Innovative Projects Realized

Prince Rupert Baseline Food Asset Assessment

The purpose of this research is to conduct a baseline assessment of the food system in Prince Rupert, BC. This will be accomplished through the inventory and analysis of local food assets. Defined as the local food infrastructure that maintains food secure communities, food assets include grocery stores, community gardens, student nutrition programs, and food banks. Information on how many food assets are present, what type they are, where they are, who is using them, and what the gaps are will help city planners create policies aimed at strengthening the local food system. This will benefit the City of Prince Rupert as they have stated their intent to develop a local food strategy that will increase their ability to withstand disruptions to their food supply caused by climate change events that affect transportation routes and cut off supply lines.

Antiviral Activity of the Proprietary Samples

Blue-O Technology Inc has developed proprietary samples that have demonstrated antiviral activity against HIV-1 and influenza. Blue-O Technology Inc has purified these proprietary samples to isolate different subunit components. These subunit components will be used by the intern determine which components have anti-HIV or anti-influenza activity. Initial experiments will be undertaken in cell culture systems to determine which subunits contain antiviral activity and what dose should be used for each sample. The final testing will be undertaken in mouse models of HIV-1 and influenza infection to determine if the samples can treat viral infection

Efficient vibration isolation for a cryogen-free dilution refrigerator

Quantum experiments and technologies often require temperatures as low as one-hundredth of a degree above absolute zero. “Cryogen-free dilution refrigerators” are advanced instruments to reach and maintain such temperatures simply and economically. However, they come with the price of significant vibrations – mechanical noise that can be detrimental for many applications. The low-temperature community explored different approaches to mitigate vibrations, but these solutions were usually highly specialized, not economical, and never left the research lab of universities. This project aims at developing a comprehensive, efficient, and economical solution for the broad market of cryogen-free dilution refrigerators. For this purpose, we will also implement and characterize novel vibration isolation systems – including one that is already operating for a superfluid dark matter detector at the University of Alberta.

Advancing Therapeutic Nanotechnologies: Quantitative Insights into mRNA-Lipid Nanoparticles

Leveraging the groundbreaking research of Dr. Sabrina Leslie and her team, this project represents a significant stride towards mastering the analysis of mRNA within Lipid Nanoparticles (LNP). Building upon our novel findings, published in ACS Nano (2021), which introduced the first quantitative imaging technique for RNA-LNP formulations, we aim to precisely quantify mRNA molecules in LNPs. Our prior work, achieving single-particle resolution in measuring RNA-cargo loading and particle dynamics, sets the stage for this venture. We’re now focusing on mRNA-LNP complexes, more challenging due to their size and the larger mRNA they contain, which are crucial for next-generation vaccine formulations like those in COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer–BioNTech and Moderna.

Over the next four months, with the expertise of two postdoctoral researchers, our goal is to refine detection and quantification methods to meet pharmaceutical industry demands. This project promises to elevate our analytical capabilities, allowing for scale-up to production levels and enabling us to serve more clients. It’s a pivotal step towards enhancing mRNA vaccine and therapeutic development, demonstrating our commitment to innovation and responsiveness to the pharmaceutical sector’s evolving needs.

Anti-corrosive ion exchange polymeric membranes for green energy production

I believe, this chance to work alongside such esteemed professionals in MIT will be a valuable opportunity for me to enhance my skills and make meaningful contributions to the field. Moreover, this experience will also showcase the research excellence of UBC on a gloabal platform and will undoubtedly lead to future collaborations between our group and other well-known research teams.
This project has two main contributions to the industry and society. First, we are trying to develop multifunctional nanocomposite coatings with enhanced anti-corrosion properties and superior thermal, mechanical, and chemical properties. Indeed, we are trying to create an all-in-one systematic coating system that can be used for various applications. Second, COFs and their combination with robust polymer backbones are greatly interesting for CO2 utilization. The global imperative to combat climate change has catalyzed a profound interest in developing clean and sustainable energy solutions, particularly amidst the persistent challenge of greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel utilization. In this context, CO2 electroreduction and water electrolysis emerge as compelling strategies for utilizing CO2 and green hydrogen production, offering a pathway to produce diverse chemicals while decreasing atmospheric CO2 and producing green hydrogen simultaneously.

Using 33S to understand the extent of assimilation in the Northern Limb of the Bushveld Igneous Complex: Implication of PGE-Ni-Cu mineralisation

Using 33S to understand the extent of assimilation in the Northern Limb of the Bushveld Igneous Complex: Implication of PGE-Ni-Cu mineralisation

Automated visual bug detection

Visual regression testing automatically analyzes gameplay sessions to detect visual bugs (also known as glitches in a game context). Visual bugs are bugs that can be detected by just looking at them, such as those related to texture and lighting, but also more complex ones like those related to the physics engine (such as a flying horse) that require common-sense reasoning. The impact of visual bugs ranges from a minor annoyance to rendering a game unplayable. Visual bugs can be easy to spot for a human expert but difficult to detect for a computer. As a result, game development companies have to spend a considerable amount of resources on manual testing, which is tedious, expensive and prone to overlooking bugs. Having automated techniques for detecting visual bugs in video games would reduce the cost of testing drastically. In this project, we propose to use computer vision techniques and foundation models to automatically detect and highlight visual bugs in Ubisoft games in (1) screenshots from gameplay sessions and (2) real-time while playing the game.

