Marcelo is currently working on a project where he analyzes short online documents, such as emails, to check the identity of the author. His research is integral to the field of computer security because there have only been a handful of studies on this topic.  “Authorship verification of online documents can play a critical role in various criminal cases such as blackmailing and terrorist activities, says Marcelo.” “Sharing my research with others is integral to the field of computer security, and Mitacs Step has provided me with the necessary communication skills to do so.”

A Mitacs Step devotee, Marcelo has completed four workshops at UVIC. He found Step’s Practice Your Presentation Skills and Scientific and Technical Writing Skills to be the most useful because they provided him with the tools to better communicate complex ideas to different audiences with varying academic backgrounds.

When asked how other PhD candidates could benefit from Mitacs Step, Marcelo answers simply, “My philosophy is to learn and take advantage of every opportunity. Mitacs Step provides grad students with the opportunity to learn practical skills they can take with them beyond their academic life and into the workforce.”

Mitacs thanks the Government of Canada and the Government of British Columbia for their support of the STEP research internship in this story. Across Canada, the STEP training program also receives support from Alberta Innovates, the Government of New Brunswick, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, the Government of Nova Scotia, the Government of Ontario, the Government of Prince Edward Island, the Government of Quebec, the Government of Saskatchewan and Research Manitoba.

Do you have a business challenge that could benefit from a research solution? If so, contact Mitacs today to discuss partnership opportunities: BD@mitacs.ca

Interested in taking a Mitacs Step workshop? Visit www.mitacs.ca/step to see a calendar of our current workshops!