Projets novateurs réalisés

Techno-Economic Study on Aircraft Emissions Reduction at the Calgary International Airport

A techno-economy study will be conducted to identify and quantify Scope 3 emissions at the Calgary International Airport to determine the economic impact of financial schemes and/or operational practices that the Calgary Airport Authority can implement to reduce aircraft ground emissions at the airport. Potential financial schemes include incentives, discounts or extra charges, and mandates, while operational practices include tailored operational support and setting minimum performance standards. Data from the Calgary Airport Authority and Transport Canada will be used to evaluate the pros and cons of implementing these schemes/practices on three key operational areas: (i) anti-idling management of ground support equipment; (ii) aircraft class and type of engine; and (iii) aircraft auxiliary power unit management. Expected outcomes will ensure the airport’s pathway toward aircraft emissions reductions and energy use efficiencies, strengthening its position as the fourth busiest airport in Canada and assisting the airport authority in achieving its net-zero targets.

Surveillance en temps réel des infrastructures avec capteurs quantiques et IoT pour un transport durable

Ce projet combine les capteurs quantiques et l’Internet des objets (IoT) pour améliorer la surveillance des infrastructures de transport, telles que les ponts et les routes. Face au vieillissement des infrastructures et aux défis climatiques, les capteurs quantiques offrent une précision exceptionnelle pour détecter des phénomènes invisibles comme la corrosion et les variations de température. Intégrés dans un réseau IoT, ces capteurs permettent de collecter des données en temps réel et d’analyser l’état des structures, facilitant ainsi une détection précoce des défaillances potentielles et une gestion proactive de la maintenance. Le projet repose sur des recherches antérieures ayant démontré la supériorité des capteurs quantiques par rapport aux technologies classiques. Grâce à ces capteurs, il sera possible de prolonger la durée de vie des infrastructures, de réduire les coûts de maintenance et d’améliorer la sécurité publique en évitant des défaillances catastrophiques. Ce système innovant pourrait positionner le Canada en tant que leader mondial dans l’utilisation des technologies de pointe pour la gestion des infrastructures critiques, tout en ouvrant des perspectives de collaborations internationales. L’impact global de ce projet contribuera à une gestion plus durable et efficace des réseaux de transport.

Parksville and District Chamber of Commerce – Stakeholder Engagement & Program Development

The Parksville and District Chamber of Commerce (PDCC) serves as a central hub for local businesses, fostering economic growth, business networking, and community engagement. As the business landscape evolves, PDCC aims to enhance its event programming, marketing strategy, and member engagement while ensuring its initiatives are data-driven and impactful.

To support this vision, PDCC is seeking an MBA intern to:

Strengthen event planning, program development, and internal marketing strategies.

Enhance member engagement through digital outreach, social media, and communications.

Incorporate data collection and analysis to measure event success and community impact.

This internship offers hands-on experience in event coordination, marketing, community engagement, and business strategy, providing a unique opportunity for professional development while supporting real-world impact.

Gut-localized expression of IL-10 for the treatment and/or prevention of peanut allergy

We will evaluate treatments for peanut allergy, the most severe and persistent form of food allergy. The proposed interventions are based on targeted delivery of interleukin-10 (IL-10) to the intestine. IL-10 is a protein that is known to be a potent regulator of the immune system. enGene has developed EG-10, a novel, state-of-the-art technology that can effectively induce a robust and transient production of interleukin-10 in the intestine, i.e., the site where food absorption occurs and food allergy is initiated. enGene can benefit from our demonstrated knowledge in the immunobiology of food allergy and our extensive expertise with mouse models for peanut allergy and anaphylaxis, which we have shown to closely resemble the features of anaphylaxis seen in humans with peanut allergy. In collaboration with enGene, we will investigate the impact of EG-10 on the prevention (prophylactic) and treatment (immunotherapy) of peanut allergy and anaphylaxis

Policy Innovation – CIGI

CIGI aims to address the lack of knowledge relating to regulations and decision-making of emerging dual-use technology. This initiative will focus on quantum technologies as a case-study. There is a need for knowledge-building, knowledge-translation and innovation to advance a technology-dynamics perspective in forming decisions on emerging dual-use technology (quantum). To address this need, CIGI proposes three Policy Innovation Assistants to support the CIGI team dedicated to leading this initiative. This includes analytical, knowledge development and engagement support to CIGI’s Research Director, Transformative Technologies.

