EAN Impact Awards
Alumni are a vital part of the U of T Engineering community. Their mentorship, philanthropy, leadership and innovation strengthen our network and create opportunities for future generations of engineers. From supporting scholarships and student initiatives to advancing industries and tackling complex global challenges, the impact of our alumni can be seen in everything we do.
The Engineering Alumni Network (EAN) Impact Awards recognize and celebrate alumni whose achievements exemplify excellence, leadership and service. This year's award recipients reflect the breadth of the engineering profession and demonstrate how engineers can make a meaningful and lasting impact on the world.
For more than 150 years, the U of T Engineering community has driven innovation, inspired progress and contributed to positive change around the globe. Today, that legacy continues through alumni who are lifting others up, developing solutions to society's most pressing challenges and helping build a more sustainable, equitable, and prosperous future for all.
2026 EAN Impact Award Winners
Serena Mandla
Rising Star Award
Magdalena M. Krol
Research & Innovation Award
Tony Pialis
Industry Award
Isi Caulder
Citizenship Award
Praveen Jain
Distinguished Alumni Award
Click each photo to learn more about the award recipient!
Engineering Alumni Network
The Engineering Alumni Network (EAN) sustains and enhances the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering's academic mission, leadership and worldwide impact by engaging alumni, students and private sector constituents meaningfully building mutually beneficial relationships of increasing value and satisfaction.
The EAN wishes to express appreciation to members of the 2026 awards committee.
This committee is comprised of past EAN recipients and Engineering alumni. We thank them for their time and commitment to the award selection process.
Alumni adjudicators
- Ernesto Diaz Lozano Patiño, CivE 1T6, MASc 1T8
- Janis Chodas, EngSci 7T8, UTIAS MASc 8T0, Hon DSc 1T8
- Phil De Luna, MSE PhD 1T9
- Indi Gopinathan, CivE 9T6
- Huda Idrees, IndE 1T3
- Holly Johnson, MechE 1T0
- Ted Maulucci, MechE 8T9
- Olugbenga Olubanjo, CivE MASc 1T9
- Mathew Szeto, CompE 0T4
Thank you to our donor community
U of T Engineering prepares the next generation of engineering leaders and change makers to unlock the future's boundless potential. With ever-changing global challenges, support from our community is more important than ever.
The Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering is grateful to the members of the Skule™ Society for their generous and ongoing support. Their annual gifts of $1,000 to $24,999 (or of $250 and above for current students and young alumni who have graduated in the last decade) enhance the experiences of our students, contribute to Faculty excellence, and improve our labs and classrooms.
See a full list of our donors https://alumni.engineering.utoronto.ca/contribute/donor-recognition/
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2026 Engineering Alumni Network Impact Awards Recipients
Rising Star Award
This award recognizes a graduate under 40, working within or beyond engineering, who has achieved remarkable early-career success and significantly impacted their field. These alumni are cross-disciplinary thinkers who make meaningful contributions to ideas that shape the future. Nominees should consistently demonstrate innovative thinking and a pioneering spirit and show potential to transform their industries with bold vision and forward-looking leadership. Nominees must exhibit a clear trajectory of influence, creativity and innovation.
Serena Mandla, EngSci 1T7, BME MASc 1T9
Serena Mandla is a biomedical engineer, entrepreneur and leader dedicated to transforming research discoveries into innovative healthcare solutions. She has built a career focused on developing innovative therapies for wound healing and inflammatory diseases.
Mandla spun out Quthero Inc. to commercialize research arising from her graduate studies. As Chief Scientific Officer, she helped develop regenerative biomaterials for wound healing and led the commercialization of products designed to support skin recovery, including a cream distributed to frontline workers across Canada and America during the COVID-19 pandemic. She also led clinical studies to validate new technologies designed to support healing and recovery after dermatological procedures.
In 2022, Mandla co-founded Noa Therapeutics, a biotechnology company developing novel treatments for complex immune diseases. Through her leadership, Noa is not only advancing new therapies but also helping cultivate the next generation of diverse innovators and entrepreneurs in Canada's life sciences sector. Noa closed their over-subscribed pre-seed funding in 2023 to advance the preclinical development of their lead drug candidate within inflammatory dermatological diseases, such as atopic dermatitis and inflammatory bowel disease.
Mandla is a passionate mentor and advocate for the next generation of innovators. Through mentorship, speaking and community initiatives, she actively supports aspiring engineers, scientists and entrepreneurs, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds. Her leadership, vision and dedication to creating positive societal impact exemplify the promise of a rising star and the transformative potential of engineering innovation.
Research & Innovation Award
This award honours a graduate or a group of graduates whose groundbreaking research or innovative discoveries in engineering advance knowledge, technology or methodologies. It recognizes engineering or scientific achievements with the potential to transform their field, community or society. Apply if your work emphasizes originality and forward-thinking impact.
Magdalena M. Krol, CivE PhD 1T1
Dr. Magdalena M. Krol is an environmental engineer, researcher and educator whose work is helping build a safer and more sustainable future. An internationally recognized expert in contaminant hydrogeology, she develops innovative approaches that address environmental challenges like groundwater contamination, land remediation, nuclear waste management and clean energy deployment.
