Michael Facchini-Rakovich grew up in Alberta, between Calgary and Edmonton, in a place where science and learning were deeply valued. His parents introduced him to physics and mathematics at an early age. Driven by curiosity and being fascinated by science, he spent hours watching the Discovery Channel and Cosmos in his formative years.
With ambitions to turn his love for mathematics and physics into a career, Facchini-Rakovich chose to study electrical engineering at the University of Alberta (U of A), specialising in nanotechnology for his bachelor’s degree. Wanting to push further into real-world applications, he pursued a master’s in electrical engineering, focusing on biomedical technology.
“Electrical engineering, as I saw it, was the field of study that would give me the most access to modern concepts within those topics in an applied practice,” he says. “Additionally, I wanted to work in the biomedical field because of an interest in applying cybernetics to improve health care. Pursuing a master’s allowed me to work with researchers at the forefront of those technologies.”
Today, he is a Process Engineering Specialist at Teledyne Technologies Incorporated, a leading provider of sophisticated electronic components, instruments, and communications products.
The University of Alberta excels in engineering with its strong research environment, collaborative culture, and commitment to innovation. Source: University of Alberta
Engineering excellence at the U of A
U of A, located in Edmonton, is one of Canada’s top four universities and ranks among the top 100 in the world. With a population of one million people, Edmonton is a vibrant city with a strong local economy. The university’s researchers are at the forefront of innovation, pushing the boundaries of knowledge for the benefit of society.
At the heart of this academic excellence is the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE), which equips students with the skills to develop and invent future technologies. Offering both undergraduate and graduate programmes, ECE is a leader in engineering education in Canada. Here, students gain hands-on experience in state-of-the-art labs and learn from many award-winning faculty.
ECE offers several graduate programmes, including the non-funded Master of Engineering (MEng), the funded Master of Science (MSc) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD). Regardless of their programme, all students benefit from strong industry links, interdisciplinary research opportunities, and financial support for thesis-based studies.
Integrating research with education
Research is a key component of graduate studies in ECE, particularly in the MSc and PhD programmes. The department has a nearly 100-year history of pioneering discoveries, from developing sonar during World War I to breakthroughs in lab-on-a-chip technologies. Graduate students play a vital role in these advancements, gaining research experience and serving as teaching assistants to prepare for careers in academia, public research, or industry.
For example, in Professor Xingyu Li’s graduate course in Deep Learning for Computer Vision, students explore cutting-edge AI advancements, including transformer architectures, diffusion models, and multimodal foundation models. By covering state-of-the-art research and methodologies, students not only gain theoretical knowledge but also practical insights into how these innovations are shaping the field. This exposure helps them bridge the gap between academic study and impactful research contributions.
“As part of the course, students undertake projects at the end of the semester that align with real-world challenges and ongoing research in my group,” Prof. Li says. “These projects often serve as a gateway to deeper engagement in AI research, with some students continuing their work through research assistantships and publishing at conferences.”
Many students then apply AI concepts learned in this course to their thesis research, while others successfully leverage their expertise to secure positions in AI-focused industries.
Anoushka Ganguli, pursuing a PhD in electrical and computer engineering and specialising in biomedical engineering at U of A, believes her research focus provides a strong foundation for long-term career goals. Source: University of Alberta
Fully funded research opportunities
The U of A’s Faculty of Engineering ranks among the top five in Canada for research funding, ensuring students can focus on their work without financial concerns.
Anoushka Ganguli, who is pursuing a PhD in electrical and computer engineering, specialising in biomedical engineering, can attest to this. “My research is fully funded by my supervisor and governed by the guaranteed minimum funding requirement for PhD students at U of A,” she says. “Through teaching assistantships, I learn valuable skills not only as a mentor but as a scientist.”
Students won’t be alone in their research journey. For instance, Ganguli’s first summer as a research assistant was defining because she saw herself grow significantly. Not only did she strengthen her technical skills, but she was also allowed to explore her interests. For the first time in her life, she saw her true potential in research. “There was no pressure to be perfect or metrics to assess how ‘good’ I was because the only thing that mattered was if I was trying,” she says. “I remember my supervisor encouraging me to ‘fail’ and try things even if I wasn’t confident, it would work and to simply learn from those experiences.”
When paired with multi-disciplinary top-tier facilities such as the NanoFab, National Institute Of Nanotechnology, Energy and Power systems lab, and quantum and computing facilities, it’s easy to see why students excel here. Access to these cutting-edge facilities, rare among Canadian universities, was a big factor in Facchini-Rakovich’s decision to attend the U of A. “Now that I have worked at multiple facilities, I can state that the U of A’s NanoFab is world-class and probably the best in Canada,” he says.
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