University of Victoria | Advanced Manufacturing

Key facilities

Centre for Advanced Material and Related Technology (CAMTEC) – four core facilities in Advanced Microscopy, Nanofabrication, Imaging, Photonics and Spectroscopy and Biomolecular Sample Preparation carry out fundamental and applied research in advanced materials, and offer training workshops.

Advanced Microscopy Facility (AMF) offers high-end analytical imaging instruments for materials science and life science. The Scanning Transmission Electron Holography Microscope (STEHM), the highest resolution microscope in the world.

Laboratory for Innovations in MicroEngineering (LiME) investigates biofabrication of engineered tissue substitutes for regenerative medicine using fiber-based technologies, and development of advanced drug delivery systems.

Major collaborations

AMF – Hitatchi: University of Victoria, BC KDF, and Hitatchi partnered in the development of the worlds most advanced microscope. $9.2 million investment.

Prometheus Project: Advanced fabricating equipment, lasers and microscopes for about 20 UVic researchers focused on solar cells, biomedical sensors and quantum computing. $4.5 million in total to UVic through CFI, provincial funds, and private companies.

COMFORTS MicroNet – UVic and UBC partnered (via STAR WEST) with several private companies to the DND IDEaS Program for Advanced Materials. They were awarded $1.5M in Phase 1 for the development of “Comfort Optimized Materials For Operational Resilience, Thermal-transport, and Survivability”.

Researchers

Ian Manners: The Manners Group publishes some of the most cited papers in the world in the area of new synthetic approaches to functional molecules, polymers and materials.
Reuven Gordon: Nanoplasmonics Lab – world leaders in the area of light-matter interaction at the nanometer scale. Working on new materials and processes for: Cancer detection, analyzing single proteins, THz radiation generation and energy conversion.
Rishi Gupta: Advanced materials and infrastructure monitoring for construction industry. (e.g. innovative cement-based mortars water permeable concretes, self-healing concrete)
Stephanie Willerth: Willerth Laboratory specialises in neural tissue engineering with the ability to bioprint 3-D architectures from stem cells.

Special programs and work integrated learning initiatives

Cooperative education is a core component of the programs offered through the Faculties of Science and Engineering. Sample placements include: Teck Ltd. Automotive Fuel Cell Cooperation, Ballard Power Systems, Tesla, and E-One Moli Energy Corporation.

Entrepreneurial co-ops provide training and support for engineering students to form start-ups.

Research grants such as the Polymer Nanoparticles for Drug Delivery ($1.65 million CREATE grant ) have strong integrated student training components with required industry internships.

University-industry research partnerships