Chris Damaren, Vice-Dean, Graduate Studies

—BASc, University of Toronto —MASc, University of Toronto —PhD, University of Toronto

damaren@utias.utoronto.ca | 416-946-0690 
arrow.utias.utoronto.ca/~damaren/

Professor Chris Damaren, of the U of T Institute for Aerospace Studies (UTIAS), is Vice-Dean, Graduate Studies, in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering. A two-year extension to his initial three-year term began July 1, 2011.

As Vice-Dean of Graduate Studies, Damaren provides strategic leadership on all aspects of graduate studies to advance the Faculty’s mission of expanding graduate programs in Engineering. He plays a stewardship role in overseeing the Faculty’s graduate expansion efforts, most notably through the MEng program, including its new focus on Entrepreneurship, Leadership, Innovation and Technology in Engineering (ELITE).

In this role, Damaren will develop new initiatives that complement the long-term enrolment objectives of the Faculty and will identify and promote best practices of graduate matters within the Faculty. He also oversees the Skoll BASc/MBA program.

The Vice-Dean of Graduate Studies also enables synergy between the Faculty and the School of Graduate Studies, forges relationships with other Faculties at U of T and facilitates partnerships within U of T and Engineering. This portfolio also oversees the administrative processes for Post-doctoral Fellows and a key priority is to oversee ethics in graduate research.

From 2006 to 2008, Damaren served as Associate Director of UTIAS, making outstanding contributions to strategic planning, graduate recruitment and admissions. He has served on numerous committees at the professional, University, Faculty and Institute level.

His research interests include control system design for spacecraft and space robotics applications and control of flexible structures.

Damaren received his PhD from UTIAS in 1990, MASc from UTIAS in 1987, and BASc from the University of Toronto in the Engineering Science Aerospace Option, where he ranked 6th out of 100 in his graduating class.

Damaren joined the University of Toronto in 1999 after teaching at the University of Canterbury in New Zealand, Royal Roads Military College in British Columbia and the University of Victoria. He is a PEng and Associate Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) and a Fellow of the Canadian Aeronautics and Space Institute (CASI).

The Vice-Dean Graduate Studies role was created in 2006. The position was first held by Brenda McCabe, who is currently the Chair of Civil Engineering.