Liang is the 2024 recipient of the Terry G. Falconer Memorial Rh Institute Foundation Emerging Researcher Award in the Applied Sciences category, recognized for developing intelligent, cost-effective monitoring systems that enhance the safety and longevity of critical infrastructure. 

UM Today caught up with Liang to learn more about Liang and the research underway. 

Can you tell me a bit about yourself and your research? 

I’m an associate professor in mechanical engineering, with a deep interest in making engineering systems smarter and more reliable. My path into this field started with a fascination for how things work—and more importantly, why they fail. Over the years, that curiosity evolved into a research program that combines theory, experimentation and collaboration. I lead a multidisciplinary team where we explore machinery dynamics, signal processing and machine learning—always with a focus on solving real-world problems. I also enjoy mentoring students and working closely with industry to ensure our research translates into practical, impactful solutions. 

Why is this research important? 

My research focuses on developing intelligent, cost-effective condition monitoring systems that ensure the safety and reliability of critical infrastructure and machinery. From aircraft engines to renewable energy systems, early detection of faults can save lives, reduce maintenance costs and extend the lifespan of equipment. In a world where systems are becoming more complex and data-driven, predictive maintenance is no longer optional—it’s essential. 

What does the Rh Award mean to you? 

Receiving the Rh Award is both an honour and a motivator. It’s recognition not just of past achievements, but of the potential to continue contributing meaningfully to science and engineering. It also reflects the collective efforts of my students, collaborators and mentors, all who have played vital roles in shaping this journey. 

What do you hope to achieve in the future? 

Looking ahead, I hope to further bridge the gap between advanced research and real-world applications. I aim to develop robust, AI-assisted systems that industries can readily adopt—particularly in aerospace, transportation and renewable energy. I’m also committed to mentoring the next generation of researchers and strengthening international collaborations that tackle global engineering challenges. 

What about you would people find surprising? 

Many people might be surprised to know that I have a strong interest in investment and business. While my main focus is on research and engineering, I enjoy learning about entrepreneurship, market trends and strategic thinking. I’m still figuring out how to translate that interest into success, but I believe the mindset and skills from both domains—research and business—can complement each other. Bridging the gap between innovation and real-world application is something I find both challenging and exciting. 

Any advice for early career researchers and students? 

Be patient with your progress, and don’t be afraid to ask questions—even the ones that seem simple. Seek mentors who challenge and support you. Surround yourself with collaborators from different disciplines and never lose sight of the impact your work can have. And above all, stay curious. Curiosity is the engine of discovery. 

“It is wonderful to see Dr. Hu recognized for his decades of research in fundamental science, working behind the scenes to improve the smart devices we depend on every day,” says Dr. Mario Pinto, Vice-President (research & International). “These awards are an important opportunity for UM to celebrate researchers across who are making frontier discoveries that lead later to transformative impacts in society. I congratulate all the recipients on this well-deserved honour.”

Awards are given in two categories: The Dr. John M. Bowman Memorial Winnipeg Rh Institute Foundation Award, awarded to one established faculty member annually and the Terry G. Falconer Memorial Rh Institute Foundation Emerging Researcher Awards, awarded to seven early career faculty members.

Can-Ming Hu, distinguished professor of Physics and Astronomy at the UM Faculty of Science, is the recipient of the Dr. John M. Bowman Memorial Winnipeg Rh Institute Foundation Award in recognition of his advancements in quantum material interactions, helping shape the next generation of communication technology.

Terry G. Falconer Memorial Rh Institute Foundation Emerging Researcher Award recipients are:

Applied Sciences

Dr. Chyngyz Erkinbaev (biosystems engineering) is a scientist whose research is advancing intelligent sensing techniques in food production. Erkinbaev is internationally recognized for his leadership integrating engineering, digital and biological research in the real-time monitoring of food quality and safety using smart sensing technologies.

Dr. Xihui (Larry) Liang (mechanical engineering) is a leading innovator in the predictive maintenance of machinery such as gearboxes, pumps and turbine engines. Liang’s independent research program at the Price Faculty of Engineering is driving advancements in reliability and efficiency for critical energy infrastructure.

Creative Activities

Ms. Anna Binta Diallo (School of Art) is an interdisciplinary visual artist who blends collaged images, vinyl adhesives and sculptural forms to create dynamic gallery and public space installations. Diallo’s research is focused on re-framing and re-mixing stories as a means of de-centering dominant Eurocentric narratives in contemporary art.

Health Sciences

Dr. Heather Armstrong (internal medicine) conducts groundbreaking research on how diet, environment, and the gut microbiome interact to influence gastrointestinal diseases and immune health. Armstrong works with national and local patient cohorts to develop precision nutrition tools to support those with inflammatory bowel disease and other gut-related conditions. 

Dr. Christy Pylypjuk (obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive sciences) holds multifaceted clinical roles as Assistant Director of the Obstetrical Outreach Program, Assistant Director of the Maternal Fetal Medicine Fellowship Program and Health Sciences Centre Site Lead for the Canadian Preterm Birth Network. Her research uses fetal ultrasound to improve outcomes for pregnant patients and their babies.

Natural Sciences

Dr. Savino Longo (physics and astronomy) conducts research in experimental subatomic physics to explore the origins of the universe. Longo is a leader of international collaborations to better understand the building blocks of matter using high-energy matter-antimatter collisions as well as the development of new technologies for subatomic particle detectors.

Social Sciences

Dr. Patricia Thille (physical therapy) is a research-intensive associate professor at the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences focused on issues like body size, chronic pain and self-management in community-based care. With expertise in both physiotherapy and sociology, Thille seeks to expose stigma and promote equity in health care.

To learn more about research excellence at UM, visit our Awards and Recognition webpage.

“With new launch companies providing unprecedented access to space, we need to research and develop new ways of monitoring space objects from small spacecraft to prevent collisions and to maintain space sustainability for the entire planet. This is a challenge of global scale, requiring international collaboration between industry and academia,” says Philip Ferguson, Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering and lead of UM’s Space Technology and Advanced Research Laboratory (STARLab).

To read the full story, please visit The Associated Press.

Nolan De Leon, 2024 Falling Walls Manitoba winner.

Falling Walls Lab is an international competition, created by the Falling Walls Foundation, inspired by the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989.  It promotes research and innovation in all disciplines, by posing the question, “Which walls will fall next?” 

Nolan De Leon (Dr.MD, PhD) won the grand prize sponsored by InfoMagnetics Technologies. The prize includes $1000 cash along with airfare and accommodations in Berlin, Germany to compete in the global Falling Walls competition finale Nov. 7 to 9 with their presentation, Breaking the Wall of Prenatal Diagnostics.

Megan Crooks (MA Clinical Psychology) won the second-place prize of $750 sponsored by Research Manitoba, with the presentation entitled, Breaking the Wall of Phantom Pain Prevention.

Anastasia Matsko (Dr.Med/PhD) was the third-place finalist winning $500 sponsored by QDoc Virtual Healthcare with the presentation Breaking the Wall of Dental Implants.

Sajad Saraygord Afshari (PhD, P.Eng, Postdoc), won the Audience Choice award of $500 sponsored by Red River College Polytechnic for the presentation, Breaking the Wall of AI-Powered Drone Work: Revolutionizing Wildfire Prevention.

“The Falling Walls Lab is an important opportunity to showcase the world-class research happening every day in Manitoba and I would like to thank the large community who came together to bring this celebration to life,” said Dr. Hans-Joachim Wieden, Associate Vice-President Partnerships Knowledge Mobilization & Innovation. “Students are the greatest drivers of change in addressing the pressing challenges faced by society and by empowering entrepreneurs and innovators across disciplines we can make these great ideas a reality.”

Congratulations to all the presenters for sharing their exciting research and being a part of this second Falling Walls Manitoba event:

• Mahdi Zakeri (Healthcare & Medical Sciences): Breaking the Wall of Bone Loss & Healing
• Abhinav Tiwari (Agriculture & Food Science): Breaking the Wall of Grain Drying
• Juanita Garcia (Healthcare & Medical Sciences): Breaking the Wall of Exercise in Spinal Injury
• Venkata Daggupati (Computing & Information Science): Breaking the Wall of Emergency Room Challenges
• Anastasia Matsko (Engineering & Technology): Breaking the Wall of Dental Implants
• Hussein Agoushi (Architecture & Urban Studies): Breaking the Wall of Community Silence
• Samantha Phrakonkham (Healthcare & Technology): Breaking the Wall of Eye Healthcare
• Sajad Saraygord Afshari (Engineering & Technology): Breaking the Wall of AI-Powered Drone Work: Revolutionizing Wildfire Prevention
• Amir Barzegar Behrooz (Healthcare & Medical Sciences): Breaking the Wall of Alzheimer’s Therapy
• Megan Crooks (Healthcare & Medical Sciences): Breaking the Wall of Phantom Pain Prevention
• Nolan De Leon (Healthcare & Medical Sciences): Breaking the Wall of Prenatal Diagnostics
• Carmine Slipski (Healthcare & Medical Sciences): Breaking the Wall of Oral Health Detection

ALI SAFIAN
Price Faculty of Engineering, department of mechanical engineering

You can’t see the outcome of Ali Safian’s research, but the smart sensors he created, hidden inside industrial machines, will make the environments they operate in safer and more efficient. 

Machines with rotating components have roller bearings which can be dangerous and expensive if they fail during operation. Because of this, their physical condition is constantly monitored. Safian’s sensors differ from traditional methods in that they can be installed next to the bearing, providing clearer data, and are made from piezoelectric materials, which are more cost-effective.   

“The uniqueness of our research lies in its simplicity combined with high performance,” explains Safian. “In noisy environments, our transducer outperformed existing sensors on the market, which was promising. We found that we could also measure and monitor the speed of rotation, eliminating the need for a separate speed sensor. This reduces costs while enhancing the transducer’s functionality.” 

Safian currently works as an acoustic and vibration specialist at AECOM, applying his academic knowledge in practical settings. 

QIAN LIU
Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, department of biochemistry and medical genetics

Using the latest in advanced artificial intelligence (AI), Qian Liu developed new models that can improve the interpretation of MRI scans, enhancing the early detection and accurate diagnosis of breast cancer. 

“Understanding the relationship between genetic markers and imaging features can lead to more personalized treatment plans for patients,” explains Liu. “This is especially important in cancer care. By automating and improving the accuracy of diagnostics through AI, my research has the potential to reduce the time and cost associated with manual analysis and interpretation of medical data. This can help make high-quality health care more affordable and accessible to a larger population.” 

Liu made the AI software tools she developed open access in the hopes that they can be applied in broader contexts.  She is currently an assistant professor at the University of Winnipeg, where she aims to advance the field of precision medicine by improving diagnostic accuracy and treatment planning through data science. 

YING YANG
Faculty of Science, department of physics and astronomy

For her PhD work, Ying Yang delved into the complex world of light-matter interaction. By coupling magnetic materials (magnons) and microwaves (photons) together in tiny, specially designed cavities, she began to see novel behaviours of both materials emerge. 

“It can be understood by the toy model in our lab: two pendulums, resembling the magnon and photon modes, can be connected through a spring. One pendulum’s move affects the other to transfer energy back and forth to build the coupling.” 

Her groundbreaking contribution to the development of cavity magnonics has theoretical implications for the development of non-Hermitian physics, a new frontier of quantum physics.  

In the lab, Yang has been part of a UM research team that used her insights to design a “Romulan Cloaking Device” device reminiscent of Star-Trek which can render microwaves invisible. 

Yang is currently completing a post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Chicago.

“I would like to extend my sincere congratulations to the winners of the Distinguished Dissertation Award for the amazing research that they have conducted during their time at UM,” says Kelley Main, Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies. “They are an inspiring group of alumni.” 

University of Manitoba Distinguished Dissertation Awards are given to graduating doctoral students who have been nominated by their faculty/college/school for a dissertation that represents a ground-breaking piece of original work. Each year, one award is offered in each of the following categories: applied sciences, health sciences, humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences. Awardees receive a $3,000 prize. 

The project is called ‘Arctic Community Connectivity for Equity, Sustainability and Service’ (ACCESS). The goal of the initiative is to find solutions to improve connectivity in Canada’s north by creating a drone airship that will act as a satellite communications hub.

This will improve safety for hunters and researchers, as well as search and rescue teams in remote areas.

“This is us responding to the needs that we’ve heard with our Indigenous and Inuit collaborators and researchers that are saying they need better connectivity to support hunters and trappers on the ice, and search and rescue,” said Philip Ferguson, a U of M engineering professor who is leading the project.

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Current combustion engines require liquid fuel to be converted into a fine mist of droplets before it can evaporate, ignite and burn to release energy.

As a graduate student in the department of mechanical engineering, Cam Verwey looked at how these droplets of fuel evaporate in an engine to reduce emissions and set the stage for biofuel performance. His research has been recognized with a University of Manitoba Distinguished Dissertation award.

“Anything we can do to create incremental improvements in combustion systems may be more important than ever, just because of the state of our climate and dwindling petroleum resources,” he explains, citing projections from the Canada Energy Regulator that suggest society will still be reliant on liquid fuels for decades to come.

He adds: “The eventual transition away from liquid fuels does not relieve engine designers of the responsibility to continue refining their existing products. Right now, it’s desperately needed.”

Understanding how quickly fuel droplets evaporate in certain turbulent conditions has been a considerable challenge for researchers in the past, but Verwey developed a novel method that has helped fill this critical knowledge gap.

Using a specialized spherical fan-stirred chamber he was able to isolate individual droplets of fuel, record its evaporation through high magnification optics and then analyze it using computer software.

“It’s taking a tiny piece and creating a building block to understand a very complex phenomenon. What we found was that this turbulent flow is a lot more impactful in certain situations than was previously thought.”

This benchmark data can now be used by other researchers and engine designers to improve current-state engines. It’s even been picked up by another UM researcher, PhD student Arash Arabkhalaj, who is studying the biofuel butanol.

“As we shift more towards greener fuels, a lot of those aren’t nearly as tested as classic liquid petroleum refined products. So the more information we have on these new waves of green fuels, the better equipped we are to design systems to take advantage of their specific properties.”

Verwey’s research also has applications outside mechanical engineering, including atmospheric science and infectious disease – any environment where fine droplets are present.

Since graduating, Verwey has joined the Price Faculty of Engineering as an assistant professor where he is hoping to make connections with industry to help bring this practical science into real-world application.

University of Manitoba Distinguished Dissertation Awards are given to graduating doctoral students who have been nominated by their faculty/college/school for a dissertation that represents a ground-breaking piece of original work. Each year, one award is offered in each of the following categories: applied sciences, health sciences, humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences. Awardees receive a $3,000 prize.

Curious about graduate studies? Check out all of UM’s graduate programs.

CRCs are world leaders in their field funded by the Government of Canada in the areas of natural sciences and engineering, health sciences, and social sciences and humanities. “These symposia were a wonderful opportunity for researchers to get to know each other’s specialties, and to spark new collaborations with students and the wider community,” says Mario Pinto, Vice-President (Research and International). “I thank all the CRCs for their groundbreaking contributions to address the issues faced by society today.”

This thought-provoking look at current UM research is available to view online, each featuring a brief presentation from the gathered CRCs followed by a question-and-answer period with the audience.

CRC Symposium 1, February 2, 2023 – Fort Garry Campus

Featuring presentations from: Heather Armstrong, Chair in Integrative Bioscience; Guozhen Zhu, Chair in Mechanical and Functional Design of Nanostructured Materials; Trust Beta, Chair in Grain-Based Functional Foods; Eric Collins, Chair in Arctic Marine Microbial Ecosystem Services; Britt Drögemöller, Chair in Pharmacogenomics & Precision Medicine; Ned Budisa, Chair in Chemical Synthetic Biology and Xenobiology; Lori Wilkinson, Chair in Migration Futures; Jason Kindrachuk, Chair in Epidemiology and Global Public Health; Sabine Mai, Chair in Genomic Instability and Nuclear Architecture in Cancer; Jörg Stetefeld, Chair in Structural Biology and Biophysics; Carl Ho, Chair in Efficient Utilization of Electric Power; and Nandika Bandara, Chair in Food Proteins.

CRC Symposium 2, February 27, 2023 – Bannatyne Campus

Featuring presentations from: Tracie Afifi, Chair in Childhood Adversity and Resilience; Robert Lorway, Chair in Global Intervention Politics and Social Transformation; Janilyn Arsenio, Chair in Systems Biology of Chronic Inflammation; Puyan Mojabi, Chair in Electromagnetic Inversion for Characterization and Design; Annette Desmarais, Chair in Human Rights, Social Justice and Food Sovereignty; Zulma Rueda, Chair in Program Sciences & Global Public Health; and Kathryn Sibley, Chair in Integrated Knowledge Translation in Rehabilitation Sciences.

CRC Symposium 3, March 28, 2023 – Fort Garry Campus

Featuring presentations from: Ties Boerma, Chair in Population and Global Health; Kiera Ladner, Chair in Miyo we’citowin, Indigenous Governance & Digital Sovereignties; Rotimi Aluko, Chair in Bioactive Peptides; Zahra Moussavi, Chair in Biomedical Engineering; Terry Klassen, Chair in Clinical Trials; and Galen Wright, Chair in Neurogenomics.

CRC Symposium 4, April 24, 2023 – Bannatyne Campus

Featuring presentations from: Lisa Lix, Chair in Methods for Electronic Health Data Quality; John Ataguba, Chair in Health Economics; Nicole Wilson, Chair in Arctic Environmental Change and Governance; Lorrie Kirshenbaum, Chair in Molecular Cardiology; Meghan Azad, Chair in Developmental Origins of Chronic Disease; and Kristine Cowley, Chair in Function and Health after Spinal Cord Injury.

CRC Symposium 5, May 16, 2023 – Fort Garry Campus

Featuring presentations from: Kristina Brown, Chair in Arctic Marine Biogeochemistry; Nicole Rosen, Chair in Language Interactions; Robert Mizzi, Chair in Queer, Community & Diversity Education; Samar Safi-Harb, Chair in Extreme Astrophysics; and Susan Logue, Chair in Cell Stress and Inflammation.

CRC Symposium 6, June 19, 2023 – Bannatyne Campus

Featuring presentations from: Andrew Halayko, Chair in Chronic Lung Disease Pathobiology and Treatment; Colin Gilmore, Chair in Applied Electromagnetic Inversion; James Blanchard, Chair in Epidemiology and Global Public Health; Marcelo Urquia, Chair in Applied Population Health; and Souradet Shaw, Chair in Program Science & Global Public Health.

In high school, Bond excelled in all subjects, but his passion was math and physics. The talented percussionist also excelled on the volleyball court, helping lead the team to the AAAA provincial finals.

As a first year mechanical engineering student in the Price Faculty of Engineering, Bond wants to use his varied experiences to design solutions to some of the world’s problems.

“There is a lot of teamwork and creativity required in mechanical engineering, and I think that I will enjoy that aspect of it. The idea of designing and creating something from start to finish is one that is greatly interesting to me, and I think mechanical engineering best enables me to pursue that interest,” says Bond, who is also excited about making connections with like-minded people at university.

Bond brings with him the experiences he gained as part of a team that competed in the Manitoba Envirothon, an annual hands-on environmental education competition for high school students. The competition saw him and his four teammates win the provincial competition and represent the province in the 2019 international competition.

“Firstly, I learned how to work quickly with a team to accomplish a goal, something that I believe will help me with engineering. Secondly I was exposed to the realities of and issues with our interactions with the environment here in Manitoba, most notably agriculture and sustainability efforts. With an engineering degree I hope to be able to help solve these issues, at least in part.”

Through it all, Bond has woven a thread of community service into his accomplishments.

A dedicated volunteer through Keira’s Krusade, a charity started by and named for his sister who passed away from brain cancer when she was 11, Bond has helped raise over $83,000 for CancerCare Manitoba in support of pediatric brain cancer research. He has also assembled and delivered monthly care packages to children who are living with cancer, and their families. “As I have a strong personal connection with Keira’s Krusade, it is immensely valuable to me that I continue my sister’s legacy and work toward the goal of improving the lives of children diagnosed with cancer that was also so important to her,” says Bond.

Bond is not only a team player; he is also a leader. He has organized a Christmas concert for the past two years for patients at Grace Hospital and Grace Hospice, recruiting his friends and playing alongside them in an effort to bring joy to people experiencing challenging situations.

“I think the great thing about community service is that everyone wins,” says Bond. “For me, involving myself in the community helps me to meet new people, and also gives me a feeling of satisfaction that I am making a difference, though it may be small. The whole community benefits when those that are the most vulnerable receive help.”

So what does becoming a Schulich Leader and receiving $100,000 to support him over the four years of his engineering degree mean to him?

“Being a Schulich Leader is very exciting. It gives me an opportunity to meet other leaders and make connections, as well as motivation to pursue my goal of becoming an engineer,” says Bond.

“This scholarship will have a monumental impact on my years in university and subsequently my life to come,” he continues. “Because of the financial benefits, I will not have to work much, if at all, during university, allowing me to spend more time on my studies and community involvement. I believe that this will open many doors for me down the road.”

The Schulich Leadership Scholarship is awarded every year to 50 students enrolling in a STEM program at a Canadian university. Bond was chosen for the entrance award based on his outstanding academic record, leadership and community service. He is one of two UM students to receive the award this year. The other is Shubhneet Thind, read about her here.

As we announce the 2020 recipients, UM Today caught up with two past recipients of the prestigious scholarship.

Viktor Popp remembers shaking from excitement when he received a call from the University of Manitoba four years ago, advising him he received a scholarship.

“In 2016, I am not sure I truly understood what receiving the Schulich Leader Scholarship meant; it was an overwhelming moment,” he recalls. “Today, I have come to understand the blessing of receiving such an award.”

Viktor Popp

Popp pursued an initial interest in biosystems engineering until 2019, when he transferred to mechanical engineering in the UM’s Price Faculty of Engineering. The move followed a stint at an agricultural equipment company the previous year, which, according to Popp, involved a fair amount of field work that grew his interest in mechanical systems.

“I really liked working in the engineering testing department, because it sees the more abstract portion of engineering – namely, idea generation and design – become concrete and validated as a product is being tested,” says Popp, who grew up on a farm near Erickson, Man., and is set to graduate from UM in 2022. “Innovation is happening right in front of you.”

Popp’s potential future plans include a master’s degree and engineering position that “occupies the crossroad between the immaterial ideas and material prototypes.” He also hopes to continue to add to his book pile, a newly discovered hobby. “I am catching up on some childhood classics that eluded me growing up,” he says, adding he also recently finished a book about the history of the digital revolution.

He is grateful for the Schulich Leader Scholarship opening up opportunities for him, such as the chance to participate in the Engineering & Commerce Case Competition, where he joined the UM team on two occasions.

“I am quite thankful to the Schulich Foundation for providing me the chance to focus on my academic study and participate in extracurricular activities without financial worry,” he says.

Bailey Paziuk

2017 Schulich Leader Bailey Paziuk encourages all eligible students to apply for the Schulich Leadership Scholarship, who says receiving it was “pretty life-changing” for her. She remembers her experience in her graduating year of high school, when she was “so stressed about paying for university, and researching and applying for scholarships day in and day out.”

“This scholarship not only ended my financial stress, but it was also very validating,” she continues. “It made me feel like my hard work had paid off in the best possible way.”

Like Popp, Paziuk grew up in a small community: Ste. Rose du Lac near Dauphin, Man. In 2017, she made the move to Winnipeg to attend UM and entered biosystems engineering in the Price Faculty of Engineering, where she continues to explore potential areas of specialization.

When starting at UM, she expressed a strong interest in designing and developing mechanisms to treat and aid patients of autoimmune diseases – and possibly designing artificial organs – but is also considering other options within engineering as she advances in her studies.

“The further I get into my degree, the more interested I am becoming in the environmental sector rather than biomedical,” she says, referencing a positive experience working at a watershed in her hometown over a few summers. “But I still have a couple of years left before I graduate, so nothing is set in stone.”

Receiving the scholarship allowed Paziuk to focus on her academics and extracurricular activities during her time at UM, for which she continues to remain appreciative.

“I would like to once again thank the Schulich Foundation and UM for everything this scholarship has done for me,” she says. “I really didn’t think I had a chance at being chosen to receive it, but I applied anyway – and here I am today.”