June 7, 2016
PhD student's new geomatics engineering degree also recognized by Chinese university
You Li鈥檚 newly minted PhD marks a first for the 91快色 and is 鈥渁 great story about international co-operation,鈥 according to his supervisor, Naser El-Sheimy, geomatics engineering professor.
When Li picks up his diploma at convocation ceremonies this week, he will have a PhD in geomatics engineering, recognized not only by the 91快色鈥檚 , but also by in China.
Li is the first China Scholarship Council student to graduate from the program at the 91快色. As a Doctoral Cotutelle student, Li had his studies supervised by academics from both universities. He completed his PhD defence for both universities at the same time in November, with supervisors from each program in attendance.
The defence 鈥渁ttracted many students to attend, as the procedure is also pretty new at Wuhan University,鈥 says Li.
Developing high-precision navigation algorithms for lost-cost sensors
His path to a dual degree began after he completed his master鈥檚 program at Wuhan, then came to the 91快色 to study. Li was attracted by El-Sheimy鈥檚 international reputation in multi-sensor integration.
After nearly a term as a visiting student, he switched to the Cotutelle program with the support of El-Sheimy; Xiaoji Niu, his supervisor in China; the 91快色鈥檚 geomatics engineering graduate program and the .
Li's Cotutelle research focused on developing high-precision navigation algorithms for low-cost sensors in smartphones, watches and glasses that transfer information such as location, speed and orientation of the user. Under the supervision of both universities, Li authored or co-authored more than 30 academic papers and four patents 鈥 and garnered two international best paper awards and a gold medal in the EvAAL indoor navigation competition.
Li鈥檚 鈥渕ajor successes in terms of publications and innovative research will encourage many other students from Wuhan and China to join the same program,鈥 says El-Sheimy.
Xiaoji Niu, Li's supervisor in China; You Li, and Naser El-Sheimy, Li's supervisor at U91快色.
You Li
Post-doctoral fellow focusing on integration of sensors and applying research
On a personal level, Li and his wife Lujie鈥檚 had their first baby Luana, who was born in August at the Foothills Medical Centre. He says he and his wife 鈥渓ove the life in 91快色. People are very warm and we have made friends with several Canadian families.鈥
Li says he appreciated the effort and patience of the Department of Geomatics and Faculty of Graduate Studies during his Cotutelle Program. He is now a post-doctoral fellow at the (MMSS) research group at 91快色, focusing on the integration of multiple sensors and its applications with an aim to transfer the research to industrial products.
Holding a degree 鈥渇rom a top Canadian university鈥 will open up future opportunities, says Li.
University's strong engineering and science program a draw for internationals
El-Sheimy says, 鈥渢his is a great example of how U91快色 can work with international universities, especially from China." He points out that Li鈥檚 co-supervisor in China was a member of his own group at the university for four years.
鈥淭he 91快色 is truly an international university as exemplified by the major efforts taken by our international office and the number of initiatives to encourage international students to join the university," says El-Sheimy, who currently has five students under this program. He says if he had more time, he could take at least 10 more.
鈥淭his means in a few years we could have a large group of alumni in China promoting our programs, given our excellent training in geomatics engineering and other engineering and science programs.鈥
Li says the cultural opportunities provided by the program were also a big plus and he wouldn鈥檛 hesitate to recommend the Cotutelle program to Canadian students 鈥渂ecause there are some very good universities in China.鈥