Innovative Projects Realized

A constitutive model for the cyclic degradation of clays

The proposed research project will provide SRK a reliable tool to estimate the level of displacements developing in a clayey deposit when subjected to cyclic loading of variable amplitudes, such as earthquake loading conditions. Specifically, this tool is represented by a model which can be used during seismic analysis of geotechnical structures. The model will be developed based on an already existing model which has proved capabilities of capturing many relevant aspects of the clay response under cyclic loading (Seidalinov and Taiebat 2014). However, a preliminary study by the intern demonstrated that the current version of the model has deficiencies in representing the strain accumulation response under various magnitudes of shaking. The observed limitations will be addressed in this project by revising the formulation of the constitutive model. The revised and enhanced model will be validated against a database of element level cyclic shearing of clays.

Jim Green Centre for Innovation and Inclusion

This MITACS internship will determine the economic feasibility of the repurposing of 312/324
Main Street into a Centre for Social Innovation and Inclusion (CSII) in Vancouver. CSII is
modeled on the successful Centre for Social Innovation in Toronto. CSII aims to create
cooperative networks among different social groups, cultivating an environment of reciprocity.
CSII envisages the conversion of the former Vancouver Police Station at 312/324 Main Street
for these purposes. The 60,000 square feet of leasable space would be rented out to a range
of tenants similar to the Toronto model. In addition, the sponsors of the project – Vancouver
City Savings Credit Union and Simon Fraser University will occupy some of the space with
their related staff. Some of the space will be subsidized for local artists/artisans and NGO’s
while other space will be of a relatively high return in the private sector.

Low-Cost UAV imagery systems for Precision Agriculture

The proposed project aims to develop the use of Low-Cost UAV imagery systems for precision agriculture applications with focus on weed and irrigation management applications. Generally, Precision Agriculture is a management system that aims to compile different technologies to control the use of the agriculture process inputs such as chemical herbicides, seeds, water, etc., to enhance the quality and quantity of its output, while preserving the surrounding environment from any harm that might be caused due to the use of these inputs. Recently, during the last decade, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) platforms showed great potential to enhance the use of remote sensing and imagery sensors for different PA applications as weed and irrigation management. Therefore, the proposed project aims to help the agriculture industry through providing the users with the ability to generate a map for the agriculture field which show the weed patches in the agriculture field along with the water needs of every spot in the field using low-cost UAV imagery system. The partner organization (Cansel) will work with the inter to generate a processing tool that can be provided to its customers to enhance their work especially for irrigation management.

Marketing and Promotion Internship – Business Consultant at FutureCite Inc.

FutureCite is working on the launch of a Beta software platform that levers its existing platform to help the industry sector recover from the impact of the digital transformation in the post-COVID economy, with a focus on the future on the NEXTGEN demographic. This project aims to build a marketing, advertising, and promotional strategy for its new Beta platform. This includes the development of a marketing plan, a and communications plan, and participating in the buildup and rollout of the promotional launch (which will include onboarding participants from industry to communities and individuals in the Edmonton Metro Region). It also includes working on grant applications for a major event related to the promotional launch.

Marketing Strategy: Saskatoon Zoo Society

The Saskatoon Zoo Society is vital to the Saskatchewan community because the Forestry Farm Park and Zoo is the only accredited zoo in the province. The small team at the Society are critical to the educational development of our students. The programs delivered by the Society contribute to curriculum outcomes planned by teachers that enhance our student’s education.

In 2019, the Society reached 22,522 participants in their 550+ programs delivered. The Society is currently understaffed, and they do not have the time to create new strategies for marketing and implement them effectively. The nature of the COVID-19 pandemic has caused a lot more work for the society as they are working hard to create online programming to reach students in the fall when school begins. If their small team is unsuccessful in creating the online programming in time, thousands of students, parents, and educators in Saskatoon will be severely affected as they rely on the Society’s programming each year.

My work as a Mitacs intern will allow time to be freed from the managers so they can focus on what they are good at—delivering programs to students. They need an intern’s help to build the online programming and implementing strategy to best deliver the programs. The Society needs to reach the community online through social media channels, website platforms, video conferencing, and email marketing to communicate the change to online programming effectively.

Marketing Business Analytics

Zoocasa has established itself as a thought-leader in the real estate industry by providing insights on market trends and search data/tools for Canadian consumers who are buying or selling real estate.

