Chemical Engineering, and the Engineering Alumni Network, all at the University of Toronto.

Music from Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/sonda/were-in-it-together. License code: AT02WGQJBZNM4PMH

About Kathy Zhuang (EngSci Machine Intelligence 2T2 + PEY)

Kathy is an undergraduate engineering student completing the Machine Intelligence major within the Engineering Science program and graduating in 2023. She has completed summer research internships at UC Irvine, the University of Toronto Intelligent Sensory Microsystems Laboratory (ISML) and the BMO Lab in Creative Research. She has industry experience at Huawei, where she completed her Professional Experience Year as a Machine Learning Research Engineer, and at Amazon as a Software Development Engineer Intern. She has also contributed to U of T Engineering's design teams as a 3D Object Detection Engineer with aUToronto and an Autonomous Rover Team Electrical Team Lead with the University of Toronto Robotics Association (UTRA).

Notable Quotes

• “Doing things I want to do instead of doing things I should.” - Kathy Zhuang
• “Before I know what I want to do, I always look for the one that gives me more opportunities.” - Kathy Zhuang, on decision making

Resources mentioned with Links 

1. Engineering Science Disciplines
2. Engineering Communication Program (ECP)
3. Intelligent Sensory Microsystems Laboratory
4. ESROP Engineering Science Research Opportunities Program)  - UofT
5. LeetCode
6. Cracking the Coding Interview Book & Website
7. STAR Interview Method
8. Book: Counselling for Toads: A Psychological Adventure
9. Distill.pub

How to get in touch with Kathy

• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yue-kathy-zhuang/
• Instagram: kath.yue_z

Submit to our Suggestion Box if you have a great guest idea or request!

This podcast is supported by the Hart House Good Ideas Fund, the Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering, the Department of Chemical Engineering, and the Engineering Alumni Network, all at the University of Toronto.

Music from Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/sonda/were-in-it-together. License code: AT02WGQJBZNM4PMH

About Ben Sprenger  (MechE 2T0 + PEY, Current MSc. Candidate in Robotics, Systems and Control @ ETH Zurich)
Ben Sprenger is an undergraduate mechanical engineering graduate from the University of Toronto, and was named an Engineering Grad to Watch based on his multifaceted work as a filmmaker, fieldwork he conducted in Mongolia with the Munk School of Global Affairs, and his leadership of the University of Toronto Formula Racing Team among others. At the time of publication, he is completing his MSc. in Robotics, Systems, and Control at ETH Zurich in Switzerland.

Some of Ben's Films

• Road to Colombo
• When Food Goes Bad

Notable Quotes

• “I didn't have anything to act in, so I decided to make my own film.” - Ben Sprenger, on how he was drawn to filmmaking
• "There is no better way to learn than just jumping right in." - Ben Sprenger, on exploring new opportunities
• "There is literally nothing I cannot learn, if you give me the time and put in the effort." - Ben Sprenger, on his favourite quality about himself

Resources mentioned with Links

• On the Road by Jack Kerouac
• Field Notes
• Analogy as the Core of Cognition - Stanford
• The University of Toronto Formula Racing Team
• Reach Alliance
• Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy - UofT
• the Art Gallery of Ontario

Articles about Ben

• How one U of T Engineering student made the world his classroom
• Engineering Grad to Watch - Ben Sprenger

How to get in touch with Ben

• Email: bsprenger@ethz.ch
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bensprenger/

Submit to our Suggestion Box if you have a great guest idea or request!

This podcast is supported by the Hart House Good Ideas Fund, the Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering, the Department of Chemical Engineering, and the Engineering Alumni Network, all at the University of Toronto.

