In this episode of She Speaks STEM, hosts Clara and Rana sit down with two inspiring professors from the University of Toronto to explore the different paths to becoming a professor in academia. Joining us from the teaching stream is Professor Janet Lam (Mechanical & Industrial Engineering), whose career bridges impactful research in maintenance optimization with over a decade of excellence in engineering education. From industry collaborations to shaping the next generation of engineers, Janet has dedicated her work to making both teaching and applied research accessible, effective, and relevant.

From the research stream, we welcome Professor Shoshanna Saxe (Civil & Mineral Engineering), Canada Research Chair in Sustainable Infrastructure. Shoshanna’s research investigates how the infrastructure we build shapes society and sustainability, asking critical questions about what and how we should build. Beyond her academic achievements, she contributes her expertise to advisory panels and public discourse, with her insights featured in outlets like The New York Times and Wired.

Tune in to hear Janet and Shoshanna share their journeys through academia, their perspectives on teaching and research, and their advice for students considering a future in higher education. Stay until the end for a Q&A with our hosts!

This podcast is proudly supported by our club sponsor, Marisa Sterling, P.Eng, FEC, Assistant Dean of Diversity, Inclusion, and Professionalism at the University of Toronto. Learn more about her work at uofteng.ca/edi.

We would also like to extend our gratitude to all of our funding sources, whose generous support makes this podcast possible. Visit us at https://gradswe.sa.utoronto.ca/ or @gradsweuoft on Instagram to learn more about our community and upcoming events!