Projets novateurs réalisés

Automation of next generation photovoltaic measurement capabilities

The proposed research project at the Turak Functional Nanomaterials Research group at Concordia aims to enhance the efficiency of solar energy data measurement and analysis from emerging solar cell technologies. In a world increasingly focused on sustainable energy sources, efficient utilization of solar power is paramount. The lab manages vast data, including complex images of nanoparticle arrays, mapping “dark” spots in active layers, and high-throughput current-voltage data crucial for optimizing solar cells. However, the measurement and analysis methods are time-consuming and often require manual intervention at multiple points in the process.

The primary objective of this project is to simplify and automate these processes. User-friendly graphical interfaces will make data measurement and analysis accessible to all. Additionally, program reliability will be enhanced with a universal control system for efficient management of various tools. The team also plans to explore machine learning techniques to extract design rules for optimal nanoparticle arrays used as interfacial tuning layers, promising a leap in the efficiency and precision of solar cell development. This project is a step toward an era where harnessing solar power is not only efficient but seamlessly integrated into our lives, furthering the global shift toward sustainable energy solutions.

Governance, Diversity, and Social Justice – The 1991 Soviet Putsch attempt

The overarching goal of the Globalink research project is to gain a comprehensive understanding of the 1991 Soviet coup attempt by delving into the motivations, strategic decisions, and enduring implications of this pivotal event.
The central research question guiding this endeavor will have answers to such questions: What were the underlying motivations and strategic decisions made by the plotters of the 1991 Soviet coup, and how did the coup’s failure shape the trajectory of the Soviet Union and subsequently, post-Soviet Russia?

International collaboration between Canada and Australia integrating STEM education in schools

The objective of the SILO research project is to bridge the gap between theory and practice in STEM education by trialing the various STEM units in classrooms. A sub-objective of the SILO research project is to critique and refine the units according to the principles of Provisional Multimodal Research (PMR) in the context of creating artefacts.
Recognizing the global priority of enhancing STEM education outcomes, the SILO project aims to address the fragmented landscape of STEM initiatives by introducing a cohesive scope and sequence of STEM concepts. Currently undergoing a trial in a K to 6 state school in NSW, this initiative is built upon Bruner’s (1960) spiral curriculum, emphasizing the iterative nature of STEM education. The central focus of this proposal is to contribute provisional data that reflects the ongoing refinement of STEM concepts.
Trialing the SILO project in Canada will result in two different versions of the same project as they will start with a duplicate version of the existing project. Any variations between the two contexts will constitute new knowledge as the chosen methodology requires access to all iterations of the 28 units and a rationale for any changes made.

Improving stream temperature simulation in UK rivers by adding shading effects into a coupled hydrological/water temperature model

Le projet a pour objectif de modéliser l’ombrage et la température de l’eau sur des cours d’eau du Royaume Uni. Différents algorithmes seront testé et comparés. Ce projet permettra d’offrir aux gestionnaires de ressources hydriques un outil permettant de prioriser les cours d’eau à protéger en fonction de leur propension à maintenir un eau plus froide.

Vulnérabilité de l’eau souterraine en zone amont de bassin versant au moyen des temps de séjour et de la qualité de l’eau souterraine – Exemple du mont Covey Hill

Les territoires qui alimentent les aquifères et la dynamique de renouvellement de l’eau souterraine sont encore peu connus, ce qui entraîne de grandes incertitudes sur la vulnérabilité de la ressource. Les objectifs de ce projet sont de tester de nouvelles méthodes pour 1) comprendre combien de temps l’eau souterraine a circulé avant de refaire surface et 2) pour évaluer s’il est possible de mieux évaluer les polluants entraînés dans l’eau souterraine et qui font résurgence dans les milieux humides et les sources. Le projet se déroulera au Laboratoire naturel du mont Covey Hill, situé au Québec à la limite des Adirondacks. Certaines portions du site sont protégées par Conservation de la nature Canada, tandis que d’autres sont utilisées pour la pomiculture. Le projet permettra de mieux identifier la vulnérabilité de l’eau souterraine, et de cibler les secteurs à protéger pour assurer le renouvellement de l’eau souterraine, assurer sa qualité et maintenir les habitats d’espèces vulnérables.

Fallback food foraging skills for survival: capuchins in captive release and wild habitats

Our research project aims to contribute to capuchin monkey conservation in Brazil. These monkeys are struggling due to the loss of their natural habitats and the illegal pet trade. We are looking at how they use fallback foods (FBF) — things they eat when their usual food isn’t available — to survive. We will map where these foods are, study how capuchins find and eat them in the wild, and observe how capuchins in rescue centers use these foods. By doing this, we hope to learn how to protect capuchins better and make sure they can find enough to eat, both in the wild and when they’re released back into nature after being rescued. This project will contribute to the developing partnership between primatologists Dr. Sarah Turner in Canada and Dr. Renata Ferriera in Brazil. It is expected to yield a series of peer-reviewed publications that will showcase the joint expertise and research findings of both teams, fostering an international exchange of knowledge and methodologies in primatology and conservation science.

The development of a targeted delivery system for saRNAs for immunotherapy of monocyte-derived leukemia

Immunotoxins (ITs) are representing a subset of antibody drug conjugates where the synthetic toxin is replaced by a bacterial protein toxin. Major drawback is related to the immunogenicity of the protein not allowing repeated application. Consequently targeted human cytolytic fusion proteins (hCFPs) have been developed to replace the foreign protein toxin by a human apoptosis inducing enzyme exemplified by human angiogenin (hAng). Currently such hCFPs show reduced cytotoxicity compared to ITs, as it depends on efficient delivery of sufficient amounts into the cytosol. Therefore, this collaboration research planned to develop a targeted saRNA delivery system to introduce hAng encoding saRNA into the cytosol of an antigen-positive target cell. saRNA produces copies of itself which should increase the amount of enzyme to effectively kill a cancer cell.