This project will support the company’s focus on using data as a tool for decision making. This project will use technical solutions, such as machine learning, to mine insights from large quantities of market data to identify market insights that can be translated into valuable business use. Examples of how these insights will be utilized by the company include: to better understand trends in the market place, assist in making business decisions, develop public-facing market reports and assist with product development when building data-driven tools for users who are making home buying or selling decisions.

Certn Financial Accountant Internship

In this project, the Intern will be responsible for two arching themes and the tasks associated with each during the four-month internship. The first responsibility that the intern will take on is customer analysis. By conducting customer data analysis with a quantitative outlook and working with the development team on the company’s financial and accounting data, the intern will build revenue expectations by customer cohort and ensure the effectiveness of data visualization tools for other stakeholders. The intern will also assist with general accounting, which includes the preparation and presentation of monthly and quarterly consolidated financial statements. Overall, the accounting intern will be responsible for collecting and analyzing customer data that will be used to determine how Certn shall allocate resources and better forecast revenues, and assisting with financial statements preparation. The final reports prepared will be used to support fundraising activities and board member presentations. The goal is to build systems that allow for timely and accurate reporting to analyze where best to allocate Certn’s resources and make better business decisions.

Metabolic Lipid Abnormalities in Prediabetes and Insulin Resistance

Type 2 diabetes is characterized by insulin resistance and has been associated with increased lipids (fat) in the blood (hyperlipidemia). Our research focuses on regulation of blood lipid levels by controlling both intestinal and liver fat (lipid/lipoprotein) metabolism. We have previously shown in our laboratory that a naturally occurring hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) can lower intestinal lipoprotein production. The current research proposal will focus on analyzing the following three areas: 1) how intestinal inflammation alters intestinal lipoprotein production, 2) regulation of intestinal lipoprotein production through brain signaling, and 3) regulation of liver lipoprotein production in insulin resistance. Merck Pharma has developed a compound (sitaglipitin) that prevents the degradation of endogenous GLP-1. Analyzing the effects of long lasting GLP-1 signaling will provide crucial mechanistic insight into common disorders associated with hyperlipidemia.

Learning SMBs’ Perceptions of Data-driven Decision Making

This project aims to gain a better understanding of small- and medium-sized businesses (SMBs)’ attitudes and behaviors as they relate to data-driven decision making. This project will benefit the partner organization and the business community by zooming in the reasons that kept some SMBs from adopting data-driven decision-making strategies. Solving this problem could help the partner organization to increase their persuasion power in selling products to potential clients; also, it could help SMBs to evaluate and improve their decisions regarding data-driven decision-making strategies, thus improving their marketing efficiency.

Business Strategy Internship – Start

Assisting in new special projects including financial forecasting for ISP.

Farmhouse Communications Inc.

The Prairies North Magazine brand is seeking to accomplish three objectives: increase bulk subscriptions to the Client Appreciation Program (CAP), increase magazine sales, and identify additional revenue streams other than advertisement.

Increasing bulk subscriptions to CAP means increasing recurring monthly revenue. CAP enables businesses to send a copy of the magazine issue to their clients as a thank you and marketing effort. I will be responsible in determining who to contact in the province, and identifying touchpoints within the company to send information about the program.

Increasing magazine sales is a consequence of successful prospecting and active subscribers. The overall desired target subscription sales range between 500 to 1000. The appropriate quarterly target must be determined while considering seasonality. Determining brand pricing strategy through observing the market’s supply and demand, studying the competition in the same market, and understanding the brand’s product quality.

Lastly, identifying additional revenue streams requires a creative background and experimentation with potential alternatives that work well with the brand. Some alternatives worth exploring may be brand extensions such as sister publications, books, events, conferences and courses. Other digital content such as YouTube may help familiarize viewers with the brand.

Digital Consulting Business Internship

This business internship will allow the intern to work with CBA Chamber of Commerce (CBACC) as they have taken a leadership role in supporting its membership and Conception Bay Area business community. The pandemic has been as challenging for the Chamber as it has been for most businesses, so we intimately understand much of what the business community is experiencing. The Chamber is hoping to launch a Business Recovery and Resiliency Project that will continue to connect business owners with the resources they need to continue to do business during the pandemic. This proposed project will be an excellent opportunity for the intern to develop and enhance their project management skills, creative thinking skills, and given the ability to work with others to achieve results.