Innovative Projects Realized

Détection de marqueurs d’inflammation avec SPR

L’étudiant effectuera des recherches en laboratoire pour la détection de marqueurs d’inflammation.
Il utilisera la résonance plasmonique de surface pour développer des capteurs pour les protéines associées à l’inflammation.

Evaluating grid modernization pathways, opportunities and emissions impacts

Across Canada, electricity is becoming a scarce resource as there are increasingly urgent calls to electrify fossil fuel loads. Furthermore, even if ample generation is present, the electrical grid will be unable to accommodate the increased demand. This research project will propose and investigate tangible solutions to optimize the power flow and usage within the distribution network so that existing electrical grid infrastructure will be able to deliver more energy with fewer losses, while ensuring the grid remains safe and stable. One of the interns will investigate best practices and methods to implement protection systems for bi-directional power flow within distribution networks. A second intern will investigate voltage control strategies to maximize the energy that the grid can deliver. A third and fourth intern will evaluate electrification initiatives, such as replacing furnaces with heat pumps, and demand management to minimize emissions in terms of cost and energy required.

NAIT Co-Op Student SRO learning Program

Northern Asset Management is a holistic financial advisory and investment planning practice with a specialization in working with individuals on retirement and estate planning needs. The practice works with clients across Canada, helping them to achieve their financial goals and maintain their financial health. As such we are bound by many regulatory bodies of which the Canadian Investment Industry is merging its two Self Regulatory Bodies into one as of Jan 1, 2023. this project will be to learn and assist in the management of new regulations affecting the firm’s clients as we move forward in their financial health futures. The student will help with day-to-day operations as well as helping learn the new rules so all clients managed by the firm are conforming with the new regulations laid out by the Canadian securities administration. There is a vast integration of products that were previously only used by institutions that will now be available to the public. The student will work with the senior planner to integrate new options to clients to provide them the best financial future available at the lowest risk possible.

Multi-Category Classification Confidence for AdContextualization

This project studies Machine Learning algorithms for multi-category document classification. The purpose is to effectively predict user’s behavior based on the contextualization of the advertising and the associated document and therefore, to increase the click rate and the success of a dynamical advertising campaign.
Due to the nature of the World Wide Web, the feature sets for the classification is extremely large. However, many learning algorithms don’t perform well with large number of features or attributes. Feature selection technique is necessary to avoid overfitting and provide faster and more cost-effective learning models. The focus of our study will be on the process and methods of feature generation and selection. We will also study the effectiveness of different learning algorithms such as the Naïve Bayes classification, Support Vector Machines and Neural Networks in this particular application area. The work will directly contribute to the business of the industry partner and also generate research achievement academically.

Seniors Fair Develoment and Social Media Campaign Strategy

Central Lions Seniors Association (CLSA) is an organization led by volunteers with an operational staff of 6. CLSA exists to encourage, promote, and provide opportunities through recreation, education, and socializing to enhance the well-being of persons aged 55 and older. The organization plays host to 1800 users and a daycare for seniors. Our Association offers sports, fitness, art, music, health and wellness presentations, general interest courses, cards, games, crafts, and social events that bring people over 55 together in a safe and supportive environment.

“Although there is substantial evidence about the many contributions that older people make to their societies, they are frequently stereotyped as dependent, frail, out of touch, or a burden. These ageist attitudes limit older people’s freedom to live the lives they choose and our capacity to capitalize on the great human capacity that older people represent” (WHO, 2015). However, opportunities for and contributions by seniors depend on their health. Educational activities are strategies for enhancing health outcomes and eliminating ageism (WHO, 2022, Ageing Canada.). To support the seniors, CLSA is planning, 1) a Health and Wellness Fair intended to provide education and activities for seniors and 2) the development and implementation of a social media campaign using seniors’ experiences and stories to address ageism.

An intern is needed to increase capacity for CLSA to execute the project. With a staff of 6 and financial constrains due to COVID, an intern can greatly enhance our ability to execute the project effectively and efficiently.

Fermeture de l’espace démocratique et réarticulation des luttes sociales : la résilience de communautés de mouvements sociaux face à la désinstitutionnalisation du budget participatif de Porto Alegre (Brésil)

Dans un contexte d’essoufflement des démocraties représentatives, les institutions de participations (IP) citoyennes apparaissent comme des moyens concrets de revitaliser le lien entre citoyens et pouvoirs publics. Le programme de budgets participatifs (BP) est l’une des IP les plus diffusées au monde, implantée aujourd’hui dans plus de 40 pays et présente sur tous les continents. Implanté pour la première fois à Porto Alegre en 1989 et destiné à inclure les citoyens dans la décision des dépenses municipales, le BP est considéré comme un outil de renforcement de la société civile et du lien de confiance entre celle-ci et les décideurs. Bien qu’il soit encore présent sur les 5 continents, le BP est en net déclin dans le pays qui l’a vu émerger : le Brésil. Considéré comme un véritable laboratoire de la démocratie participative dans les années 2000, le Brésil amorce dans les années 2010 une période de rétrécissement de son espace de participation citoyenne, marqué par la fermeture de la majorité des IP brésiliennes. En ce qui concerne le BP, le programme passe de 126 implantations au Brésil en 2008 à moins de 50 en 2020 (Wampler et Goldfrank 2022).

