Life at BME
Explore the latest news, stories, and groundbreaking research happening at the Institute of Biomedical Engineering. Stay updated on innovative projects, impactful discoveries, and the achievements of our talented students, faculty, and alumni shaping the future of biomedical science and engineering.
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Exploring brain signals for rehabilitation | Ammara Faiyaz | Student Spotlight
Ammara Faiyaz moved from Canada to Saudi Arabia at age five, where limited opportunities for women and personal challenges shaped her determination to pursue science. She is now a second-year PhD student in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Toronto, researching neurotechnology to improve rehabilitation for children with cerebral palsy.
Vrushali Guruji’s PhD journey: Advancing heart research & championing STEM outreach
Vrushali Guruji is a fourth-year PhD candidate in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Toronto, where she studies how aortic valve disease influences blood flow and molecular changes in the aorta. Her work spans fundamental research and collaborations aimed at developing new treatments, while her commitment to STEM outreach supports programs that mentor and inspire future scientists. Discover how her research and advocacy are contributing to a more inclusive and innovative scientific community.
Leveraging MEng degree to create clinical solutions | Abigail Cave
Meet Abigail Cave, a 2025 graduate of the Master of Engineering in Biomedical Engineering program at the University of Toronto. She recently participated in the Medventions fellowship at Sunnybrook Research Institute, where her multidisciplinary team focused on improving code blue response in interventional cardiology. Their solution integrates real-time guidance and data-driven insights to enhance clinical workflows and documentation. Currently, Abigail is a Fulbright Student at Georgia Tech, pursuing a thesis-based master’s in biomedical engineering. She continues her research at Emory University’s Candace Fleischer Lab, studying brain temperature in healthy individuals to support future neurological studies.
A BME MEng’s journey from research to industry
Meet Alex Schneider, a recent graduate of the University of Toronto’s Biomedical Engineering MEng program, now working full-time as a biomedical applications scientist. Here, Alex shares how the program helped her pivot from academic research to industry, build a broader skill set, and discover a passion for optomechanics and biomodulation.
Wummy Meng | MEng Biomedical Engineering Student Spotlight
Wummy Meng shares her journey through the Master of Engineering in Biomedical Engineering program. From a formative research experience at the KITE Rehabilitation Institute to an internship at a medical device start-up, Wummy highlights the program’s academic strengths and hands-on opportunities. She also offers advice to future students on making the most of their time in the program.
Meet the BESA Leadership Team of 2025-2026
Meet members of the leadership team from the Biomedical Engineering Student Association (BESA) at the University of Toronto. BESA oversees student engagement within the graduate biomedical engineering community, organizing extracurricular activities, professional development opportunities, and events that support academic and career growth.
Promoting female voices in STEM | Ana-Maria Oproescu & Meghan Rothenbroker
Mia and Meghan are two BME PhD students on a mission to amplify women’s voices in science. With support from the Acceleration Consortium’s EDI Grant, they created Driving Diversity, a video series spotlighting women at the forefront of AI, robotics, and self-driving labs. In this video, they share what inspired the project, how they made it happen, and why female perspectives are vital to the future of research.
Meet the incoming class of 2025
Every January and September, BME welcomes over 100 graduate students into our Master of Engineering, Master of Applied Science, and Doctor of Philosophy programs. Check out their profiles below.
Engineering cells for space: Lucy Ma’s journey from grad school to the stars
Lucy Ma shares her path from undergrad to PhD, and how her curiosity about biology and space led her to research gene therapies for astronauts. She talks about her early experiences with the Canadian Space Agency, her current work engineering stem cells, and the challenges of advocating for innovation in space health.
2025 Orientation + BBQ
We held an orientation today for incoming graduate students in the MEng, MASc, and PhD programs, followed by our annual BBQ to foster connections between new and current students. Looking forward to a productive and engaging academic year.
Nanoparticles, internships, and a mission to cure cancer | Student Spotlight
Meet Alyssa Apilan, a MASc student in Professor Gang Zheng’s lab, where she’s pioneering nanoparticle formulations to combat liver cancer. Here, Alyssa shares her academic journey and how international internships in Italy and Singapore helped her grow both professionally and personally.
iBEAM 2025: Biomedical Engineering in Action
Join us for a glimpse into iBEAM 2025, a hands-on biomedical engineering workshop hosted by the Institute of Biomedical Engineering (BME) at the University of Toronto in partnership with the U of T Enrichment Academy. Over two days, students explored nanotechnology, biomaterials, and tissue engineering through interactive lab activities led by Drs. Penney Gilbert and Lindsey Fiddes. From gold nanoparticles to engineered pancreas tissue, this initiative empowers high school students from underrepresented communities to discover the possibilities of science and innovation.
Congratulations to the graduation class of 2025!
Today, we had the pleasure of celebrating the convocation of more than 40 students from the Master of Applied Science, Master of Engineering, and Doctor of Philosophy programs at the Institute of Biomedical Engineering. Congratulations to all our graduates on reaching this important milestone—keep moving forward with confidence and purpose!
Discovery Program marks 10 years of STEM outreach for Toronto high school students
Discovery Program marks 10 years of STEM outreach for Toronto high school students On June 5, 2025, the University of Toronto’s Myhal Centre hosted an end-of-semester program symposium experience for […]
Celebrating the 41st Student Research Conference (ToBE)
Celebrating the 41st Student Research Conference (ToBE) On May 9, 2025, the Institute of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Toronto hosted the Toronto Biomedical Engineering Conference (ToBE), one of […]
Building bridges through the Graduate Mentorship Program
Building bridges through the Graduate Mentorship Program Graduate school is an exciting yet challenging journey. Unlike undergraduate education, where coursework is structured and assignments have clear deadlines, graduate students must […]
Faces of BME – Aisha Raji
Faces of BME – Aisha Raji Growing up in Nigeria, Aisha Raji witnessed firsthand the challenges posed by limited healthcare resources, sparking her passion for biomedical engineering as a bridge […]
Black graduate engineering students expand community with new NSBE chapter
Thanks to a dedicated group of student leaders, Black-identifying members of U of T Engineering’s graduate student community now have more avenues for support and mentorship than ever before.
Faces of BME – Solumtobechukwu Ayadiuno
Faces of BME – Solumtobechukwu Ayadiuno Tochukwu Ayadiuno is a biomedical engineer with a passion for improving quality of life through advancements in medicine. Currently pursuing a PhD in Professor […]
Faces of BME – Theophilus Ofori
Faces of BME – Theophilus Ofori Theophilus Ofori, an MEng student at the Institute of Biomedical Engineering, is an accomplished biomedical engineer specializing in medical equipment management, planning, and clinical […]
Faces of BME – Jennifer Akaade
Faces of BME – Jennifer Akaade Jennifer Akaade, a Mastercard Scholar pursuing her MEng at the Institute of Biomedical Engineering, has built an impressive foundation in computer engineering. As the […]
First 48 Hours: Documentary spotlights the journey of international students
Cecil Chikezie, a PhD student at BME, has been featured in a 22-min University of Toronto documentary from the perspective of international students. It documents what life has been like within the first 48 hours of arriving on campus.
Meet the incoming class of 2024
In September, BME welcomed 100+ students into our graduate programs. We asked some of these students what they are looking forward to in graduate school, and why they chose our programs. Here’s what they have to say.