Innovative Projects Realized

Supporting ageing in place in co-operative housing environments

The co-relation between key principles of co-op housing and the components of ageing in place may signify co-op housing as an optimal housing model to facilitate ageing in place. However, there is currently a gap in knowledge, with little literature on whether co-op housing has what is optimally required for older adults to age in place (McClatchey et al., 2025). Both CHF BC and the intern (an urban studies master’s student at Simon Fraser University) recognize this challenge/gap and would like to work towards better understanding it. The challenge questions posed are: how are older adults currently experiencing ageing in place in Metro Vancouver co-operative (co-ops) housing? During the ongoing Canadian housing crisis, how might co-ops best respond to the needs of members as they age? How might strategies differ when comparing older co-op buildings to the ones built more recently through the Community Land Trust?
Working together with Hey Neighbour Collective (HNC) and the Cooperative Housing Federation of BC, The intern would perform ‘walk-arounds’ of different (some older and some newer) co-op communities with older adult residents to better understand the perceptions of the social and built environments from the co-op residents perspective.

Etude de précurseurs organométalliques pour le dopage de revêtements DLC synthétisés par PECVD

Ce projet vise à approfondir la compréhension des mécanismes fondamentaux lors du dopage métallique de films de DLC (Diamond-Like Carbon) déposés par PECVD couplé à l’injection d’aérosol, procédé plasma permettant la synthèse de couches minces. Ces films, composés d’un réseau de liaisons carbonées sp² et sp³, présentent une grande dureté, une inertie chimique élevée et une faible conductivité électrique. L’ajout contrôlé d’atomes métalliques permet d’en modifier la structure et le comportement de manière ciblée.
L’étude portera sur des précurseurs organométalliques de type métallocène, utilisés comme source métallique pour le dopage des couches minces lors du dépôt plasma. Après une première phase réalisée dans un plasma RF capacitif, le stage explorera un plasma inductif, plus dense et homogène, afin d’en évaluer l’influence sur la fragmentation des complexes et l’incorporation du métal dans la matrice carbonée.
Mené conjointement par l’Université de Montréal et l’Université Toulouse, ce projet combine l’expertise des deux équipes en chimie des précurseurs et en science des plasmas, afin d’améliorer la compréhension des interactions entre chimie moléculaire et procédés de dépôt plasma.

Lifecycle and Multi-Criteria Assessment of Waste-Derived EPS Geosynthetics for Cold-Region Infrastructure

Cold-region infrastructure faces significant challenges due to freeze–thaw cycles, frost heave, and moisture-induced degradation. While waste-derived Engineered Polystyrene Textiles (EPT) offer a sustainable alternative to conventional geosynthetics, selecting the optimal formulation for both performance and environmental impact remains critical. This project aims to conduct a life-cycle assessment (LCA) combined with a multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) to identify the most suitable EPS-based geotextile formulation produced via alkali-silicate solvent treatment. Laboratory testing will evaluate mechanical strength, permeability, and freeze–thaw resilience for different solvent ratios and curing conditions. LCA will quantify environmental impacts, including carbon footprint, energy consumption, and waste generation, while MCDA will integrate performance, environmental, and cost criteria to determine the optimal treatment formulation. A Master’s student from UNBC will undertake this 12-week internship at the University of Oulu, Finland under the mentorship of Dr. Priyadarshini Perumal, gaining hands-on experience in sustainable materials analysis, LCA methodology, and decision-support frameworks. The project will provide actionable insights into cost-effective, high-performance, and environmentally friendly EPS-based geosynthetic textiles for soil stabilization in cold climates, advancing circular economy practices and supporting low-carbon infrastructure development in northern and remote regions.

Toxicological effects of essential oils on aphids and natural enemies

Chemical insecticides play an important role in global food production, ensuring reliable pest control and high crop yields. However, their intensive use also brings significant challenges—environmental contamination, risks to human health, and the rise of resistant pest populations. Addressing these issues is critical to maintaining both agricultural productivity and sustainability.

