Climate Change & Sustainability Network For Students and Postdocs

The Climate Positive Energy Student and Post-doctoral Fellow Network brings together sustainable energy researchers from across the University of Toronto to foster interdisciplinary connections. Students and PDFs have the opportunity to attend workshops, seminars and social events throughout the year.

Solar & wind energy storage
students & pdf members breakdown pie chart

Student and PDF
Members

Total members: 197

Our students and PDF network has grown from 124 to 197 members in 2022, an increase of 60% in membership due to CPE continuous engagement and programming. 197 student and PDF members (PDF, graduate and undergraduate) represent 7 different divisions reflecting on the width and breadth of CPE outreach. Grad students represent the majority of the network’s 124 members (or 63%) while PDF represent 41 (27%) and undergrad students represent the remaining 29 (15%). This is due to the nature of research-oriented focus at CPE. [Note: data from 2022]

Student
Advisory Committee

Guillermo Lozano Onrubia

Guillermo Lozano Onrubia

Chemistry

“I am a PhD student in the Department of Chemistry working under the supervision of Prof. Gilbert Walker. My goal is to develop in our laboratory a new microscopy technique, with which to analyze the properties of perovskites and other materials used in solar cells. I am passionate about tackling climate change: both from a scientific perspective, but also from a social standpoint.”

Mengqing Kan

Mengqing Kan

Civil and Mineral Engineering

Mengqing Kan is a PhD student at the Department of Civil and Mineral Engineering. She is interested in evaluating the best CCU pathway for reducing GHG emissions and maximizing economic returns in different periods of time.

Tiange Yuan

Tiange Yuan

Clean Energy Lab, UTSC

“As a PhD candidate in the Clean Energy Lab at UTSC, I am interested in using clean energy technologies to mitigate climate change. My research focuses on carbon dioxide electrocatalysis and environmental friendly fertilizer synthesis.”

Aaron Belman Martinez

Aaron Belman Martinez

Civil Engineering

“I am a Renewable Energy Engineer pursuing a Master’s of Applied Science Degree at the Civil Engineering Department. My current research is focused on electric vehicles and their intersection with sustainability, energy economics, and policy-making. I believe that, by pursuing interdisciplinary research, truly innovative and disruptive progress can be achieved for a sustainable future.”

Jose Martini Costa

Jose Martini Costa

Political Science

Jose Martini Costa is a Ph.D. student in the Department of Political Science at the University of Toronto. Holds a Master’s degree in Political Science from Memorial University of Newfoundland and a Master’s in International Relations from the University of Nottingham, UK. Research interests include environmental governance, renewable energy, energy transformation, and fossil fuels transition. Jose has published on extractivist industries in the Global South and on the institutional development of biofuels in Brazil.

Chaeyoung (Tina) Ham

Chaeyoung (Tina) Ham

Mechanical and Industrial Engineering

Tina is currently pursuing her MASc in the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering related to optimizing the performance and efficiency of water electrolyzers for clean hydrogen production. On the advisory committee, she is thrilled to bring in creative initiatives and partnerships to create an informed, engaged, and connected student network and help grow the presence of CPE’s vision and goals within the campus community.

Hugo Cordeau

Hugo Cordeau

Economics

Hugo Cordeau is a PhD student in Economics at the University of Toronto. His research focuses on improving the social acceptability of climate policies. In the past, he conducted research on the impact of climate change on wind power in Canada, as well as on the measures explaining the adoption of electric vehicles in Quebec.
Hugo is the recipient of the Lieutenant-Governor’s medal, and during his time at Université de Montréal, had been recognized by the Marguerite-Bourgeoys Community and Social Involvement Scholarship. Hugo has contributed to several opinion letters on environmental action, and has been consulted by many political parties during the policy-making process.