5. Dr. Mikhail Burke - Bettering Biomaterials and Breaking Barriers

Introducing Dr. Mikhail Burke (MSE 1T2, IBBME PhD 1T8 @ University of Toronto)

Dr. Burke (or Mikhail as we’ll refer to him) he began his undergraduate journey at the University of Toronto as a Materials Science engineering student, and led the U of T Chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) as their president. Later, he co-founded ENGage - a collaborative initiative between NSBE and U of T Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering (FASE) targeting primarily African-Canadian youth to nurture their interest in STEM.

Mikhail continued his own STEM journey in the PhD program at the Institute for Biomedical Engineering in biomaterials on cancerous impact on bone quality.

Currently, he integrates social justice with his background as the Dean's Advisor on Black Inclusivity at the UofT FASE and is the co-instructor of TEP324 or Engineering & Social Justice, which is all about considering how different positionalities can be affected by our roles as engineers. Many of our listeners might know him from APS100 as the guest lecturer, or ESP (Engineering Strategies & Practice) as the engineering manager or his other involvement within the UofT community.

Notable Quotes

“Success is finding out what it is, what you actually want and then aspiring towards it - not what you think you want or what you feel socialized to gain.” - Dr. Mikhail Burke“We have been conditioned to view learning by grades - not by outcome.” - Dr. Mikhail Burke“Undergrad is a process of self discovery...take the time when the stakes are lower and take the time to discover yourself” - Dr. Mikhail Burke

Resources Mentioned Links

Meet Mikhail Burke, Dean's Advisor on Black Inclusivity Initiatives and Student Inclusion & Transition Mentor - U of T Engineering NewsFive student supports to know about at U of T Engineering - U of T Engineering NewsProspective Student - University of Toronto Biomedical EngineeringNSBE U of T – Home of NSBE University of TorontoENGage - U of T Engineering OutreachTEP 324 (formerly APS 324): Engineering and Social JusticeFASE Academic Calendar - APS100H1: Orientation to EngineeringEngineering Strategies & Practice (ESP) | Faculty of Applied Science & EngineeringU of T Engineering Outreach: HomeNSERC – Undergraduate Student Research AwardsOISE : Ontario Institute for Studies in Education of the University of TorontoUndergraduate - Department of Materials Science & EngineeringU of T Engineering Science Program: HomeRASI (Research Application Support Initiative) - A Community of Support Program

How to Get in Touch with Dr. Mikhail Burke

Email: [email protected]

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This podcast is generously supported by the Hart House Good Ideas Fund.

Music By : Zen Man