Biography

Dr. Ren is a professor of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering at the University of Waterloo and holds Canada Research Chair in Microfluidic Technologies. Her research focuses on understanding microfluidic fundamentals and developing enabling platform technologies for a wide range of applications such as disease diagnosis (e.g. COVID-19 virus detection), soft robots as assistive technologies for well-being, life science research, drug screening, and environmental monitoring (detection of metal, plastic and pathogenic contamination). She received her Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Toronto in 2004 and Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees in Thermal Engineering from Harbin Institute of Technology in 1995 and 1992, separately. Dr. Ren was recently recognized as Canada's Top 100 Women in 2021, elected a member of Royal Society of Canada's College of New Scholars, Artists, and Scientists in 2018, one of 20 leading innovators in Women of Innovation: The Impact of Leading Engineers in Canada (Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum, 2017), became a fellow of the Canadian Society of Mechanical Engineering in 2012, and received Research Excellence Award from the University of Waterloo in 2010, and Early Research Award from the Ministry of Research and Innovation of Ontario, Canada, in 2007.