Decreased brain volume in frontal regions is a prominent feature of schizophrenia and has been linked to impairments in psychological and social functioning. These impairments persist over the lifespan, with approximately 64% of individuals experiencing severe social disability 15-years after illness onset. Finding ways to overcome barriers to better functioning is of utmost importance to […]

Massive, complex, interlinked information is collected by scientific research in different spheres of natural and social sciences. Graphs are commonly selected as a model of such information: graphs can successfully represent imprecise, uncertain, noisy data; graphs are well suited for the data structure analysis; graph theory has a well-developed mathematical apparatus forming a solid and […]

My project focuses on using a chemistry-based approach to improve the delivery of an insoluble compound, gambogic acid (GA). GA is a natural product that has great potential as an anti-inflammatory drug. However, its clinical application has been limited due to the poor aqueous solubility and significant toxicity against red blood cells. I am currently […]

Natural hazards, such as floods and earthquakes, threaten communities and infrastructure systems throughout the world. In some cases, these natural hazards may trigger the release of hazardous materials, cause damage to critical lifeline systems, or result in other technological disasters. Assessment of so-called Natech (NAtural disaster-triggered TECHnological disaster) disasters is an area of expertise at […]

It is fairly common knowledge that we should not drive while drowsy. Yet often in high risk professions, people grow tired throughout the day and begin to make mistakes. How do we know when that person needs a rest? Recent advancements now allow us to read peoples’ brain activity as they go about their day-to-day […]

This project involves developing novel methods for improving the estimation of surface displacement of natural earth surfaces using Synthetic Aperture Radar Interferometry (InSAR). The developed methods improve the precision that can be obtained when analyzing a series of sequentially acquired images over the same area. The methods also improve the robustness of the estimation in […]

Automobiles have become one of the necessities of modern life, but also introduced numerous traffic accidents that threaten drivers and other road users. Most state-of-the-art safety systems are passively triggered, reacting to dangerous road conditions or driving behaviors only after they happen and are observed, which greatly limits the last chances for collision avoidances. Timely […]

MTT Innovation Inc. is a Canadian company that is based out of Vancouver, British Columbia. MTT develops technologies for next-generation projectors in home entertainment systems and theatres. The developed projectors are engineered to provide especially high quality images, with enhanced brightness and dynamic range, and an emerging product of MTT that targets these goals is […]

In collaboration with the BC Non-Profit Housing Association, the two interns involved in this project will forecast core housing need and affordable housing demand in the province of BC. These forecasts will be broken down by household type and sub-population as well as by region. The results will be mapped for effective analysis and communication […]

Yeast is arguably the most important industrial microorganism in the world, playing a critical role in the fermentation of food and beverage products, as well as cellular factory for production of biofuels, chemicals, and pharmaceuticals. In order to produce such a range of products efficiently and economically, specialized yeast must be optimized for each task. […]

Do interest groups use information to polarize elected officials? Conventional wisdom holds that legislative committees transcend partisan bickering and promote evidence-based policymaking. But there remain gaps in the literature and in our understanding of how and whether committees are able to meet this ideal In this project, I propose a research framework to uncover the […]

Poverty alleviation is the main objective of United Nations Millennium Development Goal and microcredit is used as an effective tool in poverty alleviation around the globe. Microcredit is one of the significant innovations in development policy and a key element for the 21st century’s socio-economic development as micro-credit helps improving socio-economic conditions of the poor. […]