ESROP – KMUTT – Hybrid LSTM-GRU Architecture with Adaptive Attention for Financial Data

This research project focuses on using advanced machine learning techniques to better predict stock prices, specifically targeting stocks from the S&P 500. By combining powerful deep learning methods—such as LSTM and GRU networks—with adaptive attention mechanisms inspired by Transformer models, the project aims to create forecasting systems that can dynamically adapt to changing market conditions, like sudden increases in volatility or shifts between bull and bear markets. Currently, traditional models struggle when markets behave unpredictably, leading to less accurate forecasts. The new approach developed through this project could improve forecasting accuracy, helping financial institutions and researchers manage risk and make better-informed investment decisions. For both participating institutions—KMUTT and the University of Toronto — this collaboration will enhance their expertise in quantitative finance, encourage further research, and support the adoption of innovative AI-driven financial modeling techniques.

Identification of novel immunomodulators from Heligmosomoides bakeri

Parasitic worms make molecules that block their hosts immune responses, leading to chronic infections. The molecules, called immunomodulators, block immune responses to the worms themselves and have more general effects on the immune system. A small number have been characterised and can interfere with different immune pathways. Research is ongoing to develop them for managing diseases where the immune system is dysregulated such as in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which affects over 300,000 Canadians but has limited treatment options.
I will synthetize and screen proteins produced by the parasite Heligmosomoides bakeri, to identify new immunomodulators. The Finney lab (UCalgary) has created a set of ‘omic’ tools to characterise the genes expressed in H. bakeri. Using these tools, I have created a list of putative immunomodulators. The McSorley lab (University of Dundee) are experts at producing and screening parasitic worm proteins for potential immunomodulatory function. During my visit, I will produce and test my curated list. I will return to the Finney lab to set up and test the McSorley lab assays, creating an immunomodulator discovery pipeline in Canada. My research has the potential to generate innovative, effective therapies for patients with dysregulated immune responses, strengthening Canada’s role in immunotherapy development.

Preconditioners for fluid flows in fractured porous media

Development of a Lab-Scale DC Microgrid for Energy Management of Chemical Processes

Advanced Electrophysiological Data Analytics for Neuromodulation and Targeted Drug Delivery

LMReax Fine-tuned large language models for reaction mechanisms predictions

Visualisation et quantification des ROS et de l’apoptose dans des microtumeurs 3D

L’objectif du projet est de mettre au point des méthodes de visualisation par microscopie confocale laser l’intensité du stress oxydant ainsi que les zones d’induction d’apoptose dans des cellules cancéreuses perméabilisées. Les cellules cancéreuses qui seront étudiées sont des cellules de carcinome colorectal humaines de la lignée HCT116 provenant de American Type Culture Collection. Ce projet permettra d’étudier et d’identifier en partie les mécanismes qui permettent à certains types d’oméga-3 d’induire l’apoptose à l’intérieur de certaines cellules cancéreuses et ainsi ralentir ou prévnir le développement de tumeures. La modulation de la structure et des fonctions mitochondriales (la mitochondrie est le principal inducteur de l’apoptose) par une approche nutritionelle ou pharmaceutique constitue une stratégie qui suscite beaucoup d’intérêt pour restreindre le dévelppement des temeurs cancéreuses. Le professeur Blier s’est investie depuis plus de 25 ans dans l’étude des fonctions mitochondriales alors que le Dr Fortin développe des ingrédients et des molécules fonctionnelles qui interviennent dans les fonctions mitochondriales et l’évolution des tumeurs cancéreuses. Le stagiaire (M. Rodriguez) ne peut que bénéficier de cette synergie