Grant & Sponsorship Research Internship Winter 2023

A key component of the Grant & Sponsorship Research Intern’s (hereinafter referred to as “the intern”) responsibility is to use market research practices to supplement the grant and sponsorship efforts of ASBA. The intern will identify funding opportunities that support the implementation of ASBA’s programs, events and initiatives and submit eligible grant applications for designated projects.

Assessment of the role of Nep1 on learning and memory in Drosophila

Learning and memory is generally thought of as the process by which information is encoded, stored, and retrieved in the nervous system. A lot of information is now available about what genes are needed for an organism to remember normally. However, little is known about the genes with the opposite function, i.e. limiting the process of learning and memory (hence, their name, ‘memory suppressor genes’). We do not know the role of these genes for memory, why they exist and do what they do, so research in this area is crucial. The previous efforts have identified several potential Drosophila (fruit fly) memory suppressor genes. One of them is Nep1. Our current aim is to now assess the role of Nep1 on learning and memory in Drosophila. We hope to do so by performing multiple different assays of flies’ memory performance to identify where in the brain it functions, in which phase of memory it functions, and whether Nep1 functions developmentally or in the adult fly to suppress memory. We hypothesize that the role of Nep1 as a novel memory suppressor gene will be reaffirmed as the result of the conducted experiments.

SSE_Frédéric Mérand_FINMETRIX-Yassine Adrou – Rédaction financière

FINMETRIX est une entreprise montréalaise qui soutient les entreprises canadiennes et internationales dans la gestion de leurs risques financiers.
Au sein de l’entreprise, les stagiaires contribueront à l’amélioration de la vulgarisation des enjeux relatifs aux risques des entreprises partenaires. Avec une formation en sciences politiques, un domaine externe à la finance, les stagiaires verront d’un nouvel œil les enjeux et concepts financiers. En s’adressant majoritairement à un public non initié à la finance, les stagiaires apporteront une expérience dans la rédaction et dans la vulgarisation des concepts complexes.

Comparastore – Développement des Affaires

Fondé par 2 étudiants, Comparastore est le premier comparateur d’entrepôts libre-service au Canada. La plateforme étant maintenant fonctionnelle, les utilisateurs peuvent comparer plus de 730 entrepôts, soit environ 9 400 unités d’entreposage, dans plus de 140 villes à travers le Canada. Parmi les entrepôts listés sur la plateforme, certains ont déjà été converti en “partenaire pilote” par Comparastore, mais la majorité des entrepôts sont encore à contacter et à convertir. Plusieurs enjeux sont donc liés au développement des affaires :
1 : Gérer les relations d’affaires existantes avec les partenaires pilotes / Récupérer des informations et valider des hypothèses avec ces derniers
2 : Contacter et convertir de nouveaux entrepôts en partenaires pilotes, afin d’avoir des pilotes dans chaque grande province du Canada.
3 : Établir des partenariats avec différents regroupements communautaires et associations (étudiants ou militaires par exemple) afin de soutenir la stratégie d’acquisition générale de demande/trafic web, de Comparastore.
4 : Comparastore se focalise sur le libre-service, mais réfléchi déjà à son développement dans d’autres marchés connexes (entreposage mobile ; logistique ; et autres). Ces marchés seront passés à l’étude afin d’analyser leur potentiel dans le but de fixer la vision long terme de la compagnie sur les 5 prochaines années.

From Data Cleaning, Design and Migration to Portfolio Construction for Effective Recommendations and Decision Making in the Charity Domain.

Charity donations have long been a feature of society smoothing the differences between rich and poor. In the past these donations were handled manually using a variety of ah hoc means. This continuing project aims at systematizing the donation process by implementing an online system that facilitates the connection between donors and recipients, thus enabling amore efficient donation environment.

Point of care ultrasound in rural British Columbia: An investigation of quality and effect on clinical management decisions

Health care providers perform ultrasound exams to see a patient’s internal physiology (e.g., organs). Point of care ultrasound (PoCUS) refers to ultrasound exams performed at the bedside by a physician not specialized in imaging. PoCUS use by general practitioners is increasing, including in rural British Columbia (BC). Rural PoCUS has the potential to improve the quality of health services for rural patients by bringing care closer to home. It also has the potential to help rural physicians better manage and treat their patients, resulting in improved patient outcomes and reduced costs. This study will examine how well rural GPs in BC perform PoCUS and the effect of PoCUS use on their patient management decisions.