Research innovation recognized
Two University of Manitoba-led projects received the 2026 John Ogilvie Research Innovation Award, which recognizes innovative research with the potential to advance agricultural and biosystems engineering.
Drs. Jitendra Paliwal, Mohammad Nadimi and Catherine Findlay were recognized for a multidisciplinary project that developed an integrated platform combining microfluidics, spectroscopy and artificial intelligence to rapidly assess protein quality in field peas. The six-year initiative brought together researchers from multiple institutions and disciplines, helping address a critical need in Canada's growing plant-protein sector. A second award recognized Dr. Chyngyz Erkinbaev, MSc student Angshuman Thakuria and research associate Thirukumaran Ramesh for developing an automated smart imaging system capable of real-time canola seed quality detection. What began as a small seed-funded research project evolved into a larger initiative supported by provincial funding and industry-focused partnerships aimed at improving quality control throughout the canola value chain.
Students earn national recognition
University of Manitoba students also earned several national awards and competition honours.
The University of Manitoba Association of Tiny Tractors (UMATT) team received recognition in the ASABE Quarter-Scale Tractor Student Design Competition for the design and construction of a four-wheel-drive tractor. Team members included Ariel Mesongnik, Nicol Mesongnik, Kevin Sim, Robert Tully, Adam Zalevich, Fiona Awan, Rudy Kissel, Ethan Friesen, Bruce Niemi and Samuel Kuxhaus.
The UM-agBOT team was recognized in the ASABE Robotics Student Design Competition, which challenges students to build autonomous robots capable of completing agricultural tasks without human intervention. Team members included Stephane Le Heiget, Krish Bhalala, Laraib Mahdi, Arqam Adiyan, Niraaj Ojha, Ben Friesen and Isabella Panduro.
Brook Singbeil received the CSABE Foundation Undergraduate Scholarship, awarded annually to the student member with the highest grade point average in the preceding semester.
Singbeil was also recognized for an undergraduate thesis examining the fate and distribution of the fungicide tebuconazole. Additionally, Singbeil joined Amy Dixon, Gerald Onwuka, Adam Patton and Axcell Saqui in receiving an Undergraduate Design Project Award for "Rii Faroosh (Wild Rice) Small Scale Processor."
Graduate student research was also recognized nationally. Obasi Ukoji and Thirukumaran Ramesh were named finalists for the CSABE National MSc Thesis Award, while Abhinav Tiwari was named a finalist for the National PhD Thesis Award.
