This is Lassonde

The importance of being a well-rounded student with Austin Martins

In this episode, we are joined by Austin Martins, a graduate student studying Civil Engineering at Lassonde. He tells us about his journey, and how the passion and camaraderie he saw from the students and professors at York inspired him to attend Lassonde as an undergraduate student. He then shares some of his most memorable moments and describes the hands-on experiences that his Civil Engineering classes offered him. We also explore his experience doing undergraduate summer research. Finally, he gives advice to students about how to make the most out of their university experience.
 

Bridging the gap between the physical and the digital with Chris Korfmann

Chris Korfmann is an Electrical Engineering student at Lassonde who comes from a kinesiology background. In this episode, he tells us why he chose electrical engineering and how he hopes to apply his engineering education to the medical field. We also learn about the research he is doing with the Hili Group and some of the current discoveries in the field, such as the advancement in DNA reading, editing and storage technology. Finally, tells us a bit about his life at Lassonde and gives advice to future students. 

Creating your own opportunities with Jowana Burgan

In this episode, we talk to Mechanical Engineering alumna, Jowana Burgan, who tells us how her love of hands-on work led her to pursue engineering and study at Lassonde. We also hear about what inspired her to create the 'Girls Mechanic Team', a group dedicated to teaching girls car maintenance, and all of the doors that decision opened for her. Finally, she shares advice for other women in STEM based on her own experience.

Facing your childhood fears in your career with Nicholas D’etremont

Nicolas D'etremont is a Lassonde alumnus, now working as a Meteorologist in Ottawa. In this episode, he shares how a childhood fear of thunder led him to develop an unexpected passion for weather and ultimately brought him to the Atmospheric Science program at Lassonde. He also tells us about his work predicting the weather using mathematical models and gives us some examples of extreme weather patterns he’s seen. Finally, he talks about his many experiential learning opportunities, and how important it is to get involved as a student.

Dr. Neil Tandon and his unexpected path to becoming a Lassonde professor

Dr. Neil Tandon is an Atmospheric Science professor at Lassonde and a researcher in climate dynamics. In this episode, he tells us about his unconventional journey to becoming a professor and how his love of mathematics led to his discovery of atmospheric science. We also chat with him about his experience as a professor and researcher, and he describes the impact that the COVID quarantine had on his work. Finally, he gives us an overview of what climate dynamics is and the real-world implications of his research.

From sustainable fashion to sustainable energy with Maira Zafar

Maira Zafar is a Lassonde Mechanical Engineering Alumna now working in Business Development and Marketing at Morgan Solar Inc, a Toronto-based solar technology innovator. In this episode, Maira discusses her interest in renewable energy, her concerns about the climate crisis, her passion for sustainable fashion and how she found her inspiration for engineering design at the intersection of all these things. She also tells us about her experience as an international student from the UAE, and encourages students to get involved on campus to discover new interests.

From video games to cyber security with Josh Sahota

Josh Sahota is an alumnus of Lassonde’s Computer Security program, now working as a security consultant for IBM. In this episode, he discusses how his fascination with technology and hands-on learning at a young age transformed into an interest in computer networking, and how that led him to the Computer Security program at Lassonde.
He also talks about how his final year capstone project, dealing with malware, introduced him to the Internet of Things (IoT), which refers to the billions of physical devices around the world that are now connected to the internet collecting and sharing data, and his passion for keeping these devices safe and secure.
 
Finally, he advocates for the power of networking, and how you can utilize platforms like LinkedIn to help discover the right career path for you.

Building technical solutions with a diversity-first approach

Simran Kanda is a Lassonde Computer Science Alumna, currently working as a Project Manager at Montreal New Tech, a nonprofit dedicated to the success of startups and entrepreneurs. In this episode, she tells us about how her love for math and programming led her to Lassonde and describes her learning journey as a first-generation post-secondary learner. We also hear about the many ways she got involved with the Lassonde community and supported her fellow students, through running activities such as a hackathon for women and non-binary students, and a workshop series for skill and confidence building.

Creating impact through engineering education with Dr. Jeff Harris

Jeff Harris is an Assistant Professor and Director of Common Engineering at Lassonde. In this episode, he tells us how he strives to create impact through engineering education and how he has worked to implement active learning and flipped classrooms. He then gives us a look at how the role of engineering has evolved over time. Finally, he describes what a T-shaped engineer is, and how he and his colleagues work to impart these skills to their engineering students.

Dr. Stephanie Gora’s journey from academia to industry and back again

Dr. Stephanie Gora is an assistant professor of Civil Engineering at Lassonde. In this episode, she discusses her career path and how she went from a high school student with an interest in biology, to a renowned researcher with a focus on drinking water management in small and Arctic communities and the development and evaluation of light-based technologies for water purification. She also discusses her experience as a woman working in #STEM, and gives advice to students who are struggling to find their place after graduation. Finally, she tells us what she loves about teaching at Lassonde.