Our Trainees


2026 Cohort – Graduate Students


Joseph Akpan

University of Calgary, Sustainable Systems Engineering (Phd) – “My research explores how EV charging infrastructure decisions can shape who benefits, who faces barriers, and who has access to opportunity in the transition to sustainable mobility.“


Sali Alsafadi

University of Calgary, Sustainable Systems Engineering (Phd)

Mohammed Hachmi

University of Calgary, Electrical and Computer Engineering (MSc) – “My research aims to move beyond the purely data-driven approach to air pollution modelling in the context of asthma. To do so, I use decolonial theory and systems thinking in software design to challenge the common practice of delegating social change to technology as a way of bypassing critical ethical examination.”

Zorah Jawadi

Wilfred Laurier University, Applied Computing (MSc) – My research focuses on quantum optimization, particularly determining the efficiency of solving combinatorial optimization problems using quantum technologies.

Rohit Joshi

University of Calgary, Chemical Engineering (Energy and Environment)(MSc) – “My research explores how a value-sensitive design approach can inform the development and implementation of carbon dioxide removal (CDR) in the context of Alberta.”

Dana Karimi Kordestani

University of Calgary, Civil and Environmental Engineering (PhD)

Dawn Moffat-McMaster

University of Calgary, Political Sciences (PhD) – “My research focuses on the growing influence of the nonprofit sector in Canadian electoral politics and political institutions, and whether the sector acts as a pipeline into elected office, especially for women.“

Mojgan Moshirpour

University of Calgary, Medical Sciences (MSc) – “My research explores whether translating selected DBT validation techniques from human therapy into chatbot language can help users feel more heard, and perceive the chatbot as more empathetic, and trustworthy.”

Yasaman Nosrat Tajoddin

University of Calgary, Sustainable Systems Engineering (Phd) – “My Research integrates Indigenous and local community priorities into energy systems modelling to assess trade-offs and co-benefits across different energy pathways in Alberta.”

Ygnacio Nunez

University of Calgary, Sustainable Systems Engineering (Phd)

Harold Okereke

University of Calgary, Sustainable Systems Engineering (Phd) – “My research focuses on the development and validation of an integrated Digital Twin–Prospective Life Cycle Assessment framework to evaluate and optimize the environmental and economic sustainability of emerging bio-based systems across different scales and future scenarios.“

Viduni Pramodya

University of Calgary, Civil Engineering (MSc) – “My research focuses on transportation systems, with particular interests in Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS), stakeholder inclusion, and coalition game theory.”

Nafisa Shamim Rafa

Wilfred Laurier University, Applied Computing (MSc)

– “My research focuses on quantum information and computation, particularly quantum verification and exploring ways to make quantum computations more efficient to verify while ensuring their results can be trusted.”

Marissa Ruth

University of Ottawa, Biomedical Engineering (MSc) – “My research focuses on using biofluid mechanics to develop safe, accessible surgical simulators that reduce the necessity of costly, high-waste testing models.”

Arjay Toledo

University of Calgary, Civil Engineering (Environmental Engineering) (MSc) – “My research explores the system utility of bio-based carbon dioxide removal (Bio-CDR) pathways in Western Canada, integrating biomass potential, system impacts, and regional conditions to identify strategies that support Canada’s net-zero goals.”

Gerson Varela

University of Calgary, Chemical Engineering (Energy and Environment)(MSc) – “My research explores how to improve water, energy, and nutrient-use efficiency in controlled environment hydroponic systems to support more sustainable food production.“