Enginuity Winter 2005 - The Schulich School of Engineering ...

Getting into the Rhythm
PhD student Dijana Popovic is developing algorhythms to aid in
breast cancer detection.
Making Waves
Dijana Popovic, currently in her 3rd year of PhD studies, is
the 2005 recipient of the Izaak Walton Killam Memorial
Scholarship. The award will go a long way in helping Dijana
with her research into Breast Cancer Detection.
Popovic is developing algorithms that will increase the
accuracy and the specificity of the Tissue Sensing Adaptive
Radar (TSAR) system for microwave detection of early
breast tumours. The system is being developed by an
electromagnetics group in the Department of Electrical
and Computer Engineering, run by Drs. Michal Okoniewski
and Elise Fear.
TSAR operation is based on the significant contrast in
electrical properties that exists between the normal and
diseased breast tissue. A number of antennas are scanned
around the breast to produce an image and localize the
tumours, if present. In comparison to X-ray mammography,
the TSAR system does not involve compression of the breast
and exposure to ionizing radiation, while providing better
accuracy due to the high electrical contrast between
tissues.
The process appears to have the potential to detect very
small tumors. It is expected that the TSAR equipment will be
significantly less expensive than some alternatives, such as
MRI and nuclear medicine methods; and safety is also a
benefit since the power of the radar pulses used in imaging
are less than those generated by cell phones.
Around the SSE Cont’d.
Popovic was also awarded the Killam -
Donald N. Byers Prize for submitting the best
statement of program of studies and research.
Big Thinking on Small
Scale Solutions
CMC Microsystems held their Annual
Symposium on Thursday, October 13 th in
Ottawa to explore the opportunities and
challenges presented by microsystems
integration. This year, Schulich School of
Engineering graduate students Lee Hartley and
Holly Pekau each took home awards in
different categories. Four awards were given
out from forty-one entries from across Canada.
Lee Hartley, supervised by Dr. Karen Kaler, took
home the newly added Integration Award for
his presentation on ‘Active pixel sensing &
glass microfluidics via flip-chip-on-glass hybrid
integration’. This research could lead to
disease diagnosis via computer chips. The
award recognizes the demonstration of the
most effective multi-technology and/or multidisciplinary
Microsystems project.
Also taking home an award was Holly Pekau,
supervised by Dr. James Haslett, for her
presentation of a novel sub-sampling RF front
end for next generation wireless digital radio.
The DALSA Corporation Award recognizes
novel use of microelectronic components or
microsystems.
Imed Zine El-Abidine, supervised by Dr. Michal
Okoniewski, received an honourable mention
for his presentation.
The awards are intended to be used to further
the winner’s education or training related to
microsystems.
The Izaak Walton Killam Memorial Scholarships are open
for competition among Ph.D. students , with approximately
nine awards made annually to the top ranking students.
The award is valued at $25,000 per annum and includes a
$3000 research allowance. The award has the potential for
a second year of funding and will certainly benefit Popovic.
“I don’t have to worry about money for living expenses,”
says Popovic of the finanacial benefits of the award. “The
research money will also be extremely useful for purchasing
computer hardware.”
SCHULICH SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING
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