Krol is an Associate Professor of civil engineering at York University and founder of the Innovative Water Technology and Energy Research (iWaTER) Laboratory. Through close collaboration with multidisciplinary partners, she has established a research program that bridges scientific discovery and real-world application, securing over $3 million in direct research funding and contributing to initiatives valued at nearly $14 million.
Her research is transforming how contaminated lands are restored and returned to communities. Krol’s novel approaches are helping unlock new opportunities to convert underutilized “brownfield” sites into vibrant spaces for housing, business and recreation. Her work has also advanced the scientific foundations underpinning the safe long-term storage of used nuclear fuel, informing the work of the Nuclear Waste Management Organization and other organizations in Canada and internationally.
Krol's achievements have earned numerous recognitions, including the International Association of Hydrogeologists Early Career Award, York University's Research Leader distinction, and Lassonde School of Engineering Research Excellence and Innovation Awards. A dedicated mentor and advocate for diversity in engineering, she continues to inspire future generations while creating lasting impact that supports environmental sustainability and public safety.
Industry Award
This award celebrates exceptional contributions to industry, recognizing creativity, leadership and professional excellence in applying engineering principles to solve problems, achieve outstanding results and create meaningful impact on industry and society. Apply if your work inspires others and demonstrates significant influence and a lasting legacy in your field.
Tony Pialis, ElecE 0T0, MEng 0T2
Citizenship Award
This award honours a graduate or group of graduates who have made a significant impact on the U of T Engineering community through their volunteer contributions or philanthropic vision. Through their leadership, they have enriched the lives of others with generous gifts of time, talent and/or financial support.
Previously the Malcolm McGrath Service Award, this award is presented in memory of the late Malcolm McGrath, a 1954 Civil Engineering alumnus, pioneer of U of T Engineering alumni relations and fundraising, and the first Assistant Dean of Alumni Relations for the faculty. Malcolm was a true champion of U of T Engineering and was instrumental in creating a culture of service and philanthropy in our alumni community.
Isi Caulder, EngSci 8T9, ECE MASc 9T1, JD 9T5
Isi Caulder is an intellectual property lawyer, patent agent and community builder whose dedication to mentorship, service and alumni engagement has enriched the U of T Engineering community for more than a decade. She has built a career helping technology innovators protect and commercialize their ideas while remaining deeply committed to supporting the next generation of engineers and entrepreneurs.
Since 2014, Caulder has served as a mentor with the Entrepreneurship Hatchery, guiding student founders through intellectual property strategy, fundraising, partnerships and commercialization. Her combination of deep expertise and genuine commitment has helped aspiring entrepreneurs develop the confidence and perspective needed to turn innovative ideas into impactful ventures.
Beyond mentorship, Caulder has played a leading role in fostering connections across the engineering community. She has served on the Engineering Alumni Network Board, helped establish the longstanding Engineering Science alumni pub nights and co-chaired the ECE Critical Connect Conference, bringing together students, alumni, faculty and industry leaders. She has also been a dedicated advocate for women in engineering, advancing mentorship and inclusion throughout the profession.
Her generous commitment reflects a deep sense of responsibility to the community and a clear desire to help others remain meaningfully connected to the university. Caulder exemplifies the spirit of citizenship and service that strengthens communities and inspires future generations.
Distinguished Alumni Award
This award is the highest honour bestowed by the Engineering Alumni Network. It recognizes a University of Toronto Engineering graduate whose exceptional leadership and professional excellence have culminated in a distinguished career, significantly benefiting society on a global scale. Nominees have achieved remarkable success and made enduring contributions to their field, serving as an inspiration to the U of T Engineering community.
Praveen Jain, ECE MASc 8T4, PhD 8T7
Dr. Praveen Jain is a globally recognized engineer, inventor, entrepreneur and educator whose pioneering innovations in power electronics have transformed technologies used in telecommunications, computing, space systems and renewable energy worldwide. Over a career spanning more than four decades, he has earned international recognition as one of the world's leading authorities in his field.
Jain is a Professor of electrical and computer engineering at Queen's University and the founding director of the Centre for Energy and Power Electronics Research, Canada's leading academic centre for power electronics research. He has generated 122 patents published more than 660 technical papers, secured over $34 million in research funding and mentored over 100 graduate students and researchers.
His contributions include breakthrough technologies and innovations that have been adopted globally and underpin products used by millions of people every day. Jain founded CHiL Semiconductor and SPARQ Systems, translating university research into globally adopted innovations and attracting more than US$100 million in venture funding. His digital power-control chips have been integrated into billions of computer systems, while SPARQ’s microinverter technology is helping accelerate the the global transition to renewable energy.
Jain’s achievements have earned many of engineering’s highest honours, including appointment as an Officer of the Order of Canada (2025), the Killam Prize in Engineering (2023) and the IEEE Medal in Power Engineering (2021). Widley recognized as both a visionary inventor and dedicated mentor, he has consistently demonstrated how engineering can create lasting societal benefit.