Two standout Engineering students have been recognized for their work in transportation and advancing gender diversity in the field with the prestigious WTS Toronto Area Chapter Scholarships. The WTS is a forum for transportation professionals, predominantly women, to network and create mentorship opportunities. The scholarship was established in an effort to promote gender diversity and attract young talent.
Meet our McMaster Engineering recipients:
Sarah Hamed – Graduate Scholarship
Master’s of Applied Science in Transportation Engineering, 2nd year
How did you get into engineering and transportation?
My interest in transportation began in my hometown, where congestion and limited mobility showed me how strongly transportation affects daily life. After earning my Electrical Engineering degree with honours, I moved to Toronto and experienced long regional commutes firsthand. These experiences motivated me to focus on improving mobility systems, which led me to pursue my MASc at McMaster and specialize in UAV-based last-mile delivery and 3D path planning.
How did it feel to receive this scholarship? How will it help your Mac Eng journey?
Receiving the WTS Toronto Graduate Scholarship is a great honour. It validates my research on UAV path-planning algorithms and supports my ongoing work. It will also ease some of the challenges of commuting between Toronto and Hamilton, allowing me to dedicate more time to completing my research and preparing for future PhD studies.
What impact do you hope to have as a woman in engineering?
I hope to contribute to more accessible, sustainable, and technology-driven transportation systems. As a woman in engineering, I want to help increase representation by showing that women can lead impactful research and shape future mobility solutions.
What advice do you have for women interested in transportation?
Be confident, stay curious, and explore different areas of the field. Seek mentors, take on challenging projects, and remember that your voice and perspective are important, because transportation improves when more women help shape and design it.
Mac Eng shoutout:
My supervisor, Dr. Moataz Mohamed, I would like to express my sincere appreciation for his invaluable guidance and mentorship.
Emma Martino – Undergraduate scholarship
Mechatronics Engineering with a Minor in Business, 5th Year
Emma is also a recent recipient of 2024-2025 EcoCAR EV Challenge Women in STEM award.
How did you get into engineering and transportation?
From an early age I was always interested in learning how things worked. I joined a FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) team in high school and fell in love with mechanical design and the engineering process. When I started at Mac, I was encouraged to apply for the McMaster EcoCAR team and started learning more about electric vehicles and the automotive industry. The knowledge and experience I have gained as a member on the EcoCAR team and during summer co-ops have further solidified my interest in the transportation industry.
How did it feel to receive this scholarship? How will it help your Mac Eng journey?
It feels incredible to be recognized as a receipt of the Woman in Transportation Scholarship. Receiving this scholarship has been an honour and serves as a reminder that I am capable of all I have set my mind to.
Since a young age it has been instilled in me that I can do anything I set my sights on, receiving this scholarship it a testament of that mindset. Since starting at McMaster, I have been pushing myself to reach new heights, take on new roles, and make a difference. This will help my Mac Eng journey as I look to finish my undergraduate degree and set my sights on graduate school in the transportation industry to further my learning.
What impact do you hope to have as a woman in engineering?
I hope to be a role model and mentor to other students like me. I want to show anyone thinking about this career path that it is possible and they can do it. I think it’s important to have people in your corner to support you and believe in you. It’s equally important to see what is possible, it is not uncommon to see me in the EcoCAR space, sleeves rolled up, covered in grease, teaching new students the skills they need to succeed. I want to help students see that they are capable and should believe in their abilities.
What advice do you have for women interested in transportation?
My advice for women interested in the transportation industry is to put yourself out there, join that club or start a side project. Especially for students at McMaster, we are so lucky to have the McMaster Automotive Resource Centre (MARC) doing so much cutting-edge research. Gaining hands-on experience to develop technical skills is a great way to really solidify your understanding of the theory taught in class.
Mac Eng shout out:
Dr. Ali Emadi and Dr. Berker Bilgin – I completed a co-op term in the Summer of 2025 with their motor company Enedym Inc.