Utilizing robotics and ingenuity, UWindsor researchers have developed a one-of-a-kind instrument and a series of cutting-edge patent pending devices that could aid the pharmaceutical industry by enabling the formulation and production of more efficient drugs.

The Vukotic Research Group, led by professor Nick Vukotic from the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry in collaboration with industry partner PROTO Manufacturing Ltd., spearheaded the development of both the innovative instrument and the newly patented devices.

This partnership also led to the creation of a new company called Solid4m. The company’s name is a play on the term “solid form,” reflecting its focus on devices which aid in discovering and forming new solid materials, while its logo draws inspiration from UWindsor’s blue and gold.

“I’ve been sketching designs for these devices for almost three years, trying to figure out how to bring this vision to life, because nothing on the market comes close,” says Dr. Vukotic.

“With these new devices, we can screen for new materials faster than most labs worldwide, giving us a competitive edge — we’re able to do things no one else can.”

The project began with a longstanding challenge that Vukotic sought to overcome.

“When creating new materials, you need to experiment with countless conditions — it’s like perfecting a recipe,” he explains. “But you don’t know all the right variables and testing them in the lab is time-consuming. It always frustrated me that we couldn’t test everything at once.”

Previously, Vukotic’s lab developed an X-ray diffraction instrument that allowed for rapid sample screening, drastically increasing the speed of data collection from a very small amount of material. This led to a significant improvement in throughput, from 20 samples a day to 400. However, this rapid screening capability created a new challenge: the need to generate hundreds of new samples daily for testing.

“The real crux of the problem was figuring out how to test hundreds of reaction conditions, create the samples quickly, and then analyze them,” Vukotic recalls.

After discovering that no existing device could meet this need, the team began designing and testing prototypes. The result was the creation of the Modular Multiwell Devices (MMDs), metal plates with interchangeable interior layers that serve specific functions and allow for 24, 48, or 96 reactions to be carried out simultaneously. This innovation significantly accelerates the discovery of new materials.

The flexible nature of the MMDs enables testing under various conditions, including the use of liquids, heat, and mechanochemistry, a process that involves grinding solids together to create new materials.

The new devices allowed the team to screen thousands of new reactions, which Vukotic said his students loved because suddenly all their chemistry went significantly faster.

The potential applications of these devices span industries, from health care and nutraceuticals to materials science and agrochemicals. However, Vukotic believes the pharmaceutical industry stands to gain the most from the increased efficiency these tools provide.

“We can explore vast areas of chemical reaction space that were previously inaccessible, uncovering formulations that others might have missed,” he explains. “Essentially, we can improve existing pharmaceuticals and reduce the time it takes companies to develop ideal formulations.”

A grant from the Canada Foundation for Innovation John R. Evans Leaders Fund matched by the Ontario Research Fund – Research Infrastructure program further enhanced the lab’s capabilities, enabling the purchase of a programmable robot designed to dispense solid powder samples.

“Manually loading small amounts of 100 samples is very time consuming,” Vukotic notes. “The robot, with its dispensing arm, automates the process. We’re moving toward a semi-automated discovery lab, integrating robotics to allow materials chemistry to continue even when no one is physically in the lab.”

Vukotic emphasizes the importance of industry partnerships, like the one with PROTO, in pushing the boundaries of research and making it globally competitive.

“Collaborating with companies helps drive technology forward by leveraging the strengths of Windsor-Essex industries. This accelerates product development and brings innovations to market faster.”

The Vukotic team members responsible for the invention of this work includes PhD graduate students Ethan Douglas and Joy-Lynn Kobti, along with research associate Anton Dmitrienko. However, new group members like undergraduate researcher Ayesha Sayyeda are joining what they affectionately call the “high-throughput team” within the Vukotic group each semester and are bringing fresh ideas and advancing new capabilities.

Nearly 400 teacher candidates received a pin Friday, Nov. 1, as they were welcomed into the teacher profession and prepare for their first practicum placement.

Through presentations from the Ontario Teachers Federation, students learned about the meaning of being an associate member, services and resources available to them, as well as their legal and ethical responsibilities.