Implementing and evaluating an evidence-based caregiver program within a paediatric healthcare organization: Bridging research and practice to support early intervention services

This project will focus on the implementation of the ENVISAGE-Families program within a children’s treatment centre, KidsABILITY. ENVISAGE is a validated evidence-informed program co-created by family caregivers, service providers, and researchers in Canada and Australia that empowers, connects, and supports caregivers early in their experience of raising a child with developmental concerns. The five-week online program offers early exposure to current thinking and best practices around childhood development and disability, while encouraging information-sharing and connection among caregivers. The ENVISAGE-Families workshops address broad themes and do not offer individual clinical services or advice to families about personal or child-specific matters. Studies on ENVISAGE-Families have demonstrated significant positive impact on caregivers’ sense of empowerment, parenting confidence, and wellbeing. Dr. Samantha Noyek is well positioned to lead this project, with academic supervision based at McMaster University (CanChild, co-developers of ENVISAGE) and host supervision from KidsAbility. In collaboration with KidsAbility, we aim to implement ENVISAGE-Families within KidsAbility’s Early Engagement Project, and to both study the implementation process and evaluate the impact of ENVISAGE-Families on families awaiting services. The implementation of this program is critical as there are a vast number of families (>4,800 as of December 2023) on the waitlist to receive services and interventions at KidsAbility, who would greatly benefit from this program, with the potential for enhanced family well-being.

Predicting the State of Overhead Line Components for Multiple Hazard Exposures

Overhead lines (OHL) and other components of the electricity transmission network are designated as critical infrastructures. In order to provide the level of performance required of such facilities, efficient asset management practices must be tailored to the specific characteristics of these assets. The proposed research aims to develop such a process for OHL equipped with Aluminum Conductor Steel Reinforced (ACSR) conductors, which are prevalent across the HQ network.

Modeling and experimental testing of the impedance of oil sands tailings during electrokinetic separation

Tailings produced by oil sands mining operations are a long-term liability. Separation of water from fine solids is a critical operational and environmental challenge for tailings management and reclamation. Current methods have ongoing challenges to meet geotechnical performance criteria, and require expensive processes and movement of very large amounts of fluids and solids. Electrokinetic Solutions (EKS) has developed a process for electrical stimulation of oil sands tailings that dewaters and strengthens the resulting soil with simple electrodes and no moving parts. He process is not well understood, with only a simple one-dimensional model of how electrical characteristics relate to the dewatering process. This internship has two objectives: to develop a higher-order model relating solids concentration in two dimensions with electrical impedance of the medium, and to verify the model at a larger scale through participation in a medium-scale testing program under development by EKS

Optical Side Channel for Classical Heralding in Measurement Device Independent Quantum Key Distribution

In this project, we aim to develop a secure communication system using cutting-edge quantum technology. Specifically, we will develop the existing Measurement Device Independent Quantum Key Distribution (MDI-QKD) system built by Quantized Technologies Inc. (QTi) to add Optical Side Channel for Classical Heralding. Our intern will conduct a thorough literature review, assess available equipment, integrate suitable devices into the system, and perform field tests. The partner organization will benefit from enhanced security in data transmission, ensuring the protection of critical information against cyber threats and unauthorized access.

iPhylogeo: Interactive Platform for Genetic and Climatic Data Analysis

Les avancées technologiques dans le séquençage de l’ADN dans les années 1980 ont provoqué un changement transformateur en biologie évolutive. Cette période a donné naissance au domaine de la phylo-géographie, introduit par John Avise et ses collègues il y a un peu plus de trois décennies. Cette discipline intégrative explore les liens complexes entre l’histoire de la Terre, l’écologie et la diversification des formes de vie, en traçant les schémas géographiques de l’évolution des espèces.

Le projet vise à créer une plateforme logicielle innovante et open source pour analyser les arbres phylogénétiques basés sur les processus phylo-géographiques. Cet outil convivial sera accessible à la communauté scientifique, avec un guide complet et divers ensembles de données. Il habilitera les chercheurs à comprendre la corrélation entre la composition génétique, les distributions géographiques des espèces et les paramètres climatiques.

La plateforme inclura une fonction de cartographie des espèces, un générateur de graphiques et un outil d’analyse interactif. La page web ou l’application sera déployée sur un serveur institutionnel, permettant une interaction simultanée par plusieurs utilisateurs.