Two PhD Openings in AI for Process Systems Engineering at NTNU

Yankai Cao

Dear Canadian S&C community:

Two PhD Positions have been posted in AI for PSE at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology:

  • Position 1: AI for Hydrocarbon Process Systems Engineering, in the department of Energy and Process Engineering, under Prof. Thomas A. Adams II. This position will focus on the research of physics-informed AI-based models of surface-level processes and their subsequent use in simulations, design, optimization, and enviro-technoeconomic assessments. [full announcement]. 
  • Position 2: AI for Integrated Asset Modeling and Optimization, in the department of Geosciences, under Dr. Ashkan Jahanbani Ghahfarokhi. his position will focus on the research of physics-informed AI-based models of reservoir and flow, and their subsequent use in simulations, design, optimization, and enviro-technoeconomic assessments. [full announcement]

More information about the project and positions can be found here: Two PhD Positions in AI for PSE at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology – PSE Community.org

Please spread among the community!

Thanks,

Thomas A. Adams II

___________________   __________________

Thomas A. Adams  II   McMaster  Advanced

PhD, P.Eng. Ontario   Control Consortium

———————————   ——————————-

Adj Prof., Chem Eng   McMaster Institute McMaster University   for Energy Studies

———————————   ——————————-

macc.mcmaster.ca PSEcommunity.org

___________________   __________________

Submit your pre-prints, post-prints, and digital research materials to LAPSE athttp://PSEcommunity.org/LAPSE

Job Posting in Process Systems Engineering at Poly Montreal

Yankai Cao

Hi all,

Please circulate the following job posting in PSE at Ecole Polytechnique.

https://www.polymtl.ca/carriere/en/offres-demploi/professor-process-systems-engineering-department-chemical-engineering
https://www.polymtl.ca/carriere/offres-demploi/professeure-professeur-en-ingenierie-des-systemes-de-procedes-departement-de-genie-chimique


For more information, feel free to contact Mario Jolicoeur at mario.jolicoeur@polymtl.ca.

-nh

Systems and Control Division Officers

Yankai Cao

Hi all,


Following the division’s AGM yesterday at CSChE, I am pleased to announce the division’s  officers (2025-28):

  • Nicolas Hudon (Queen’s), Chair
  • Joshua Pulsipher (Waterloo), Vice-chair
  • Giancarlo Dalle Ave (McMaster), Treasurer
  • Yankai Cao (UBC), Secretary

I would like to thank Stevan Dubljevic (UofA) and Syed Imtiaz (Memorial) for their service in the last three years.


As a side note, it was decided yesterday to stop using the php mailing list, so for some of you, this will be the last time you are receiving the same email multiple time. 


-nh

Systems and Control AGM at the 2025 CSChE

Yankai Cao

Dear members of the Canadian Systems and Control Community,

Please find attached the Agenda for the Systems and Control Division 2025 AGM to be held during the CSChE Conference in Montreal. 

Please note that we will elect a new Division executive for 2025—28 during the AGM.

-nh
Nicolas Hudon
Associate Professor
Chemical Engineering
Smith Engineering

nicolas.hudon@queensu.ca | smithengineering.queensu.ca

Queen’s University
Dupuis Hall 304
19 Division St
Kingston, Ontario, Canada  K7L 3N6

x2026 Announcement: combined CSC/CSChE 2026 Conference

Yankai Cao

Dear colleagues,

Many of you know that the 2026 CSChE Conference will be held jointly with the CSC Conference, see https://SystemsControlCanada.hosted.phplist.com/lists/lt.phptid=1UwDxUTyzpOdn/gWR1hcgcMfz194tyR2p/P+oseKECTC3A22wd1ro4GjwP4QRuOH. As a result, the conference will be held in May and our usual timeline will be (for this year) a bit skewed. Key dates can be found here:
https://SystemsControlCanada.hosted.phplist.com/lists/lt.php?tid=Ncn6s7BmYxWpRHysswGx1MMfz194t2R2p/P+oseKECTC3A22wd17o4GjwP4QRuOH

Below, I copied the the official call for symposia that will be circulated in the next few days. I already submitted a request for the usual “Systems and Control Division Symposium”, but you are strongly encouraged to propose special sessions and symposia, especially on topics that could gather interest from both CSC and CSChE. The deadline for submitting session/symposium proposals, by filling the form linked in the copied announcement, is July 28, 2025.

-nh

———————————————————

*From:* Hoare, Todd <hoaretr@mcmaster.ca>

*Sent:* Wednesday, July 2, 2025 16:10

*To:* Nicolas Hudon <nicolas.hudon@queensu.ca>

*Subject:* x2026 CSC/CSChE Conferences – Call for Symposia

Dear Colleague:

As you may have heard, in 2026 the Canadian Society for Chemical Engineering will be joining together with the Canadian Society for Chemistry to host x2026, the first concurrent conference between the CSC and CSChE to be held May 24-28, 2026 in Toronto. We are excited about this opportunity, with the conference theme of “Erasing Boundaries” speaking to our hope that this concurrent conference model will allow us to explore emerging topics across both traditional chemistry/chemical engineering disciplines as well as research at the interface of the chemical sciences.

We are now contacting you to help make this conference impactful by leading the organization of symposia.