During the ceremony, students were asked to pledge their commitment to uphold the values and principles embedded in the Educator's Oath — an oath taken from the Teaching Profession Act.

Education students Myah Fortuna and Soleen DePape highlighted the pinning ceremony as a significant milestone in their journey toward becoming educators.

“Transitioning from being a student to a professional has strengthened my commitment to helping every student reach their full potential. I feel incredibly fortunate to share this moment with my colleagues who share the same passion and commitment to education,” DePape said.

“It was a memorable day celebrating this accomplishment with friends and future educators, and something that I will cherish forever,” echoed Fortuna.

In addition to the 400 newly inducted teacher candidates, another 300 teacher candidates will begin their fall practicum placements at the end of the month, entering schools across Windsor-Essex and throughout the province.

Photos from the event can be found on the Faculty of Education Facebook page.

Participants who visited campus Nov. 6 for Take Our Kids to Work Day enjoyed hands-on exploration of a range of UWindsor programs, from DNA science to the “human” role in human kinetics to mechatronics engineering.

Deirdre Prior of the Office of Enrolment Management, who organized the day in collaboration with Human Resources, said group activities focused on academic paths.

“Kids have to make decisions so much younger now about what courses of study they may wish to pursue,” she said. “Giving them an early look helps them to choose the right high school classes.”

She said about 70 Grade 9 students — children, grandchildren, and friends of faculty and staff — registered for the day.

“People were happy, the kids were happy,” Prior said.

Findlay Lucier, a student at Tecumseh Vista Academy, called the event “cool,” enabling her to explore varied areas of study.

“I got to see a lot of different majors, with the students showing us what they’re doing,” she said. “Nursing was really interesting — seeing all the cool gear they use. I’ve never seen that sort of equipment before.”

Rhys Robillard of St. Thomas of Villanova Catholic Secondary School said Take Our Kids to Work gave him a different perspective on the campus.

“I’ve seen around the perimeter, but this was my first chance to see inside the campus,” he said.

His favourite activity was hosted by the Odette School of Business: creating a video as part of mock marketing campaign to promote the Take Our Kids to Work program.

“We recorded participants just explaining what they did for the day,” said Robillard.

The latest annual report on research and innovation at the University of Windsor shows how faculty, students, staff, and industry and community partners are shaping a better world through research, scholarship, and creative activity.

Research and Innovation in Action highlights projects from the 2022-23 fiscal year. In that year, UWindsor researchers were awarded 316 new grants and launched 67 projects with funding from an industry or community partner for a total of nearly $33.5 million in research revenue.

“We should be immensely proud of our bold and impactful research, scholarship, creative activity, and innovation,” said Shanthi Johnson, vice-president, research and innovation.

“Our dedicated faculty members, working alongside our students and trainees, research staff, and community and industry partners, are not only expanding the boundaries of knowledge, but are also nurturing the next generation of researchers, innovators and leaders,” Dr. Johnson said.

“Together we are building a brighter, more prosperous future for all.”

Read the report here.

Short-term parking is now available at the newly designated Welcome Centre Lot, located at 2585 Wyandotte St. W. 

Parking Services has announced that this lot provides additional short-term parking options for the campus community and visitors, allowing up to three hours of parking at a rate of $3 per hour. 

Payments are handled exclusively through the HONK mobile app. Note: parking by permit holders is not allowed at this location.

In addition, Lot B and Lot D, both situated under the Ambassador Bridge, are fully available for student permit holders, offering further parking flexibility across campus.

For more information on parking locations and payment methods, visit the Parking Services website.

The University of Windsor recently acquired the property at 2585 Wyandotte St. W., formerly the site of a 7-Eleven store, and is currently exploring options for future development of the site.

The second annual #IAmSahraBulle Conference, set for Wednesday, Dec. 4, will provide a platform for survivors, advocates, policymakers, and health-care professionals to explore innovative solutions to gender-based violence, with a special focus on its health outcomes.

The event seeks to foster collaboration between experts and frontline workers, creating actionable strategies to support survivors, their families, and communities.

The #IAmSahraBulle Conference was established in 2023 to honour UWindsor student Sahra Bulle, who lost her life to gender-based violence. Find more information, including registration details, on the conference website.

