Professors
Heather MacLean
Professor
Canada Research Chair in Sustainable Systems and Technology Assessment
Vice Dean Strategy, Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering
Daniel Posen
Assistant Professor
Canada Research Chair in System-Scale Environmental Impacts of Energy and Transport Technologies
Shoshanna Saxe
Associate Professor
Canada Research Chair in Sustainable Infrastructure
Dean’s Spark Professor, Sustainable Infrastructure
Current Members
Postdoctoral Fellows
Name: Dr. Madeleine Bonsma-Fisher
Supervisor(s): Dr. Shoshanna Saxe and Dr. Timothy C.Y. Chan (Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering)
Topic: Equitable prioritization of active transportation infrastructure in Canadian cities
Name: Dr. Da Huo
Supervisor(s): Dr. Daniel Posen and Dr. Heather MacLean
Topic: Modeling life cycle GHG emissions and decarbonization pathways for light-duty vehicle fleets
Name: Dr. Jean Schmitt
Supervisor(s): Dr. Daniel Posen and Dr. Heather MacLean
Topic: Environmental impact assessment of electric vehicles; development of the FLAME model; impact assessment of carbon dioxide removal technologies.
Name: Dr. Hatzav Yoffe
Supervisor(s): Dr. Shoshanna Saxe
Topic: Estimating the carbon footprint required for building cities and establishing greenhouse gas emission budgets towards net-zero construction.
Ph.D. Students
Name: Aldrick Arceo
Supervisor(s): Dr. Shoshanna Saxe and Dr. Heather MacLean
Current Work: My research examines the way we design and construct buildings by analyzing building material intensity and its variability. This work informs design strategies and relevant public policy surrounding the construction of material efficient and less-GHG intensive buildings. The outcomes of my research also advances the capability of bottom-up material flow analysis and environmental life cycle assessment to include uncertainty and variability in data.
Name: Praveen Siluvai Antony
Supervisor(s): Dr. Daniel Posen
Current Work: My PhD research broadly focuses on biofuels and public policies. In my first project, I developed a supply chain model for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) from canola and estimated Canada's near-term SAF potential. Specifically, I estimated the number of SAF plants that can be constructed, identified optimal locations, and quantified the life cycle carbon footprint of SAF supplied to the airports. In my current research, I focus on understanding the nature of changes in the carbon intensity of a matured technology in the market by performing a retrospective LCA using corn-ethanol from GREET as a case study.
Name: Sherry-Ann Ram
Supervisor(s): Dr. Daniel Posen and Dr. Deborah Tihanyi (Engineering Communication Program)
Current Work: Investigating the relationship between pro-environmental actions and carbon literacy among engineering students at UofT and whether engineering education can alter the relationship to reduce consumption GHG emissions among participants.
Name: Santiago Zuluaga
Supervisor(s): Dr. Shoshanna Saxe and Dr. Bryan Karney
Current Work: My work studies the different meanings and measures of value in the context of large horizontal infrastructure networks. I study decision-making strategies such as maintenance planning, specifically looking at the implications of using different notions of value in design- and operation-related decisions for large infrastructure systems. Currently, my work focuses on water and transportation networks.
Name: Nadine Alzaghrini
Supervisor(s): Dr. Heather MacLean and Dr. Daniel Posen
Current Work: I am investigating pathways to the highest possible reduction of GHG emissions that can be obtained from effective policies targeting conventional gasoline light-duty vehicles (LDVs). I am also working alongside a team to develop a baseline for the lifecycle GHG emissions resulting from the water and wastewater treatment plants in Toronto.
Name: Bo Lin
Supervisor(s): Dr. Timothy C.Y. Chan (Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering) and Dr. Shoshanna Saxe
Current Work: I am currently focusing on developing quantitative tools to support cycling infrastructure planning. More broadly, my research is at the intersection of analytics, optimization, transportation, and sustainability. I am interested in designing scalable algorithms to improve transportation efficiency and equity, environmental wellness, and the social good.
Name: Angel Badewole
Supervisor(s): Dr. Heather MacLean and Dr. Brad Saville (Department of Chemical Engineering & Applied Chemistry)
Current Work: My current work is on life-cycle assessments of carbon capture and utilization (CCU) technologies at low technology readiness levels.
