The core of the research is multi-technology devices that stimulate and record neurons, integrated photonic devices for micro-displays, and photonics-enabled computing hardware. The novel foundational technologies underpinning the research are foundry-manufactured integrated photonics platforms on silicon for the visible spectrum and advanced 3D printing of biological and other organic materials. Macro-scale systems (mechanical and electronic) […]

Brain-inspired computers are a developing technology that use biological foundations to inform computational processes. The study of complex brain circuitry is crucial for creating such technologies. However, progress is limited as neural circuits are difficult to study in vivo. Under the directorship of Joyce Poon, the Nanophotonics, Integration and Neural Technology department of the Max […]

My lab’s research projects involve developing integrated silicon photonic devices for both brain-computer interfaces and artificial intelligence computing hardware. My focus will be developing photonic computing hardware that is neuromorphic, meaning it emulates the way our brains work. My main objectives will involve developing and characterizing integrated photonic chip designs that involve functional and trainable […]

Peatlands, a type of wetland containing a thick organic layer of partially decayed plant material, are the largest terrestrial carbon stocks. Climatic changes, including warming, could result in a lowering of the water table in peatlands, increasing oxygen availability to microbes and mesofauna allowing faster break down of the organic material and consequent release of […]

Arboviruses pose an ever-growing concern as the habitat of vectors expand alongside climate change. The outcome of outbreaks is often heavily influenced by the immune status of the population. Different pathogens can either protect against others or increase susceptibility and morbidity depending on infection timings and how closely related the pathogens are. A good example […]

This project represents the initial step in a larger project, the development of a “Healthy Body Scorecard” which will allow for more comprehensive and holistic approach to measurement and classification of health in children. This particular project will involve an in depth review of current literature in order to identify the various forms of health […]

Confocal microscopy is a specialized imaging technique that is used by universities and pharmaceutical companies to perform drug discovery. The research team developed a multiplexing technique that can improve the imaging speed by 1000 times. In this project, the team will develop customized versions of the instrument with different cameras to cater to specific customer […]

In Senator Kirby’s 2006 report, Out of the Shadows at Last, children’s mental health was labeled the “orphan’s orphan” of Canada’s health care system. For over two decades, the systems-of-care philosophy in children’s mental health has recognized the need to respond to a fragmented service system through greater integration and coordination. Continuity of care, which […]

Localization is a technical to find the location of a target, such as a worker walking in a plant. For outdoor localization, satellite-based global positioning system (GPS) is commonly used. GPS does not provide good accuracy for indoor localization due to the complicated indoor environment that affects the GPS signal propagation. Currently, there are two […]

Researchers at the University of Waterloo have developed atmospheric pressure spatial atomic layer deposition technology for depositing thin films that are nanometers (billionths of a meter) thick. Notably, the developed equipment can deposit these films rapidly, over large areas, in open air. This technology can be useful in a number of sectors, such as display […]

Solvent-based coatings are used for protecting transportation vessels, buildings and infrastructures. They give glossy and durable coatings to protect materials, but their continued use is dangerous to workers and causes environmental damage. Environmentally friendly and safer water-based alternatives exist, but they are less durable and suffer from inferior performance. Unfortunately, the process used to make […]

Vent & Cover wants to develop in conjunction with UBC and UWO, an enclosure that can slip over electric baseboard heaters and create a safe-to-touch exterior while still allowing the heater to heat the room safely and effectively. The project will have 2 major components, the first of which is to develop an efficient thermal […]