Manpreet

Dr. Manpreet Kaur

PhD
Pronouns: She/her

Affiliations

Assistant Professor (Teaching)

Schulich School of Engineering, Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering

Contact information

Background

Educational Background

PhD Materials Science, 2019

Integrated Masters of Engineering Nanotechnology, 2016

Biography

Dr. Manpreet Kaur earned her Ph.D. in Materials Science from Hokkaido University, Japan, and has over 10 years of research experience in nanomaterials engineering, clean energy, photocatalysis, and sustainable technologies.

She is currently an Assistant Professor in Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, where she teaches materials science and engineering. Her teaching and research interests include experiential and hands-on learning, with a focus on connecting fundamental engineering concepts to real-world applications. She is passionate about creating engaging learning experiences that promote interdisciplinary thinking, critical analysis, creativity, and problem-solving skills.

Her research explores advanced materials for sustainable energy and environmental applications. Outside of academia, she enjoys camping, boating, and spending quality time with her baby girl, "Rubani Pannu".

Research

Areas of Research

Nanomaterials Engineering for Sustainable Energy and Environmental Applications

Dr. Manpreet Kaur’s research focuses on the design, synthesis, and characterization of advanced nanomaterials and nanocomposites for sustainable energy and environmental technologies. Her work explores nanomaterial-based catalysts for applications such as fuel cells, electrolyzers, photocatalysis, and water purification. By engineering materials at the nanoscale to improve their catalytic, electronic, and optical properties, her research aims to enable efficient energy conversion, renewable fuel production, and environmental remediation, contributing to a more sustainable energy future.

Participation in university strategic initiatives

Courses

Course number Course title Semester
ENGG 204 Fundamentals of Engineering Materials Falls 2024
ENGG 204 Fundamentals of Engineering Materials Falls 2025
ENGG 204 Fundamentals of Engineering Materials Spring 2026
ENGG 204 Fundamentals of Engineering Materials Falls 2026
ENME 628 Pipeline Coating Falls 2026

Projects

Experiential Learning in Engineering Materials Education

My current research focuses on advancing experiential and active learning in ENGG 204: Fundamentals of Engineering Materials, a foundational first-year engineering course. The project, Beyond the Blackboard: Engaging Minds Through Hands-On Learning, investigates how hands-on demonstrations, physical model kits, and interactive learning activities can help students connect fundamental materials science concepts with real-world engineering applications.

The research focuses on designing and evaluating reusable, small-group learning activities that make abstract concepts—such as atomic structure, crystal structures, crystallography, defects, mechanical properties, and material behavior—more intuitive and engaging. Through the integration of tactile models, demonstrations, and interactive activities, the project aims to promote deeper conceptual understanding, active participation, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.

The project evaluates the impact of these experiential learning interventions through student feedback, learning assessments, and classroom observations, with the goal of developing evidence-based strategies for improving engineering education and creating more engaging and effective learning experiences in foundational engineering courses.

Awards

  • Young Scientist Award, Annual International Congress on Renewable Energy (Oxford, United Kingdom). 2024
  • Young Researcher Presentation Award, 11th Indian Scientist Association in Japan . 2021
  • Young Scientist Award, Japan Society of Vacuum and Surface Science . 2020

Publications