Name: Mengqing Kan
Supervisor(s): Dr. Heather MacLean and Dr. Daniel Posen
Current Work: Due to my interdisciplinary background in environmental economics, policy, and sustainable business, I am interested in learning how to conduct quantitative analysis to inform policy and decision making for different stakeholders. I am currently investigating CCU pathways and evaluating how the emerging CCU technology can mitigate GHG emissions under different scenarios.
Name: Dijuan Liang
Supervisor(s): Dr. Heather MacLean and Dr. Daniel Posen
Current Work: I am currently working on evaluating role of large-scale deployment of e-fuels in the U.S. light-duty vehicle fleet to meet the ambitious climate change targets.
Name: Lih Wei Yeow
Supervisor(s): Dr. Heather MacLean and Dr. Daniel Posen
Current Work: I'm currently assessing the environmental and sustainability implications of decarbonizing the medium- and heavy-duty truck sector from a life cycle perspective.
Name: Miranda Doris
Supervisor(s): Dr. Heather MacLean and Dr. Marianne Hatzopoulou
Current Work: My current research explores the impact of the upstream oil and gas industry on air quality in Northeast British Columbia to better understand the exposure of nearby local communities.
Name: Christiana Vann
Supervisor(s): Dr. Shoshanna Saxe
Current Work: My research will investigate the material consumption and related embodied greenhouse gas emissions linked to the construction of low-rise multi-family dwellings (MFD) around the world. The main objective of the research is to compare the MFDs in selected locations to identify factors affecting the sustainability performance of the building stock. This research will aid in the development of pathways for sustainable residential building construction while staying within resource, climate limits and maintaining social well-being.
M.A.Sc. Students
Name: Aaron Belman Martínez
Supervisor(s): Dr. Heather MacLean and Dr. Daniel Posen
Current Work: My research is focused on understanding the evolving dynamics of EV charging patterns and their long-term impact on power plant capacity expansion and electricity dispatch by employing Energy System Optimization Modelling. This work aims to improve electricity sector projections under different EV charging scenarios and inform EV charging practices and policy.
Name: Weimin Huang
Supervisor(s): Dr. Elias Khalil (Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering) and Dr. Shoshanna Saxe
Current Work: My current research is on using Machine Learning to assist in the material flow analysis pipeline. Specifically, I am working on using Computer Vision to predict 'unseen' properties in buildings.
Name: Nick Martyn
Supervisor(s): Dr. Daniel Posen
Current Work: Infrastructure Resilience
Name: Keagan Rankin
Supervisor(s): Dr. Shoshanna Saxe
Current Work: My current research looks at how material efficiency strategies can reduce embodied emissions from infrastructure while still meeting social and economic needs; specifically, I am leveraging data on materials in residential buildings to find forms of housing that can meet rising demand without compromising emissions targets.
Name: Jeffrey Sauer
Supervisor(s): Dr. Shoshanna Saxe and Dr. Daniel Posen
Current Work: Rapid Emissions Reduction Policies and Pathways
Name: Felipe Rashid Zetter Salcedo
Supervisor(s): Dr. Daniel Posen and Dr. Heather MacLean
Current Work: Modeling future energy system scenarios to design optimal clean energy deployment strategies
Previous Members
Postdoctoral Fellows
Name: Alexandre Milovanoff
Thesis title: Greenhouse Gas Emission Mitigation Pathways for Light-Duty Vehicle Fleets Under Ambitious Climate Targets
Name: Gursans Guven Isin
Topic: Construction Classification System Database for Understanding Resource Use in Building Construction
Name: Nikolaos Kalyviotis
Topic: Embodied emissions in rail infrastructure
Name: Lucas Pereira
Topic: Electricity systems, Construction GHG emissions, Environmental product declarations
Name: Mohammad Nahangi
Topic: Embodied greenhouse gas assessment of a bridge: A comparison of preconstruction Building Information Model and construction records
Name: Baishali Dutta
Topic: Impact of land management and climate change on emissions from bioenergy crops
Name: Caroline Vanderghem Zapata
Topic: Biofuels (various)
PhD
Name: Alexandre Milovanoff
Supervisor(s): Dr. Heather MacLean and Dr. Daniel Posen
Thesis: Greenhouse Gas Emission Mitigation Pathways for Light-Duty Vehicle Fleets Under Ambitious Climate Targets
Name: Chibulu Luo
Supervisor(s): Dr. Heather MacLean
Thesis: Sustainable Energy Use in Dar es Salaam: Current Trends, Future Scenarios, and Policy Options
MASc
Name: Melissa Cusack Striepe
Supervisor(s): Dr. Heather MacLean
Thesis: Effectiveness and Cost-Effectiveness of Vehicle Lifespan Caps for Reducing Light-Duty Vehicle Fleet GHG Emissions in the U.S.
