The Women in Engineering & IT Study Lounge is a space for women students to develop personal connections, access graduate-level women study support, and do school work. Women students will need to sign-up for swipe card access to get in and out of the room. Once you receive swipe card access, the entrance to the building and the room will be accessible when the building is open, Monday to Friday from 8:00am to 4:30pm. The space is located on the third floor of the Engineering Design Centre (the Mackenzie attachment), ME3519.
If you have questions about the study lounge, please contact our Program Administrator at: wie@carleton.ca.
The Graduate Assistants are students in a STEM discipline at Carleton University, committed to supporting your academic journey and highlighting campus resources available to you. Click on their photo to learn more about them.
There are four two-hour study sessions offered on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights from 4:30-6:30pm in the lounge. Details will be shared via. email to those who have received swipe card access to the lounge.
Devanshee Kalpeshkumar Vankani is a software engineering student pursuing her Masters at Carleton, with real-world developer experience in India, known for her approachable nature. She’s not just about code; Devanshee’s passion lies in fostering healthy connections, both in the digital and real world. Beyond tech, she indulges in art and craft and enjoys exploring cities, embodying a well-rounded blend of technology, creativity, and adventure. When she’s not immersed in code or crafting, she loves to explore cities and discover new places.
Keely is a third year PhD student in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. She completed her Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering at Carleton University, where she was in the Space Systems stream and worked on the CubeSat capstone project in her fourth year. She now is a part of Carleton’s Applied Dynamics Laboratory where she works on the Neonatal Patient Transport Project, studying sound and vibration in medical transport systems for newborn patients. Some of her work includes data collection in ambulances and hospitals, performing shaker testing in the laboratory, and developing dynamic models of the mechanical system. She has written and presented several papers in Canadian and international conferences, and is passionate about STEM outreach and EDI.
Nareen Khurshid is an experienced graduate student with a longstanding connection to Carleton University. Nareen is currently pursuing her master’s degree in Computer Science while contributing to fellow students in the community. Her areas of interest encompass a diverse range of subjects including network and Internet security, authentication systems and system behaviour. Her research endeavors encompass comprehending and resolving the security and privacy challenges that affect various components of the internet, the interconnected networks and systems, and the users who rely upon them.
Priyanka Vasavada is a dedicated graduate student in Carleton University’s Systems and Computer Engineering department. As a Graduate Assistant for the WiE&IT Program, her primary role involves leading study sessions tailored to empower STEM women, emphasizing inclusivity and diversity within the field. Priyanka can often be found showering love on her four-legged friends, as her fondness for dogs knows no bounds. Her unwavering passion for advocating women’s presence in engineering further solidifies her commitment to breaking barriers and fostering a more inclusive STEM community.
Georgia Loewen is a Ph.D candidate in the School of Information Technology at Carleton University. She has Bachelor degree in Biosystems Engineering with a Biomedical Specialization from the University of Manitoba, and A Master of Applied Science in HCI degree from Carleton University. Her research focus is on wearable technology and its applications in video game accessibility. Georgia is passionate about inclusivity and community, and fills this passion both in her studies and in her hobby of running a Discord server for Ottawa and Gatineau area cosplayers and cosplay photographers.
Natasha Nayar graduated with a Mechanical Engineering degree from Carleton University, and is currently pursuing a Masters Degree in Applied Science – Mechanical Engineering, working on the Neonatal Patient Transport Project. She started on the project in her last year of undergraduate studies under the iCUREUS program, working on an Isolete Shaker Tower to set up a voice coil actuator to run low frequency vibration test. Natasha has worked with various programs at Carleton from being a Residence Fellow to a STEM Camp Instructor at Virtual Ventures. She is excited to share the resources she has gained from these experiences under her new position as a Graduate Assistant.
Afsoon Alidadi Shamsabadi (She/her) is a PhD Candidate in the Department of Systems and Computer Engineering at Carleton University. Her academic journey began at Isfahan University of Technology in Isfahan, Iran, where she completed her bachelor’s degree in 2012. She continued her studies at Sharif University of Technology, earning a master’s degree in 2014. Following her master’s program, she embarked on her professional career at Huawei Technologies Ltd. Co. in Tehran, Iran. She served as a solution sales manager from 2014 until 2020, where she improved her skills in the technological and management domains, playing a pivotal role in advancing the company’s technological solutions sales. In January 2021, Afsoon commenced her PhD studies at Carleton University under the supervision of Professor Halim Yanikomeroglu. Her research focuses on the innovative integration of High Altitude Platform Stations (HAPS) with terrestrial wireless networks. This work is particularly crucial as it explores the expansion of wireless network capabilities which could revolutionize next generation connectivity. Additionally, her research delves into the application of convex optimization algorithms and artificial intelligence (AI) to develop sophisticated algorithms aimed at enhancing the performance of these integrated networks.
Rhea is a third-year PhD candidate in Building Engineering, specializing in Heritage Conservation. Her research is dedicated to understanding the aging of historical masonry structures, with the goal of ensuring their safety for generations to come. Rhea received her Bachelor of Engineering in Civil Engineering (BEng) from McGill University in 2020 and her Master of Engineering in Civil Engineering (MEng) from Carleton University in 2022. Beyond her academic pursuits, she is a dedicated advocate for women in engineering, volunteering with the Engineers of Tomorrow and the Ontario Network of Women in Engineering. Rhea is excited to join the Women in Engineering & IT Study Lounge as a Graduate Assistant, where she looks forward to connecting with the Carleton Engineering community and providing support to fellow women in STEM
Aroosha’s interest in engineering and biology led her to earn her B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees in Biomedical Engineering from Amirkabir University of Technology in Tehran, Iran. Pursuing her passion for biomedical engineering, she began her PhD studies in the Biomedical Engineering program at Carleton University in September 2022. Her research focuses on engineering 3D tumor models using a 3D bioprinter to evaluate the behavior of immune cells within the tumor environment. Outside of her academic pursuits, Aroosha enjoys hiking and spending time in nature.
Location
Need directions to the Engineering Design Center (EDC)? The front entrance to the building is located on Library Road, across from Lanark House. Look for signage for the lounge, located in ME3519.
Register
WiE&IT Lounge Access Registration
Please fill out this form to request access to the Study Lounge.
WiE&IT Program Partners
Thank you to our company partners for making the Study Lounge possible!