Music from Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/sonda/were-in-it-together. License code: AT02WGQJBZNM4PMH

About Professor Elham Marzi (BA, BIS, Masters, PhD - Centre for Industrial Relations and Human Resources at the University of Toronto)

Professor Elham Marzi graduated from the Centre for Industrial Relations and Human Resources at the University of Toronto as a PhD with a specialization in human resources and organizational behaviour. Elham is now director of Engineering Business and the International Virtual Engineering Student Team (InVEST) program at the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering at the University of Toronto. She also teaches the courses JRE 420 People Management and Organizational Behavior and APS 500 Negotiation in an Engineering Context. 

Notable Quotes

• "My teaching philosophy is Einstein's Formula E = mc^2 : Engagement = motivate, connection and communication." - Elham Marzi
• "There is so much left to go....the world is bigger than I thought." - Elham Marzi

Resources mentioned with Links

• Basecamp
• Adam Grant  - Think Again and Originals Book
• Podcast – Adam Grant
• X-Culture
• POWER skills
• Toronto Public Library
• The Role of Empowerment on the Relationship between Flexible Work Arrangements, Work-Life Balance, and Job Satisfaction in the Canadian Public Sector - by Elham Marzi
• ISTEP - Institute for Studies in Transdisciplinary Education and Practice
• Engineering Business Minor
• InVEST - International Virtual Engineering Student Teams Program
• UofT Academic Appeals Board
• Faculty Council - Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering - Faculty Council Standing Committee
• Organizational Behaviour and Human Resource Management PhD Program
• Professor Joseph Wong - REACH Alliance

How to get in touch with Prof. Elham Marzi

• Email: elham.marzi@utoronto.ca
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elhammarzi

Submit to our Suggestion Box if you have a great guest idea or request!

This podcast is supported by the Hart House Good Ideas Fund, the Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering, the Department of Chemical Engineering, and the Engineering Alumni Network, all at the University of Toronto.

Music from Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/sonda/were-in-it-together. License code: AT02WGQJBZNM4PMH

Cori Hanson has served at the university for over a decade, first as a residence coordinator at New College, holding other roles such as Assistant Registrar. She is familiar to many students as a former advisor in the first-year office, staff liaison of the Undergraduate Engineering Research Day (UnERD), and currently leading efforts in EDI (Equity, Diversity & Inclusion) as the founder of the Engineering Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Action Group at U of T Engineering.

Notable Quotes

• "Learning is not one size fits all, and so goes for the university experience. More flexible and accessible experiences will be the way forward at every university and every program."  - Cori Hanson, on undergraduate learning.
• "The community is changing, and how do we make sure it's an inclusive space for everyone?" - Cori Hanson, on building an inclusive community.
• "(I) bring student leaders into a space and see what they do with it." Cori Hanson, on her most rewarding experience of working with FASE.

Resources mentioned with Links

Task Force and Action Groups and Initiatives

• Engineering Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Action Group
  • Towards inclusive practices session, overcoming imposter phenomenon
• Joint Task force on mental health academic advising
  • What student don’t understand is tapping into a system of support is big part of being a successful student
• Technology Enhanced Active Learning Community of Practice

First-Year and Upper-Year Resources

• Guide to First Year
• GEAR mentors
• EngCEOs
• Mental Health Academic Advising

Research Resources

• Learning abroad
• Summer Research Program within Engineering
• Undergraduate Engineering Research Day
• First-Year Research Fellowship
• Research Catalogue - Clnx
• UofT Engineering Undergraduate FAQ page

How to get in touch with  Cori

• email: cori.hanson@utoronto.ca

Submit to our Suggestion Box if you have a great guest idea or request!

This podcast is supported by the Hart House Good Ideas Fund, the Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering, the Department of Chemical Engineering, and the Engineering Alumni Network, all at the University of Toronto.

Music from Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/sonda/were-in-it-together. License code: AT02WGQJBZNM4PMH

SUBMIT HERE

Step 1: Learn about Dear Frosh

Read the Dear Frosh Intro and Guide HERE. 

