Projets novateurs réalisés

Quantum data and machine learning for quantum chemistry

In this project, the university and industry researchers will work together to examine ways in which two new, powerful computing technologies, machine learning, and quantum computing, can be combined in order to improve our ability to understand and simulate molecules, chemistry and materials. One of the key challenges that limits improvements to today’s chemical simulation software is the requirement for high quality experimental data for systems of interest. Machine learning has the potential to take limited data sets and learn from them, extending reach to new systems. Quantum computing has the potential to more accurately and efficiently simulate the quantum mechanics of molecules than traditional computers. This project will explore new ways to combine these approaches to advance the field of chemical simulations.

Elucidating the evolutionary history of a cold-temprate moss group (Racomitrium sect. Racomitrium) using long read sequence data

I am interested in understanding plant diversity. The internship project focuses on the evolution of a group of mosses distributed in arctic, subarctic and alpine habitats. The moss genus Racomitrium, specifically the sect. Racomitrium, has complex phylogenetic relationships that make it difficult to understand its evolutionary relationships. Racomitrium lanuginosum is a key plant in Northern environments due to its abundance and association with N2-fixing bacteria. The populations of this species can be found on different continents and are morphologically similar; however, recent studies using molecular markers have proved the existence of well-differentiated molecular lineages suggesting cryptic speciation. I hypothesize is that R. lanuginosum is represented by genetically differentiated taxa with similar morphological features or cryptic taxa. I will generate genomic data using PacBio HiFi sequencing. With this data, I will resolve the phylogenetic relationships of the sect. Racomitrium to identify potential molecular taxa. This knowledge will be helpful to understand evolution in Northern environments and as a starting point for biodiversity conservation actions.

Procedural Generation of synthetic content for virtual worlds

Our modern society can no longer be thought without image and media technologies, these technologies holding a central place in our everyday life. Progresses of display devices in conjunction with the capabilities of modern GPUs result in an ever-increasing demand for producing rich and detailed 3D graphical contents, i.e., geometric objects augmented with textures for appearance modeling (color, small scale perturbations or complex light/matter interactions…). Creating and populating these scenes with various and detailed 3D entities coherent with their environment is a huge and painstaking task, massively based on manual authoring. Developing novel tools that can scale up to this increased demand is of central importance for media production industries video (serious) games, motion pictures industry, etc.

Leveraging thermal biology to optimise cricket rearing

House crickets are a promising sustainable source of protein for human food and animal feed in a changing world. A current focus is to scale up and automate cricket production, and to optimise production for specific outcomes (e.g. maximise biomass production or protein content). Insect growth rate, nutrient content and survival are all
dependent on temperature, so this project will explore these relationships, allowing Aspire Food Group to optimise their rearing environment for specific outcomes, and react flexibly to temperature variations during production. The interns will learn insect rearing in industrial and laboratory settings, a range of physiological, biochemical, and
molecular biology skills relevant throughout the biotech and agricultural sectors, as well as critical thinking and communication.

Evaluating the Downstream Water Quality Improvement and Peak Flow Reduction following Implementation of Green Stormwater Infrastructure in a Northern Climate

Green stormwater infrastructure (GI) is an approach to land development that attempts to retain and clean stormwater as close to the source as possible to reduce flooding and improve the water quality of urbanized watersheds. The objective of this study is to provide a field-based evaluation of how GI reduces peak flow and improves the downstream water quality of two urbanized watercourses at the catchment-scale. In this project we will collect water quality and flow measurements along four reaches of two different watercourses where GI is to be constructed. These samples will be collected both before and after the construction of a variety of GI facilities. The results will be used to calibrate stormwater models and will provide insight into the effectiveness of GI at reducing flood risk and improving the downstream water quality of watercourses within the Lakehead Region Conservation Authority Area of Jurisdiction.

Investigation of Fire Performance of Concrete Beams Strengthened with FRCM

Reinforced concrete (RC) is widely used due to its ease of construction, accessibility of raw materials, and excellent integrity. However, severe breakdown of RC structures due to mechanical and environmental loads may result in the need for strengthening to increase functionality and extend the service life of such structures. The use of fibre-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites with external bonding (EB) through epoxy adhesive is a fast, effective, and reliable solution to increase flexural or shear strength. Although epoxy provides an effective bond force between concrete and FRP, there is a major concern about the fire situation that may restrict FRP use in indoor applications. In recent years, fabric-reinforced cementitious matrix (FRCM) strengthening systems have emerged as a viable alternative to FRP sheets for rehabilitating reinforced concrete structures. FRCM systems present almost all of the same benefits as FRP while overcoming the poor fire resistance of FRP. While the fire performance of FRCM strengthening systems is widely viewed as superior to that of FRP composites, very few published works are available in the literature to quantify this performance. These studies have not reached high temperatures that can be experienced during a fire because the actual fire tests were not conducted.

