The CREATE (Collaborative Research and Training Experience) program aims to improve the mentoring and training environment by improving communication, collaboration and professional skills, as well as providing experience relevant to both academic and non-academic research environments.

Four successful projects will receive $1.65 million each over six years. Together, the projects will offer the equivalent of 398 student-years of training (some students will train for more than one year, so the actual number of students will be smaller).

“Taming the Lost Heat: Training and Research in Thermoelectrics,” directed by Professor Kenneth Burch of the Department of Physics, is inspired by the challenge that half of all energy is lost as heat. Key tools in improving on this ratio are thermoelectrics materials, in which a temperature differential generates a voltage (or vice-versa).

The project will create a consortium of engineers, physicists and chemists to train students in making, modeling and measuring thermoelectric devices.

Achieving gains in energy efficiency would provide advantages to Canadian industry and help address global climate change.

Author: Jenny Hall

Read the full article here: http://news.utoronto.ca/hundreds-students-benefit-66-million-training-funds