University of British Columbia, Ph.D., 2014

Mirela Gutica is Faculty member and Option Head in the School of Computing and Academic Studies, at the British Columbia Institute of Technology. Her interests in computing technology include digital logic design, computer architecture, programming languages, operating systems and human-computer interaction. She is also involved in research in learning theories, education technologies and intelligent pedagogical agents.

Over the years, Mirela Gutica taught in post-secondary education at BCIT and Douglas College courses in programming methodologies, discrete mathematics, computer architecture, operating systems, web development, system internals and research methodologies. She is the Option Head for Technical Programming since 2002. She is interested in enhancing students' learning experiences and creating a learning community. Mirela Gutica organized and participated in several events that showcased students' projects and connected them with specialists from industry.

Mirela Gutica completed in May 2014 a PhD in Curriculum Studies with a specialization in Technology Studies. In her PhD thesis, Mirela Gutica studied how emotion influences learning in the context of tutoring systems. She designed an educational game, Heroes of Math Island, for students in grades five to seven, and analyzed the learners' emotional states as they interacted with it. Her findings will benefit researchers and designers in the field of advanced learning technologies.

Areas of study: Curriculum Studies,Technology Study Education, Adaptive Interfaces

Dissertation: Designing Educational Games and Advanced Learning Technologies: An Identification of Emotions for Modelling Pedagogical and Adaptive Emotional Agents

B.A. Chemistry cum laude, 1989. Minor in Classical Studies. University of Puget Sound.
Ph.D. Physical Chemistry, 1995, University of British Columbia 
Postdoctoral Fellowships: 1996, Chemistry, University of British Columbia; 1997, Chemistry, University of Copenhagan (U.S. National Science Foundation Fellowship; 1998, Computing Science, Simon Fraser University (NSF Fellowship)

SW02 218 - Burnaby Campus

Mastercard Chair in Digital Trust, Faculty, School of Computing

Aaron holds a Ph.D. in Computing Science from Simon Fraser University, where he studied formal aspect of Knowledge Representation. Aaron's research interests lie at the intersection of Artificial Intelligence and Information Security. His NSERC-funded research focuses on formal models for reasoning under uncertainty, and the practical utility of these models for solving problems in security, network communication, and resource management. In addition to his academic research experience, Aaron also has a background in the private sector where he has worked as a software developer and an industrial research analyst.

SW02 321 - Burnaby Campus

Director, Natural Health and Food Products Research Group (NRG), Canada Research Chair in Phytoanalytics

Dr. Paula Brown is the Director of the BC Institute of Technology's Natural Health and Food Products Research Group (NRG), which has been actively supporting the NHP industry for over a decade through applied research activities, including product development, establishment of quality standards and regulatory compliance. By providing fundamental investigations on product quality, safety and efficacy, BCIT supports industry through the entire continuum, from grower to manufacturer, ensuring product integrity is maintained. Dr. Brown has spoken at numerous conferences over the last decade on product quality standards, analytical method validation and is currently the "Quality Focus" columnist for Nutraceuticals World.

An active volunteer, Dr. Brown sits on various Boards, Committees and Working Groups including the Dietary Supplement Joint Committee (NSF) and the Analytical Laboratories and Botanical Raw Material Committees (American Herbal Products Association). She is currently a Director for the Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC which strategically invests federal and provincial funds in support of innovative projects to benefit the agri-food industry. In 2003 she was a founding Director of the NHP Research Society of Canada, dedicated to supporting and promoting scientifically rigorous NHP research and education and most recently she joined the Advisory Board of the American Botanical Council.Dr. Brown serves on two grant review committees for National Center for Complementary & Alternative Medicine, NIH and is a reviewer for numerous peer-reviewed Journals in the field of analytical chemistry and natural products. A Fellow of the AOAC International (2009), she served as Referee for the Dietary Supplement Methods Committee from 2004-2009, is a current member of the Dietary Supplement Task Force (2003-present), and has participated on seven Expert Review Panels for AOAC. In addition she has directed three full collaborative studies; Goldenseal (Official Methods SM 2008.04), Ginseng (SM 2008.05) and Echinacea (in review).

