This project aims at developing a coupled enzyme assay strategy that will allow us to engineer and screen engineered PETase enzymes that are useful in degrading otherwise non-biodegradable plastics. The proposed method will be faster and robust compared to existing assay methods. PolyTide Inc. aims to apply this technique towards engineering PETase enzymes it is […]

La Corporation de la forêt d’enseignement et de recherche (FER) Macpès est un organisme qui a pour mandat d’assurer la gestion et la promotion d’un territoire forestier dédié à l’enseignement et à la recherche. Cette étude, qui s’étalera sur deux ans, a pour but de déterminer comprendre le rôle que joue la qualité isolante du […]

Canada is a world leader in both cutting-edge, DNA-based environmental research and in the abundance and variety of our natural resources. By bringing the transformative power of the “Biomonitoring 2.0” approach for use in the environmental consulting industry, I propose to take the best of the former and use it to create innovative methods for […]

Due to the lack of available standardized and scientifically defensible alternative test methods, millions of fish are used annually to evaluate the toxicity of effluent samples for regulatory purposes. Despite global efforts to reduce animal testing, few methods have been able to bridge the gap from a research technique to regulatory acceptance in Canada. One […]

Humalite is a naturally occurring organic substance containing high concentrations of humic acid. Humic-based substances are known to improve the physical, chemical, and biological properties of the soil. Therefore, humalite may be an ecological and environmentally friendly soil amendment with a wide variety of end uses across multiple facets of the Canadian agricultural landscape. Large […]

This research project aims to assess the microbial safety of ice cubes in Canada. Ice cubes can be a potential source of foodborne illnesses if contaminated with harmful bacteria or viruses. The study will evaluate the adherence of ice manufacturers to recommended safety standards and assess the presence of microbial indicators and pathogens on ice […]

This study investigates the evolution of plant-fungal symbiotic relationships and trophic mode changes, with a focus on mycoheterotrophy, the ability to obtain fixed carbon from fungi. Mycoheterotrophy has evolved multiple times across various plant lineages. While most species perform both photosynthesis and mycoheterotrophy, several hundred species have completely quit photosynthesis and become fully mycoheterotrophic. These […]

Gene therapies have the potential to help many patients with currently untreatable, severe, and life-threatening diseases. A certain type of gene therapy may even provide a cure for patients with genetic diseases. A key component of these gene therapies often is RNA. However, we are still lacking a good understanding of how RNA should ideally […]

Invasive species are one of the major threats to biodiversity in Canada and globally. It can be challenging to identify where and under which circumstances landscapes will be most susceptible versus resistant to invasive species, and not having this information can hamper conservation efforts. The objective of this Master’s project is to model and map […]

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and depression are large contributors to the global years lost to disability (W.H.O, 2022). RA is mainly thought of as a disease limited to joints, where there is progressive joint destruction due to prolonged inflammation. However, RA is a systemic disease, it causes inflammation in various regions of the body. The systemic […]

L’activité musculaire mesurée à la surface de la peau permet de rendre compte de la fatigue musculaire. Toutefois, il existe une multitude de variables pour la mettre en évidence. L’objectif de ce projet sera de déterminer quelles sont les variables les plus précises pour mettre en évidence la fatigue musculaire. Nous nous attendons à ce […]

Heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) is a medical condition that affects approximately 400,000 Canadians. HFrEF lowers quality of life and life expectancy. While there are several effective medication options available, the choices surrounding exactly which medications to take are difficult for clinicians and patients given the complex trade-offs of benefits and downsides. This […]