Innovative Projects Realized

Efficient Computational Strategies for Calculating Orbital Energies Using pCCD-Based Methods

This project focuses on advancing computational methods for predicting ionization potentials (IPs) and electron affinities (EAs) of organic molecules, with a specific application to organic solar cells (OSCs). By leveraging Koopmans’ theorem within the orbital-optimized pair-coupled cluster doubles (oo-pCCD) framework, the project aims to efficiently compute these key electronic properties without costly gradient calculations. A benchmark dataset will be generated for organic acceptor molecules, widely used as donors in OSCs, to validate the method against experimental and high-level computational data. The results, including insights into energy level alignment and charge transfer properties critical for photovoltaic performance, will be integrated into the open-source PyBEST software and published on UNB’s DataVerse repository to support the development of high-efficiency OSC materials.

Optimizing Copper Extraction from Metal Sulfides Using Wetting Agents together with Thiocarbonyl Functional Group Reagents

This project explores the use of wetting agents containing thiocarbonyl functional groups to enhance copper extraction from metal sulfides. By investigating reaction mechanisms, optimizing reagent concentrations, and refining leaching conditions, the research aims to improve copper recovery while minimizing environmental impact. The study will assess the catalytic behavior and reaction kinetics of these agents in both stirred reactors and heap leaching setups, providing insights into their efficiency and sustainability. Additionally, rapid detection methods for the wetting agents will be developed to support process monitoring. This work contributes to more efficient and eco-friendly copper extraction from low-grade ores, advancing sustainable mining practices.

Live Net Zero+ Project

Climate communication often uses doom-and-gloom messages that highlight the devastation of climate change, which can provoke negative emotions and might be counterproductive. Therefore, this project aims to test whether happy messages that highlight the personal happiness benefits of climate action can increase social media engagement and climate action across Canada. In collaboration with One Earth Living and Canadian Geographic, we will design happiness-based social media posts and host challenges via Canadian Geographic’s social media accounts that encourage Canadians to take climate action. These challenges will be based on the earlier stages of the Live Net Zero+ initiative, which saw two family challenges with a total of 13 families from across Canada compete to lower their household carbon emissions and win $50,000. Additionally, we will distribute a survey that asks people about the climate actions they currently take and those they would like to take in the future. People will be encouraged to take the survey at multiple timepoints throughout the project so that we can measure how their climate action and carbon footprint has changed over time as a result of these social media posts and challenges. We will also collect data on Canadian Geographic’s social media engagement (e.g., likes, comments, shares) throughout the project to examine whether this happiness-based messaging can impact social media engagement. Finally, we will also examine the long-term effects of these messages by collecting data again one month after the posts have ended. Results of this project will be used to inform strategies for scaling the Live Net Zero+ initiative and will provide One Earth Living and Canadian Geographic with evidence-based insights into how to engage the largest number of Canadians in climate action as possible.

Influence des Représentations d’Attachement sur le Développement Psychopathologique de l’Enfant : Approches Projectives et Psychométriques

Ce projet de recherche explore l’influence des relations d’attachement sur le développement émotionnel et comportemental des enfants présentant des vulnérabilités développementales. En identifiant les profils d’attachement de ces enfants et en les comparant à ceux d’enfants au développement typique, nous chercherons à comprendre comment ces dynamiques affectent leur adaptation psychosociale. Nous examinerons également l’impact des représentations parentales de l’attachement sur leur perception des difficultés de leur enfant et leur accompagnement au quotidien. À l’aide d’outils d’évaluation validés, comme le MacArthur Story Stem Battery et l’Adult Attachment Projective, cette étude contribuera à une meilleure compréhension des interactions parent-enfant et proposera des pistes d’intervention adaptées pour renforcer ces relations et favoriser le bien-être des enfants et de leurs familles.

