In this project we will employ melt compounding to obtain finely delaminated graphite/polypropylene composites, suitable for automotive applications. The targeted applications involve composites having electrostatic dissipative properties and high flexural modulus. High purity graphite, prepared by a proprietary method developed by the sponsoring organization, Grafoid, will be melt compounded with polypropylene and polypropylene-based thermoplastic olefin […]

Precast/prestressed concrete sandwich panels (PCSP) are used widely as architectural or structural units. They consist of two concrete wythes, rigid insulation foam in between, and shear connectors. Although they exhibit excellent attributes and perform well in the field, some factors can deter the full utilization of PCSPs and cause safety concern. One of those factors […]

Balch Exploration Consulting Inc. (BECI) develops low cost geophysical survey solutions to the natural resources sector. BECI recently built an unmanned helicopter for magnetic surveying for mineral exploration. The objectives of this internship is to equip the BECI unmanned helicopter with a custom-designed frame carrying two magnetometers recording simultaneously and to perform a demonstration survey […]

Hearing aids are now fully digital, advanced signal processors that monitor the type of sound coming in to the hearing aid. The sound type is automatically classified into one of several types, such as speech in a quiet place, versus telephone listening, versus in a noisy car. These sound types may require different signal processing […]

Many new pharmaceuticals are based on large biomolecules like proteins. Even small differences in the protein structure can cause significant changes in the efficacy and safety of these drugs. Furthermore, these large molecules are difficult to characterize without advanced instrumentation and methods. Current technologies still struggle with robustness and reproducibility. This study aims to introduce […]

Raman spectroscopy is a powerful analysis technique in which a chemical sample is illuminated by a laser and the molecular identity of the sample is revealed by measuring the precise wavelength shifts of the reflected laser photons. Raman methods are being adopted in many different business sectors, but they are particularly well-suited to the requirements […]

Abdominal pain is a debilitating symptom for many patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). An endogenous opioid system emerges in the intestinal tissues during chronic inflammation that acts to dampen such pain and could prevent the need for strong opiate drugs like morphine that can cause serious side effects. However, we have discovered that psychological […]

Although inside sales is the fastest growing title in the sales industry with companies hiring inside salespeople at a much higher rate than outside salespeople, little is known about the types of activities that drive their success, particularly the conversion of leads to customers (i.e., customer acquisition). Accordingly, the current project aims to develop a […]

This research project seeks to develop a novel method for selectively oxidizing impurities in metals. Using available plasma spray technologies, this project will determine a set of parameters to optimize the effect of oxidation in certain metal samples. Three sample metals to be tested are German silver, Sterling silver, and 18 Karat gold. The goal […]

Sound barriers can be seen beside highways across Ontario and are designed to protect residents from the noise produced by traffic. However, these barriers do little in the way of protecting residents from the pollution produced by nearby vehicles. This project will help determine the ability of the SmogStop® barrier to reduce the level of […]

Current approaches to engaging employees in sustainability are ineffective as they focus on increasing one simple behaviour (such as the amount of paper recycled). Research is now moving away from promoting individual behaviours of employees towards fostering a more sustainable corporate culture. However, little research is known about how organizations can foster a Culture of […]

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is the most common and serious intestinal disease among premature infants. It happens when tissue in the small or large intestine is injured or begins to die off. This causes the intestine to become inflamed or, in rare cases, develop perforation. It is associated with significant mortality and morbidity in preterm neonates. […]