Step 2: Reflect

We've prepared this audio writing prompt to guide you through the letter-writing process. Read the prompts on our Instagram page ->  1percentinspiration.mp3. The prompts are split into three parts below:

Part 1

Write down as many memories as you can from your undergrad. How did these memories from undergrad make you feel?

Part 2

In this next part, we have some questions for you:

• Before your first year coming to U of T. What was on your mind?
• As a frosh, what were you most nervous about?
• During your undergraduate studies, what did you change your mind about?
• As a senior student/graduate/alum, what are you hopeful for?
• Imagine the youth of today med the freshman version of yourself.What are the top three things you've learned that you'd want to teach or tell your past self? How did you come to learn those things?

Part 3

1. What do you wish you knew as a first-year undergraduate student? What memories, advice, and feelings do you want to share?
2. How have you evolved since you were a freshman? What surprises you about who you are now? What experiences made you who you are today?
3. What does U of T Engineering mean to you in memories, experiences, feelings, or whatever else you can think of? How has being at U of T Engineering changed you and your outlook?

Additional Resources

Need more inspiration? You can find our curated letter inspiration HERE. 

Step 3: Write

Use the letter writing templates HERE to prepare for submission.

Step 4: Submit

When you are ready, submit your letter through the form HERE. The submission deadlines are August 16, 2022 (to be shared during F!rosh Week in print) and September 2, 2022 (for the website launch). 

Have questions?

Email: whatisyour1percent@gmail.com

Jennifer and Maeesha (with 💜)

Music from Epidemic Sound: https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/lBXdWtMaA6/

Introducing Bella Zhang (IndE 1T9 + PEY, M.A.Sc in Industrial Engineering at the University of Toronto, 2021)

Bella Zhang is an IndE 1T9 +  PEY graduate from the University of Toronto who recently earned her Master’s of Applied Science (M.A.Sc) in Industrial Engineering also at U of T. For the past few years, Bella’s research interests have been in quality improvement and user experience in healthcare, and product management. 

She completed her PEY at the Healthcare Human Factors Group at the University Health Network - evaluating medical devices and mobile health applications. 

She was also a Research Assistant & UX Lead- at the Interactive Media Lab (IML) led by Dr. Mark Chignell of the mechanical and industrial engineering department at U of T. Partway through her time at IML, Bella led over 20 undergraduate and graduate students in building, and iterating technologies for aging populations as the manager of Centivizer, which is the spinoff company from the Interactive Media Lab. Shortly after the recording, Bella started her new role as a project manager in patient care at the Women’s College Hospital.

Notable Quotes

• "Work is composed of 2 things - the work you do and the people you work with."- Bella Zhang
• “My philosophy of managing is caring.” - Bella Zhang
• “GPA is not everything - become an interesting person." - Bella Zhang
• “You are living your life, you’re not living your title” - Bella Zhang

Resources mentioned with Links

• Personal Planner Template made by Bella
• Course Recommendation: *MIE 344, *Sociology, Graduate Leadership Courses
• Interactive Media Lab
• The unspoken rules book 
• Healthcare Human Factors
• Integrity by Henry Cloud
• Linkedin Learning or Coursera

How to get in touch with Bella 

• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bellaygzhang/

Submit to our Suggestion Box if you have a great potential guest idea or some feedback!

This podcast is generously supported by the Hart House Good Ideas Fund.

Music By : Zen Man

Introducing Hamza Arshad (Mech 2T1 + PEY)

Hamza Arshad is a current PEY student at Hanon Systems - an automotive thermal management system and automotive parts manufacturing company. He is returning to his 4th year in mechanical engineering at the University of Toronto in Fall 2021.

In undergrad, he contributed as a member of the Space System team at UTAT (University of Toronto Aerospace Team) on the Huron Mach (MOCK) 2 Project. He’s also the chief mechanical engineer at the UofT Hyperloop Team in designing the mechanical system for the hyperloop pod. He was also a (Summer) Undergraduate Research Assistant at the Ready Lab with Prof. Alison Olechowski where he investigated collaborative CAD (computer aided design) work and its effect on the quality of CAD models.

