Defining epigenetic drivers of primary and metastatic medulloblastoma

Medulloblastoma (MB) is the most common childhood brain cancer. Current treatment for these tumors is invasive involving irradiation of the entire brain and spine. Although some types of MB respond well, others have an abysmal prognosis, and the lack of less invasive therapies means that children undergoing treatment suffer from severe developmental defects and reduced […]

Read More
Defining epigenetic drivers of primary and metastatic medulloblastoma – Year two

Medulloblastoma (MB) is the most common childhood brain cancer. Current treatment for these tumors is invasive involving irradiation of the entire brain and spine. Although some types of MB respond well, others have an abysmal prognosis, and the lack of less invasive therapies means that children undergoing treatment suffer from severe developmental defects and reduced […]

Read More
Cell Designs for High-Energy Electrically Rechargeable Zinc-Air Batteries

The objective of this project is to design and fabricate electrically rechargeable zinc-air batteries. These batteries are highly promising due to their ability to store up to double the amount of energy as current commercialized lithium-ion batteries, based on both energy-per-mass and energy-per-volume measurements. This advantage, as well as their low cost and inherent safety, […]

Read More
Program evaluation for JUMP Math: An empirical assessment of a resource for math education

Canadian math scores are in decline. Numerous studies have demonstrated the importance of numerical proficiency for outcomes such as health, employability and financial stability. Therefore, the effectiveness of a child’s math education is key to future success. It is of utmost importance, then, to identify effective math education programs. The proposed project will evaluate JUMP […]

Read More
Program evaluation for JUMP Math: An empirical assessment of a resource for math education – Year two

Canadian math scores are in decline. Numerous studies have demonstrated the importance of numerical proficiency for outcomes such as health, employability and financial stability. Therefore, the effectiveness of a child’s math education is key to future success. It is of utmost importance, then, to identify effective math education programs. The proposed project will evaluate JUMP […]

Read More
Impact of parental cognitive sensitivity on at-risk children’s empathy development

The objective of this study is to explore how cognitively sensitive parenting fosters the development of children’s empathy in at-risk children. To date, there is some research that suggests that the parent-child relationship contributes to the development of empathy in children. Parents who exhibit cognitive sensitivity promote mutual and positive interactions, adjust their behaviour according […]

Read More
Patterns of neural activity in math anxious students during a math test

Math specific anxiety is thought of as a performance-based anxiety, in which increased arousal and negative thoughts inhibit performance on mathematics assessments (Ashcraft & Kirk, 2001; Dew, Galassi, & Galassi, 1984; Levine, 1995). Mathematics anxiety interferes with the manipulation of numbers and the solving of mathematical problems in a wide variety of life and academic […]

Read More
Impact of older siblings’ cognitive sensitivity on children’s empathy development

Sibling relationships provide an important context for both positive and negative socialization in childhood. Although there is extensive anecdotal and scientific evidence which demonstrates that older siblings influence their younger siblings’ social development, I intend to specifically address the gap in the literature about how older siblings might promote empathy development in younger siblings. My […]

Read More
Intersectionality and career decision-making in young Chinese women studying in Canada

I propose a qualitative inquiry about the factors that influence female Chinese international students’ decisions to return to work in China or remain abroad. I will create a semi-structured interview intended to discover what themes emerge for these women through this experience and the important factors in their decisions. Although there is existing research on […]

Read More
Impact of maternal cognitive sensitivity on children’s empathy development

I intend to address the gap in the literature about the relationship between parenting and children’s empathy development by systematically examining the relationship between a specific type of parenting practice: maternal cognitive sensitivity, and how it promotes children’s empathy development. The main objective of this study is to explore how cognitively sensitive parenting fosters the […]

Read More
The Underlying Emotional and Facial Dynamics of Positive Affect

Positive and negative affects underlying facial expressions are detected and perceived by facial cues, markers and physiological responses. Therefore, the facial cues, markers and physiological responses are important in detecting and perching emotional states. For example, researchers have found that the area of the eye dominates individual’s perception and classification of faces. As well, researchers […]

Read More
A Comparative Study of the Explicit and Implicit Attitudes of Heterosexual College Students in China towards Gay Men

In a heterosexual-based sociocultural environment, homosexuality has often been ostracized. Negative social attitudes towards homosexuality has impacted the legalization of gay marriage, of LGBTQ2 peoples’ access to social support and their mental health experiences. Before the 1990s, researchers often studied social attitudes at only a conscious, or explicit, level. Later research has suggested that implicit […]

Read More