Staff and Faculty Directory

Professor Cluett previously served as chair of EngSci from 2005-2011, and is serving a 3-year term as director. Over his 30-year career at U of T, he has made tremendous contributions to undergraduate engineering education in several leadership roles and as an award-winning educator.

As the Faculty's chair, first year, from 1997-2003, Cluett led the development and launch of the Da Vinci Engineering Enrichment Program (DEEP), a cornerstone outreach initiative. As vice-dean, undergraduate, from 1998-2003, he played a key role in the creation and implementation of Engineering Strategies and Practice, U of T Engineering's flagship first year design and communication course.

As chair of EngSci from 2005-2011, Cluett led the development of the Engineering Mathematics, Statistics, and Finance major. He also oversaw expansion of the Engineering Science Summer Research Opportunities Program (ESROP), which gives EngSci students unique opportunities to conduct research in universities around the world.

Read about Professor Cluett's recent OCUFA teaching award.

Office:  BA 2110 (by appointment), engsci.chair@utoronto.ca 

Professor Lisa Romkey is EngSci's Associate Chair for Curriculum, Teaching and Learning.

In 2020, she was inducted as Fellows of the Canadian Engineering Education Association (CEEA-ACEG).  The honour recognizes noteworthy service to engineering education, engineering leadership, or engineering design education.

Her research interests include teaching and assessment practices in engineering. She has collaborated on the development of competency-based rubrics and on research into how undergraduate multidisciplinary research projects are assessed.

She also recently completed work on a multi-institutional project on teaching practices in engineering. Her current research uses theory in higher education to better understand the nature of Engineering Science as a discipline, which she hopes will lead to a stronger relationship between program goals, and teaching and learning practices in EngSci.

Professor Romkey teaches courses on the social and environmental impact of technology and Engineering Education.

Office:  BA 2110 (by appointment), lisa.romkey@utoronto.ca, 416-946-3514

On leave until Sept. 2021

Prof. Aimy Bazylak serves as EngSci's Associate Chair for Research, and is also Chair of EngSci's energy systems major. She is a Professor in Mechanical & Industrial Engineering at the University of Toronto and is the Tier II Canada Research Chair in Thermofluidics for Clean Energy. She has served as the Director of the University of Toronto Institute for Sustainable Energy (ISE) from 2015-2018. In 2008, she received the inaugural Bullitt Environmental Fellowship for leadership in the environmental field. She was awarded the I. W. Smith Award for Outstanding achievement in creative mechanical engineering within 10 years of graduation (2011) and the Ontario Ministry of Research and Innovation Early Researcher Award (2012). In 2014 she became a Fellow of the Canadian Society for Mechanical Engineering, and inin 2015 she became an Alexander von Humboldt Fellow (Germany), and in 2019 she was named a Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (FASME).

Read about Professor Bazylak's research in sustainable energy.

Office: MC 227 (by appointment), abazylak@mie.utoronto.ca

Alan Chong is an Associate Professor, Teaching Stream, in the Engineering Communication Program.  He serves as EngSci's Associate Chair, Years 1 and 2, and coordinates the Engineering Science thesis course. 

Professor Chong coordinates communication instruction in Civil and Mineral Engineering, where he is also cross appointed. His teaching focuses on developing student awareness of discipline specific genres and rhetorical strategies for communicating effectively within those genres.

Prof. Chong's current research interests involve developing opportunities for civic engagement among undergraduate engineering students and building case studies in science communication for use in engineering classrooms. He also serves as the IEEE Professional Communication Society's Digital Content Curator.

Office:  BA 2110 (by appointment), alan.chong@utoronto.ca, 416-978-8512

Philip Asare is an Assistant Professor in the Division of Engineering Science and the Institute for Studies in Transdisciplinary Engineering Education and Practice (ISTEP) – an institute created “to drive change in how we prepare future engineering leaders.”

His teaching within EngSci and ISTEP focuses on engineering design and transdisciplinary competencies. Professor Asare sees engineering as an activity geared towards human goals, full of rich and interesting stories of how particular ideas or products came to be. His approach to engineering and engineering education focuses this view of engineering as a human activity, and the implication of this perspective for engineering education and practice.

A significant theme of Philip’s teaching and projects focuses on how we educate engineers to operate in the complex socio-technical world, particularly how we create an engineering community that is diverse, inclusive, and equitable, and the related benefits for society of such an engineering community.

