Partnering learners and industry for success through workforce development
BCIT Faculty, Instructors and Researchers
Pages
-
- Paula Brown
- current, Director, Natural Health and Food Products Research Group (NRG) Canada Research Chair in Phytoanalytics Dr. Paula Brown is the Director of the BC Institute of Technology's Natural Health and Food Products Research Group (NRG), which has been actively supporting the NHP industry for over a decade through applied research activities, including product development, establishment of quality standards and regulatory compliance. By providing fundamental investigations on product quality, safety and efficacy, BCIT supports industry through the entire continuum, from grower to manufacturer, ensuring product integrity is maintained. Dr. Brown has spoken at numerous conferences over the last decade on product quality standards, analytical method validation and is currently the "Quality Focus" columnist for Nutraceuticals World. An active volunteer, Dr. Brown sits on various Boards, Committees and Working Groups including the Dietary Supplement Joint Committee (NSF) and the Analytical Laboratories and Botanical Raw Material Committees (American Herbal Products Association). She is currently a Director for the Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC which strategically invests federal and provincial funds in support of innovative projects to benefit the agri-food industry. In 2003 she was a founding Director of the NHP Research Society of Canada, dedicated to supporting and promoting scientifically rigorous NHP research and education and most recently she joined the Advisory Board of the American Botanical Council. Dr. Brown serves on two grant review committees for National Center for Complementary & Alternative Medicine, NIH and is a reviewer for numerous peer-reviewed Journals in the field of analytical chemistry and natural products. A Fellow of the AOAC International (2009), she served as Referee for the Dietary Supplement Methods Committee from 2004-2009, is a current member of the Dietary Supplement Task Force (2003-present), and has participated on seven Expert Review Panels for AOAC. In addition she has directed three full collaborative studies; Goldenseal (Official Methods SM 2008.04), Ginseng (SM 2008.05) and Echinacea (in review). Dr. Brown is currently a member of the Natural Health Products Program Advisory Committee (PAC), and Chair of it's Product Testing Working Group, convened to make recommendations on policy related to standards of evidence for quality. The mandate of the PAC is to provide the NHP Program Directorates (Natural Health Products Directorate, Marketed Health Products Directorate and Health Products and Food Branch Inspectorate) with advice and recommendations on current and emerging issues relevant to the Canadian regulatory framework for natural health products.
-
- Jaimie Borisoff
- current, Canadian Research Chair, Rehabilitation Engineering Design, British Columbia Institute of Technology Adjunct Professor, Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia Research Director, British Columbia Institute of Technology Ph.D. (Neuroscience) [University of British Columbia] B.A.Sc. (Engineering Physics) [University of British Columbia] Dr. Borisoff focuses his research on how technology development can improve accessibility and mobility for people with SCI. One focus of his work is on expanding patients’ ability to interact more fully with others, the environment, and their world. This includes dynamic wheeled mobility, the ability to change your position in a wheelchair to suit different daily activities. Rehabilitation Engineering Design looks at how people use devices in real life and, from these observations, designs better versions of the devices. In the long term, Dr. Borisoff wants to merge current models with newer technologies like robotics and exoskeletons in order to increase the ways in which technology can improve the lives of people with SCI.
