Humber College’s faculty members, researchers and scholars play a pivotal role in Humber’s rising ranking as the #1 research college in Ontario and #2 research college in Canada. In this article, we’d like to shine the spotlight on Sherif Hanna, a valued faculty member and a program coordinator of the Mechanical Engineering Technology and Technician programs in the Faculty of Applied Sciences & Technology (FAST) at Humber. Sherif is a seasoned researcher who is passionate about educating and empowering the next generation of engineers and technologists.
Background
Sherif completed his Bachelor of Applied Science degree in Mechanical Engineering at Cairo University in Egypt. Sherif states that it was during this time his initial interest in conducting research was sparked. Following his undergraduate studies, Sherif worked as a project engineer at Proctor & Gamble for four years before moving to the US for his Master’s and PhD studies in mechanical engineering. At the Texas A&M University in the US, Sherif conducted research on new laser-based techniques to increase the efficiency and reliability of process equipment based on chemical kinetic imaging. During his graduate studies, Sherif published over 20 technical publications and received multiple research awards such as “Best Student Presenter” at a research conference of Combustion Institute.
From industry to academia
After his prolific research studies in the US, Sherif moved to Canada, where he continued his career in the field of engineering consulting and design. Over the course of more than a decade working in the industry in Canada, Sherif worked as a Lead and Senior Mechanical Engineer on a wide range of projects—from small studies to large engineering projects of multi-million—in power, oil & gas, mining and heavy industrial sectors.
In 2015, Sherif joined Humber College as a faculty member. When asked why he decided to join academia, Sherif answers:
“My passion is to teach and mentor the new generation of technologists and engineers and convey my experience to them.” —Sherif Hanna
Current research project
At Humber, Sherif actively conducts applied research projects in addition to his teaching responsibilities. Sherif’s current research project, Design Enhancements of Mobile Air Monitoring System, is in collaboration with industry partner Ecosystem Informatics Inc (ESI). The project is led by Sherif as the Principal Investigator and Shaun Ghafari, Associate Dean for the Advanced Manufacturing Cluster, as the Co-Investigator. The research team is designing and developing a novel case for mobile air monitoring systems to collect environmental measurements. The applied research project received the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) Engage grant ($25K) in 2022.
Reflecting on the main benefits of the project, Sherif says:
“The applied research project will provide the environmental industry with a new tool to identify and measure the concentration of pollutants in the air and determine its temporal and spatial spectrum.” — Sherif Hanna
Sherif adds that the student's learning experience is an integral part of the project. Two students in Humber’s Mechanical Engineering Technology program, Marcus Lahn and Irish Justine Rosete, are working on the project as research assistants. Through their participation in the project, the research assistants will strengthen their skills in design and system integration.
Collaboration with Humber’s Office of Research and Innovation
Sherif acknowledges that the collaboration with Humber’s Office of Research and Innovation has been valuable throughout the NSERC Engage grant application process. He stated:
“The Office of Research and Innovation was instrumental in directing the project towards the best platform for collaboration with the industrial partner and how to leverage the benefits of the platform for the benefit of the project. It was a pleasant experience throughout with insightful discussions and open exchange of views that led to a successful proposal.” —Sherif Hanna
“What is research?”
As a faculty member and a researcher, Sherif exemplifies Humber College’s commitment to research and innovation. We asked Sherif what research means to him; he responded:
“Research is progress of humanity. Through research, you understand more and when you apply that in real life, you can see the system being developed and you can take one step further in the story of advancement of humanity.” —Sherif Hanna
Get to know Sherif a little more. Here are five things you did not know about him:
- Favourite book: Hitting the Brakes: Engineering Design and the Production of Knowledge by Ann Johnson
- Favourite websites: Professional Engineers website, Project Management Institute website, design websites, Environmental Science journal websites
- Favourite research: Development of the light bulb
- When not at work: “Reading, spending time with family and gardening.”
- Tea or coffee: Green tea
Learn more about ways to get involved in research projects taking place at Humber.
We acknowledge the support of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC). Nous remercions le Conseil de recherches en sciences naturelles et en génie du Canada (CRSNG) de son soutien.