*The symposium proposal form can be found at https://SystemsControlCanada.hosted.phplist.com/lists/lt.phptid=GKddTITXCNSW9O6LjydsKMMfz194t1R2p/P+oseKECTC3A22wd1ro4GjwP4QRuOH <https://SystemsControlCanada.hosted.phplist.com/lists/lt.php?tid=T6lsbhu6mhG7YZbd5WvaJ8Mfz194t8R2p/P+oseKECTC3A22wd2Lo4GjwP4QRuOH>
– we will be accepting proposals until July 28, 2025.*

hile we hope that as many symposia as possible will ultimately be co-chaired by CSC and CSChE members to truly take advantage of the concurrent conference model, we are also very open to continuing successful CSC or CSChE-focused symposia or creating new discipline-specific symposia of relevance to each community – the concurrent conference model is meant to expand our disciplines, not restrict them in any way. In this context, we are happy to receive suggestions for symposia of various types:

*Topic Symposia *focused on a particular emerging topic or a general discipline, typically involving a mix of keynote speakers and contributing abstracts (a typical ~100 minute symposium would involve one keynote speaker and 4-6 contributed speakers). Such symposia may be focused on broader topics that would span over multiple ~100 minute sessions or narrower topics that may only comprise one session. We anticipate the significant majority of accepted symposia will fit this category.

*International Symposia *linking Canadian researchers with researchers from around the world. Coupling the current concerns around travel to the United
States with the anticipated scale of the x2026 conference, this may be a unique opportunity to make an international impact. The format of such symposia can be more flexible, although we would still encourage at least half of the speakers to be contributing rather than invited participants.

*Honorary Symposia *focused on recognizing the contributions of distinguished members of the community will be considered, particularly around specific career milestones (anniversaries, retirements), provided that the symposium is structured as a topical symposium of relevance to that individual’s contributions (and thus engage the broader community) instead of aiming to host a group reunion at the x2026 meeting. Again, the format of such symposia can be more flexible, although we will be strongly encouraging diversity and inclusion among both the selected honorees of such symposia and the speaker list.

*Open-Format Symposia* that may include creative elements such as workshops, panel discussions, and/or interactive sessions that can have varying timings and speaker models. We are particularly open to such symposia that address the “Erasing Boundaries” theme of the meeting.

Also in light the concurrent conference’s “Erasing Boundaries” theme, we will be reviewing all submitted symposia proposals to look for synergies between CSC and CSChE-based proposals on similar topics. There is space on the form to indicate if you wish to co-organize a symposium with a colleague from the other society, and such symposia will generally be preferred in the context of planning if the proposed topic has clear relevance to both communities.

We look forward to an exciting conference, which can only be achieved with your support! Please reach out if you have any questions.

Sincerely,

Todd Hoare, Conference Co-Chair

Milana Trifkovic, CSChE Technical Program Co-Chair

Seyed Mohammad Taghavi, CSChE Technical Program Co-Chair

Graham Gagnon, CSChE Technical Program Co-Chair

Full-time Position in Systems Engineering and Software Development

Yankai Cao

TITLE: PROCESS SYSTEMS ENGINEER

Employment Type: Full-time employee

Location: USA

Work Site: Hybrid

About BioCurie

BioCurie is a deep-tech software startup pioneering mechanistic AI to revolutionize cell, gene, and nucleic acid therapy (CGT) development and manufacturing. These advanced therapies are challenging and costly to manufacture, creating industry-wide barriers. Our patent-pending AI-driven decision-making platform empowers biopharma companies and contract manufacturers to predict, optimize, and scale CGT production—drastically improving time, quality, and cost. Led by industry veterans with deep expertise in AI, machine learning, and process control for biomanufacturing, BioCurie is a winner of the Cure Xchange Challenge: Health AI for Good Award and is supported by top-tier advisors.

About the Role

We are seeking a highly motivated Process Systems Engineer to contribute to the development of commercial software solutions for the biopharmaceutical industry. This role is an opportunity to be part of a collaborative, entrepreneurial team where new ideas are valued, and career growth is encouraged.

You will get to …

·   Make an impact – Work on cutting-edge AI-driven software that will transform the manufacturing and expand patient access to lifesaving therapies. 

·   Launch new technology – Help bring next-generation software solutions to a rapidly growing biopharma market.

·   Define your career path – Join an environment that values innovation, professional development, and leadership opportunities.

·   Thrive in a dynamic, supportive culture – Work alongside industry experts in a friendly and flexible environment that fosters growth and creativity. 

Key Responsibilities

·   Develop and optimize software implementations for numerical algorithms.

·   Translate complex process engineering challenges into scalable software solutions.

·   Collaborate closely with systems engineering and software development teams.

·   Establish and promote best practices in software design and implementation.

·   Present and defend designs and key milestone deliverables to stakeholders.

Qualifications & Experience

Required:

·   PhD in chemical engineering, process systems engineering, or a related field (or near completion).

·   Experience in dynamic optimization and process modeling.

·   Strong programming skills in Python.

·   Excellent numerical, analytical, and problem-solving skills.

·   Ability to work independently and in a team environment.

·   Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Preferred:

·   Experience with C/C++, JavaScript, GitLab/GitHub, and data visualization tools.

·   Familiarity with mechanistic modeling, AI/ML applications, and software debugging.

·   Background in biopharmaceutical manufacturing or process control is a plus.

Applying

To apply, please send:·   

Resume·   

Cover Letter·   

Examples of relevant work (if applicable)

It is the policy of BioCurie to provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and employment applicants.

Contact

If you have any questions or would like to apply, please contact us at:

contact@biocurie.com

We look forward to hearing from you!