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Research

Research at Lakehead’s Faculty of Engineering is focused on addressing some of the most pressing challenges facing society today, including sustainable energy, natural resource management, and infrastructure development.

Three Chemical engineering students working on an experiment

Research Areas

Lakehead University’s engineering research is focused on addressing real-world challenges in a socially responsible and sustainable manner. Students and faculty members work closely with industry partners and community stakeholders to ensure that their research has a positive impact on the local and global community.

Some of the areas of research that our faculty members and students are involved in include:

  • Alternative Energy: research in the area of renewable energy sources, such as solar, wind, and biomass, and energy storage systems, such as batteries and fuel cells.
  • Environmental Sustainability: research on sustainable waste management, water treatment, and environmental monitoring and assessment.
  • Materials Science: research on the development of new materials for use in a wide range of applications, including electronics, transportation, and energy.
  • Advanced Manufacturing: research on the development of new manufacturing processes and technologies, such as additive manufacturing, robotics, and automation.
  • Transportation: research on sustainable transportation systems, such as electric vehicles and alternative fuels, as well as research on safe driving practices and road safety.

Find out more about our Research Areas using the following links:

Students working in the Fire Lab
LU Fire Testing and Research Laboratory
LU Fire Testing and Research Laboratory

Research Institutes and Centres

Faculty members and students from Lakehead Engineering are members of a variety of research institutes and centres, including:

  • Biorefining Research Institute (BRI): BRI is a research centre that focuses on the development of sustainable bioproducts and bioenergy. Its research includes studies on the conversion of biomass into biofuels, bioplastics, and other value-added products.
  • Green Processes Research Centre (GPRC): GPRC is a hub for local and international researchers working on cutting-edge green technologies that will develop new products with the aim at transforming chemical industries to adopt new sustainable processes with green products that will protect the environment.
  • Centre for Research in Safe Driving (CRSD): CRSD is a multidisciplinary research centre that focuses on understanding driver behaviour and developing interventions to improve road safety.
  • Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Mining and Exploration (CESME): CESME is a collaborative research centre that focuses on sustainable mining and exploration practices. Its research includes studies on reducing the environmental impact of mining operations, improving worker safety, and developing new mining technologies.
  • LU Fire Testing and Research Laboratory (LUFTRL): LUFTRL is a world-class research facility that accommodates a large-size, state-of-the-art fire testing furnace that is utilized to study and evaluate the fire resistance of various construction materials and structural components. Building components such as large-size beams, columns, and floor assemblies can be tested under the exposure of elevated temperatures of standard or realistic fire scenarios that can reach up to 1300˚C.
  • Biomass Utilization Research Laboratory (BURL): BURL focuses on the development of innovative technologies for the efficient and sustainable use of biomass.
  • Wireless Communication & Networks Research Group (WCNRC): WCNRC is focused is on designing resource management schemes and communication protocols for IoT networks that have both (i) enhanced network performance in terms of spectrum efficiency, coverage, and energy efficiency and (ii) satisfied a wide range of IoT devices’ requirements and constraints.
  • Robotics & Automatic Control Laboratory (LRACL): LRACL is focused on the development of advanced control algorithms and the design of robotic systems for various applications.
  • Creative Blockchain and Artificial Intelligence Research Laboratory (CBAIR-Lab): CBAIR-Lab is a leading research laboratory focused on the intersection of blockchain technology and artificial intelligence.
Electrical engineering students

Laboratory Facilities

Lakehead Engineering has a variety of labs that provide facilities and equipment for conducting research across a variety of engineering fields. Some of our labs include:

  • Advanced Manufacturing Lab: This lab is equipped with CNC machines, 3D printers, and other advanced manufacturing equipment. It is used for research on advanced manufacturing processes and technologies, such as additive manufacturing and robotics.
  • Civil Engineering Lab: This lab is equipped with facilities for testing and analyzing construction materials such as concrete, steel, and wood. It is used for research on structural engineering, materials science, and sustainable construction.
  • Electrical Engineering Lab: This lab is equipped with equipment for testing and analyzing electrical circuits and systems. It is used for research on power systems, control systems, and other areas of electrical engineering.
  • Environmental Engineering Lab: This lab is equipped with facilities for studying water treatment, air quality, and waste management. It is used for research on environmental sustainability, pollution prevention, and environmental impact assessment.
  • Renewable Energy Lab: This lab is equipped with equipment for studying renewable energy technologies such as wind turbines, solar panels, and biofuels. It is used for research on alternative energy sources and energy storage systems.
  • Geotechnical Engineering Laboratory: This lab is equipped with various instruments for conducting geotechnical engineering experiments, including consolidation tests, triaxial tests, direct shear tests, and permeability tests.
  • Structures Laboratory: This lab is equipped with equipment and instruments for conducting structural engineering experiments, including universal testing machines, strain gauges, and data acquisition systems.

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