Innovative Projects Realized

Data-Driven Optimization Framework for Next Generation Manufacturing

Manufacturing companies are competing on the basis of price, technical expertise and reliability in meeting due dates. In addition, dynamic market environments require more agility from manufactures in terms of achieving high production flexibility and cost effectiveness. The aim of this project is to provide a decision support system for manufactures to effectively plan and schedule their limited resources to achieve better delivery time and reduced cost in today’s dynamic market environments, even for smaller batch, customized products. The core technologies of this system hinges on two pillars: machine learning and optimization. While the overall system functionalities are delivered through a software deployment, the actual power of optimization under uncertainty is obtained from stochastic programming and robust programming optimization models. Ontologies also play a central role in this project. They enable fluent and consistent flows of data both inside and outside the company.

Learning from the experience of participants in a mind-body therapy program: A qualitative study

This project learns from the experience of participants in an eight-week Mind-Body Medicine program (MBM). Mind-Body Medicine (MBM) teaches people how to help themselves by uncovering and engaging their inner resources and building resilience, broadly understood. The eight-week MBM program will be delivered through the Iris Centre for Mindfulness, Peace and Healing in Fredericton. The research will involve the analysis of questionnaires and interviews with participants, including those who dropped out. The intern will identify the strengths and limitations of the program as well as learn about the experience of MBM in the lives of participants. This research will support program development at the Iris Centre and contribute to the development of similar programs provincially and nationally.

Automating an Infosec Question Answering Function

Tugboat has 1000s of questions and responses submitted by clients. Users upload questions which can be answered using the “Auto Answer” functionality. The “Auto Answer” technology leverages weighted search vectors to search answer databases and prioritize which answers to recommend for a given question.

The objective of the project is to leverage this dataset by training a machine learning model to automate and improve the “Auto Answer” functionality described above. The current approach uses ideas from the information retrieval domain serving as the baseline. Improving this benchmark is the primary goal. The task of the model is to, given a question, recommend an ordered list of similar questions with known responses from the available databases, along with confidence or probability levels of the answers.

Mes souvenirs de Félix Leclerc à l’Île d’Orléans

Ce projet vise à approfondir la recherche et les connaissances sur la vie de Félix Leclerc à l’Île d’Orléans, une période peu documentée de son parcours professionnel et de sa vie tout court. On a beaucoup étudié et écrit sur Félix Leclerc et sur son œuvre à titre de poète, de romancier, de compositeur et d’interprète, mais peu sur sa vie quotidienne à l’île d’Orléans, ce haut lieu patrimonial qu’il affectionnait tant ou où il a passé les 20 dernières années de sa vie, soit jusqu’à son décès en 1988. Le projet permettra donc de combler une lacune importante de la biographie personnelle et professionnelle de Félix Leclerc tout en enrichissant considérablement le fonds d’archives Félix Leclerc par la cueillette de témoignages oraux de personnes qui l’ont connues et fréquentées à l’île d’Orléans. Ce travail de documentation orale est d’autant plus pertinent que ces témoins sont aujourd’hui peu nombreux, âgés et fragiles. Si leurs récits ne sont pas enregistrés rapidement, ils risquent d’être perdus à tout jamais.

Effets de l’intensité d’éclaircie commerciale et de la fertilisation sur la croissance et la production ligneuse des pinè des grises del’ouest du Québec

Compte tenu de la nouvelle loi sur l’aménagement durable des forêts et de la mise en place d’aires d’intensification de production ligneuse, l’éclaircie commerciale est une pratique qui devrait augmenter en importance pour répondre au besoin d’approvisionnement de l’industrie
du bois à court terme et pour améliorer la productivité et les rendements des peuplements à moyen-long terme. Un réseau régional de suivi des éclaircies commerciales couvrant l’ensemble du territoire d’Abitibi a été installé entre 1998 et 2003. Le principal objectif de ce réseau est de parfaire les prescriptions d’éclaircie en évaluant l’effet de différentes intensités d’éclaircie et différents traitements de fertilisation sur la croissance et la production ligneuse des pinèdes grises de l’ouest du Québec. Ce dispositif expérimental permettra aussi de vérifier dans quelle mesure les patrons de régénération observés après une coupe d’éclaircie commerciale sont comparables à ceux observés dans les peuplements naturels.

Strategy & Corporate Development Analyst

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Commercial Real Estate sector has had to adapt rapidly in order to remain viable as people have shifted to working from home and there is less demand for office space. JLL Technologies is thus working on how technology can play a role in this “new normal”
As an intern, I will be supporting one or two high priority projects -conducting research, holding stakeholder interviews, and helping to develop recommendations as to where JLL Technologies should expand next.

Expand Furniture – Business and Technology Development Intern (MBSI)

My summer job will involve analysis on item purchase data, participation in marketing campaign , design and maintaining website and prediction on customer activities. Specific jobs will include: Researching and adding new plugins, assessing and planning website improvements, A/B testing for optimization ,helping automate systems ,finding efficiencies , using integration to connect various cloud software, Google cloud, Google app script and helping develop new online store fronts that connect into the system.

Data Analyst Intern

The Data Analyst (Intern) will assist with the set-up, migration and implementation of a new cloud-based CRM system for our team. The work will include consolidating, updating, validating and migrating existing data as well as entering/uploading additional data and documents to ensure seamless knowledge sharing for internal end-users.

Marketing & Business Development Intern

I firmly believe that participating in the MBSI program will equip me with the skills necessary to excel in the professional work environment. There are two specific elements of this program that have influenced me to apply. First, I believe that this will enable me to explore different career options and a wide variety of work experiences relevant to my areas of interest such as marketing, research, business analytics, and project management. By exploring different positions, I will be able to gain hands?on work experience and foster specific skills that are essential to flourish in a business setting as well as my personal development. Such skills include data?driven decision making and interpersonal communication skills. The second element is that this program will expose me to a wide range of talented professionals in the industry. Thus, enabling me to grow and strengthen my network of business connections which is essential in my future career development.

Digital Marketing Associate

As an intern at Forge and Spark Media, I will be helping in various client projects as needed. One of the deliverables would be a detailed documentation of the company’s internal process to systematize and help the company grow. I will also be supporting client onboarding, early discovery, audit, and research.

Staff Accountant

COVID-19 has brought about unique challenges for the accounting industry. As key advisors to our clients, we have been required to stay up-to-date with the new programs and to assist with completing application forms. The intern will be working on prepare 2020 personal tax returns and notice to readers, including analysis of tax impact on receiving CERB and/or CRB.

Accounting Business Process Intern

• Building processes that allow for online preparation, review, sign-off and delivery of financial statements and tax returns to clients within our client management software
• Building PowerBI dashboards and reports within our client and jobs management software
• Developing best practices for virtual work
• Mapping existing processes and developing strategies for shifting those processes from people/paper-based to remote/digital format
• Converting existing in person paper-based processes to digital processes
• Implementing new accounting software into client files
• Developing best practices for tracking file status and management
• Converting Caseware files to a new format