Previous to joining U of T Engineering, Professor Asare was an Assistant Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Bucknell University. He also spent time as a Scholar-in Residence at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration while earning his PhD in Computer Engineering from the University of Virginia.

Learn more about Professor Asare in the U of T Engineering News.

Email: philip.asare@utoronto.ca

Michael Guerzhoy is an Assistant Professor, Teaching Stream in the Division of Engineering Science and the Dept. of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering and an Affiliate Scientist at the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute at St. Michael's Hospital. He teaches EngSci Computer Science and Data Science courses.

Professor Guerzhoy's research interests are in data science, the applications of data science in healthcare, and the pedagogy of introductory programming, data science, and machine learning.

He was the recipient of the Best Paper Award at the Canadian Conference on Artificial Intelligence in 2014. He is serving as the co-chair of the Symposium on Educational Advances in Artificial Intelligence in 2020-2021.

Learn more about Professor Guerzhoy in the U of T Engineering News.

Email: michael.guerzhoy@mail.utoronto.ca

Diane Giang is EngSci's Manager of Finance and Administration.

Diane has an accounting background and has served in finance and administration roles in the University for over 10 years. She works under the direction of the Division Chair to help ensure that all support services impacting student experience are delivered effectively and efficiently, and that resources are available to support the activities of the Division.  She is responsible for the following major activities - financial management, human resources management and administration including payroll, operations and technology management.

Office:  BA 2110, dhb.giang@utoronto.ca, 416-978-4256

Scott Sleeth manages the Engineering Science Summer Research Opportunities Program (ESROP) and supports the Divisional curriculum and accreditation process.

Office:  BA 2110, curric.engsci@utoronto.ca, 416-978-2660

Stephen Johns is the Academic Advisor for domestic EngSci students in Years 1 and 2 of their studies. 

Steve joined EngSci in June 2019 after spending three years as a member of the U of T Engineering recruitment team, where his work focused on international students and on underrepresented populations in the Greater Toronto Area. Prior to arriving at U of T, Steve spent eight years working in recruitment and admissions at the University of Calgary and three summers working in student affairs at Queen's University.

Steve was born and raised in Thunder Bay, Ontario, and holds History degrees from  Queen's University and the University of Toronto. His loves in life include, but are not limited to, live music, the Tragically Hip, mental health advocacy, black coffee, Finnish pancakes, Hamilton, high-intensity interval training, his friends, his family, his dog Ed, and his wife Samantha. Steve is also a reluctant fan of the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Minnesota Vikings. He looks forwarding to helping you with your journey through EngSci!

Office:  BA 2110, engsci12@utoronto.ca, 416-946-7351

Schedule an appointment to see Stephen through the Advising Portal.

Justina Lee is the Academic Advisor for international EngSci students in Years 1 and 2 of their studies. 

Justina supports international students as they transition into the learning environment at U of T Engineering. She provides guidance and advice to students navigating the start of their undergraduate careers. With over ten years of advising experience, Justina is committed to helping students attain their academic goals.

Office:  BA 2110, engsci12.intl@utoronto.ca

Schedule an appointment to see Justina through the Advising Portal.

Brendan Heath is the Academic Advisor for EngSci students in Years 3 and 4 of their studies.

Brendan sees his role as helping students to navigate the University and get the most out of their time here. He works with individual students to develop academic plans that serve their goals (e.g., completing a minor, or customising a major through elective substitution or independent studies). He is also here to connect students with additional resources and services at times when they may need additional support.

Brendan holds a M.Sc. in Planning (focussed on Environmental Planning) and has worked in a variety of student facing positions across U of T, including at New College, University College, the Centre for Criminology and Sociolegal Studies and the Cinema Studies Institute. In his free time, when not raising his two kids, Brendan enjoys cycling, gardening, tinkering with electronics and the occasional video game, as well as volunteering in his local community.

Office:  BA 2110, engsci34@utoronto.ca, 416-946-7352

Schedule an appointment to see Brendan through the Advising Portal.

Office:  BA 2110, askengsci@utoronto.ca, 416-978-2903

Christina Heidorn (EngSci 9T1) is responsible for internal and external communications, and is the main point of contact for EngSci's large alumni community.

Christina holds a M.Sc. in Ecology and is a former television documentary associate producer, writer, and researcher.  Her credits include work on CBC's the fifth estate and Confidential series, and programs for broadcasters including TVO, National Geographic, TLC, and more.

Before joining the EngSci office, Christina worked in various communications roles within U of T Engineering.

Office:  BA 2110, engsci@utoronto.ca, 416-978-8634