The Institute of Biomedical Engineering (BME) is delighted to announce the appointment of Professor Hai-Ling Margaret Cheng as the newest Associate Director of Graduate Studies effective immediately.
As the Associate Director of Graduate Studies, Professor Cheng will be managing various aspects of the Master of Applied Science (MASc) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) programs, including admissions, student advising, policy development, academic records, examinations, and program assessment. This role serves as a liaison between students, faculty, and administrative units.
Dr. Hai-Ling Margaret Cheng’s research focuses on developing non-invasive imaging techniques to monitor the effectiveness of regenerative therapies and to detect disease early at a molecular level. Her lab is creating contrast agents that are targeted to early markers of disease as well as agents that can be incorporated into stem cells or non-cellular scaffolds, acting as long-term trackers during the regeneration process. These contrast agents enhance Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and allow researchers to visualize the location of the introduced components within the body. The research has potential applications in early detection, personalized diagnostics, and guidance of stem cell and regenerative therapies.
Since joining BME in 2014, Professor Cheng’s research accomplishments include 47 peer-reviewed articles, 5 patents, 8 disclosures, conference proceedings, book chapters, and a textbook on quantitative perfusion MRI. Throughout her tenure, she has supervised 4 post-doctoral fellows, >20 graduate and 40 undergraduate students. She has received funding from various prestigious agencies, including CIHR, NSERC, CFREF, NFRF, and Ted Rogers Foundation.
Alongside her research, Professor Cheng is dedicated to teaching undergraduate and graduate courses. Her courses consistently receive high ratings in student evaluations, surpassing institutional averages. She aims to foster a passion for learning, simplifying complex concepts while providing expertise and support to her students. Professor Cheng also actively engages in mentorship initiatives, particularly supporting women in engineering, as she guides students on their career paths.
“Graduate education is the cornerstone to inter-generational knowledge transfer and cultivating the next generation of independent scientific thinkers and innovators. Through my new role, I hope to continue the institute’s legacy of enabling young, bright minds to reach their full potential,” said Dr. Hai-Ling Margaret Cheng.
“Congratulations to Margaret on her appointment as the Associate Director of Graduate Studies at the Institute of Biomedical Engineering! This well-deserved recognition reflects her outstanding dedication to education and her invaluable contributions to the Institute.” Said Professor Milos Popovic, Director of BME and KITE. “With her expertise, leadership and passion, I have no doubt that she will excel in guiding and supporting graduate students on their academic journey.”