In a world where multidisciplinary education is of growing importance, Arezoo Emadi creates an opportunity for her students to apply academic and practical skills to real‐world problems.

This approach has earned national recognition for the professor of electrical and computer engineering, recipient of the 2021 Wighton Fellowship for excellence in the development and teaching of laboratory-based courses in undergraduate engineering programs.

In nominating her for the award, former dean of engineering Mehrdad Saif praised Dr. Emadi for promoting an educational environment that offers a dynamic and effective interaction between students and professor.

“She integrates physical laboratory activities to engage students and stimulate creative thinking that inspire the quest of knowledge and support effective learning in the largest core engineering class with a diverse range of students,” he wrote.

Emadi’s research focuses on technology at very small scale with huge potential for medical and environmental application. She credits students and collaborators in her Electrical Micro & Nano Devices and Sensors (e-Minds) research lab for her success.

“None of the work I do is possible without my team,” she says.

The Wighton Fellowship is awarded annually and consists of a $3,000 stipend and a certificate. Nominations are reviewed by a selection committee from the Sandford Fleming Foundation. It has been awarded every year since its inception in 1987 at universities across Canada, including to UWindsor professor Jill Urbanic in 2013.