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Team

We are a group of individuals bringing experience and expertise from diverse backgrounds with a common passion for transformative technology.

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Lab Director

Dr. Rafiq Ahmad - Director of SMART LAB

Dr. Rafiq Ahmad

Associate Professor – Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Alberta
Director and Founder – Smart & Sustainable Manufacturing Systems Laboratory (SMART Lab)
Director and Founder – Aquaponics 4.0 Learning Factory (AllFactory)

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rafiq.ahmad@ualberta.ca

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+1 (780) 492 7180

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10-326, DICE,
9211 116 Street,
Edmonton AB T6G 1H9,
Canada

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Postdoctoral Fellows

Dr. Souravik Dutta

Dr. Souravik Dutta

Research Topic: Intelligent Robotics and Automation for Offsite Construction

Dr. Mauricio Arredondo Soto

Dr. Mauricio Arredondo Soto

Research Topic: Robotic Systems for Offsite Mass Timber Construction

Dr. Asim Iltaf

Research Topic: Laser Welding and Additive Manufacturing of Metallic Materials


Research Associates/Assistants

Nafees Wahab

Role: Research Administrative Assistant

Jennifer Cardenas Castaneda

Jennifer Cardenas Castaneda

Research Topic: AR & VR for Robotics and Inclusivity in STEM Education

Jessica Janeth Cisneros Gonzalez

Jessica Janeth Cisneros Gonzalez

Research Topic: Design of Robotic Cells for Offsite Construction


PhD Students

Umar Shareef

Umar Shareef

Research Topic: Knowledge Modeling and Intelligent Optimization of Hydroponic Systems

Afia Rasool

Afia Rasool

Research Topic: Automated Generative Design Methods for Mass Timber Construction

Paolo Pancho Ramírez

Paolo Pancho Ramírez

Research Topic: Robotic Handling of Mass Timber Building Components for Offsite Construction

Misha Afaq

Misha Afaq

Research Topic: Design and Development of Multi-Robot Platform for Offsite Structural Steel Construction

Guru Ratan Satsangee

Guru Ratan Satsangee

Research Topic: System Design for Automated Metal Additive Manufacturing

William Antonio Pancho Ramírez

William Antonio Pancho Ramírez

Research Topic: 4D Printing

Iklim Ozturk Ay

Research Topic: Biodegradable and Environmentally Friendly Polymers in Additive Manufacturing


MSc Students

Fátima Mariana Ramirez Rodriguez

Fátima Mariana Ramirez Rodriguez

Research Topic: Smart Extruder for Concrete 3D Printing

Ruozhou Du

Ruozhou Du

Research Topic: Additive Manufacturing

Asfar Nasir Khan

Asfar Nasir Khan

Research Topic: Plastic 3D Printing for Molds of Concrete Masonry Units

José Miguel Figarola Prado

José Miguel Figarola Prado

Research Topic: Artificial Intelligence Applications for Hydroponic Systems

Muhammad Afnan Khan

Muhammad Afnan Khan

Research Topic: VR Platform for Robotic Training and Education

Zilong Zhao

Zilong Zhao

Research Topic: Computer Vision Applications for Repair and Maintenance of Metal Components

Muhammad Haris

Muhammad Haris

Research Topic: Pole Climbing Robot for Disaster Management

Wessam Hamid

Wessam Hamid

Research Topic: Materials for Additive Manufacturing in Space

Nasim Zaman Piyas

Nasim Zaman Piyas

Research Topic: Recycling and Upcycling Manufacturing for Plastics and Bioplastics

Airim Alexandra Riquelme Pitty

Airim Alexandra Riquelme Pitty

Research Topic: Sustainable Tools to Reduce GHG Emissions in Industries

Muhammad Talha

Muhammad Talha

Research Topic: Automated Scan-to-BIM Procedure using Deep Learning

Mariana Marines Alvarado

Research Topic: BIM-integrated DfMA for Robotic Fabrication of Structural Steel Components


UG Students

Tabish Khan

Tabish Khan

Research Topic: AI-driven Waste Classification System for Intelligent Disposal Guidance

