Gene therapy is a cutting-edge treatment that can fix or replace faulty genes to treat diseases, but producing the necessary gene delivery cargo, called vectors, is currently expensive and complex. Many of today’s vectors also trigger immune responses in patients, limiting their efficacy. This project explores a new type of vector made from a harmless […]

This project seeks to investigate how the nanoscale structure and arrangement of antigens influences immune recognition and vaccine efficacy. Using DNA nanotechnology and precise structural engineering, we aim to establish a structure-function paradigm linking antigen conformation and valency to immunogenicity. Using cancer vaccines as a stringent testbed of tumor antigens, the design rules established under […]

In response to the City of Ottawa’s Anti-Racism Strategy by analyzing and highlighting the stories and lived experiences of Ottawa’s historical Black communities through newspaper articles. Two key sources, The Ottawa Journal and the Spectrum (a newspaper dedicated to Ottawa’s Black community) will be scanned by the intern to identify excerpts that reflect Black voices […]

This project will help improve the way a promising new cancer treatment protein, called Fc3TSR, is made in the lab. Fc3TSR has shown the ability to shrink tumors by changing how blood vessels grow in cancer, making treatments like chemotherapy more effective. However, making enough of this protein for further testing and future use is […]

The Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI) is a leading think tank focused on developing policy solutions to address the governance challenges of emerging digital technologies. My proposed research directly supports CIGI’s core areas of digital governance, platform regulation, and misinformation policy by analyzing how extremist and gendered misinformation adapts within the affordances of digital […]

In this proposed research project, we aim to address the question: How have nutrient levels in the St. Lawrence River (SLR) changed in response to historic anthropogenic activity? The project would aim to: 1) describe the changes in phosphorus and nitrogen concentrations over the past >70 years in the section of the SLR between Lake […]

Parkinson’s disease (PD) affects movement, much like an orchestra losing its conductor; signals become uncoordinated, leading to tremors, stiffness, and difficulty moving. This happens when dopamine-producing cells in the brain’s substantia nigra die. A major cause of this cell death is oxidative stress, an imbalance between harmful molecules called free radicals and the body’s protective […]

The project’s purpose is to integrate Heliene’s solar photovoltaic (PV) panels with power electronics to create an integrated, high-performance solar module product for residential applications. The resulting AC solar module removes the need for external electronic components such as DC optimizers, inverters, diodes, and rapid shutdown devices. By integrating the external components, overall system reliability […]

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurological condition that affects movement, often leading to slower walking, difficulty maintaining rhythm, and increased risk of falls. This project investigates whether combining two approaches—transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), a form of non-invasive brain stimulation, and rhythmic auditory stimulation using music—can help improve walking in individuals with PD. The […]

Chronic school absenteeism—missing more than 10% of the school year—is a growing concern in Canada, with some schools seeing very high rates. Children who frequently miss school are at greater risk of social isolation, emotional struggles, and falling behind academically. Many of these children are also dealing with mental health challenges like anxiety, ADHD, depression, […]

Groundwater is the main source of drinking water for the City of Guelph, but understanding how it flows underground is complicated by the region’s glacial history. During the Pleistocene, glaciers repeatedly moved across southern Ontario, shaping the land and overlaying sediments onto the underlying bedrock. The resulting sediment?bedrock interface is vital because it influences how […]

The proposed project aims to implement cutting-edge made-in-Canada approaches to assess and improve the restoration of habitats impacted by resource extraction. This process—known as reclamation—is often implemented by consulting firms and typically does not produce new publicly-available technologies nor public biodiversity data. By implementing modern DNA barcoding and metabarcoding technologies at Canada’s largest copper mine, […]