McMaster University’s Faculty of Engineering is set to welcome two new leaders – Carlos Filipe and Kathryn Grandfield – who will begin their tenures as associate deans this summer.
Carlos Filipe will be the next Associate Dean, Research, Innovation and Partnerships, starting July 1 for a five-year term. Filipe is currently a professor and chair in the Department of Chemical Engineering and founder of a start-up, Elarex. An accomplished researcher, Filipe’s work focuses on engineering solutions for a healthier society including thermal stabilization of vaccines, enzymes, antibodies and phage, and applying of functional nucleic acids for biosensing including the development of materials able to detect pathogenic bacteria.
I look forward to continuing working with Carlos in this new role. Carlos will bring new insights and a passion for research. He has been a terrific mentor to young faculty as Department Chair and will continue to foster this across the Faculty as Associate Dean.
Kathryn Grandfield will be the next Associate Dean, Graduate Studies, starting July 1 for a five-year term. Grandfield is currently an associate professor and associate chair – graduate in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, an associate member in the McMaster School of Biomedical Engineering, a University Scholar, and Canada Research Chair in Microscopy of Biomaterials and Biointerfaces (Tier 2).
Through her leadership of the Grandfield Research Group, Grandfield focuses on the development and multi-length scale characterization of biomaterials for bone interfacing applications in orthopedics and dentistry. The Group’s research is pioneering the investigation of bone-implant interfaces and mineralized tissues with multi-dimensional (3D and 4D) and high-resolution microscopies, such as electron and atom probe tomography.
Kathryn is a noted leader in Engineering with a long track record of excellence in research, teaching and administration. As Associate Dean Graduate Studies, her student-centred approach will be impactful in the support of postdoctoral fellows, graduate students and programs not only in Engineering but across our campus.
Wrapping up their two-term tenures in the associate dean roles are John Preston (Research, Innovation and Partnerships) and Michael Thompson (Graduate Studies).
During his tenure, Preston has led the Faculty’s research enterprise through transformative innovations, change and challenges. He oversaw a significant expansion of the Faculty’s research enterprise in both scope and capacity, which has resulted in a 70% increase in funding to date since taking office.
Thompson made an indelible impact on the Faculty of Engineering, perhaps most notably through a remarkable growth in enrolment, nearly doubling the number of graduate students from 600 to 1200 during his tenure. This expansion not only strengthened the academic community within the Faculty but bolstered its reputation as a leader in graduate studies.
“John and Mike elevated their associate dean portfolios throughout their tenures,” says Sheardown. “These roles are well positioned for continued success thanks to their visionary leadership and capacity for innovation. On behalf of the Faculty, we thank them tremendously for their service.”