Professor Safieddin Safavi-Naeini, Ph.D.
Co-Chair

Professor Safieddin Safavi-Naeini holds a Bachelor of Science degree (B.Sc.) in Electrical Engineering from the University of Tehran; and both a Master of Science (M.Sc.) and a Doctorate in Electrical Engineering (Ph.D.), from the University of Illinois.

Dr. Safavi-Naeini joined the University of Waterloo in 1996; where he is currently a full Professor in the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department.  He holds the $4 million NSERC/RIM Industrial Research Chair in Intelligent Integrated Radio and Photonics at the University. His research interests and activities over last 25 years include: microwave millimeter wave and sub-millimeter wave systems and circuits, TeraHertz systems and devices, antenna and propagation, wireless communication systems, computational methods for analysis and design optimization of quasi-optical and TeraHertz systems, and emerging microwave/photonic integrated technologies. He has lead a number of successful international research projects with research institutes in Germany, Finland, Japan, China, Sweden, S. Korea, and the USA, leading to new methods and technologies used by relevant industries. His well-recognized research contributions have been published in more than 60 journal papers and over 160 conference papers. He has served as scientific and technical consultant to a number of national and international telecommunication industrial and research organizations since 1980.  Recently, his extensive CFI proposal for the establishment of the “Centre for Intelligent Antenna and Radio Systems”, which includes a state-of-the-art TeraHertz signal analysis and radiation measurement laboratory, has been approved at a budgeted cost of $13,000,000 over 5 years (2007-2012.) This world-class facility will be unique in Canada, and among very few worldwide. Several of the novel technologies developed in the course of Dr. Safavi-Naeini’s research programs have been transferred to the industrial sponsors of these programs.

Professor Jake Thiessen, Ph.D.
Co-Chair

Dr. Jake Thiessen is the founding Hallman Director of the University of Waterloo’s School of Pharmacy and founding Director of the Health Sciences Campus.  Dr. Thiessen’s overall responsibilities include the funding and construction of the new $135 million Health Sciences Campus and the establishment of academic and research programs.  He was formerly professor and associate dean at the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto. He earned his B.Sc. (Pharm) degree from the University of Manitoba, and went on to complete a M.Sc. at Manitoba and a Ph.D. at the University of California, San Francisco. Dr. Thiessen’s area of specialization is pharmacokinetics. His research interests include new approaches in cancer treatment and new molecules to treat patients with iron overload. He has broadened his experience and shared his expertise through work with the Drug Quality and Therapeutics Committee of the Ontario Ministry of Health, Health Canada’s Scientific Advisory Committee on Bioavailability and Bioequivalence, and the Canadian Council for Accreditation of Pharmacy Programs.

Professor Branko Palcic, Ph.D.
Advisor

Dr. Branko Palcic holds a Ph.D. in Biology from McMaster University.  He is currently both an Honorary Professor for the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, and an Adjunct Professor for the Department of Physics, at the University of British Columbia.  He was the founder and Senior Scientist of the Cancer Imaging Department, as well as the Director of Technology Development, with the BC Cancer Agency.  His research interests include the development of methods for detection, diagnosis, and prognosis of early cancer and precancerous lesions.  Dr. Palcic is currently advising a NIH/NCI project which seeks to carry out technology assessment of several emerging technologies for improved detection of cervical neoplasia.

Professor Victor Gomel, M.D.
Advisor

Dr. Victor Gomel is Emeritus Professor and past Head of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at The University of British Columbia.  He has developed several pre-clinical surgical adhesion disease models and authored over 100 publications in this area of research.  Dr. Gomel is internationally known for his pioneering work in both microsurgery and operative laparoscopy.  He is an expert in gynaecologic surgery and reproductive medicine.  Dr. Gomel introduced many surgical techniques to Canada such as laparoscopy and hysteroscopy.  Dr. Gomel has also been on the Board of Trustees and Executive Boards of many national and international scientific societies, including the American Society of Reproductive Medicine (previously AFS), the American Association of Gynaecologic Endoscopists (AAGL) and the International Society of Gynaecological Endoscopy.  He served as the president of the Society of Reproductive Surgeons, the AAGL, and the Canadian Fertility and Andrology Society.

Dr. Martin Braun, M.D.
Advisor

A pioneer in laser skin treatments, Martin Braun, M.D. (UBC), is the Medical Director of the Vancouver Laser and Skin Care Centre, Inc. Dr. Braun was the first doctor in Canada to perform laser hair removal over seven years ago, and has performed thousands of procedures on skin with lasers and intense pulsed light in a private clinical setting.

A Fellow of the American Society of Laser Medicine and Surgery, Dr. Braun has trained with physicians at the forefront of cosmetic dermatology and aesthetic laser medicine. He has made many educational visits to medical laser clinics throughout North America, Europe, and most recently, Asia.