Driver drowsiness is one of the leading causes of road-based crashes. Using a driving simulator study, I plan to help with the collection of data on drowsy drivers, analysing drivers’ physiological metrics, such as eye-tracking, heart rate variability and skin conductance, using low-cost consumer grade sensors. Using sensor fusion of the physiological data, I will […]

The box tree moth (BTM) (Cydalima perspectalis) is an invasive insect pest from Asia that was confirmed to be present in Etobicoke, Ontario by the CFIA in November, 2018. This is the first known introduction of BTM to North America. BTM attacks boxwood (Buxus spp.), a popular broadleaf plant used in residential and commercial gardens, […]

The project is intended to support and enhance the learnings provided by Stem Minds – a Toronto based start-up that provides digital learning focused on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), through the approach of gamification. The project will focus on the factors that motivate students to learn STEM subjects through gamification to deepen their […]

Research project “Prophet” aims to build a demand forecasting pipeline that collects data and applies machine learning models to make accurate predictions of future demands under unstable scenarios. In particular, this project will focus on efficient forecast of Unilever’s base SKUs and involve model development based on time-series, machine learning and possibly combinations of the […]

The intent of this project is to build a web-page content subsection identification and analysis service. The subsections of a web-page are considered to be meaningful page components (articles, images. media blocks) that can be identified and uniquely fingerprinted. The intent of the project is fourfold: a) sub-component identification and fingerprinting b) sub-component content change […]

Vascular disease (problems with blood vessels) are a leading cause of death and disability. Stroke alone (blockage of blood vessels) is the 4th biggest killer globally (3rd in Canada), most disabling (2/3rd of survivors disabled) and costs society ~£26 billion a year in the UK. It can be hard to detect. A brain that has […]

Insect pests pose a major threat to forestry in Canada, the UK and globally, particularly in the context of a changing climate and global trade. Effective survey and detection tools are needed to provide early warnings of pest outbreaks and provide information to guide decisions about the need for management action. For eruptive and invasive […]

Land-use change and invasive species are two of the three major drivers of biodiversity decline globally, however, interactions between these drivers in their impact to whole community diversity and ecosystem function are relatively understudied. This proposal serves to fill this knowledge gap through collaboration with the long-term ecological monitoring data from the Toronto and Region […]

Candida is a fungus that is often found in healthy mouths, but can also cause infection. Such infections are common in denture wearers where Candida grows on the acrylic denture surface. My PhD is determining what factors on the denture promote infection. The research will measure attachment of Candida and certain bacterial species which live […]

A common assumption about gentrification is that it displaces poor and minority residents, their local businesses, and even neighbourhood crime. However, questions remain about displacement and the social control mechanisms of gentrification–especially on non-violent crimes. Drawing on this work, we will explore what happens to illicit markets, such as sex work and drug sales, and […]

Canada’s pulp and paper sector remains a vital economic engine, particularly for smaller communities. Large volumes of waste residuals, originating primarily from forest biomass and natural minerals, are still landfilled. Research has shown that application of these residues benefits agricultural land and forests, and promotes tree and plant growth in land that has lost its […]

Contemporary society faces a number of information processing challenges. As human lives and digital technology are increasingly connected, our understanding of how we process information and make decisions must keep pace. Philosophy can help with challenges like AI development or fake news by clarifying what we mean by concepts like “knowledge” or “fact”. This project […]