Lucas Xie (Year 3 CivMin) and Jiayu (Sunny) Shi (Year 3 MechE) are among dozens of students supported by the Paul Cadario Experiential Learning Student Awards
Rough Canadian weather often means transit delays that prevent people from getting where they need to be — but for Lucas Xie (Year 3 CivMin), that challenge sparked an interest in how engineering can better anticipate and respond to climate-related disruptions.
From May to August 2025, Xie worked in the lab of Professor Hamed Ibrahim (CivMin), where he analyzed and processed climate data to study future precipitation and temperature variability across Southern Ontario. The experience helped build the data analysis and forecasting skills he now hopes to apply to transportation engineering problems.
Such analysis could be used by transit authorities to anticipate and possibly prevent weather-related delays before they arise. They could also provide insights to help plan for future shifts in precipitation patterns, such as those caused by climate change.
“I’ve learned to pair data-driven analysis with design and policy, and I’m focused on applying those skills to build safer, low-carbon urban infrastructure,” says Xie.
Though the research project was funded primarily by NSERC, Xie’s was made possible by a Paul Cadario Experiential Learning Student Award, part of a suite of awards created by a transformational gift from alumnus Paul Cadario (CivE 7T3, Hon LLD 1T3) in 2023.
“I’m always interested in supporting students’ professional and personal development,” said Cadario at the time.
“I’m delighted to be able to help students realize their potential.”
More than three dozen students received Paul Cadario Experiential Learning Student Awards in the most recent round. These awards help defer the costs associated with experiential learning, thereby making the programs more accessible to a wider range of students.
The Paul Cadario Experiential Learning Student Awards are typically distributed in the fall and are based on financial need. They support eligible students who have recently completed or are about to start an experiential learning work placement. This includes students enrolled in the Professional Experience Year Co-op (PEY Co-op) Program.
Cadario’s generous gift also established another award, the Paul Cadario Social Impact Internship, which support placements at smaller non-profit organizations that may not otherwise be able to offer student internships.
Both the Paul Cadario Experiential Learning Student Awards and Paul Cadario Social Impact Internships are available to students in two divisions within U of T, the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering and the Faculty of Arts & Science, further extending their impact.
Jiayu (Sunny) Shi (Year 3 MechE) is another recipient of the Paul Cadario Experiential Learning Student Award. In the summer of 2025, she completed a summer co-op at a company called JanEco Building Maintenance in West Palm Beach, Fla. In May 2026, she began a PEY Co-op placement in Toronto with WSP, an engineering consulting firm.
After graduation, Shi plans to pursue a career that combines robotics, aerospace and artificial intelligence to develop autonomous systems for exploration and advanced manufacturing.
“I aim to use my education to design technologies that enhance efficiency, safety and sustainability in the next generation of aerospace and robotic applications,” says Shi.
“The support I received through this award encouraged me to continue pushing the boundaries of what I can achieve — whether through my coursework, design team involvement or research projects.”
For his part, Xie plans to continue focusing on the area of transportation engineering, as he believes it’s the best place for him to make a positive impact.
“I’ve been inspired by Professor Ibrahim — working with him taught me to pair first-principles rigor with practical judgment and to turn messy data into decisions that improve real infrastructure,” says Xie.
“I’ll utilize my civil engineering and data analysis training to deliver safer, faster corridors that reduce emissions and enhance access for underserved communities.”
Xie says that the award significantly enriched his educational experience in Ibrahim’s lab.
“It gave me the time and confidence to turn classroom theory into solutions for safer, lower-carbon urban infrastructure,” says Xie.
“I’m deeply grateful, and I’ll pay this forward by sharing tools and mentoring other students who want to do impact-focused engineering.”
By Tyler Irving
This story originally published by Engineering News