Notable Quotes

• “Research is more customizable.” - Hamza Arshad
• “Being able to see how each sub team or how each person comes together and makes  a product work in our design team - I define that to be pretty successful.” - Hamza Arshad

Resources mentioned with Links

• UTAT
• UofT Hyperloop
• GrabCAD
• Thingiverse 
• Mechanical Engineering department website
• Professor Allison’s lab 
• UofT library research
• Google Scholar Search
• A House in the Sky: A memoir - Amanda Lindhout and Sara Corbett
• Hanon System

How to get in touch with Hamza

• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hamza-arshad-71847b157/

Submit to our Suggestion Box if you have a great potential guest idea or some feedback!

This podcast is generously supported by the Hart House Good Ideas Fund.

Music By : Zen Man

Introducing Netra Unni Rajesh (EngSci 1T9 + PEY, Current PhD Candidate in Bioengineering & Biomedical Engineering @ Stanford 2020 - 2025)

Netra Unni Rajesh graduated from Engineering Science in 2020 from the Biomedical Systems option and completed her PEY at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) as a Research Assistant. 

She has conducted research at the University of Toronto, at California Institute of Technology (Caltech), and the National University of Singapore (NUS). She found her passion for research at 15 while conducting cancer research at Sunnybrook.

Currently, she is a Bioengineering PhD Student at Stanford researching the development of biomaterials for medical applications including vaccines and cancer therapy at Dr. Joseph DeSimone’s lab. She was awarded the Knight-Hennessy Scholarship, a graduate-level scholarship program which prepares students for global leadership. While at U of T, she was named 1 of 10 3M National Student Fellows for her outstanding leadership and remarkable innovation both within and beyond higher education.

Notable Quotes

• “There's just an ocean of knowledge out there, and there's so much that you could tackle.” - Netra Unni Rajesh
• “I am hoping someday all this work that I am doing now will help people and ultimately also potentially be a source of optimism for someone else.”  - Netra Unni Rajesh
• “ Things didn't work out exactly, but they worked out pretty close.”  - Netra Unni Rajesh
• “I would say for me right now I would define being successful as creating technology that can help the most people in the fastest way."  - Netra Unni Rajesh

Resources mentioned with Links

• Harvard summer school program 
• Learning Abroad UofT
• National University of Singapore
• Engineering Science - ESROP
• Engineering Science - Exceptional research opportunity grant
• CUBE - club for undergraduate biomedical engineering
• DeSimone Research Group at Stanford
• 3M National Student Fellows
• Knight-Hennessy Scholarship
• TEDx: Why Children Need Science and Technology -  Netra Rajesh
• Nail Art Instagram : @nacreous_nailart

How to get in touch with Netra

• Twitter: @NetraUnni
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/netraunni/?originalSubdomain=ca

Submit to our Suggestion Box if you have a great potential guest idea or some feedback!

This podcast is generously supported by the Hart House Good Ideas Fund.

Music By : Zen Man

Introducing Laura Berneaga (Mech 1T9 + PEY, Current MASc. Candidate in Mechanical Engineering @ University of Toronto)

Laura earned her Undergraduate mechanical engineering degree, specializing in Mechatronics and Bioengineering with a minor in the latter and was a former U of T Engineering Society President. She’s currently a Master’s Student in Mechanical Engineering conducting research with ventilators borne from COVID-19.

Laura has a tendency to master everything she puts her mind to. She was the matriculation sub committee chair during Frosh Week 1T8. She has conducted research abroad at the University of Stuttgart in Germany and she did her PEY Co-op at Conavi Medical, which is a medical device company focused on providing image guidance technologies for minimally invasive cardiovascular procedures.

She is now co-chairing BioTEC, a conference which connects students with opportunities in Biotechnology and Bioengineering.

