The proposed research project aims at developing a novel nanofibrous membrane incorporating cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) for wastewater treatment. Sustainable nanomaterials such as CNCs possess many interesting properties like high specific surface area, good mechanical strength, biodegradability and large amount of primary hydroxyl groups for surface functionalization. Hence incorporation of these CNCs can have synergistic effects […]

Residential high-rise buildings consume large amounts of energy for their cooling and heating needs. A large portion of this energy is wasted due to aging infrastructure, lack of proper maintenance, and occupants’ lack of awareness about energy conservation measures. While the economic and environmental benefits of physical retrofit of aging high-rises is well understood in […]

Remote health settings require affordable blood tests to provide care. ChipCare aims to reduce the cost of these tests by producing a user-friendly device the size of a credit-card reader. Disposable cartridges that go into the device will bring down costs. One aim of this project is to improve the design of the reader in […]

The objective of this research proposal is to develop a framework to track and manage the fatigue of pilots involved with aerial firefighting. Interns of different backgrounds (neuroscience, engineering and statistics) will work together to achieve this goal. The neuroscience intern will collect physiological data to identify how a pilot’s physical and cognitive performance is […]

The University of Science and Technology Beijing (USTB) has a world-class advanced powder metallurgy lab. I will be taking small particles of steel (iron) and using a heated hydraulic press combine the fine powder into a hard sheet. I’ll be adding into the mix a small amount (much like adding chocolate chips to a muffin […]

The need for green technologies and depletion of crude oil has led to a search for renewable resources. Forest biomass certainly has the potential for the production of most of fossil based products. In the current project, one of the components of forest biomass, hemicellulose will be used to produce xylitol through fermentation process instead […]

It is estimated that 1 in 2/3 people will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime. Cancer is a genetic disease characterized by the uncontrolled growth of cells. While treatments are available for many cancers, remission of the disease, side-effects of the medication, and the onset of resistance by the cancer to the drugs being […]

SYM-TECH Inc. is looking to develop new corrosion-free precast concrete members (sleepers and piles) reinforced with fiber-reinforced-polymer (FRP) rods and using fiber reinforced concrete (FRC) for railway foundation applications. Such precast concrete members are usually reinforced with conventional or pre stressed steel reinforcements. Steel bars and strands used for reinforcement have a limited service life […]

For the majority of people, weight training builds skeletal muscle, which results in health benefits (e.g., improved disease risk and lifespan). However, despite training, some individuals have trouble gaining muscle (nonresponders). This lack of a response is likely related to an impaired ability to make new proteins (impaired activation of protein synthesis), and there is […]

Chronic kidney disease is a growing problem in Canada and worldwide and is associated with obesity, diabetes and vascular disease. Current therapies only treat symptoms of CKD and have no impact on inflammatory and fibrotic process that underlie the progression of the disease toward hemodialysis, kidney transplantation, or death. OPKO Canada (Markham, Ontario) is developing […]

Currently, Mexico receives more international investment in the mining sector than any other Latin American country. Throughout the past five years Canadian private investment has accounted for between 70-75% of all international investment. This project aims to explore Canadian investment in the Mexican mining industry in order to determine how, why and when investment occurs. […]

The growing demand to establish comprehensive BIM standards is demonstrated by a proliferation of both national (BIM Task Group in the United Kingdom and BIMForum in the United States) and international (buildingSMART Alliance) organizations working to that end. Adding to the sense of urgency is pending legislation in the United Kingdom (2016) that will require […]