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Dr. Rafik Goubran

Vice-President (Research, Innovation and International), Chancellor’s Professor, PhD, PEng, Life Fellow IEEE, Fellow CAE

Dr. Rafik Goubran, Chancellor’s Professor at Carleton University, was appointed Vice-President (Research, Innovation and International) in 2017. Dr. Goubran holds degrees from Cairo University in Egypt (BSc and MSc) and from Carleton University in Ottawa (PhD in Electrical Engineering).

He served two terms as Chair of the Department of Systems and Computer Engineering at Carleton between 1997 and 2006, and as Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Design from 2006 to 2016.

Dr. Goubran has participated on external boards such as the Centre of Excellence in Next Generation Networks (CENGN), Electricity Human Resources Canada (EHRC), the National Medical Devices Alliance, and the TRIUMF Canada’s Particle Accelerator Centre. His external committee work includes serving as Chair of the Council of Ontario Deans of Engineering, member of the Executive of the Global Engineering Deans Council, member of the Research Management Committee of the Cardiac Arrhythmia Network, and Challenge Area Lead in the AGE-WELL Network at the Centre of Excellence. He is a Life Fellow of the IEEE, a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering, a member of the Association of Professional Engineers of Ontario, and an affiliate investigator with the Bruyère Research Institute.

Dr. Goubran is an international leader in the field of sensors and data analytics, including sensor fusion and AI. His work on audio quality, echo cancellation, and noise suppression has resulted in over 100 journal and conference papers, patents, and technology transfers to industry.

Currently, Dr. Goubran is collaborating with researchers from medicine, nursing, psychology, and physiotherapy to design smart environments for the independent living of seniors and persons living with disabilities. As co-lead on these multidisciplinary research teams, he is exploring the ways sensor systems can be embedded into a patient’s environment to monitor health, vital signs, and well-being. Dr. Goubran has, to date, co-supervised 105 graduate students, co-authored over 340 peer-reviewed publications and 10 patents, and has attracted over $5M in external research funding.

As Vice-President (Research, Innovation and International), Dr. Goubran is committed to Carleton University’s Strategic Integrated Plan with its goals to share knowledge and shape the future; serve Ottawa and the world; and strive for wellness and sustainability. Research & International is dedicated to meeting these goals by: