Tohid Didar, Professor of Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering and Canada Research Chair in Nano-biomaterials, has been named a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering, one of the highest professional recognitions accorded to Canadian engineers.
Didar’s work, which tackles global challenges in food insecurity, antimicrobial resistance and women’s health, places him at a unique threshold between engineering and health sciences.
In addition to his research, he also co-founded FendX, a publicly traded nanotechnology company developing antimicrobial materials, and has developed award winning innovations including RepelWrap™ and SentinelWrap™.
“Receiving this recognition from the Canadian Academy of Engineering is truly remarkable,” says Didar.
“I look forward to continuing my work to advance engineering and improve the lives of Canadians.”
Fellowship to the Canadian Academy of Engineering is extended to those who have demonstrated their dedication to the application of science and engineering principles to advance social, environmental, economic and technical solutions.
This news comes on the heels of an exceptional year for Didar.
Last summer, he was appointed to the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences, one of the highest honours for individuals in the Canadian health sciences community and a rare feat for professional engineers.
“Being a member of first the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences and now the Canadian Academy of Engineering is quite an honour,” says Didar. “Seeing these two fields — health sciences and engineering — come together in this way has been amazing and highlights the interdisciplinary nature of our work.”
In addition to being named a Fellow of the two biggest academies in his field, Didar was also awarded NSERC’s Arthur B. McDonald Fellowship last October.
One of the country’s most prestigious awards for outstanding young researchers, this honour celebrates transformative contributions to the natural sciences and engineering and enables fellows to expand their labs, grow their research platforms and position themselves as the next generation of leaders in their respective fields.