This project seeks to discover and develop natural, safer alternatives based on botanically extracted essential oils from native Brazilian flora, which offer targeted pest control with low environmental persistence and minimal impact on beneficial organisms. Through a collaborative partnership between Brazilian and Canadian institutions, the research will identify and evaluate plant-derived compounds with insecticidal activity against a major vegetable pests. The outcomes will hopefully lay the foundation for innovative, biodegradable bioproducts that strengthen food security, open new commercial opportunities, and reduce agriculture’s environmental footprint.

Tactile Feedback in Motion: Linking Vibration Characteristics with Kinematic Response

Most technology engages our eyes and ears, rarely our sense of touch. When a phone vibrates or a steering wheel buzzes, the goal is to alert us, not to guide us. Yet in daily life, touch guides our actions. Turning off an alarm in the dark, for example, relies on tactile feedback to find the snooze button. Despite this, most haptic systems remain limited to simple “on-off” vibrations. To move beyond this, host supervisors, Dr. Massi and Chatelet, leverage mechanical engineering to refine haptic feedback using friction-induced vibrations (FIVs). In this project, I will be combining markerless motion capture, accelerometer, and forceplate data to build vibration templates that help users sense movement direction through touch. Building on Dr Massi and Chatelet’s work on vibration feedback templates for rough and smooth surfaces, this project will create direction-aware vibration templates that help users sense both texture and movement direction. Such a tool could strengthen applications in XR/AR interfaces, teleoperation, and driving assistance- where realistic tactile feedback improves control. Additionally, it strengthens my home supervisor, Dr Manson’s, research on motor learning by exploring how tactile cues influence movement. Ultimately, it leads the way to closed-loop responsive haptic systems, that feel natural and lifelike. 

Production d’hydrogène vert à partir de sources d’énergie renouvelable

Ce projet de recherche vise à développer un procédé durable pour produire de l’hydrogène vert à partir d’énergies renouvelables, comme l’énergie solaire et éolienne, afin de soutenir la transition énergétique vers des solutions propres.
L’hydrogène vert est un carburant propre qui peut remplacer les combustibles fossiles et réduire les émissions de gaz à effet de serre. Dans le cadre de ce projet de quatre mois à l’École de technologie supérieure (ÉTS) à Montréal, je vais concevoir et modéliser un système hybride combinant énergie solaire et énergie éolienne pour alimenter un électrolyseur capable de transformer l’eau en hydrogène et oxygène.
Le projet permettra d’évaluer l’efficacité énergétique du système, son impact environnemental et ses conditions optimales de fonctionnement, tout en proposant des solutions pour rendre la production d’hydrogène plus efficace et moins coûteuse.
Les résultats contribueront à mieux comprendre les procédés de production d’hydrogène vert et à proposer des technologies applicables dans l’industrie, favorisant un avenir plus durable.
Ce projet constitue également une opportunité de développer mes compétences en génie des procédés, modélisation numérique et analyse énergétique, tout en participant à un effort scientifique international pour un monde plus respectueux de l’environnement.

3D Gaussian Splatting Multi-agent simultaneous localization and mapping

This project focuses on three tasks: 1. Develop a compact descriptor for 3D Gaussian splats to enable robust registration between partial sub-maps. Inspired by prior learned descriptors, the method will encode local Gaussian parameters for fast matching under noise and partial overlap. 2. Extend existing multi-agent Gaussian SLAM system into a decentralized framework where each robot shares and merges local maps without a server. Consensus-based optimization will allow scalable mapping under communication limits. 3. Deploy the system on real multi-robot platforms with edge devices. Evaluate mapping accuracy and communication overhead in real environments.

Improving the flame resistance of lyocell fibres using nanoparticles

Worldwide demand for man-made cellulosic fibres is increasing as availability of cotton fibre is limited. The regenerated cellulose lyocell process offers large advantages over other processes in terms of environmental and social impacts. However, cellulose is flammable. Current strategies to prepare flame-resistant (FR) regenerated cellulose fibre involve the incorporation of a fine powder of organophosphate or silica additives in the fibre or the use of phosphorylated cellulose pulp. Unfortunately, it reduces the strength of the fibre when used at a high enough ratio to achieve the level of flame resistance required for application for FR workwear and personal protective equipment (PPE).