The University of Windsor School of Computer Science has partnered with cybersecurity experts to look into creating paid internships to help students successfully pursue careers in cybersecurity.

A year and a half ago the School of Computer Science joined industry partner Sterling Information Technologies and began offering cybersecurity workshops to computer science graduate and undergraduate students with the goal of enhancing their job skills.

Building on the momentum of the workshops, the next stage is to design a cybersecurity industry based certification program, Training-to-Hiring pathway, that would blend cybersecurity training with a paid internship.

“The program, in collaboration with Sterling Information Technologies, strategically addresses the cybersecurity talent gap by providing targeted, job-ready training,” says Neil Cesario of Sterling Information Technologies.

“This program not only equips students with essential cybersecurity skills but also directly connects them with employers, creating a seamless pathway from education to employment.”

Specifically, they are training students to work at a Security Operations Centre (SOC). Cesario says SOCs are rooms full of computers designed to prevent cyberattacks.

Ziad Kobti is the director of the School of Computer Science.

“We have an impressive set of AI computational servers and GPU terminals at the downtown campus with the strong computational capability to analyze large amounts of data, and we have the faculty, the resources and the skilled students needed to create this unique work integrated learning experience for our students, which will be housed at the 300 Ouellette location downtown,” says Dr. Kobti.

“These students will get a unique opportunity to learn from experts for 16 weeks, then up to eight months in a paid internship,”

Through hands-on experience in an SOC environment, and utilizing EC-Council’s comprehensive training modules, Cesario says students will acquire the practical skills necessary for immediate contribution in cybersecurity roles.

“This process ensures that they’re prepared to meet industry demands right upon completion,” he says. “By building a robust pipeline of skilled professionals, we’re not just supporting the local workforce but also addressing a critical business need — access to cybersecurity talent that can safeguard against evolving threats.”

Cesario says they are looking for industry collaborators to hire the students for the Training-to-Hiring program.

“The program extends its benefits beyond individual trainees by fortifying local small and medium-sized enterprises, which often lack resources for robust cybersecurity.

“By leveraging the SOC as a centralized hub for threat intelligence and defense, we enable businesses to access enterprise-grade cybersecurity support,” says Cesario. “This collaborative model enhances their resilience, ensuring they remain competitive and secure in a landscape where cyber threats are increasingly complex and costly.”

The goal is to design the Training-to-Hiring initiative as a replicable model for Ontario colleges and universities.

“By establishing interconnected SOCs across institutions, we can foster a collaborative cybersecurity network,” says Cesario. “This unified approach not only strengthens individual businesses but also contributes to a province-wide framework for proactive threat management. It’s a forward-thinking model that positions Ontario as a leader in cybersecurity readiness and resilience.”

Members of the UWindsor community are mourning the Nov. 4 death of Murray Sinclair, Anishinaabe senator and former judge who was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws by the University of Windsor in 2016.

Dr. Sinclair chaired the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, where he participated in hundreds of hearings across the country and released its report in 2015. He was appointed to Canada’s Senate in April 2016, after 25 years serving the justice system in Manitoba. Sinclair was that province’s first Aboriginal judge and just the second in Canada. According to a report by APTN News, a sacred fire has been lit outside the Manitoba legislative building to mark his passing.

Jaimie Kechego, learning specialist in the field of Indigenization for the Centre for Teaching and Learning, says words from Sinclair resonate with her as she helps guide the University on its journey toward Indigenization.

“Senator Sinclair said: ‘Each day you have to put effort in to maintain that relationship and also to change the relationship as things come up between you,’” Kechego says. “We have had our bumps and sometimes bruises on our hearts from those bumps, but we must keep showing up and putting our collective effort into Indigenization, decolonization, and reconciliation. We need to make sure we are preparing the future to be ready for the next seven generations, both Indigenous and non-Indigenous.

“Baamaapii, Honourable Senator Murray Sinclair. Travel well.”

The finance department has extended the consultation period for feedback on its proposed changes to the Responsible Investing Policy to end of business on Wednesday, Nov. 13.

The recommendations will be considered by the investment committee of the Board of Governors in November 2024. View the draft here.

To comment on the proposed amendments, complete the online survey.