Maygan McGuire, PhD Candidate

Maygan McGuire, PhD Candidate, ChemE Graduation Year: 2011 Hometown: Aylmer, Quebec, Canada

After completing her undergraduate engineering degree at McMaster University, Maygan McGuire worked for almost four years as a metallurgist, earning her PEng along the way. During this time, she became very interested in field of Environmental Engineering.

While searching for graduate programs in Environmental Engineering, she was drawn to the research being conducted at U of T Engineering by Professor Greg Evans, Director of the Southern Ontario Centre of Atmospheric Aerosol Research (SOCAAR). “His research uses a wide suite of state-of-the-art instrumentation not found anywhere else in Canada. The dynamic nature of Toronto as well as the University’s excellent reputation also attracted me to apply.”

In her current research within the Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, using high-time resolution instruments, Maygan and her colleagues are able to measure the chemical composition of the particles we breathe, in real-time. “By measuring the chemical composition of particles over time, and using statistical modeling, we are able to identify the sources of the particles. Since each source emits particles with a given chemical composition, we can unmix the sources in the air parcel and determine their respective contributions to air quality over time.”

One of the highlights of being a graduate student in Engineering at U of T has been Maygan’s ability to work with the best researchers in Canada across several universities and government institutions. “We are constantly learning from one another,” says Maygan. For example, during the summer of 2007, Maygan and her colleagues conducted a field campaign with over 50 researchers from U of T, York University, Environment Canada and the Ontario Ministry of Environment. “The experience allowed me to learn significantly from my colleagues not only in areas I was studying, but also areas in which I would not normally venture.”

Like many graduate students at U of T Engineering, Maygan has been able to find a real sense of balance between her research and other activities. Among her many activities, she served as co-chair of the Leaders of Tomorrow: Graduate group for the last two years, and taught courses for the past three years in Environmental Engineering for the Faculty’s DaVinci Engineering Enrichment Program (DEEP), a program for gifted high school students from around the world.

“I love living in Toronto. This year will mark my first year as a resident Junior Fellow at Massey College, a graduate residence right on campus. I am looking forward to the opportunity to learn from students in the Massey community who are outside of my field and also to contributing some knowledge about environmental issues and engineering subjects.”

Ultimately, Maygan hopes to become an environmental consultant either in industry or for the government, working to develop new policies to combat climate change and air pollution.