As an alternative solution, this project aims to explore the use of nanoparticles to render lyocell fibres FR while preserving their strength as well as their biodegradability. The work will include the synthesis of the FR nanoparticles and their incorporation into the cellulose dope to prepare FR lyocell fibres. Ultimately, this research will allow the development of made-in-Canada FR and environmentally-friendly lyocell fibres using local sources of cellulose such as hemp and recycled textiles. It will provide a local source of FR fibre for the Canadian FR workwear and PPE industry, insuring a more stable and traceable supply chain.

Reconstitution de la variabilité climatique holocène au centre du Canada à partir des assemblages de chironomes subfossiles

Le climat de la planète se réchauffe rapidement, et les régions boréales du Canada sont parmi les plus touchées. Pour comprendre comment ces forêts réagiront au réchauffement actuel, il est essentiel de connaître comment le climat a évolué dans le passé. Ce projet cherche à reconstituer les variations de température des 13000 dernières années au centre du Canada, à partir d’insectes appelés chironomes dont les larves se développent dans les lacs.
Les chironomes sont très sensibles aux changements de températures, et laissent dans les sédiments lacustres des restes fossilisés. En les étudiant au microscope, il est possible d’estimer les températures qui régnaient au moment où ils vivaient. L’étudiante du projet analysera les sédiments d’un lac du sud du Manitoba pour retracer, avec une grande précision, l’évolution du climat depuis la fin de la dernière glaciation jusqu’à aujourd’hui.
Ces nouvelles données permettront de combler un vide important dans les archives climatiques du Canada et d’améliorer notre compréhension des variations de température à l’échelle nationale. En comparant les résultats obtenus avec ceux de l’est et de l’ouest du pays, le projet contribuera à reconstituer une vision cohérente du climat de l’Holocène et à mieux anticiper les impacts du réchauffement futur sur les forêts boréales.

Design of an Augmented Reality Interface for Ultralight eVTOL Aircraft

Mostavio is a Toronto-based aerospace company developing ultralight electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft designed for safe, efficient, and sustainable personal air travel. The company focuses on lightweight structures, automation, and human-centered design to make advanced air mobility more accessible. This project explores the use of augmented reality (AR) to improve how pilots and operators interact with eVTOL systems. The intern will evaluate various AR headsets and build a prototype interface that displays key flight data—such as altitude, speed, battery status, and GPS position—directly in the pilot’s field of view. The goal is to create a lightweight, easy-to-read AR display that enhances situational awareness and reduces the need for conventional cockpit instruments. For Mostavio, the research will provide valuable insights into integrating AR technology into future eVTOL models. The project will help demonstrate how immersive visualization can improve safety, comfort, and user experience in next-generation electric aviation.

Outdoor air pollution and cancer in Canadian children

Outdoor air pollution is a human carcinogen. This classification is based largely on a series of studies that has shown it increases respiratory cancers in adults. There is more limited evidence that that suggests it increases the risk of childhood cancer. To date, there have been few Canadian studies on this topic, and none that have been national in scope. This study will make use pre-existing cohort data assembled at an individual level that was created by the record linkage of national birth, cancer incidence, and mortality and income tax databases between 2000 and 2021. Air pollution surfaces have been generated that can be linked to place of residence of the children. This will allow us to estimate the risk of developing childhood cancer among those living in more highly polluted areas relative to those less polluted. These risks will be generated separately for common types of childhood cancers, including leukemia, brain tumors, and lymphomas. We will examine biological sex differences in air pollution risks by estimating risks separately for boys, and girls. The study will be carried out at Carleton University and include an interdisciplinary team of researchers including those within the federal government.

Mathematical Models of Oncolytic Virotherapy Including Oxygen Dependent Phenotypic Adaptation

This project develops mathematical models to investigate how tumour heterogeneity and oxygen availability influence the efficacy of oncolytic virotherapy (OVT). OVT employs genetically engineered viruses to selectively infect and destroy cancer cells, yet its therapeutic success is often hindered in hypoxic tumour regions, where low oxygen levels promote cellular adaptations that reduce viral replication and therapeutic response. The proposed models will integrate oxygen gradients and phenotypic diversity to elucidate their combined impact on viral dynamics and treatment outcomes. By quantitatively characterizing these interactions, this work aims to provide mechanistic insights that can inform the design of more robust oncolytic viruses and optimized combination therapies capable of overcoming the barriers imposed by hypoxic and heterogeneous tumour microenvironments.