Identifying policy and program options for improving housing access in rural Newfoundland

A significant portion of the population in Newfoundland live in rural areas. Housing presents a number of challenges to this populace including, but not limited to, the high cost of rent, low vacancy rate, the high cost of utilities, and the deteriorating nature of some rentals. Housing challenges also affect the mental state of renters and may contribute to experiences of housing vulnerability and homelessness, among others. This research project seeks to identify policy and program options that exists in other jurisdictions in a bid to help address current and ongoing housing challenges in rural Newfoundland. This research goal will be achieved through a jurisdictional scan approach where successful housing and policy programs in other countries and other Canadian provinces will be assessed to determine which ones are applicable to rural Newfoundland. The research findings will assist in devising appropriate housing interventions that will support improved accessibility and affordability in rural Newfoundland. On a broader scale, findings may be adopted by other Canadian communities to help address similar experiences of housing and homelessness.

Exosomes to prevent post-operative atrial fibrillation

Fifty thousand Canadians undergo open-chest heart surgery every year. Albeit effective at fixing heart disease, half of these patients slip into an abnormal heart rhythm called “atrial fibrillation”. Because atrial fibrillation increases the risk of heart failure and stroke, doctors are eager for therapies to keep post-operative patients in normal rhythm.
Recently, we found that injection of exosomes at the time of open chest surgery prevents atrial fibrillation. Exosomes are fluid filled microparticles created and released from the membrane of stem cells. They contain factors that participate in cell-to-cell signaling to influence tissue function.
In this study, we will compare blood to heart stem cell exosomes to see if the source influences prevention of postoperative atrial fibrillation. We then see if our heart-derived exosomes can prevent other, more common, forms of atrial fibrillation. This information is critical to develop this promising approach for the ~200,000 Canadians with atrial fibrillation.

Real-time AI-based analytical decomposition of 5G network latency

LatenceTech offers a cloud analytics and monetization solution for cellular networks with a special focus on ultra-low latency connectivity. Using SAAS and AI, our solution helps mobile operators, telecom vendors and advanced industries to track, predict and secure the new benefits of 5G cellular technology.
The project consists in performing an analytical decomposition of the response time (latency) of 5G cellular technology. This will allow a better understanding of the reason for the high variance in milliseconds of the 5G latency by analyzing, in real time, the sub-components of the 5G latency such as transmission time, propagation time, routing time, etc. This data will allow customers (mobile operators) to take palliative and preventive measures to improve the quality of the 5G network in terms of latency. Understanding the components of latency will help to “understand why and how” the network generates such latency and why it varies over time.

Writing for Change: Articulating an alternative model of health care delivery for immigrant seniors

Immigrant seniors face a variety of challenges, such as language barriers or poor health, that impact their ability to age at home or to stay healthier for longer. S.U.C.C.E.S.S.’ collaboration with Vancouver Coastal Health is investigating the impact of the PACE model on BC immigrant seniors. The model brings teams of different healthcare professionals together to better target the individual senior’s needs. To share the findings of this pilot project, S.U.C.C.E.S.S. is seeking an intern that can disseminate the results to a variety of stakeholders to further promote research in this area and to help healthcare providers to improve their services.

Ecology Action Centre (EAC)-Marine Planning and Community Engagement Internship

The Ecology Action Centre’s Marine team works locally, nationally and internationally towards protecting the marine ecosystem and maintaining sustainable fisheries, which support vibrant coastal communities. The marine team has a remote office based in Norris Point, NL and where this internship will be based.

We are offering a Marine Planning and Community Engagement Internship position to join our team for 4 months. This position will be responsible for data analysis of past and current research on the marine and coastal management areas surrounding the Gros Morne Region off western, NL. They will also support the Marine Planning and Engagement Coordinator during community workshops and participatory mapping sessions. This includes but is not limited to analysis of data from historic marine research at the Bonne Bay Marine Station in Norris Point, NL, reviewing workshop data gathered and, working with their supervisor and regional advisory committees to draft management recommendations for potential marine protection and sustainable economic development for the Gros Morne region of western, NL.

Atlantic Healthy Oceans Initiative (AHOI)-Building a Circular Economy with the Gros Morne Region in western, NL.

Atlantic Healthy Oceans Initiative (AHOI) is a non-profit organization that is tackling the reduction of single-use plastics and increasing waste diversion from landfills through the improvement of waste management in the Gros Morne Region for tourism business operators, municipalities and the Gros Morne National Park. AHOI will continue the work it started in 2020 to help the region transition towards a true circular economy. The help of 2 interns with expertise in these areas will improve our ability to achieve our targets and help fill the gaps identified in our 2022 Waste Management Report. The main areas of focus this summer will include work to;
? label garbage, recycling and refundable bins with diagrams on trails, roadsides and in towns to assist visitors in separating their waste and reducing their use of plastics overall.
? create more informative materials at welcome centers or permit booths, informing visitors of how to sort their waste as well as the danger litter poses to wildlife.
? help community groups and towns to offer reusable drinkware to replace single-use plastics, including cups and bottles.
? continue to help tourism operators transition away from single-use plastics and become a more circular operation.
? continue beach cleanup waste and brand audits to better understand what’s ending up on our beaches and develop recommendations on how to stop this from happening at the source.
? begin phase II of working towards a circular economy and create a plan that will allow curbside composting to be implemented successfully in the Gros Morne region.