Mice and rats are commonly used in biomedical research to model human diseases. Usually, we house them in “shoebox-sized” cages in small same-sex groups. Since they are social species, we know having social contact is important for their well-being. For example, rodents will choose to spend time with other rodents rather than live alone, and […]

This research project will examine how precarious work conditions (e.g., casual, temporary, contract-based, and normally poorly paid work) impact women workers, particularly those who are historically marginalized, including racialized women, Indigenous women, women with disabilities, and GLBTTQ women. It will also examine the impacts of precarious employment on women as users of public programs and […]

Students learning within challenging contexts often feel disempowered and may not see the relevance of their learning. The proposed research project will assess the extent to which an educational experience that enhances coding skills while also exercising students’ core “skills of success” increases their feelings of empowerment. This assessment will take place within a number […]

When introduced to a region, non-native invasive species often have negative consequences for native plants, animals, and humans. When introduced to North America, the invasive zebra and quagga mussels altered the structure and function of native aquatic ecosystems. This caused ecological and economic damage by reducing biodiversity and human uses of local surface waters, respectively. […]

Benzylisoquinoline alkaloids (BIAs) constitute a diverse class of plant secondary metabolites (SM) that exhibit a myriad of pharmacological activities. While there have been tremendous efforts to chemically synthesize high-value BIAs, this approach is not economical due to their complex chemistry. Also, production of BIAs using traditional means also has several drawbacks. An alternative is the […]

The main objective of this research is to assess the feasibility of high-power microwave assisted comminution of kimberlite ores. The idea is that high-power treatment for a short time will yield microfractures and result in a reduction in the production of fine particles, therefore improving dense media separation. This study will involve material characterization studies […]

Medelys Laboratories is a manufacturer of innovative premium products to improve health ailments and the quality of life. Their commercially available liquid collagen-based products for example are important in pain management, regaining bone strength and improving skin elasticity. Over the past two years, they have newfound interest in a novel strain of bacteria that rapidly […]

Recent years have witnessed a boom in the construction of modern high-rise buildings in megacities around the world. Since many of these megacities are also located in seismically active regions, it is important to design a high-rise building that can effectively withstand both wind and earthquake loads. Nonetheless, in current practice, the design of high-rise […]

Self-driving laboratories are becoming more feasible thanks to the advances in the robotics and machine learning fields. Development of these laboratories to deal with scientific challenges are promising as they can operate faster while being cost and labor efficient. Despite harvesting of renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power is becoming cheaper and […]

Most mammals require care from older individuals during early life. Mothers tend to be the primary caregivers during this time, but in some mammals, notably social carnivores, rodents, and primates, care can be provided by conspecifics. In most primate species, allomothers tend to be female, making infant care by males a rare behaviour. Recently, we […]

This research project is focused on using AI technology called Pre-trained Language Models (PLMs) to generate results that are more human-like and of higher quality. The team will utilize a technique called “prompt engineering” to work with a leading PLM in the market, GPT-3, to enhance productivity in reading and writing tasks for salespeople. By […]

The goal of this project is to help understand how patient descriptions of joint pain and disability relate to the mechanical properties of joint tissues to better design solutions for patients. This project will focus on developing ultrasound methods to quantitatively measure the biomechanical properities and function of human joint soft-tissue. The project will start […]