Principal Investigator
Chengkai Fan, PhD
Dr. Fan is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Mining, Metallurgical and Materials Engineering at Université Laval (ULaval). He joined ULaval in September 2024 and leads the IMOM Lab as Principal Investigator. His current research focuses on data-driven modeling, optimization, and intelligent decision-making for mine transport, mine safety, and carbon management.
Team Members
Every milestone is shaped by the unseen effort and dedication of those who work together.
Postdoctoral Fellows
Coming soon...
Graduate Students
Linfeng Du
PhD student, September 2026- (Advisor: Chengkai Fan)
Cristian Andrés Flórez Vergar
PhD student, May 2026- (Advisor: Chengkai Fan)
Rais Seki Lenzo
PhD student, January 2026-present (Advisor: Chengkai Fan/Co-advisor: Georgios Kolliopoulos)
Mr. Rais’s research focuses on machine learning, mineral processing, and carbon utilization in sustainable resource engineering. He has a background in Earth Resources and Petroleum Engineering, with experience in geology, geophysics, academic research, and teaching.
Undergraduate Students
Eduardo Prasniewski
Undergraduate Student, 2026 (Advisor: Chengkai Fan)
Mr. Prasniewski joins our lab as a summer intern from UTFPR, Brazil, under the sponsorship of the Mitacs Globalink Research Award.
Visiting Scholars/Students
Dr. Jiawen Cai
Visiting Scholar, 2026-2027
Dr. Cai specializes in coal spontaneous combustion prevention, coal oxidation mechanisms, and hazard risk prediction in mining safety engineering, and will join ULaval for a one-year research visit supported by the China Scholarship Council (CSC).
Alumni
Simon Lessard
Undergraduate Student, 2026 (Advisor: Chengkai Fan)
Internship Report: Instrumentation et suivi géotechnique en mine à ciel ouvert : Stage à la mine Canadian Malartic
Zachary Gabriel
Undergraduate Student, 2026 (Advisor: Chengkai Fan)
Internship Report: Transport du minerai autonome versus traditionnel
Emeric Gagné
Undergraduate Student, 2026 (Advisor: Chengkai Fan)
Internship Report: Méthode d’arpentage et calibration des erreurs à la mine Éléonore
Dr. Mohammed Rida Benmansour
Postdoctoral Fellow, January 2026-April 2026 (Advisor: Chengkai Fan)
Dr. Benmansour is a mineral processing researcher with a dual PhD in flotation chemistry and experience in hydrometallurgy, CO2 sequestration, and process scale-up.
First position: Postdoctoral Fellow in Mining Engineering at Queen's University.
Yohan Sercia
Undergraduate student, 2025 (Advisor: Chengkai Fan)
Internship Report: Optimiser l'analyse géotechnique des carottes de forages à l'aide de l'intelligence artificielle
Rebecca Louise Doriane Bamoule
Undergraduate student, 2025 (Advisor: Chengkai Fan)
Internship Report: Arpentage, la collecte de données de la mine Goldex