Innovative Projects Realized

Automatisation de la Gestion des CV et des Compétences

(1) Les principales activités du partenaire
Équipe Laurence est une firme spécialisée en génie civil composée d’une équipe jeune, dynamique, à l’avant-garde des technologies et appuyée par des gens d’expérience qui ont oeuvré en collaboration avec plus de 50 villes et d’innombrables partenaires privés.
(2) Les défis que le partenaire entend résoudre grâce à ce projet
Le projet comprend deux volets majeurs, soit la gestion des CV externes (candidats potentiels) et internes (le personnel).
Le premier volet du projet consistera à automatiser la gestion des CV externes en mettant en place un système intelligent permettant d’effectuer des recherches de compétences spécifiques, de trier les candidatures en fonction des exigences des postes ouverts et de classer les profils de manière dynamique. L’IA devra être en mesure d’extraire les informations clés des CV reçus et d’enrichir une base de données consultable par le département RH.
Le second volet portera sur la gestion des CV des employés internes afin de faciliter la composition d’équipes qualifiées dans le cadre des appels d’offres publics en ingénierie civile. Ce volet impliquera l’analyse des compétences disponibles en interne, en tenant compte des diplômes, certifications et formations en cours d’emploi. La gestion du dossier de l’employé devra être intégré pour assurer une mise à jour continue des informations et permettre une sélection optimale des ressources pour chaque projet.
(3) Les avantages sociaux ou économiques escomptés du projet pour la ou les organisations partenaires L’analyse de documents textuels ou de capture OCR selon une approche basée sur des modèles génératifs (LLMs) devrait rendre les opérations de l’entreprise plus efficientes et efficaces, tout en diminuant les délais de traitement. Actuellement, le classement des CV est réalisé manuellement par l’adjointe aux ressources humaines qui examine chaque candidature reçue et l’archive dans un dossier MS Outlook partagé.

Displacement = Dis(Empowerment)?: Trade Liberalization and Mexico’s Indigenous Migrants

Through semi-structured interviews with current Mexican indigenous migrant men and women and extended family members, my dissertation inquiry focuses on how indigenous peoples – men and women – in Mexico have experienced (and continue to experience) the transition from subsistence to commercial agriculture. The core objective of my doctoral research is to bridge the existing gap in development and feminist literatures around understanding the impacts of “development tools”, such as trade liberalization on already marginalized peoples, particularly on multiple fronts (i.e., gender and race). Accounting for this generational difference in this project is intended to provide contrast in terms of experiences before and after the trade liberalization of Mexico’s agricultural industry, and the increased need to participate in migrant labour therein. I anticipate that pre-existing social and economic inequalities tied to gender and racial/ethnic status has intensified during the transition from subsistence to commercial agriculture since trade liberalization. I expect to find that migration has functioned, not only as a source of much-needed income for communities facing increasing poverty in their home communities, but has also resulted in tensions originating from competing social and economic needs within the family and in the community at large.

Unravelling electron and ion transport in graphene-protected silicon anodes

Lithium-ion batteries with silicon anodes have garnered significant attention due to their exceptional theoretical specific capacity of approximately 3,590 mAh/g at room temperature—nearly ten times that of conventional graphite anodes (~372 mAh/g). However, the practical application of silicon anodes faces challenges such as significant volume expansion during lithiation, solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI) formation, and capacity fading over multiple cycles.
My project focuses on engineering a stable, high-silicon-content anode to enhance the energy density of Li-ion batteries. The work will begin with investigating SEI growth on protected silicon in both liquid and solid-state electrolytes. Additionally, I aim to understand the ion transport mechanisms between solid-state electrolytes and electrodes. This will be followed by designing suitable solid-state electrolytes for all-solid-state Li-ion batteries with high-silicon-content anodes. The insights gained will contribute to the development of improved Li-silicon batteries.

A hybrid data-driven quantum approach to expedite molecular wavefunction calculations

Recent studies in quantum computing have demonstrated that the localized unitary Jastrow (LUCJ) ansatz, a promising electronic structure method capable of running on near-term quantum hardware, can surpass exact solutions on classical hardware by using quantum-centric supercomputing. However, scalable and efficient methods for initializing the LUCJ ansatz remain underexplored in current research. We propose a hybrid classical-quantum algorithm that incorporates a data-driven coupled-cluster (DDCC) approach to initialize the LUCJ ansatz, with the aim of significantly reducing computational overhead while preserving chemical accuracy. This approach leverages the speed of machine learning to expedite molecular wavefunction calculations for larger molecular systems, making it a viable candidate for near-term quantum advantage in electronic structure problems.

Developing Magnetic Field Maps to Enable the Effective Use of Quantum Magnetometers as a Supplement to Conventional Sensors

This project explores how quantum magnetometers—highly sensitive sensors that detect variations in the Earth’s magnetic field—can enhance positioning systems in urban environments where GPS signals are weak or obstructed. The research involves collecting magnetic field data across selected city areas to create detailed magnetic field maps. These maps will help determine how stable and reliable quantum sensors are under different conditions such as time of day or weather. The project also includes developing a 3D digital twin system that integrates GPS and magnetic field data for real-time visualization and analysis. A user interface will be designed to support navigation, monitoring, and decision-making in GPS-challenged areas. By combining quantum sensing, sensor fusion, and intuitive digital tools, this project aims to improve the accuracy and resilience of urban localization systems for use in applications like drones, autonomous vehicles, and public safety operations.

