Exploring Research Journey: Insights, Challenges, and Advice for Young Scholars

Professor Yu Sun
University of Toronto, Canada

Description

WILLIAM MONG DISTINGUISHED LECTURES: RPG SHARING SERIES:

In this session, the speaker will share reflections on the journeys in research covering the motivations, challenges, and turning points that shaped academic paths. Rather than focusing solely on technical details, the talk will highlight the broader lessons learned along the way, from building resilience in the face of setbacks to seizing unexpected opportunities. Students will also receive practical advice for navigating their own academic and career development, with time set aside for open discussion and questions. The session aims to encourage students to approach research not just as a pursuit of knowledge, but also as a personal journey of growth and discovery.

About the Speaker

Professor Yu Sun is a Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering at the University of Toronto (UofT). He is a Tier I Canada Research Chair and was the founding Director of the UofT Robotics Institute. He is a member of all the three national academies of Canada: Canadian Academy of Engineering; The Academy of Science of Royal Society of Canada, and Canadian Academy of Health Sciences. He is also an International Member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering. He is a Fellow of IEEE, ASME, AIMBE, AAAS, NAI, CSME, and EIC for his work on micro-nano robotic systems and devices. Among the awards he received were an NSERC E.W.R. Steacie Fellowship, NSERC Synergy Award of Innovation, IEEE McNaughton Gold Medal, IEEE EMBS Technical Achievement Award, and IEEE NTC Pioneer Award in Nanotechnology. He is the Editor-in-Chief of IEEE Trans. Automation Science and Engineering and an editorial board member of the AAAS journal, Science Robotics.