Innovative Projects Realized

The Construction of Labour Markets: The Evolution of Labour Market Policy in Canada and Australia

My research examines the relationship between business, labour, and the state over the development and regulation of labour markets. For my dissertation I am proposing a comprehensive case study of the trajectory of Canadian and Australian labour market regulation over the post-war period. I adopt a broad understanding of labour market policy comprising employment/industrial relations, education and training, and economic migration. Combined, it can be said that these three areas of government regulation function to construct nationally specific labour markets. Moreover, this broader approach will allow me to focus not only the various fields themselves, but also on the tensions between them and how these are managed by policy-makers. Theoretically, I am interested in investigating the nature of contemporary neoliberal restructuring in these areas. TO BE CONT’D

Value Engineering Feasibility Study for System Controller Chassis/Connector Redesign

Electronic assemblies are used to control various systems in an aircraft. Under normal operating conditions, these undergo vibration, and therefore have an expected life span. Different designs are analyzed to reduce production cost, and these designs must ensure that the electronic components contained within the hardware can tolerate the same operating conditions without failure. With time continuous research projects are being conducted to produce products with the same quality and lower costs, and this is one of them.

Thermal Performance Study of Switch Module Redesign

Thermal analysis is performed on a proposed design change on electronic assembly to ensure that it meets customer requirements (temperature ranges) and is a more cost-effective design. Such design change should be cost efficient. The important aspect, in addition to the design, is interacting with different engineers at different positions in the company. Working with mechanical engineers and suppliers in achieving such targets and ensuring the work done is viable and on track. Furthermore, creating a technical report at the end that outlines the processes taken, the results obtained and whether the new design is satisfactory, cost wise and thermally.

Evaluation of “Steps to Success Community Learning and Wellness Program” at the City of Brantford, Ontario

The Steps to Success internship will provide a graduate student and two undergraduate research assistants with an opportunity to immerse themselves in a government and community context that is addressing a complex social issue. Early anecdotal evidence indicates that the Steps to Success program has much to offer individuals and families facing complex challenges with the potential to impact change at individual, family, and social network levels across a wide range of domains. The intern will learn about poverty reduction and multi level community change strategies through immersion. The intern will observe community programs and have an active role as an evaluator consulting with key stakeholders: program staff and participants. The intern will facilitate the collaborative, participatory development of an effective evaluation plan for the City of Brantford to building organizational and community capacity to generate empirical evidence re: program impacts.

Effects of short-term uncertainty on PPP sewage treatment Revenue

In my project I will study the effect of short-term uncertainty on the PPP sewage treatment revenue. Through my research, I want to give answers to following questions: Why actual revenue deviates from estimated revenue? Does the existing model properly simulate the stochastic process of PPP revenue? and How does short-term uncertainty influence the PPP revenue?
The ultimate goal of this proposed research is to enhance the existing BS model for more accurate value estimation in the PPP project planning. This is to be achieved by proving the PPP revenue can be modeled by a mixed stochastic process using the data back testing method and investigating the effect of each relevant variable in the short-term uncertainty model on the revenue estimation through a sensitivity study. The results provide useful insights for policy and decision-making in countries that are considering new PPP sewage treatment investment.
A final report that summary the research results and research outcome will be submitted.

Methodology development for the non-destructive quality assessment of joints in polyethylene pipes based on ultrasound technology

The use of polyethylene (PE) plastic pipes for transporting gas and water has increased over the last few decades. The quality assessment and overall safety of the PE pipe networks have been of high priority for the distribution companies. The existing technology is somewhat complicated to use quickly and effectively by less experienced personnel. The proposed research study goal is to revise and evaluate the newest technological solutions for joint testing and propose a methodology that can address industry needs. The investigation will be focused on three areas involving ultrasound technology development, mechanical testing and an artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm for classification. It is believed that the interdisciplinary approach to the problem and proposed methods will result in an expected outcome and will create a long-term positive impact on the industry.

