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Twice a year, the Faculty of Engineering celebrates the spirit of discovery through the Dean’s Research Awards (DRA). This competitive program allows undergraduate engineering students to work alongside faculty on hands-on, high-impact research projects.

The 2024-2025 Dean’s Research Awards cohort has now wrapped up its terms. Students contributed to an exciting range of projects across all faculty disciplines, from advanced materials to artificial intelligence. Students gained real-world research experience and made meaningful contributions to ongoing innovation in engineering.

Student reflections

For many students, the program offers more than technical skills — it opens doors to future research paths and academic mentorship.

“I completed four DRA projects throughout my undergrad, and each one was an amazing experience,” says Jayman Cannataro, a mechanical engineering student. “Because of the DRA program, I met my future supervisor for my master's degree and I was able to get a head start on the research I am to complete over the next two years. If you are interested in research — or aren't quite sure yet — this is THE way to find out.”

For electrical and computer engineering student Zhiyuan Li, the awards created a valuable opportunity to develop practical research skills and grow as an academic: “The DRA provided me with dedicated time to conduct research with a faculty member in my department under their supervision, culminating in a research project and a poster presentation. This helped me build skills in project design, technical analysis and science communication.”

Mechanical engineering student Donald Offor found his Dean’s Research Award experience both engaging and eye-opening. He particularly enjoyed the experiment he conducted —finding the results unexpectedly intriguing —and welcomed the chance to practice communicating his enthusiasm to others. Beyond the lab, he valued the informal learning opportunities, especially the lunchtime conversations with graduate students and professors, which offered insights into the broader research community. His advice to future applicants? “You should do it — it gives you a real sense of what research is all about and why it matters.”

Help students take the next step

If you’re a faculty member who supervised a DRA student this year, thank you for your mentorship! Your guidance plays a crucial role in shaping the next generation of researchers.

All faculty are encouraged  to consider nominating or encouraging promising undergraduate students to apply for the next round of awards in the fall. The DRA program is an excellent way to:

• Introduce students to academic research early in their studies
• Identify future graduate students and research assistants
• Foster a vibrant research culture within your department

Applications for the next cycle will open later this year. In the meantime, learn more about the program and how to get involved.