Projets novateurs réalisés

Quantum-enhanced imaging with realistic entangled photons: leveraging quantum dots in a nanophotonic platform

Quantum imaging is a microscopy technique that uses special properties of light to observe smaller features and have higher sensitivity than classical methods, especially in low-light or noisy environments like deep tissue imaging. It uses special quantum properties, such as entanglement, which is often called “spooky action at a distance” and photon-number squeezing, which is where the fluctuations in the number of photons are smaller than what is normally possible with classical light sources. The challenge lies in creating the quantum light source – current methods either rely on inefficient random processes such as parametric downconversion or struggle to collect enough photons from single molecules or atoms. Our solution uses chip-based quantum dots (that is, artificial atoms grown in the lab) integrated into nanophotonic structures to produce triggerable entangled photons. This method is both more efficient and scalable. This research will demonstrate the on-demand creation of entangled two-photon source while developing theoretical models to study how losses affect imaging performance with larger photon states, potentially revolutionizing biomedical diagnostics like early cancer detection. This project will strengthen Queen’s quantum innovation capacity by developing cutting-edge hardware for quantum imaging while advancing quantum microscopy techniques through knowledge transfer.

Group Treatment-KidsAbility-April10-2025

KidsAbility is the leading provider of pediatric rehabilitation in Waterloo and Wellington, supporting 17,000 children each year. Rising demand and a shortage of trained clinicians have made it difficult to keep up, leading to longer wait times for families in need. KidsAbility is exploring the use of group therapy in their Speech Language Therapy (SLT) programs to help serve more children using the same resources. In group therapy, 2–4 children with similar needs receive treatment together from one clinician, instead of each child having a separate appointment. This approach has the potential to greatly increase the number of children treated and reduce long wait times. Our project will use past data to better understand how group therapy works and then create tools to help KidsAbility schedule these sessions more effectively. By doing this, the organization can serve more families, faster, and make the most of their limited resources.

Digital Transformation for Folk Canada

Folk Music Ontario is transitioning into Folk Canada, a national organization aiming to expand its reach and impact. This project supports that transformation by developing a cohesive digital strategy, upgrading outdated systems, and exploring tech-enabled solutions—including automation and AI—to enhance national visibility, audience engagement, and operational efficiency. The work is being led by Sympl Solutions, a consulting firm specializing in digital transformation and innovation for mission-driven organizations.

Strategic Development and Systematization of DIA Inc.’s Digital Platform and Community Ecosystem

DIA Inc. is a Canadian women-led startup focused on building a digital platform and community that empowers ambitious, multi-passionate women to balance their personal growth, professional goals, and creative pursuits. The platform combines elements of networking, learning, and habit-building tools to help women navigate the challenges of “doing it all” in today’s fast-paced world.

This project will support DIA in moving from early-stage, founder-led operations to a structured, growth-ready business model. The intern will help design and implement systems that improve internal efficiency, manage user feedback, and prepare the company for its first wave of community growth and platform rollout. Working directly with DIA’s founder, the intern will also develop strategies for onboarding early users, refining platform features, and preparing the company for long-term sustainability.

The expected benefit to the partner organization is the development of a strong operational foundation, allowing DIA to scale its platform and expand its reach in the Canadian digital economy. This project will also support the creation of business processes, performance tracking tools, and community engagement systems — all essential for supporting DIA’s mission of helping women thrive both personally and professionally.

Using brain monitoring and video surveillance to reduce violent incidents in a care-facility environment

Increasingly prevalent patient violence within the dementia population is a challenge to long term care providers.
Violent incidents can lead to serious musculoskeletal and neurological health complications. I propose to use video surveillance and a novel brain monitoring system in a care facility-based elderly population, to monitor violent episodes and brain vitality after incidents. This will help to 1) identify environmental, behavioural and biomechanical characteristics that contribute to injuries, and 2) measure the transient and long term effects on brain function.
Retirement Concepts, a care provider for dementia clients, benefits from this research by gaining insight on potential
improvements in the design and function of their care facilities that may reduce violent events. This results in a higher
quality of care for patients and an improved work environment for employees. Integrating leading edge research into
their care paradigm will uniquely distinguish Retirement Concepts from other care facilities.

Development of New Strategies for L’Arche

The project at L’Arche Fredericton aims to create a sustainable and long-term monthly donor program to support individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The intern will help develop digital fundraising strategies, manage donor relationships, and use data-driven approaches to increase engagement and retention. By the end of the project, the goal is to establish a steady stream of support through digital tools and effective communication, ensuring financial sustainability for the organization. This will enable L’Arche to continue providing high-quality programs and services to its community, benefiting both the organisation and its participants.

