Bradley appointed USask Engineering dean

Dr. Michael Bradley (PhD) has been appointed Dean of the University of Saskatchewan (USask) College of Engineering.

Dr. Airini (PhD), USask provost and vice-president academic, announced the appointment May 21, concluding an extensive international and national search.

Bradley will begin his five-year term on July 1.

He joined the USask Department of Physics and Engineering Physics in 2003 as an assistant professor. He became a full professor in 2017 and department head in 2022.

Bradley earned an Honours BSc (1992) in applied physics from the University of New Brunswick. He earned his PhD (2000) in physics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Following his PhD and before joining USask, he spent three years working in the research and development laboratories of Axcelis Technologies, developing new plasma ion implantation systems for silicon chip processing. Bradley has been a registered professional engineer in Saskatchewan since 2006.

An active researcher, Bradley focuses on plasma physics, precision electromagnetic measurement and semiconductor materials and device development. When he arrived at USask, he set up a semiconductor plasma processing research lab funded through the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC).

In 2020, Bradley was awarded a new Canada-United Kingdom Joint Quantum Technology grant, one of only eight awarded across Canada, for development of a compact diamond-NV (nitrogen-vacancy) centre magnetometer. Through this collaboration, Bradley and his quantum engineering physics team are developing a highly sensitive and precise sensor for measuring magnetic fields, a technology with potential benefit for geological prospecting, medicine, and quantum computers.

An innovative educator, Bradley is credited with leading the curriculum redesign and modernization of undergraduate labs in the Department of Physics and Engineering Physics. A strong advocate for experiential learning, Bradley searches for opportunities that require creative problem solving and give his students the chance to gain practical experience and involvement in research. This approach helps students better understand complicated material.

Bradley’s enthusiasm for the subject matter is noticed by his students, who have described him as patient, open and friendly. Bradley has received numerous teaching honours, including a University of Saskatchewan Students’ Union (USSU) Teaching Excellence Award (2009), the Provost’s Prize for Innovative Practice in Collaborative Teaching (2013), the Department of Physics and Engineering Physics Teaching Award (in 2007-08 and 2014-15) and the College of Arts & Science Teaching Excellence Award for Science in 2017.

Bradley aspires to grow the college with an emphasis on innovation and developing excellent engineering professionals. His vision encompasses research advancement, increased enrolment of both women and Indigenous students, and infrastructure for teaching and research.

His academic and research accomplishments enable leadership by example and mentoring faculty and researchers for success. Bradley has a USask track record of building strong and meaningful collaborative relationships that bridge diverse perspectives in the college and the university.

The search for this leadership position was extensive. The process included consultation throughout the university and college, and encompassed students, staff, and faculty as well as industry partners. Airini thanked members of the search committee for their time, expertise and dedication.

She also thanked Dr. Carey Simonson (PhD) for his leadership in serving as interim dean of the college since July 1, 2023.