-
- Taco Niet
- current, Taco is an expert in Energy Systems Modelling. He graduated with his M.A.Sc. from the University of Victoria in 2002 and completed the requirements for his Ph.D. in the fall of 2018. His research focusses on addressing systemic challenges in the energy system including integration of variable renewables and working with emerging economies. Specific research interests include sustainable development, energy systems modelling and optimization and wind and solar energy. He feels strongly that we need to focus on the sustainability of the entire energy system and not assume that a specific project is sustainable just because it is labelled ‘renewable’, ‘clean’ or ‘green’. Taco has been teaching mechanical engineering at BCIT since 2003. His specific areas of expertise, in addition to sustainability and energy systems, include instrumentation and measurement for mechanical systems and strength of materials. When Taco is not teaching or exploring energy systems he enjoys sailing on his 27 foot sailboat., SW09 202 - Burnaby Campus
-
- David Holloway
- current, Work experience: Postdoctoral Fellowships (1995-1998): University of British Columbia; Copenhagen University; Simon Fraser University BCIT Mathematics Department, 1998- Education: B.A. Chemistry cum laude, 1989. Minor in Classical Studies. University of Puget Sound. Ph.D. Physical Chemistry, 1995, University of British Columbia Postdoctoral Fellowships: 1996, Chemistry, University of British Columbia; 1997, Chemistry, University of Copenhagan (U.S. National Science Foundation Fellowship; 1998, Computing Science, Simon Fraser University (NSF Fellowship), SW02 218 - Burnaby Campus
-
- Mirela Gutica
- current, Mirela Gutica is Faculty member and Option Head in the School of Computing and Academic Studies, at the British Columbia Institute of Technology. Her interests in computing technology include digital logic design, computer architecture, programming languages, operating systems and human-computer interaction. She is also involved in research in learning theories, education technologies and intelligent pedagogical agents. Over the years, Mirela Gutica taught in post-secondary education at BCIT and Douglas College courses in programming methodologies, discrete mathematics, computer architecture, operating systems, web development, system internals and research methodologies. She is the Option Head for Technical Programming since 2002. She is interested in enhancing students’ learning experiences and creating a learning community. Mirela Gutica organized and participated in several events that showcased students’ projects and connected them with specialists from industry. Mirela Gutica completed in May 2014 a PhD in Curriculum Studies with a specialization in Technology Studies. In her PhD thesis, Mirela Gutica studied how emotion influences learning in the context of tutoring systems. She designed an educational game, Heroes of Math Island, for students in grades five to seven, and analyzed the learners’ emotional states as they interacted with it. Her findings will benefit researchers and designers in the field of advanced learning technologies. Education: University of British Columbia, Ph.D., 2014 Areas of study: Curriculum Studies,Technology Study Education, Adaptive Interfaces Dissertation: Designing Educational Games and Advanced Learning Technologies: An Identification of Emotions for Modelling Pedagogical and Adaptive Emotional Agents
-
- Rodger Beatson
- Rodger Beatson, BSc, PhD (Organic Chemistry) Faculty, Chemical and Environmental Technology Areas of interest: Energy efficiency in mechanical pulping, production of dissolving pulps, forest biomass as a source of fuels and chemicals, genetic control of plant fibre properties., SW01 2448 - Burnaby Campus
-
- Jennie Moore
- current, Associate Dean, Building Design and Construction Technology Director, Sustainable Development and Environmental Stewardship Dr. Jennie Moore is an accomplished and recognized global leader in sustainability whose work and leadership has received local, national and international acclaim, Jennie launches sustainability-focused industry practices and educational standards that make our community a better place in which to live and work. A LEED-accredited professional, Jennie’s work received an Environmental Citizenship Award from the federal government for her groundbreaking Employee Trip Reduction program., SE01 140N - Burnaby Campus
-
- Maureen Connelly
