The Strategic Plan of Smith Engineering includes a comprehensive framework of support for research excellence that fosters a strong research culture under the leadership of Vice-Dean (Research) Amir Fam.
Contact members of the Research Support Team for assistance anytime -- we are here to help you succeed!
Amir Fam, PhD
Vice-Dean (Research),
Smith Engineering
amir.fam@queensu.ca
Vera Kettnaker, PhD
Research Development Strategist,
Smith Engineering
vmk@queensu.ca
Bei Cai, PhD
Research Projects Advisor,
Smith Engineering and Queen's Research Services
beicai@queensu.ca
Amber Hastings-Truelove, PhD
Research Development Coordinator,
Electrical and Computer Engineering
ah126@queensu.ca
Sophie Felleiter, MSc
Research Development Coordinator,
Chemical Engineering
sf60@queensu.ca
This team supports research and researchers in numerous ways, such as strategic planning, alerting faculty members to new funding opportunities, facilitating connections with external partners, reviewing or contributing to grant applications, and helping with some administrative processes.
Every two weeks, engineering faculty members receive a comprehensive list of new funding opportunities, as well as a list of the latest publications of Smith Engineering researchers.
In addition, Queens's research services offers info sessions, resources, a funding opportunities newsletter and database, and reviews for funding applications. Queen's Partnerships and Innovation also provides support for entrepreneurship, intellectual property, commercialization, and research partnerships.
In bi-monthly sessions, panels of experienced researchers give advice on topics chosen by the early career researchers. In years with sufficient number of faculty hires, the Faculty also organizes a Research Orientation Day.
Upon request, pre-tenure faculty are paired with an experienced faculty mentor. Contact
Smith Engineering is offering a wide range of research and mobility awards for faculty members and students to recognize research excellence and facilitate international collaborations and conference attendance.
In addition, faculty members can request assistance for external prize nominations from Smith Engineering (contact) and/or Queen's. The photo on the left shows the 2023 Killam Prize winner Dr. Praveen Jain and 2023 Dorothy Killam Fellowship winner Dr. Claire Davies.
In 2023, Smith Engineering held a competition to select three emerging research clusters for seed support. Existing research centres can also compete annually for operating support from Smith Engineering.
A significant portion of Smith Engineering's research funding stems from collaborations with industry, government and non-profit partners. Organizations interested in research collaborations with Smith Engineering researchers can use our researcher directory to locate research expertise. Research Development Strategist Vera Kettnaker or Queen's Innovation and Partnerships unit can also facilitate introductions between Smith Engineering researchers and external organizations.
Smith Engineering periodically organizes Faculty-wide events to facilitate research collaborations across departments and with external organizations, like a 2019 Research Symposium and the 2022 Engineering Research Networking Day.