Innovative Projects Realized

Mixed Methods in Indigenous Health Research: Colombia, Canada & the Caribbean

In 2020, there were 19.3 million new cancer cases and 9.9 million related deaths, with 70% occurring in low- and middle-income countries. In Latin America, cancer remains a leading cause of mortality, with cases projected to rise from 4 million in 2020 to 6 million by 2040. Indigenous populations are among the most affected; in 2016, the Colombian Ministry of Health identified cancer as the fourth leading cause of death in Indigenous communities. However, Colombia lacks clinical guidelines tailored to Indigenous perspectives, as well as consistent epidemiological data to inform policy and intervention strategies. Dr. Angela Zambrano’s thesis examines how Indigenous health practices and beliefs interact or conflict with the traditional biomedical care model. Dr. Zambrano will carry out a comparative analysis of Indigenous health research in Indigenous populations in the Caribbean Island of Dominica, northern Quebec, and Colombia and employ epidemiological methods to calculate health disparities. This will inform a reflection and research protocol to support the development of future studies in Indigenous communities, notably in the Caribbean and Latin American regions, to support the development of intercultural cancer prevention, treatment, and care policies.

Artefacts of Disaster Memory: Architecture for Remembering and Forgetting Disasters

This research project investigates how disaster memorial spaces such as museums, monuments, and preserved sites contribute to collective memory and public engagement in different cultural contexts. Focusing on case studies in Japan and drawing comparisons with prior research in Türkiye, the project examines how spatial design, narrative construction, and visitor interaction shape societal understandings of disaster and recovery. Through fieldwork and interviews conducted in Japan, the project will generate original data and comparative insights that enhance academic knowledge on commemorative practices and disaster resilience. The collaboration will strengthen ties between the participating institutions by fostering international research exchange and supporting ongoing interdisciplinary initiatives in urban planning, memory studies, and disaster recovery.

3D-Printed CNT/rGO–PALF Aerogels for Solar Interfacial Evaporation

Access to clean water is a critical global challenge, with billions facing water scarcity or contamination. This project aims to develop a sustainable water purification system that uses solar energy to convert contaminated or salty water into clean water, offering a low-cost, off-grid solution for rural and resource-limited communities. The system will use solar-driven interfacial evaporation (SDIE) with advanced 3D-printed aerogels made from carbon nanotubes (CNT), reduced graphene oxide (rGO), and pineapple leaf fiber (PALF). These materials provide excellent sunlight absorption, strong resistance to fouling and UV damage, and a biodegradable structure.

By combining these materials in a 3D-printed design, the project will improve water evaporation efficiency and long-term stability, making the system more practical for real-world wastewater treatment. Collaboration between Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia and the University of Waterloo will strengthen research ties, share knowledge, and offer valuable training for students and researchers at both institutions. This joint work will enhance both universities’ expertise in green technology and sustainable water treatment, supporting their missions to deliver innovative solutions for clean water access and address global environmental challenges.

L’utilisation des philosophes anciens dans le Theophrastus Redivivus

Le Theophrastus Redivivus est un texte anonyme rédigé à Paris au 17ème siècle et est le premier texte ouvertement athée de l’ère chrétienne en Occident. Ce texte propose plusieurs idées qui annoncent la Modernité des Lumières, quoiqu’il soit près d’un siècle en avance. Le texte est abondamment bâti sur la littérature ancienne (sont tirés de l’Antiquité des citations, avec et sans référence, des informations, des anecdotes et des faits scientifiques). Notre projet consiste en l’étude de l’utilisation de l’Antiquité, et en particulier des philosophes, pour étudier le lien entre l’Antiquité et la Modernité naissante en France au 17ème.

Detection of of Dipole-Dipole Interactions in Rare-Earth-Ion for Applications in Quantum Computing

Quantum technologies are today at the forefront of scientific research, as they are expected to have a very strong impact in numerous fields. The primary objective in both research groups, the QPSA lab and the NPQO lab is to develop the physical building blocks necessary for quantum communication. Many different quantum systems are currently being investigated to perform computing, but each has its own strengths and drawbacks.Thus, the exploration of new quantum platforms is an ongoing research area. The aim of this project is to investigate the potential of rare-earth ions-doped crystals (REIC), an emerging platform for quantum computing. A promising REIC, praseodymium, was chosen to be investigated for its suitability in creating multi-quibit gates. We aim to detect dipole-dipole interactions between ions in praseodymium-doped nanoparticles coupled to a fiber cavity as a first step towards this goal. QPSA has with a strong expertise in fiber-integrated open-access cavity interfaces and rare-earth doped solids, while NPQO excels at hollow waveguides and phonic crystal-based cavities as well as integration of photonic crystal waveguides with solid-state emitters. The outlined project will allow for the knowledge exchange in experimental techniques and design related to solid-state quantum information platforms and photonic integration.

Superconducting quantum analog simulator for fundamental physics

This project will explore the use of quantum technologies to simulate physical systems relevant to particle physics, with a focus on neutrino behavior. The goal is to build an analog quantum simulator: a special device whose components are designed to naturally follow the dynamics of the system being studied. The platform will be superconducting circuits, which show quantum mechanical behavior when cooled to very low temperatures. The circuits to be developed will use parametric coupling, a method that enables precise and tunable interactions between their elements. The project is a collaboration between the University of Milano-Bicocca and the Wilson group at the University of Waterloo, which has long-standing experience in superconducting quantum technologies. The student will contribute to theoretical modeling, circuit design, and experimental work. This partnership will strengthen knowledge exchange between the two institutions and support the development of custom quantum devices for fundamental research.