Munib Mir

Munib Mir

Research Topic: Virtual Environment for Construction 3D Printing

Maria Ngan

Research Topic: Autonomous Mobile Inspection Robot for Extreme Environments

Abdou Murad

Research Topic: AR/VR-based Game for Lunar Construction 3D Printing

Devansh Artwani

Research Topic: Software Development for Open-Source DfMA Tool

Aoun Khan

Research Topic: Development of Cloud Infrastructure & Delivery for the Worldwide Online Learning Factory (WOLF)

Vedant Rathod

Research Topic: Integration and Optimization of 3D-Printed Components and Environmental Sensors in a Vertical Farming System


Interns

Fatima Ezzahra Errogui

Fatima Ezzahra Errogui

Research Topic: AI-assisted Game for Visually Impaired Kids

Khadija Ouzakri

Khadija Ouzakri

Research Topic: Digital Tools for Training Industry

Abdennasser Anouar

Abdennasser Anouar

Research Topic: Simulation Game for Lean Manufacturing


Alumni

  • Dr. Roberto Monroy – Postdoctoral Fellow
  • Dr. Ateeq Ur Rehman – Postdoctoral Fellow
  • Dr. Pablo Martinez – Postdoctoral Fellow and PhD Student
  • Dr. Jiangzhuo Ren – Postdoctoral Fellow and PhD Student
  • Dr. Zahra Samadikhoshkho – Postdoctoral Fellow
  • Dr. Muhammad Tufail – Postdoctoral Fellow
  • Dr. Palwasha Afsar – Postdoctoral Fellow
  • Dr. Shahin Zareie – Postdoctoral Fellow
  • Dr. Mana Aziziderouei – Postdoctoral Fellow
  • Dr. Jikai Liu – Postdoctoral Fellow
  • Dr. Yifan Guo – PhD Student
  • Dr. Mohammed Alghamdy – PhD Student
  • Dr. Junaid Tahir – PhD Student
  • Dr. Feiyu Jia – PhD Student
  • Dr. Wenkang Zhang – PhD Student
  • Dr. Rabiya Abbasi – PhD Student
  • Dr. Yufan Zheng – PhD Student
  • Dr. Mohammad Abdelghani – PhD Student
  • Naveed Iqbal – Research Assistant
  • David Baca Lopez – Research Assistant and MSc Student
  • Kristyna Kvapilova – MSc Student
  • Hamdan Al-Musaibeli – MSc Student
  • Miguel Castillo – MSc Student
  • Tanay Kuclourya – MSc Student
  • Syed Abreez Gillani – MSc Student
  • Emanuel Martinez – MSc Student
  • Hector Lara-Rios – MSc Student
  • Habiba Imam Zahir – MSc Student
  • Harshavardhan Mamledesai – MSc Student
  • Abraham Reyes-Yanes – MSc Student
  • Juan Tzintzun Ramos – MSc Student
  • Ahmed Humadi – MSc Student
  • Mario Soriano – MSc Student
  • Saraswati Jituri – MSc Student
  • Nabeel Malik – MSc Student
  • Shi An – MSc Student
  • Pedro Yepez – MSc Student
  • Anas Itani – MSc Student
  • Induwara Kandapahala – UG Student
  • Gabriel Vasquez Del Castillo – UG Student
  • Aiman Saif – UG Student
  • Eric Voisin – UG Student
  • Owen Cooke – UG Student
  • Sami Jagirdar – UG Student
  • Sean Hand – UG Student
  • Stevie Desmarais – UG Student
  • Daniel Asimiakwini – UG Student
  • Kai Wu – UG Student
  • Dhir Bid – UG Student
  • Roland Street – UG Student
  • Chong Zhang – UG Student
  • Cole Masse – UG Student
  • Yining Liu – UG Student
  • Bowen Xie – UG Student
  • Mingjie Han – UG Student
  • Tianshuo Liang – UG Student
  • Jing Qu – UG Student

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Smart and Sustainable
Manufacturing Systems Laboratory

10-326, Donadeo Innovation Centre For Engineering
University of Alberta
9211, 116 Street, Edmonton AB T6G 1H9

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