Rafik Goubran
Vice-President (Research and International) & Chancellor’s Professor
Dr. Rafik Goubran, Chancellor’s Professor at Carleton University, was appointed Vice-President (Research & International) in 2017. Dr. Goubran holds degrees from Cairo University in Egypt (BSc and MSc) and from Carleton University in Ottawa (PhD in Electrical Engineering). He served two terms as Chair of the Department of Systems and Computer Engineering at Carleton between 1997 and 2006, and as Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Design from 2006 to 2016.
Dr. Goubran has participated on external boards such as the Centre of Excellence in Next Generation Networks (CENGN), Electricity Human Resources Canada (EHRC), the National Medical Devices Alliance, and the TRIUMF Canada’s Particle Accelerator Centre. His external committee work includes serving as Chair of the Council of Ontario Deans of Engineering, member of the Executive of the Global Engineering Deans Council, member of the Research Management Committee of the Cardiac Arrhythmia Network, and Challenge Area Lead in the AGE-WELL Network at the Centre of Excellence. He is a Life Fellow of the IEEE, a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering, a member of the Association of Professional Engineers of Ontario, and an affiliate investigator with the Bruyère Research Institute.
Dr. Goubran is an international leader in the field of audio signal processing and has been recognized for his significant contributions to “voice quality measurement and its applications to audio improvement”. His work on echo and noise cancellation has resulted in several journal and conference papers, patents, and technology transfers to industry. Currently, Dr. Goubran is collaborating with researchers from medicine, nursing, psychology, and physiotherapy to design smart environments for the independent living of seniors. As co-lead on these multidisciplinary research teams, he is exploring the ways sensor systems can be embedded into a patient’s environment to monitor health and vital signs. Dr. Goubran has, to date, co-supervised 97 graduate students, co-authored over 325 peer-reviewed publications and 10 patents, and has attracted over $2M in external research funding.
As Vice-President (Research & International), Dr. Goubran is committed to Carleton University’s Strategic Integrated Plan with its goals to share knowledge and shape the future; serve Ottawa and the world; and strive for wellness and sustainability. Research & International is dedicated to meeting these goals by:
- Leveraging the power of research to solve critical issues;
- Engaging in community outreach and creating linkages between academic study and our roles as global citizens;
- Developing and fostering holistic partnerships with individuals and organizations in Ottawa, Canada, and around the world;
- Establishing a comprehensive approach to global outreach by partnering internationally to make Carleton a global hub of intellectual engagement and knowledge exchange.