BME graduate student receives Adel S. Sedra Distinguished Graduate Award

Mohammadamir (Amir) G. Moghaddam has been named as the recipient of the 2025-26 Adel S. Sedra Distinguished Graduate Award, recognizing his outstanding academic achievements and leadership. This prestigious award, established in honour of former U of T Vice-President and Provost Professor Adel S. Sedra, is given annually to a doctoral student who exemplifies excellence in research and extracurricular leadership. 

A PhD student at the Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Moghaddam’s research focuses on Polymer-DNA origami hybrid cancer vaccines. His work has been published in Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews and Biofabrication and has received over $300,000 in competitive funding and scholarships. He is a Vanier Scholar and a Connaught Public Impact Fellow. 

In addition to his research, Moghaddam has held leadership roles in student governance. As President of the University of Toronto Graduate Students’ Union (UTGSU), he was involved in securing a university-wide increase in PhD/SJD funding to $40,000 annually and implementing programs addressing food insecurity. He also contributed to initiatives exploring the establishment of a non-profit housing corporation for graduate students. 

Moghaddam’s advocacy extends beyond the university. As Chair of the Canadian Federation of Students-Ontario Graduate Students Caucus and the CFS International Students Constituency, he has represented over 80,000 graduate students across Ontario, contributing to policy discussions on student funding and discounts. He has also worked on programs aimed at connecting graduate researchers with cancer patients and high school students. Under his leadership, UTGSU introduced more than 20 new graduate student employment positions. 

The Adel S. Sedra Distinguished Graduate Award is administered by the University of Toronto Alumni Association (UTAA) and is awarded annually to a doctoral student demonstrating strong academic performance and leadership in university and community activities.