Stage de recherche sur les sources de nutriments contribuant à l’eutrophisation du lac Saint-Pierre

Depuis plusieurs décennies, les propriétaires riverains du lac Saint-Pierre, dans le Kamouraska, s’inquiètent de l’état de santé de leur lac. Plusieurs études ont relevé des signes d’eutrophisation. L’étude réalisée par Pro Faune en 2006 indique que les apports en phosphore dépassent probablement la capacité de support du lac. Depuis la parution de ces rapports, les riverains ont déployé plusieurs efforts pour enrayer la problématique, notamment par des aménagements visant un meilleur drainage des eaux de surface, limitant ainsi les apports en sédiments. Cependant, des mesures des concentration de phosphore prises à l’été 2023 et 2024 à l’aide d’un appareil portatif suggèrent que l’eutrophisation du lac a continué de progresser.

Le stage de recherche vise à identifier les principales sources de nutriments contribuant à ce phénomène en réalisant un suivi détaillé des concentrations de phosphore dans le lac et ses tributaires. Cette approche permettra de mieux cibler les aménagements ayant le plus grand potentiel d’amélioration de la qualité environnementale du lac.

Development of LLM-Based Tools for Physics Education

The project seeks to explore the potential of large language models (LLMs) to support physics learning at the high school and college levels. Through careful evaluation of LLMs’ ability to clarify concepts such as mechanics and electromagnetism, alongside the creation of clear visualizations and educator-focused resources, we aim to contribute modestly to making physics more approachable for students. Conducted in collaboration with VisFuture, this project aspires to advance educational technology and support Canada’s STEM education efforts, with findings to be shared respectfully on https://www.visfuture.com/ for the benefit of the broader teaching community.

Foreceipt digital marketing research

Foreceipt Inc. is a Canadian technology company behind Foreceipt, a cloud-based app that uses AI to help users easily track receipts and manage expenses. With an impressive 4.7-star average rating from over 6,000 reviews on the U.S. Apple App Store, Foreceipt serves individuals, freelancers, and small businesses in English-speaking countries around the world.

To support further growth, Foreceipt is partnering with the DeGroote School of Business at McMaster University through the Mitacs Business Strategy Internship program. Under the academic supervision of Professor Wu, an intern will research, design, and implement cost-effective digital marketing strategies. The intern will focus on launching and optimizing targeted advertising campaigns across Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Google, while analyzing performance data to guide continuous improvements.

This initiative marks Foreceipt’s first structured digital marketing effort, aiming to expand brand awareness, drive user acquisition, and establish a sustainable, data-driven marketing framework. Key project outcomes include a detailed performance report and a reusable library of marketing assets.

Beyond helping Foreceipt scale, the project supports Canada’s innovation economy by strengthening a homegrown fintech company. It also empowers more people to manage their finances efficiently with accessible digital tools. Meanwhile, the intern will gain valuable real-world experience in digital marketing, analytics, and project management, preparing them for future career success.

Operations and Marketing Assistant

This project will support Autism Connections by helping to secure sponsors for our 2025 Superhero Fun-Run/Walk, our largest fundraising and community event of the year. The intern will research potential sponsors, create a sponsorship package, and reach out to businesses to build new partnerships. They will also develop tools and materials that can be reused for future events. This project will strengthen our fundraising efforts, help us connect with more local businesses, and support the long-term sustainability of our programs for autistic individuals and their families.

Using brain monitoring and video surveillance to reduce violent incidents in a care-facility environment – Year two

Increasingly prevalent patient violence within the dementia population is a challenge to long term care providers.
Violent incidents can lead to serious musculoskeletal and neurological health complications. I propose to use video surveillance and a novel brain monitoring system in a care facility-based elderly population, to monitor violent episodes and brain vitality after incidents. This will help to 1) identify environmental, behavioural and biomechanical characteristics that contribute to injuries, and 2) measure the transient and long term effects on brain function.
Retirement Concepts, a care provider for dementia clients, benefits from this research by gaining insight on potential
improvements in the design and function of their care facilities that may reduce violent events. This results in a higher
quality of care for patients and an improved work environment for employees. Integrating leading edge research into
their care paradigm will uniquely distinguish Retirement Concepts from other care facilities.

Quantum-enhanced imaging with realistic entangled photons: leveraging quantum dots in a nanophotonic platform

Quantum imaging is a microscopy technique that uses special properties of light to observe smaller features and have higher sensitivity than classical methods, especially in low-light or noisy environments like deep tissue imaging. It uses special quantum properties, such as entanglement, which is often called “spooky action at a distance” and photon-number squeezing, which is where the fluctuations in the number of photons are smaller than what is normally possible with classical light sources. The challenge lies in creating the quantum light source – current methods either rely on inefficient random processes such as parametric downconversion or struggle to collect enough photons from single molecules or atoms. Our solution uses chip-based quantum dots (that is, artificial atoms grown in the lab) integrated into nanophotonic structures to produce triggerable entangled photons. This method is both more efficient and scalable. This research will demonstrate the on-demand creation of entangled two-photon source while developing theoretical models to study how losses affect imaging performance with larger photon states, potentially revolutionizing biomedical diagnostics like early cancer detection. This project will strengthen Queen’s quantum innovation capacity by developing cutting-edge hardware for quantum imaging while advancing quantum microscopy techniques through knowledge transfer.

Group Treatment-KidsAbility-April10-2025

KidsAbility is the leading provider of pediatric rehabilitation in Waterloo and Wellington, supporting 17,000 children each year. Rising demand and a shortage of trained clinicians have made it difficult to keep up, leading to longer wait times for families in need. KidsAbility is exploring the use of group therapy in their Speech Language Therapy (SLT) programs to help serve more children using the same resources. In group therapy, 2–4 children with similar needs receive treatment together from one clinician, instead of each child having a separate appointment. This approach has the potential to greatly increase the number of children treated and reduce long wait times. Our project will use past data to better understand how group therapy works and then create tools to help KidsAbility schedule these sessions more effectively. By doing this, the organization can serve more families, faster, and make the most of their limited resources.