"Transition from Academia to Industry" Panel Discussion
Navigating the shift from academia to industry can be both exciting and challenging. Join us for an insightful panel discussion featuring experts from both academia and industry who will share their experiences, challenges, and strategies for a successful transition.
Our distinguished panelists include:
🔹 Chantal Davis
🔹 Yaser Eftekhari
🔹 Victoria Pimentel
🔹 Prof. Jie Gao
This event will cover key topics such as:
✅ The differences between academic and industry work environments
✅ Essential skills for a smooth transition
✅ Job search strategies and networking tips
✅ How to leverage academic experience in industry settings
Date and Time
Location
Hosts
Registration
- Date: 27 Mar 2025
- Time: 09:30 PM UTC to 11:00 PM UTC
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- 1125 Colonel By Dr,
- Ottawa, Ontario
- Canada K1S 5B6
- Building: Minto CASE
- Room Number: Minto 2000
- Click here for Map
- Starts 12 March 2025 02:00 AM UTC
- Ends 27 March 2025 09:00 PM UTC
- 8 in-person spaces left!
- No Admission Charge
Speakers
Chantal Davis of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada
Biography:
Chantal Davis is Senior Director of Regulatory Policy at Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada. In her current role, she is responsible for developing plans and policies related to spectrum use and spectrum auctions. In her over 20-year career at ISED, Chantal has been responsible for domestic and international spectrum planning, engineering and standards related to mobile communications including broadband commercial services, public safety, engineering practices for interference management and land mobile radio. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Applied Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Ottawa.
Jie Gao of Carleton University
Biography:
Prof. Jie Gao received his M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees in electrical engineering from the University of Alberta. He is currently an Assistant Professor at the School of Information Technology, Carleton University, and has worked at Marquette University, Milwaukee, USA, as an assistant professor, the University of Waterloo as a research associate, and Toronto Metropolitan University as a Postdoctoral Fellow. His research interests include machine learning for communications and networking, digital twins, satellite networking, and B5G/6G networks in general. Dr. Gao is a senior member of IEEE and has served as a chair/co-chair for multiple symposia, tracks, or workshops at international conferences such as IEEE VTC and IEEE GLOBECOM since 2021.
Yaser Eftekhari of Nokia
Biography:
Dr. Yaser Eftekhari understands the journey from academia to industry firsthand. After completing his PhD in Systems and Computer Engineering at Carleton University, focusing on Compressed Sensing and Information Theory, he explored web security as a postdoctoral fellow at Irdeto Canada. This experience sparked a decade-long career at Irdeto, where he tackled real-world challenges in secure payments, cutting-edge security research, and digital car keys. He’s worn many hats, from Cryptography Engineer to Principal Engineer, Lead Architect, Senior R&D Researcher, and Product Manager. Today, he’s a Senior Analytics Engineer at Nokia, proving that a strong research foundation can lead to a dynamic and fulfilling industry career.
Victoria Pimentel of Solace
Biography:
Victoria’s technical journey began at Universidad Simón Bolívar in Caracas, Venezuela, where she earned a degree in Computer Engineering. She then pursued her Master’s at the University of New Brunswick, conducting research that led to the publication of two IEEE papers. She has been with Solace for the past two years as a Manager in Customer Support, where she plays a dynamic role in assisting customers, optimizing support processes, and growing as a leader. Before joining Solace, Victoria spent nearly eight years on the Customer Engagement Team at Nokia, where she oversaw the development of custom solutions and helped customers navigate revenue-impacting challenges. Beyond her professional career, Victoria is an active member of the Ottawa Mountain Bike Association, where she enjoys introducing beginners to the sport.
Agenda
17:30 -18:30: Panel Discussion
18:30 -19:00: Dinner