Comparative research on sustainable construction techniques of vernacular architectures in Ontario, Canada, and Jiangnan, China

The vernacular architectures in different areas exhibit strong cultural and technological similarities and differences simultaneously. The cultural and artistic value of these vernacular architectures highly depends on the relevant architectural tradition and applicable construction technics. In the process of construction, vernacular architectures have gradually formed a building model optimally adapted to the climatic and environmental features of the area, consuming less resources while creating a more comfortable indoor environment for the intended programs. The construction technics of these vernacular architectures are invaluable and inspiring for contemporary architectural practices, providing information to assist sustainable development. These are the reasons why conducting comparative research on sustainable structural techniques of vernacular architecture between countries that differ in their social, economic and environmental as well as cultural features is beneficial. Such a study can provide favorable technical insights into the sustainable development of modern architecture. Therefore, this project is aimed to conduct a comparative study on the Canadian and Chinese vernacular architecture with a focus on their environmental protection features.To produce a guidance document providing a recommendation of technologies adapted from these vernacular architectures for use in contemporary architectures. This is to be TO BE CON’T

Reserving space in the city: Critically approaching urban treaty-making in Australia and Canada

Over the last decade, reconciliation has become increasingly prominent in the mainstream consciousness of Canadians and Australians alike. In Canada, the 2015 Truth and Reconciliation Commission Final Report famously articulated that ‘we are all treaty people.’ How do treaties affect the reconciliation process? In Australia, no historical treaties were ever made with Indigenous peoples. Now, after almost 200 years of settler occupation of Indigenous land in Australia, discussions are underway for the creation of the nation’s first treaty. And so, what would a treaty look like in Australia in the spirit of this so-called reconciliation? With this in mind, this project is both a case study and a call to action. As the issues inherent to the treaty process in Canada are well-documented, this project seeks to learn from Canada’s repeated and continued failures to live up to its treaty promises with Indigenous peoples. By conducting a close reading of the 2015 Federal Court of Appeal decision, Canada v. Long Plain First Nation, this project seeks to tangibly apply these findings and offer insights to Australia’s current treaty-making process. Australia has the opportunity to learn from Canada’s mistakes, and this project seeks to do just that.

Outils de diagnostic et de prévention de l’insatisfaction des employés

La rotation de personnel est un problème majeur dans l’industrie des soins de santé à domicile. Dans un contexte où le travail des intervenants est particulièrement basé sur une relation de confiance avec les patients, la prévention de la rotation est déterminante pour le continuum et la qualité des soins prodigués. Perdre un infirmier ou un préposé aux bénéficiaires cause donc des répercussions négatives pour l’ensemble des acteurs impliqués : la qualité des soins est affectée, les horaires sont chamboulés et il peut même arriver que certaines visites soient annulées par manque de personnel.
Dans ce projet, nous nous proposons de développer un outil qui vise au diagnostic et à la prévention de l’insatisfaction des employés. Cet outil permettra aux agences de soins de santé à domicile d’être proactifs dans la gestion de la rotation du personnel. Il leur permettra entre autres d’identifier les irritants dans le travail quotidien du personne

Decoupling of the structural connectome in the elderly

In 2010, approximately 35.6 million people suffered from dementia around the world and the number is expected to double every 20 years. These alarming predictions call for a better understanding of the mechanisms underpinning cognitive decline in aging. One of the key cardiovascular risk factors for cognitive decline is arterial stiffening. My project involves the use of advanced neuroimaging techniques to create a road map of the brain called the connectome. My ultimate goal is to compare the connectome of individuals with high stiff arteries against those with lower stiff arteries and highlight their differences. This will help understand which regions in the brain are more susceptible to be altered following vascular aging. Consequently, my work could help tailor future interventions in order to preserve cognitive performance throughout the lifespan.

Stochastic Programming and Decomposition in Energy System Modelling and Optimization

The design and operation of energy systems, specifically those driven by chemical processes such as gasification and coal combustion have long been associated with theoretical model-ling studies done within chemical engineering. However, with the rising need to face challenges brought upon by a warming climate and increased emissions from fossil fuel sources, there is significant interest in being able to design and operate systems that can harness the power of renewable energy sources while also providing economic benefits derived from operating them in a flexible manner. Mathematical model-ling of such systems will therefore need to borrow concepts from chemical process engineering as well as power systems engineering and energy economics. The main contribution from this project would be to look closely into the behaviour of polygeneration energy pathways and investigate how and to what extent the energy system can be made more flexible while also taking into account the aim to maximize profitability from the perspective of the operator. This project represents an intersection where process engineering and power systems concepts meet to better design and operate flexible polygeneration systems as we look to transition to future energy systems.

New Inhibitors of HIV Infection

A new target on HIV gp120 for interventive drug therapy has been discovered and a company,

ViroCarb, initiated to screen for small molecule inhibitors that bind in this site. Two structurally

related inhibitors have been isolated from chemical libraries. This internship is to determine the scope

of these inhibitors, whether they are able to inhibit all HIV strains including clinical strains and drug

resistant strains, the intern will also use a cell binding assay to confirm the mechanism of action which

should be via inhibition of the virus binding to the target cell. These assays will be used to determine

improvements in inhibition which result from chemical modification of the newly discovered

inhibitors.