Cristian D. Pop is a professor in the School of Engineering and Technology at Conestoga College. He has 15 years of industry experience in mechanical engineering, specializing in robotics, automation, and systems design. 
 
Before joining Conestoga, Cristian worked in various roles, including robotic controllers and mechanisms design, automation and control design, and management, gaining extensive expertise in industrial automation and applied research. He earned his M.Sc. in mechanical engineering from the University of Waterloo, specializing in automation and control, and his B.Sc. in mechanical engineering from the Polytechnic University of Timisoara. 
 
Throughout his career, Cristian has been actively involved in applied research projects, particularly in automated recycling and AI-driven robotic sorting. As a principal investigator for Conestoga's SMART Centre, he has led multiple initiatives, including AI-driven robotic sorting of electronic waste and automated dismantling of computer hard drives. 
 
Cristian is passionate about advancing automation technologies and integrating real-world industry applications into academic learning, aiming to bridge the gap between education and industry innovation. 

Research interests:

• Robotics and automation
• Systems design
• Applied research in AI-driven recycling