Capacity Building & Land-Based Program Development with Tasiutigiit Association

Tasiutigiit Association is a non-profit organization which started in the early 1990s to address the overrepresentation of Indigenous children in the child welfare system. It is evident that support for cross-cultural families is needed, including cultural competency/allyship programming and opportunities for the children to remain connected to their communities of origin. This year, Tasiutigiit was asked by the Montreal urban Indigenous community to create a space for younger Indigenous youth (aged 5-12) in the summer. As such, Tasiutigiit is collaborating with the Native Friendship Centre to create an opportunity for the younger youth to participate in a culturally safe, relevant, and caring land-based day camp through the summer. The general objective of this project is to support Tasiutigiit’s goals and aspirations for expanding organizational capacity to adequately meet the needs of their members, namely through co-creating new land-based programming. The intern will apply relational, respectful, and reciprocal frameworks to the work completed with the partner organization, which requires innovative knowledge in land-based pedagogy.

Delphi project on the barriers of the implementation of digital health technologies for cardiovascular disease prevention

Digital health technologies (DHTs) are tools and platforms that have the potential to significantly improve patient-centered care in the field of cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention by providing prolonged monitoring and improving the clinical workflow. Despite numerous advantages, there remains clinician resistance to the implementation of DHTs in healthcare settings. There is an urgent need to improve patient care and reduce healthcare burden by finding solutions to overcome the roadblocks to the widespread uptake of DHTs for CVD prevention. With a Delphi project, our goal is to identify these solutions. This project will be conducted in collaboration with the global ACHIEVE-Digital team funded by the World Heart Federation. This enables us to broaden our connections and reach experts at a global scale. From the results, we hope to facilitate the development of new best-practice guidelines for the implementation of DHTs.

Évaluation de la performance de circularité d’un territoire

Ce projet vise à développer un outil pour aider les décideurs à suivre l’état de l’économie circulaire (ÉC) dans la région de Sorel-Tracy, au Québec. L’ÉC est un modèle économique qui cherche à réduire l’extraction de ressources, à optimiser leur usage, tout en minimisant leur impact sur l’environnement.

Aujourd’hui, il existe peu d’outils pour mesurer efficacement les progrès de l’ÉC à l’échelle territoriale. Cela rend difficile la comparaison entre territoires, la coordination entre différents niveaux de gouvernement et la compréhension des bénéfices par les parties prenantes. Le Centre de transfert technologique en écologie industrielle (CTTEI) propose de relever ce défi en développant un système de suivi concret et adapté aux besoins spécifiques de la région.

Le projet se déroule en trois étapes :
1) Comprendre le territoire : Identifier les acteurs et ressources clés, ainsi que leurs interactions, à l’aide d’analyses stratégiques et systémiques.
2) Choisir les bons indicateurs : Trouver des moyens fiables pour mesurer les progrès en ÉC, en s’assurant qu’ils répondent aux besoins locaux.
3) Créer un outil visuel : Identifier les éléments clés de communication claire des informations de suivi.

Les résultats seront diffusés par le biais de conférences et de publications, avec l’objectif de reproduire cette approche dans d’autres territoires canadiens.

Portrait de la santé mentale des répartiteurs médicaux d’urgence en contexte post-pandémie

Cette demande de soutien vise l’élaboration du protocole de recherche pour l’étude « Portrait de la santé mentale des répartiteurs médicaux d’urgence en contexte post-pandémie ». L’objectif principal de ce projet est de décrire l’état actuel de la santé mentale des répartiteurs médicaux d’urgence (RMU) québécois concernant la présence et l’intensité de symptômes liés à la dépression, l’anxiété, l’épuisement professionnel et le stress vicariant. La collecte de données se fera par passation de questionnaires auprès des RMU. Les avantages sociaux et économiques attendus par l’organisation partenaire, la Fédération des employés du préhospitalier du Québec (FPHQ), sont les suivants : une meilleure connaissance de certains risques psychosociaux, une meilleure compréhension de concepts tel le trauma vicariant, une amélioration de la santé et du bien-être des RMU, ainsi qu’une diminution des impacts négatifs que peuvent entraîner les risques psychosociaux sur les RMU.