Dr. Brown is currently a member of the Natural Health Products Program Advisory Committee (PAC), and Chair of it's Product Testing Working Group, convened to make recommendations on policy related to standards of evidence for quality. The mandate of the PAC is to provide the NHP Program Directorates (Natural Health Products Directorate, Marketed Health Products Directorate and Health Products and Food Branch Inspectorate) with advice and recommendations on current and emerging issues relevant to the Canadian regulatory framework for natural health products.

Rodger Beatson, BSc, PhD (Organic Chemistry), Faculty, Chemical and Environmental Technology.

Areas of interest: Energy efficiency in mechanical pulping, production of dissolving pulps, forest biomass as a source of fuels and chemicals, genetic control of plant fibre properties.

SW01 2448 - Burnaby Campus

Associate Dean, Building Design and Construction Technology, Director, Sustainable Development and Environmental Stewardship.

Dr. Jennie Moore is an accomplished and recognized global leader in sustainability whose work and leadership has received local, national and international acclaim, Jennie launches sustainability-focused industry practices and educational standards that make our community a better place in which to live and work. A LEED-accredited professional, Jennie's work received an Environmental Citizenship Award from the federal government for her groundbreaking Employee Trip Reduction program.

SE01 140N - Burnaby Campus

Rodrigo Mora, PhD, P.Eng. 

PhD Building Systems Integration (Concordia University), MEng, Building Science (Concordia University), Civil Engineer, Building services and systems (Pontificia Universidad Javeriana). 

Throughout his professional career, Mora has focused on involving research and development for the planning and design of large residential developments and hospitals, as well as his academic research, he has been keen on developing tools and methods to help engineer built environments that are healthy, welcoming and pleasant. Rodrigo is passionate about great architecture and human-centered design. As such his research focuses on improving knowledge on modelling and measuring techniques for predicting indoor environments and how these affect human health and improve human experiences in buildings. He uses this knowledge to investigate novel environmental systems that are responsive to the needs and goals of people, and in harmony with the environment.

NE01 248C - Burnaby Campus

Industry and academic veteran with extensive interdisciplinary research and HQP training experience in Smart Grid, Electric Utility Systems and Energy Management System (EMS) research in North America and Asia. Internationally recognized researcher and leader for his contributions to Smart Grid research and project/services developments with numerous publications and HQP training in various areas related to Smart Grid. Principal Investigator and Scientific Director of two joint government/industry funded Pan Canadian Strategic Research networks, involving Canadian Universities, Government Institutes, Electric Utilities and Private Sector in Interdisciplinary Research into Smart Grid and Cyber Security (please, see links below):

1. http://www.smart-microgrid.ca/
2. http://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/db-tb/index-eng.asp?province=2&category=0&popup=1&story=13086
3. http://www.bcit.ca/appliedresearch/smart/

Over an eight year period, secured approximately $30 million dollars funding from the government and industry for pan-Canadian initiatives in interdisciplinary research in Information Technology, Cyber Security and Smart Grid. Dr. Farhangi is a Professional Engineer (PEng) and a member of the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of British Columbia (APEG), a Senior Member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE), a nominated member of Cigre and member of various international standardization committees for Smart Grid, Smart Microgrid and AMI.

Fitsum Tariku, Ph.D.Bachelor's Degree (Mechanical Engineering)Master's Degree (Mechanical Engineering), Ph.D. (Building Engineering), Director, Canada Research Chair in Whole-Building Performance.

Dr. Fitsum Tariku's experimental and computer modelling research program spans from materials and building envelope systems right through to whole-building performance analysis. Currently, he is working on material property measurements and characterizations; hygrothermal modelling and measurements of building envelope systems; and integrated analysis of whole-building performances. He aims to develop a comprehensive building optimization and decision-making tool that integrates whole-building simulation, risk assessment and cost-benefit analysis, with the objective of designing a building that is energy efficient, durable, economical, environmentally friendly, and provides comfortable and healthy indoor air quality to occupants.