Student researchers spark transformative change

At Sheridan, student researchers are not just participants in academic discovery — they are the critical catalysts propelling transformative change. Whether designing AI-powered navigation systems or investigating the power of inclusive education practices, these students are driving real-world impact that extends far beyond the classroom.

This year, Generator at Sheridan presented 12 trailblazing students with Generator Student Awards, celebrating the students’ contributions to real-world innovations. Their work spans disciplines and sectors but shares a common goal: to make life better, smarter and more inclusive.

READ MORE: Learn about last year’s Generator Student Award recipients

For Taofikat Atanda, the journey to becoming a Generator Student Award recipient was rooted in curiosity and a drive to make meaningful change within higher education. During her final year of studies in Sheridan's Honours Bachelor of Social and Community Development program, Atanda focused her capstone research project on exploring the awareness of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) in Ontario higher education and its impact on students' overall success. Guided by Dr. Ferzana Chaze, professor in the School of Community Studies, and Nicole Johnson, professor in the Social Service Worker program, Atanda developed evidence-based recommendations for instructors and administrators on how to increase awareness of and apply UDL more effectively.

“Being part of research at Sheridan allows students to contribute to real change by helping build understanding and informing decisions that can shape the future,” said Atanda. “When I started working on Universal Design for Learning, it was completely new to me. I also noticed there was limited research in Canada. Research gave me — and can give you — the opportunity to explore something new and start important conversations that haven’t happened yet.”

Mohamed Ahmed, a fourth-year student in Sheridan's Honours Bachelor of Computer Science (Mobile Computing) program and another Generator Student Award recipient, focused his research on developing generative AI models for improving indoor localization systems — a critical technology that aims to replicate the accuracy of GPS in indoor spaces like campuses and shopping malls. Conducted in collaboration with Generator at Sheridan’s Centre of Applied AI and Drs. Tarek El Salti and Farnaz Derakhshan, professors in the Faculty of Applied Science and Technology, the research has shown promising results in enhancing indoor navigation without the need for extensive surveying, leveraging AI to augment limited data and improve location prediction accuracy with minimal input.

“Research has opened my eyes to the vast potential of AI in solving real-world problems,” said Ahmed. “It’s exciting to know that the work we’re doing could lead to practical solutions that make life easier for people navigating complex indoor environments.”

Launched in 2021, the Generator Student Awards were created out of a desire from faculty and staff researchers to recognize students’ contributions in research, innovation and entrepreneurship activities. These faculty-nominated awards recognize student excellence in a thesis, capstone or course-based research project, or as part of a funded or unfunded research project. To date, 90 Sheridan students have been recipients of the Generator Student Awards.

2025 Generator Student Award Recipients

Creative Activities Award

Recipient: Eleni Papkov (Faculty of Animation, Arts & Design)

Project: “Untitled (Architectures of Glass)”

Papkov reimagines glassblowing through a contemporary architectural lens, producing sculptural works that challenge traditional craft and material boundaries.

Excellence in Curricular-Embedded Research

Recipient: Taofikat Atanda (Faculty of Applied Health & Community Studies)

Project: “Awareness of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) in Ontario Higher Education and Its Impact on Students’ Overall Success”

Atanda's timely and thoughtful capstone research project examines how awareness of UDL impacts student success in Ontario’s postsecondary landscape, relevant to inclusive education.

Innovation in Research

Recipient: Mohamed Ahmed (Faculty of Applied Science & Technology)

Project: “Three-Dimensional (3-D) indoor Location-Enabled IoT framework for the improvement of safety and response practices for emergencies in multistory buildings through the use of machine learning algorithms with Wi-Fi access points and/or Bluetooth Beacons and mobile phones”

Ahmed developed a 3D indoor location-tracking system using Wi-Fi and Bluetooth beacons and enhanced by machine learning to improve emergency response in multistory buildings with applications across healthcare, smart buildings and public infrastructure.

Recipient: Priyanshu Kaushik (Faculty of Applied Science & Technology)

Project: “Computer Vision for Automatic Stacking of Electric Transformer Sheets”

Kaushik developed a custom-built computer vision system that automates the stacking of electric transformer sheets — an industrial process that demands precision and consistency — demonstrating clear benefits in reducing manual labor while increasing production efficiency.

Pushing Interdisciplinary Boundaries

Recipients: Giovanni Dobson, Alberto Francisco Schramm De Avila, James Vallender (Faculty of Applied Science & Technology)

Project: “Automated Robotic Sorting System for Recycling Facilities”

Dobson, Schramm De Avila and Vallender designed and built a robotic sorting system that enhances recycling accuracy and throughput, an often-overlooked challenge in waste management that integrates mechanical engineering, automation and sustainability into a unified solution.

Student Leadership in Research

Recipient: Christian Mackenzie (Faculty of Applied Science & Technology)

Project: “IAmAble project with McMaster University”

Mackenzie played a central role in designing and developing a mobile app that supports accessibility for people with disabilities, resulting in a robust solution that reflects both technical skill and a deep commitment to inclusive innovation.

Recipient: Danielle Roberts (Faculty of Animation, Arts & Design)

Project: “Inclusive Community Building at Sheridan: A built environment review of the Trafalgar Campus for an aging population”

Roberts led a comprehensive review of the Sheridan College Trafalgar Campus’ built environment with a focus on accessibility for older adults, translating her findings into practical recommendations for a more inclusive campus.

Team Collaboration in Research

Recipients: Sheree-Ann Brown, Susan Clark, Sandra Gore (Faculty of Applied Health & Community Studies)

Project: “The Perspectives of Older Adults Regarding Using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to Support Healthy Aging”

Brown, Clark and Gore conducted a thoughtful qualitative study exploring older adults’ views on AI and its role in healthy aging, offering valuable guidance for age-inclusive technological innovation.

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About Generator at Sheridan

Generator at Sheridan is where purpose and passion unite the extraordinary research, innovation and entrepreneurship undertaken by Sheridan's faculty, staff and students, working across disciplines and sectors, to drive meaningful impact for an everchanging world. For more information, visit sheridancollege.ca/generator.