Renforcer l’autodétermination: développer des outils pratiques pour la mise en oeuvre de la Déclaration des Nations Unies sur les droits des peuples autochtones (DNUDPA)

Ce projet de recherche vise à aider le Bureau du Ndakina, organe territorial de la Nation W8banaki (Abénaquise), à mieux comprendre et utiliser la Déclaration des Nations Unies sur les droits des peuples autochtones (DNUDPA). Le stagiaire, en collaboration avec l’École d’études autochtones de l’UQAT, analysera comment cette Déclaration peut s’appliquer concrètement aux besoins de la Nation W8banaki. Ils mèneront une étude, feront des recherches documentaires et organiseront des ateliers collaboratifs pour saisir les enjeux spécifiques de la Nation. Grâce à ce travail, des outils clairs et accessibles seront créés, notamment des fiches synthèses et du matériel visuel, afin que les communautés de la Nation, Odanak et Wôlinak, puissent mieux comprendre leurs droits et faire valoir leurs intérêts. Au final, ce projet renforcera la capacité du Bureau du Ndakina à participer aux consultations fédérales et à influencer les décisions touchant les droits, l’économie, la politique, la culture et la société de la Nation W8banaki.

The effects of isocapnic respiratory muscle endurance training on the multidimensional components and neurophysiological mechanisms of exertional breathlessness in healthy adults

Respiratory muscle training (RMT) is a technique used to strengthen the muscles involved in breathing, aiming to improve breathing efficiency and endurance. While there is evidence that RMT can enhance exercise performance, muscle strength, and reduce breathlessness, there is still debate in the field due to the wide variety of devices and methods used. There are two main types of RMT: respiratory muscle strength training, such as inspiratory muscle training (IMT), which focuses on making the muscles stronger, and respiratory muscle endurance training, like voluntary isocapnic hyperpnea (VIH), which aims to improve muscle endurance. IMT has been well studied, particularly in athletes, but the effects of RMT, especially on the sensation of breathlessness, are still not fully understood. There’s potential for RMT to delay muscle fatigue, make breathing feel less difficult, though limited research has looked into how VIH impacts breathlessness. VIH involves low-force, fast breathing in and out, which is thought to better match the breathing demands of endurance sports like running and cycling. This study aims to explore how VIH affects both respiratory physiology and the multidimensional aspects of breathlessness, using a device called the Isocapnic BreathWayBetter (BWB). This research will provide Isocapnic Technologies Inc. insight of how their product affects breathlessness and could help tailor respiratory training to specific individuals.

Quantum Marginal Problem: mathematics, physics and computational algorithms 1/4

This project address the so-called Quantum Marginal Problem from a mathematical, physics and computational perspective. It develops the mathematical theory of optimal transport adapt to quantum states in order to make fundamental advances in physical aspects and computational algorithms solving the quantum marginal problem.

Biofilm blocking

Pathogenic biofilms are a major food safety challenge. They are difficult to detect and very difficult to control after they form as biofilms protect bacteria from sanitizers, heat and other stressors that might otherwise be used to control the bacteria. As well, trying to remove the biofilm may break off chunks of biofilm which can either contaminate the food or start a new biofilm at another location in the food processing facility. This project is going to investigate the use of non-toxic quorum-sensing inhibitors (QSI) for preventing the incorporation of pathogenic E. coli into multi-species biofilms. Quorum sensing is bacterial communication and essential for biofilm formation. We will evaluate the quantity of biofilm produced before and after treatment with QSI using crystal violet assay. We will look at changes in structure of the biofilm after treatment with QSI using scanning electron microscopy. We will enumerate numbers of pathogenic E. coli present in biofilm before and after treatment with QSI. Finally, we will sequence RNA produced by the biofilm-forming bacteria before and after treatment with QSI for combinations of QSI and biofilm showing greatest and least inhibition. If QSI can prevent pathogens from incorporating in biofilms, the next step would be to evaluate the use of QSI in slaughter plants as an enhancement to existing hygiene protocols. This project will also give us a better understanding of how biofilms form which is currently poorly understood, especially concerning pathogenic E. coli. QSI could be another major leap forward for food safety.