George Fares holds a B.Tech. in automotive & vehicle engineering technology from McMaster University, along with an advanced diploma in mechanical engineering technology and a certificate in business management from Mohawk College. He joined the McMaster Automotive Resource Centre (MARC) in January 2023, immediately after completing his undergraduate studies. Initially enrolled in the master’s program, he transferred into the Ph.D. program in electrical and computer engineering in September 2023, under the supervision of Dr. Ali Emadi. His research focuses on vehicle dynamics, structural and driveline design, driveability and calibration, and thermal management in traction inverters for switched reluctance motors.
Full Profile
For as long as he can remember, George Fares has been a car enthusiast—ever since his father would point out and name every car they passed on the road. His first toy was a Porsche Carrera, and by the age of five, he was already immersed in racing games like Forza Motorsport. This early exposure fuelled a lifelong passion for anything with four wheels. George pursued this passion academically by enrolling in the B.Tech. automotive & vehicle engineering technology program at McMaster University. He completed his degree in December 2022. During his second year, he worked as a COVID security officer at the Ford Oakville Assembly Complex—a role shaped by the challenges of the pandemic-era job market. While not technical, this position introduced him to the realities of automotive manufacturing and quality control.
In his later years as a student, George secured a co-op placement at Promach. It was there that he helped create manufacturing processes and supported parts development for packaging machinery. These combined experiences taught him the value of efficient design for assembly, disassembly, and transport. However, they also highlighted his desire to work more directly within the automotive field. This desire ultimately motivated him to pursue graduate studies in mechanical engineering.
Alongside his academic and co-op work, George was active in student government. In fact, he served as the 3rd– and 4th-year representative for the Bachelor of Technology Association. These leadership roles helped him hone his interpersonal and communication skills—assets that continue to serve him well in research and team settings.
Upon graduating, George was named Valedictorian of the McMaster Engineering Class of 2023. He became the first B.Tech student in the university’s history to receive this honour. For George, this recognition represented a milestone not only for himself but also for the visibility and validation of the B.Tech program within the broader engineering faculty.
George began his graduate studies in January 2023 at the McMaster Automotive Resource Centre (MARC), where he joined the McMaster Engineering EcoCAR team as the SDI Technical Specialist. There, he led efforts to reintegrate a 2023 Cadillac LYRIQ—converting it from a rear-wheel drive electric vehicle to an all-wheel drive EV using a rare-earth-metal-free architecture. As rear powertrain lead, George and his team successfully designed and integrated a new switched reluctance motor (SRM) into the rear of the vehicle.
Since transferring into the Ph.D. program in September 2023 under the supervision of Dr. Ali Emadi, George has expanded his research focus. He is currently working on vehicle calibration using industry-standard tools, studying vehicle dynamics, and conducting computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations for thermal management of traction inverters for SRMs. His research also includes investigations into overall vehicle aerodynamics and driveline integration—continuing to blend his passion for automotive systems with rigorous technical innovation.