Evaluation of BC lavender essential oils for product development

The proposed research catalyzes collaborations between the research group of Dr. Soheil Mahmoud (UBC Okanagan) and BC lavender farms (in particular Ryder Lake Farms Inc., Chilliwack, BC) that focus on lavender farming, agritourism, and development of value added products. The research ultimately aims to boost lavender farming in BC through the following specific objectives: 1) setup a steam distillation facility for extracting essential oils from lavenders and other plants at Ryder Lake Farms. 2) provide scientific context for the BC-produced lavender essential oils and hydrosols through assessing their chemical composition by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). 3) Identify lavender plants that produce high quality essential oils via evaluating oils from different varieties grown in several BC farms. 4) Develop value added products from lavender essential oils produced in BC.

Identification et co-valorisation des métaux critiques et stratégiques dans les usines minéralurgiques existantes

Le projet consiste en la collecte et l’analyse de données suivi du prélèvement des échantillons dans l’usine de traitement de minerai existante ciblée (Detour Lake) afin d’estimer les flux de MCS qui transitent à travers celle-ci sans être valorisés. Les résultats du projet permettront à moyen terme d’offrir un moyen de co-valorisation de ces métaux et ainsi permettre d’accroître à la fois l’approvisionnement de ces métaux importants, de réduire les impacts environnementaux des résidus générés et enfin d’augmenter les revenus potentiels des exploitations minières.

Structured H-infinity Synthesis for Certification-Oriented UAV Control Law Analysis and Tuning

This project aims to help Canadian UAV startups improve the safety and reliability of their autopilot systems by creating a software tool that checks and fine-tunes how these systems perform. Using a method called structured H8 synthesis, implemented through MATLAB, the intern will build a framework that ensures flight control systems meet key industry requirements, such as stability, responsiveness, and resistance to environmental disturbances. The work will focus on the widely used but hard-to-certify ArduPilot platform, showing how advanced analysis can make it more suitable for regulated operations.

Honouring the Waters: Environmental Policy

The Clear Seas Indigenous Internship Program aims to provide support to First Nations, Métis, and Inuit communities across Canada by helping them build the necessary internal capacity to research and protect their territories through a reimagined internship program. Clear Seas provides mentorship to the interns and uplifts existing internal capacity within Indigenous communities. The Clear Seas Internship Program is tackling the real-world impacts of marine shipping on Indigenous communities, with significant cultural, social, and economic consequences. While shipping is vital for trade and economic growth, it often disrupts marine ecosystems, interferes with traditional fishing and hunting practices, and undermines Indigenous governance structures. This project’s scope is to be a leader for a more holistic, respectful, supportive, responsive, equitable, and inclusive relationships between Indigenous communities and marine ecospheres through co-produced research spaces. The research centres around the marine ecosphere as Clear Seas can leverage their vast network of marine-related industries and partners. The knowledge developed through these projects will inform future Clear Seas research and guide marine-related policy and strategies.

Honouring the Waters: Tsleil-Waututh Exhibit

The Clear Seas Indigenous Internship Program aims to provide support to First Nations, Métis, and Inuit communities across Canada by helping them build the necessary internal capacity to research and protect their territories through a reimagined internship program. Clear Seas provides mentorship to the interns and uplifts existing internal capacity within Indigenous communities. The Clear Seas Internship Program is tackling the real-world impacts of marine shipping on Indigenous communities, with significant cultural, social, and economic consequences. While shipping is vital for trade and economic growth, it often disrupts marine ecosystems, interferes with traditional fishing and hunting practices, and undermines Indigenous governance structures. This project’s scope is to be a leader for a more holistic, respectful, supportive, responsive, equitable, and inclusive relationships between Indigenous communities and marine ecospheres through co-produced research spaces. The research centres around the marine ecosphere as Clear Seas can leverage their vast network of marine-related industries and partners. The knowledge developed through these projects will inform future Clear Seas research and guide marine-related policy and strategies.

IMPROVEMENTS OF IN-SITU SVE REMEDIATION MANAGEMENT USING INTEGRATED SIMULATION AND RISK ASSESSMENT APPROACHES AT THE CANTUAR SITE

SaskEnergy developed an in-situ remediation program using a soil vapour extraction (SVE) system to facilitate recovery of petroleum hydrocarbons at the Cantuar Site. One of main problems associated with this program is the deficiency in the knowledge of process control based on the fate and transport of contaminants, and effective studies for assessing the environmental and health risks/impacts. Many questions remain to be answered, such as: “Whether the SVE system is suitable for remediation of the Cantuar Site to current environmental guidelines?”, “How long will it take to reach the guidelines with the existing remediation efficiency?”, “Is there potential for future impacts on the surrounding community?”, etc. Answers to these questions will help site mangers & decision makers get insight into current site situations. These will be very helpful when discussing the problems and the relevant decisions with the local authorities. The proposal aims to solve such practical problems and can be applied at similar contaminated sites in western Canada.