L2M – OmniPave

OmniPave is a research-based concept from the University of Alberta that tackles this by fusing satellite radar, AI-analyzed bus-camera footage, targeted drones, and citizen reports into a real-time map that spots micro-cracks within days, before they expand into potholes. This proactive approach can shift cities toward low-cost crack sealing instead of expensive patching. However, major hurdles remain: Can these four data sources be reliably combined and visualized in near-real time? Can we demonstrate real-world cost savings that will convince municipalities and insurers? And can OmniPave link seamlessly with diverse Geographic Information System (GIS) and work-order systems? This internship will tackle these commercialization challenges head-on by: 1. Building and testing a cloud-based data pipeline and dashboard. 2. Running pilots in three snow-belt cities to collect before-and-after cost/saving data. 3. Preparing an integration guide to show municipalities how OmniPave fits into existing workflows. These activities go beyond prototype research, delivering measurable technical, economic, and integration evidence to validate OmniPave’s potential as a scalable, national solution. The project requires skills in satellite image processing, edge-AI deployment, geospatial integration, and cost-benefit analysis, expertise provided by the intern and supervisor.

Modelling the energy transition in oil and gas markets taking into account market power

This project aims to improve how we model and understand the global oil and gas market in the context of climate change. It combines detailed data from over 40,000 oil and gas assets worldwide with recent theoretical advances in understanding how market structures interact with climate policies. A key focus is on the role of market power — how the strategic behavior of major producers can influence the outcomes of climate action. The resulting simulation tool will help analyze how producers respond to environmental regulations and will make it possible to explore the redistributive impacts and potential adverse effects of different climate policy scenarios. This collaboration between McGill University and French research institutions such as the Paris School of Economics will strengthen expertise at both ends and support more effective and equitable climate decision-making, particularly in Canada.

L2M DialySnake: A novel, minimally invasive tool to remove intraluminal fibrin plugs and restore peritoneal dialysis catheter patency

This project will focus on helping to bring the DialySnake, which is a novel medical device, closer to market. The DialySnake is a low-cost, minimally invasive tool designed to unclog blocked peritoneal dialysis (PD) catheters at patients’ bedsides in an average of 5 minutes. Currently, when peritoneal dialysis catheters become blocked, hospitals often rely on costly and invasive procedures like emergency surgery, which cost upwards of $25,000 CAD, also exposing very sick patients to risky general anesthesia and post-operative complications. The DialySnake offers a simple, safe, and fast solution that could greatly improve patient care while reducing strain on hospital resources, as it provides a 99% cost reduction in PD catheter restoration in urban and rural areas.
Over the course of four months, this project will validate the device’s commercial potential by working closely with healthcare stakeholders, including nephrologists, dialysis nurses, hospital administrators, and procurement teams. The intern will conduct interviews to understand clinical workflows, gather feedback on the device’s value, and assess interest in pilot programs. The project will also include competitor research, pricing analysis, and the development of a go-to-market strategy tailored to Canadian and U.S. healthcare systems.
By the end of the project, NephroTech will have a clear understanding of how to position DialySnake for success in real clinical settings, along with a roadmap for early sales, pilot partnerships, and commercialization. This work will support the partner organization in refining its business model, building early strategic relationships, and ensuring the product aligns with real-world needs, thereby accelerating its path to improving dialysis care in Canada and beyond.

From Lab to Market: The VoltLeaf Leap

This project aims to support VoltLeaf Energy Inc. in exploring market opportunities and building a go-to-market strategy for their carbon-based battery technologies. By researching potential customers, competitors, and industry trends, the project will help VoltLeaf better understand where and how to position their products. The goal is to identify the most promising use cases and partnerships, which will make it easier for the company to grow, attract funding, and bring their sustainable energy solutions to market more effectively.

Shrinking the Digital Divide: Improving Digital Literacy in Rural Regions

This research would offer a new, policy-oriented comparative analysis of international digital literacy strategies aiming to lessen the digital divide. Unlike much of the existing literature, this research would place the focus on initiatives made to further develop digital literacy, rather than digital infrastructure rollout. This research would build on Chetty’s (2018) findings about the implications of low digital literacy in certain communities and would aim to expand the understanding of how policy-driven digital literacy programs can directly impact economic and educational outcomes in rural and Indigenous areas in Canada.
This research aligns closely with many of CIGI’s core research areas, focusing particularly on data, economy and society, as well as digitalization, security and democracy. This proposed research will emphasize the importance of developing digital literacy – an essential but glossed-over component of current strategies addressing the digital divide – to mend an ever-widening digital governance gap. This will ensure that even those living in the most sparsely populated of regions have the necessary skills to participate meaningfully in the digital economy.

L2M – Bacterial Amplicon Tick Test (BATT)

Tick-borne diseases, including Lyme disease and Anaplasmosis, are an increasing public health concern in Canada, with rising case numbers driven by climate change and expanding tick populations. Current testing methods are limited as they typically detect only one pathogen at a time and often miss early-stage infections. As a result, many Canadians can go undiagnosed or misdiagnosed, leading to delayed treatment and severe health impacts. At the same time, new and emerging tick-borne pathogens are being identified in North America, making it critical to have diagnostic tools that can detect a broad and evolving range of threats.

This project supports the development of the Bacterial Amplicon Tick Test (BATT), an innovative genomics-based tool developed by myLyme at Queen’s University. BATT uses DNA sequencing and machine learning to simultaneously detect all known bacterial pathogens in a single tick. Unlike conventional targeted tests, it can also identify emerging bacteria that may not yet be common in Canada.

This work will help myLyme deliver faster, more comprehensive, and more accurate tick testing to Canadians. It will improve early diagnosis, strengthen public health surveillance, and reduce the burden of untreated disease. The project will also support myLyme’s business development by identifying market potential, user needs, refining its value proposition, and informing the regulatory and commercialization strategy for use in clinical, veterinary, and public health settings.