Notable Quotes

• “Success is to be okay with failing… they are actually learning opportunities that you can take away much more from.” - Laura Berneaga
• “Trying to plan for the future is very difficult and not worth it sometimes.” - Laura Berneaga
• “How I define success is failure.” - Laura Berneaga
• "I love having a purpose to the work that I do. I love doing engineering with a purpose." - Laura Berneaga

Resources mentioned with Links

• St.Michael’s Hospital -Keenan Research Summer Student Program
• Sick Kids - Manulife Kids Science & Technology
• The Simmons Lab - investigate how biomechanical force on cells lead to regeneration, repair, and disease of cardiovascular tissues.
• Certificate in Entrepreneurship, innovation and small business
• Centre for International Exchange - Learning Abroad UofT
• Summer Research: University of Stuttgart
• UofT engineering society
• Undergraduate Engineering Research Day (UnERD)
• Conavi Medical

How to get in touch with Laura

• Email: laura.berneaga@mail.utoronto.ca
• facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lauraberneaga
• linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauraberneaga/
• Instagram: @lauraberneaga

Submit to our Suggestion Box if you have a great potential guest idea or some feedback!

This podcast is generously supported by the Hart House Good Ideas Fund.

Music By : Zen Man

Introducing Dr. Mikhail Burke (MSE 1T2, IBBME PhD 1T8 @ University of Toronto)

Dr. Burke (or Mikhail as we’ll refer to him) he began his undergraduate journey at the University of Toronto as a Materials Science engineering student, and led the U of T Chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) as their president. Later, he co-founded ENGage - a collaborative initiative between NSBE and U of T Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering (FASE) targeting primarily African-Canadian youth to nurture their interest in STEM.

Mikhail continued his own STEM journey in the PhD program at the Institute for Biomedical Engineering in biomaterials on cancerous impact on bone quality.

Currently, he integrates social justice with his background as the Dean's Advisor on Black Inclusivity at the UofT FASE and is the co-instructor of TEP324 or Engineering & Social Justice, which is all about considering how different positionalities can be affected by our roles as engineers. Many of our listeners might know him from APS100 as the guest lecturer, or ESP (Engineering Strategies & Practice) as the engineering manager or his other involvement within the UofT community.

Notable Quotes

• “Success is finding out what it is, what you actually want and then aspiring towards it - not what you think you want or what you feel socialized to gain.” - Dr. Mikhail Burke
• “We have been conditioned to view learning by grades - not by outcome.” - Dr. Mikhail Burke
• “Undergrad is a process of self discovery...take the time when the stakes are lower and take the time to discover yourself” - Dr. Mikhail Burke

Resources Mentioned Links

• Meet Mikhail Burke, Dean's Advisor on Black Inclusivity Initiatives and Student Inclusion & Transition Mentor - U of T Engineering News
• Five student supports to know about at U of T Engineering - U of T Engineering News
• Prospective Student - University of Toronto Biomedical Engineering
• NSBE U of T – Home of NSBE University of Toronto
• ENGage - U of T Engineering Outreach
• TEP 324 (formerly APS 324): Engineering and Social Justice
• FASE Academic Calendar - APS100H1: Orientation to Engineering
• Engineering Strategies & Practice (ESP) | Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering
• U of T Engineering Outreach: Home
• NSERC – Undergraduate Student Research Awards
• OISE : Ontario Institute for Studies in Education of the University of Toronto
• Undergraduate - Department of Materials Science & Engineering
• U of T Engineering Science Program: Home
• RASI (Research Application Support Initiative) - A Community of Support Program

How to Get in Touch with Dr. Mikhail Burke

• Email: mikhail.burke@mail.utoronto.ca

Submit to our Suggestion Box if you have a great potential guest idea or some feedback!

This podcast is generously supported by the Hart House Good Ideas Fund.

Music By : Zen Man