- current, Dr. Maureen Connelly, MAIBC, PhD Director, Faculty Centre for Architectural Ecology | BCIT School of Construction and the Environment Combining a science background with a professional affiliation as an architect, Maureen Connelly developed the vision, oversaw the construction and the instrumentation of the BCIT green roof research facility in 2002. Maureen's initial research focused on the architectural and planning impact of greenroofs, which led to the Phase 1 research on storm water and thermal performance. Maureen developed the first credited course on green roofs in Canada. Current research focus is on the quantification of the acoustical capacity for greenroofs and walls to reduce sound transmission through buildings, reduce noise build up in urban areas and enhance personal and shared soundscapes. Maureen continues to direct the strategic research and planning process at the BCIT Centre for Architectural Ecology. Maureen received the BCIT Applied Research Award for outstanding contribution to the advancement of knowledge, and of economic and societal well-being through the application and implementation of new technology accepted the Canadian Institute of Energy 2010 Research and Development award on behalf of the Centre, and most recently the Green Roof and Wall Research Award of Excellence from Green Roofs for Healthy Cities
-
- Nancy Paris
- current, Director MAKE+ and Product and Process Applied Research Team Nancy Paris is the Director of MAKE+ and Product and Process Applied Research Team (PART) at BCIT. Since 1996 Nancy has been responsible for the growth and management of a fifteen person multi-disciplinary team of researchers that conducts applied R&D in emerging and next generation product design in health technologies, energy, consumer electronics, and industrial products for clients in industry, academia, government and the community. Ms. Paris is also an accomplished researcher and product developer with over twenty-five years of experience in developing proposals, grants, and contracts to conduct applied research projects and build applied research infrastructure. Her areas of expertise include the product development process, medical and assistive devices, and health technology research. She has received funding from private sector companies, NSERC, Western Economic Diversification and WorkSafeBC. She is also an inventor of the PROSTALAC Hip Replacement System which was licensed to Depuy of Johnson and Johnson in 1999. In 2009 Nancy was awarded the Advanced Technology Award from the Applied Science Technologist and Technicians of BC for leadership in the advancement of medical and assistive devices. In 2013 she was awarded the BCIT Employee Excellence Award for Applied Research. Ms. Paris is also responsible for the development of a student project support service for bachelor of engineering and technology diploma programs at BCIT. A range of services are available to students including mentoring in project management, access to our multi-disciplinary research team for technical assistance and access to our advanced product development equipment. Nancy also supervises students from BCIT, other Canadian institutions and international institutions during internships and student projects. In 2009 Engineers Canada bestowed the designation of Fellow upon Ms. Paris in honour of exceptional contributions to the engineering profession in Canada.
-
- Joan Shellard
- current, Joan is a Research Scientist and part-time Instructor in the Biotechnology Program at BCIT, where students earn a joint BCIT-UBC Bachelor Honours Degree in Biotechnology. She has taught core courses in molecular genetics, introduction to biotechnology and currently teaches protein biochemistry and advanced animal cell biology. Joan has almost 20 years of post-doctoral work experience and has conducted research in both the academic and biotechnology sectors. She has consequently developed a diverse background in several areas of molecular and cell biology, with a particular interest in the molecular biology of stem cells. Industry Experience Prior to joining at BCIT, Joan worked for over five years at Chromos Molecular Systems as a Sr. Scientist and Team Leader for their Cell Line Engineering program. She led all projects focused on enhancing gene targeting and expression, and was successful in engineering Chromos' proprietary (US Patents 20050181506 & 0120064578) ACE System vectors (Perkins et.al.). Joan was also responsible for engineering a manufacturing (CHO) cell line for a first-in-class therapeutic monoclonal antibody, which is now undergoing clinical development by Glenmark and Sanofi Pharma for the treatment of multiple sclerosis and Crohn's disease, respectively (Bloomberg; Nature Biotech). Academic Background Joan's Ph.D thesis focused on the biochemical purification and characterization of a novel & selective growth regulator of hematopoietic progenitor cells (Shellard et.al.; Logan, Shellard et.al.). This regulator belongs to a class of neutrophilic granule proteins that mediate a variety of pro-inflammatory activities and Joan is credited as the first researcher to identify its regulatory role in hematopoiesis and the pathogenesis of myeloid leukemias (Ouriaghli et.al.; Tavor et.al.). Joan's post-doctoral work expanded her expertise in the molecular mechanisms governing embryonic and stem cell development. In the Zoology department at UBC, she analyzed the Polycomb gene, Asx, in fruit fly development (Sinclair et.al.) and at the Institut Pasteur (Paris, France), she studied the role of Leukemia Inhibitory Factor (LIF) in maintaining the totipotency of mouse embryonic stem cells (Shellard et.al.)., SW09 208 - Burnaby Campus