Methods: eGFP/hAng encoding saRNA sequence will be cloned into a plasmid. The linearized vector will be transcribed and purified using LiCl. Purified saRNA will be encapsulated in a lipid nanoparticle decorated with CD64-specific antibody fragments. The LNP-eGFP-saRNA conjugates will be delivered into CD64-positive leukemia cell lines. Once proof of concept is confirmed the saRNA encoding eGFP will be replaced by saRNA encoding hAng for selective elimination of monocyte-derived leukemia cells.

Automated Software Vulnerability Patching using Dynamic Symbolic Traces

Deep learning (DL) has emerged as a viable means for identifying software bugs and vulnerabilities. The success of DL relies on having a suitable representation of the problem domain. However, existing DL-based solutions for learning program representations have limitations – they either cannot capture the deep, precise program semantics or suffer from poor scalability. We plan to provide a DL system to learn program presentations by combining static source code information and dynamic program execution traces. By collaborating in two diverse multicultural research groups, participating institutions in Canada and United Kingdom will benefit from sharing knowledge and expertise in this cutting-edge field of cybersecurity and software engineering. This collaboration will enhance the reputation of these institutions in the security and software engineering communities, attracting top talent and opportunities. Moreover, participants will have the chance to develop new technical skills and social skills, and learn about the state-of-the-art technological innovations in vulnerability detection.

Development of a Comprehensive Neighborhood-based Measure of Cardiovascular Health in Children

Promoting healthy living and reducing the burden of cardiovascular diseases are public health priorities in Canada and the United States. In recent years, the importance of measuring neighborhood contexts to address inequities in cardiovascular health has been highlighted. Many neighborhood indices have been utilized by academic researchers to explore the complex relationship between neighborhood and health. However, within the context of cardiovascular disease, there remains a gap in knowledge regarding questions such as (a) which indices perform better or worse as predictors of cardiovascular disease in children, (b) how performance may vary based on individual or household characteristics within the neighborhood of interest, and (c) if we can improve on these indices for describing area-level patterns for cardiovascular health in children.

Thus, the proposed research project aims to fill this knowledge gap by directly comparing the empirical performance of established neighborhood disadvantage indices in a nationally representative dataset of adolescents in the United States. Furthermore, we will determine which index or individual index components perform better or worse as predictors of cardiovascular health in this population—thus, allowing clinicians and other stakeholders to gain a deep understanding of cumulative risk of cardiovascular disease over the life course.

Bimetallic Cooperation: Design of an Fe–Al Complex for Carbon Dioxide Activation

The proposed project aims to address the pressing challenge of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by leveraging synthetic chemistry. By designing a novel iron-aluminum complex for carbon dioxide activation, the project explores bimetallic systems to introduce innovative pathways for reducing carbon dioxide’s harmful environmental impact. The participating institutions, Imperial College London and the researcher’s home institution in Canada, stand to benefit in several ways. For Imperial College London, the project enhances its global research reputation, fosters international collaboration, and provides access to a highly motivated research intern. For the researcher’s Canadian home institution, it offers unique skills and knowledge acquisition, positioning the researcher as a catalyst for advancing expertise in sustainable chemistry and addressing climate change challenges. This project promises mutual enrichment, scientific advancement, and strengthened global research partnerships between the institutions and countries.

Advancing Systems Architecture Development Methods for Aircraft with Hydrogen-based Propulsion

Ensuring the sustainability of air transportation is a priority for the global aerospace community. Disruptive technologies, such as hydrogen-based propulsion, are promising but present significant challenges for the design and operation. One challenge for designing these future aircraft is the large number of potential architectures and the need to consider safety already in the early design stages. The Institute of Aircraft Systems Engineering at the Hamburg University of Technology and the Aircraft Systems Lab at Concordia University are leading institutions in the field of aircraft systems design. In this project, a collaboration between the researchers aims to improve design tools in both institutions, particularly for safe and efficient system architectures for these future aircraft. As researchers from Canada and Germany are exposed to different industry applications (larger commercial aircraft vs. smaller business aircraft), a collaboration will significantly benefit the development of effective tools for different aircraft types, contributing to the development of future, more sustainable aircraft. In addition, the exchange between the research groups will expose the students to different tools and methods at Concordia University in a multicultural and multidisciplinary context, essential skills for solving the global challenges of the future aerospace industry.

Computational modelling of advanced electrocatalysts for CO2 electroreduction using DFT and machine learning.

Carbon capture and utilization (CCU), primarily the CO2 electroreduction technology, can convert CO2 into a variety of valuable products, using renewable electricity. However, the path to widespread adoption of the CO2 electroreduction technology in industrial settings is met with several challenges primarily the cost of electricity, efficiency and selectivity of the desired product.
One of the key factors that can help address these challenges and promote industrial application of this process is the choice of a proper electrocatalyst used in the CO2 electrolyzer. The role of electrocatalysts is pivotal, and their design is central to making the CO2 electroreduction technology both sustainable and economically viable. In light of these issues, this proposal focuses on the development of an innovative approach towards the design of efficient electrocatalysts which offer higher selectivity, lower consumption of electricity and increased efficiency by using Density Functional Theory (thermodynamic and microkinetic approach) and machine learning techniques.
This project will serve as the first step in initiating student exchange and research cooperation between Concordia University and Technical University of Denmark. By focusing on sustainability, the research aligns with sustainability science, addressing environmental concerns and guiding eco-friendly technology development in both Canada and Denmark.