The Ministry of Economic Development and Innovation for Ontario announced today that Carleton’s Winnie Ye is the recipient of an Early Researcher Award. She will receive $190,000 to continue developing a new way to diagnose disease using advanced nanophotonics.
Ye’s current research project involves developing compact and portable solar-powered sensors that can provide rapid diagnoses, helping public health officials respond more effectively to disease outbreaks. The technology is insensitive to surrounding environments and could be used in locations as diverse as the Arctic and Africa. Her research is especially timely considering several high-profile disease outbreaks in the past decade, including swine flu and SARS.
The commercialization potential of the advanced technology is expected to attract industrial collaborations. Much of Ye’s research is conducted in Carleton’s clean lab, a vibration-free facility. Carleton is one of the few institutions in Canada with such a facility.
Ye is the Canada Research Chair in Nano-scale IC Design for Reliable Opto-Electronics and Sensors at Carleton. She held two postdoctorate positions at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University. Her PhD research at Carleton involved working on a photonics project with the National Research Council Canada. She has a master’s of applied science in photonics from the University of Toronto and an undergraduate degree from Carleton in electrical engineering. She is also a mentor in Carleton’s Women in Science and Engineering chapter, where she helps foster interest in engineering and innovation among young women.
Brilliant Research. Brilliant Researchers.
Carleton University is a dynamic, interdisciplinary research institution located in Ottawa-Canada’s capital. It has innovative programs in sciences, engineering, arts, and public administration and has realized partnerships with numerous public and private sector organizations. Its strengths have led to international recognition for its faculty, as well as an ability to attract outstanding students.
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For more information:
Chris Cline
Media Relations Co-ordinator
Carleton University
613-520-2600, ext. 1391
christopher_cline@carleton.ca