Name: Adam Parker
Supervisor(s): Dr. Daniel Posen
Thesis: Using incremental emission factors to evaluate the greenhouse gas impact of electric vehicle deployment
Name: Bassel Tarabay
Supervisor(s): Dr. Heather MacLean and Dr. Daniel Posen
Thesis: New Cathodes Now and Recycling Later: Dynamic Scenarios to Reduce Battery Material use and Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Light-duty Electric Vehicle Adoption in the U.S.
Name: Khashayar Ebrahimi
Supervisor(s): Dr. Shoshanna Saxe and Dr. Daman Panesar
Thesis: Construction Techniques for Lowering Embodied GHGs: A Review of Prefabrication and 3D Printed Concrete Mix Designs
Name: Daniel Henrique
Supervisor(s): Dr. Daniel Posen
Thesis: Evaluating the Energy Consumption of Battery Electric Vehicles Under a Diverse and Changing Climate
Name: Bradley Kloostra
Supervisor(s): Dr. Shoshanna Saxe
Thesis: Understanding Material Stocks in Roads at the City and Multinational Scale
Name: Elise Lagacé
Supervisor(s): Dr. Daniel Posen and Dr. Heather MacLean
Thesis: Assessing the impact of climate change on electricity planning in Ontario, Canada
Name: Lu Xu
Supervisor(s): Dr. Heather MacLean and Dr. Daniel Posen
Thesis: Life Cycle Greenhouse Gas Emissions of Conventional and Alternative Heavy-duty Trucks: Literature Review and Harmonization
Name: Tatiana Costa Guimaraes Trindade
Supervisor(s): Dr. Heather MacLean and Dr. Daniel Posen
Thesis: Water Security and Access to Basic Services: Assessing Urban Vulnerabilities in the Global South
Name: Pia Dimayuga
Supervisor(s): Dr. Shoshanna Saxe
Thesis: Air transportation as a central component of remote community resilience in northern Ontario, Canada
Name: Amir Maghami
Supervisor(s): Dr. Daniel Posen and Dr. Daman Panesar
Thesis: A Data-Driven Method to Estimate the On-Site GHG Emissions of Construction Activities in the Planning Phase
Name: Bolaji Olanrewaju
Supervisor(s): Dr. Shoshanna Saxe and Dr. Daman Panesar
Thesis: A Comparison of Material Quantities Estimates to Onsite Material Use for Bridge Infrastructure Projects
Name: Liz Rivera
Supervisor(s): Dr. Heather MacLean and Dr. Brenda McCabe
Thesis: Evaluation of Energy Efficiency Measures in High-rise Buildings from a Life Cycle Greenhouse Gas Emissions Perspective
Name: Adrien Roy
Supervisor(s): Dr. Daniel Posen and Dr. Brenda McCabe
Thesis: Generalizable Approaches for Tracking, Estimating, Optimizing, and Quantifying Uncertainty of Fuel Use in Earthworks Operations
Name: Julian Zaraza
Supervisor(s): Dr. Daniel Posen
Thesis: Generative Design to Reduce Embodied GHG Emissions of High-Rise Buildings
Name: Madeline Ewing
Supervisor(s): Dr. Daniel Posen and Dr. Heather MacLean
Thesis: An Evaluation of Alternative Fuel and Powertrain Technologies for Canada’s Long Haul Heavy-duty Vehicle Sector
Name: Yijun Gai
Supervisor(s): Dr. Daniel Posen and Dr. Marianne Hatzopoulou
Thesis: Health and Climate Impacts of Electric Vehicle Deployment – A Case Study of the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area
Name: Olugbenga Olubanjo
Supervisor(s): Dr. Shoshanna Saxe
Thesis: Embodied emissions in rail infrastructure: a critical study
MEng
Name: Daniela Aguilar Bodden
Topic: Greenhouse gas inventory for Toronto Water operations
Name: Allison Bennet
Topic: Construction classification system database for understanding resource use in building construction
Name: Ke Sang
Thesis title: A Review of LCA Greenhouse Gas Emissions Results for Biomass Gasification Technologies: A Meta-Analysis
