Innovative Projects Realized

Evaluation and analysis of citizen science golden eagle migration data collected by the Rocky Mountain Eagle Research Foundation, Mount Lorette, Alberta 1993-2016

The goal of this project is to evaluate the data quality of the citizen science Golden Eagle count data collected by the Rocky Mountain Eagle Research Foundation and to determine the population trend over 25 years. Since 1993 they have collected data, consisting of daily raptor migration counts in the Fall and Spring seasons. It is vital to determine the usefulness of the citizen science data, check and evaluate its quality and determine whether available datasets are suitable for further research or not.

Second generation BMP2 for dental surgical applications

The intern will be producing a therapeutic protein, i.e. ‘biologic’ (BMP2) using mutated

bacterial plasmids as the bio-factory. The intern will create a sequence of DNA to be

transformed into E. coli cells (BL21). The cells will be grown up in the lab, and studied for

enhanced clinical efficacy. Proteins will be affinity purified and the resulting BMP2 variants

will be tested in lab bioactivity assays. With a more potent mutant BMP2, our partner will be

able to increase the number of successful implantation and reconstruction services they offer

as a smaller physical quantity of BMP2 will reduce illicit adverse immune events.

Feasibility Assessment and Development of Knowledge, Technology, and Tools for Reliable Hydrogen Injection into Natural Gas Delivery Systems

To reduce their carbon footprint, FortisBC Energy Inc. is investigating the possibility of injecting hydrogen into their natural gas distribution network. Prior to adopting this change, a comprehensive feasibility assessment and development of tools to support the hydrogen injection is required. This includes investigating the effects of hydrogen on existing gas distribution infrastructure, end-user appliances and equipment. Successful execution of the project will enhance FortisBC’s sustainable energy portfolio and support the pursuit and implementation of green technologies.

Process & Place: A study of heritage value in building deconstruction and material reuse

The proposed study expands on my ongoing research into the intersection of heritage conservation and the generation of architectural waste. Specifically, it understands the relationship between building demolition and heritage conservation to be both technically and conceptually linked. With this, the study addresses the “crisis of accumulation” both of heritage sites (Harrison, 2013) and growing landfills (Gregson & Crang, 2015) by exploring building deconstruction and material reuse. While this is a relatively unexplored field in Canada, practices are being developed in Belgium through both private and public institutions with growing infrastructural supports for these processes. The proposed study will explore the potential for re-used materials to not only achieve ecologically sustainable goals, but to communicate a sense of cultural continuity. This will take place in conjunction with an internship at the deconstruction and design collective, Rotor in Brussels, Belgium and with guidance from Dr. Stephanie Van de Voorde at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel and professor Susan Ross at Carleton University.

Selective association of organic ligands to nucleic acids

Spectral library of urban materials

Plate tectonics of Eastern Asia in Paleozoic

My research project is focused on the plate tectonics of the East Asian blocks in the Carboniferous Period using paleomagnetic method. Paleomagnetic method is the main tool to provide numerical values for the Earth tectonic evolution. A rock capability to record and maintain an ambient magnetic field in the moment of rock formation provides a quantitative information about lithospheric plate location in the past. Thus, it allows to construct a paleogeographic tectonic map during the studied geological interval. The North China tectonic block occupies a central position in the Asian continental mosaic, however, it is not characterized by any paleomagnetic data in the Carboniferous Period. Therefore, a major goal of my research is to obtain first reliable paleomagnetic data for North China in Carboniferous and to use this numerical data for creating a new paleogeographic map of Asia during this geological period. Such map will facilitate review and improvement of the current global and regional geological and paleontological models.

Analysis of protein clusters by super-resolution microscopy

Architecture and National Identity: The Centennial Projects 50 years on.

The intern wilJ participate in a variety of activities related to research and analysis related to building programs

carried out by various levels of government in connection with Canada’s Cen tennial of Confederation in 1967.

The research will include literature review, archival research , project documentation and analysiS, and collection

and interpretation of project data, and will contribute to the preparation of grant proposals to major funding

agencies. The intern will participate in the collection, organization and storage of material, along with

preliminary analysis of the material for discussion with the investigators. AnalysiS will involve qualitative

evaluation of the subject projects, and the intern will be instructed in the development of a clear, consistent and

rigorous assessment methodology. This experience will provide opportunities for the development and

enhancement of practical and logistical expertise, and the content component of the work will expose the intern

to a comprehensive understanding of the relationship between cultural policy and architecture during the period

of…

Development of PET Tracer and fluorescence labeled ligands for imaging of the KCa3.1 channel

Chemical analysis of marine aerosol particles for the formation of ice clouds

Role of interleukin-6 in osteoclastogenesis in mucolipidosis type II and III