Innovative Projects Realized

Cosmological perturbations from quantum gravity

The last century substantially advanced our understanding of the laws of physics and the cosmos, but many questions still remain unanswered. This project aims to bring us a step closer to unravelling the details of the beginning of our universe. Many researchers expect that gravity has a quantum nature, but a concrete theory is yet to be found. We will investigate the influence of a candidate theory to quantum gravity on the earliest measurements of our universe, namely the cosmic microwave background. This will give hints as to where quantum gravity effects could manifest in observations and constrain quantum gravity theories.

The project lies at the interface of research interests of the two research groups participating in this project. Going substantially beyond previous results, the proposed project will advance the research goals of all parties involved. It will furthermore enhance the exchange of ideas between the groups and will likely lead to further collaboration.

Next-generation flexible packaging films

The proposed research project consists of an educational and research component. The intern will deliver a workshop/seminar series to the industrial partner, transferring the basics of polymer science to Lintec’s staff to used in material selection processes. Second, the intern will research biodegradable polymers for suitability in flexible packaging films as one possible route to aid in plastic recycling. The partner organization will build a knowledge base of polymers and will be better able to respond to customers’ requirements and propose innovative polymer film packaging material solutions in the future.

UI-Copilot: developing large multimodal models for open-ended web navigation

“THIS IS A GENERIC TEXT PUT IN PLACE AS THERE WAS NO PROJECT OVERVIEW”

Multiscale simulations of superconducting circuits

THIS IS A GENERIC TEXT PUT IN PLACE AS THERE WAS NO PROJECT OVERVIEW

Santé reproductive intersectionnelle

Le projet de recherche vise à sensibiliser les personnes professionnelles de la santé concernant leurs rôles pour la santé sexuelle et procréative des personnes en contextes de vulnérabilité, plus particulièrement les personnes racisées (incl. les personnes autochtones), les personnes LGBTQ+ et en situation de précarité.

Business Research and Development for a Technology Startup

Earthquakes are very common in Canada as more than 4000 seismic activities get recorded every year. Apart from all the seismic activities, over 1200 earthquakes get recorded in B.C. Natural Resources Canada report indicates that, there is 30% possibility that B.C. will experience a very high risk earthquake in next 50 years. Ottawa, Montreal and Quebec will also experience medium level earthquakes. Insurance companies and government will have to play an essential role in the consequences of such catastrophic event. At present, home owner or industry personnel has to consult with an experience engineer to carry out an onsite building inspection to attain the earthquake insurance. Automated risk assessment software, like the one Sasset Technology has developed, can be used to generate damage assessment report. This extensive project on the market, competition and demand analysis is required to help real-estate, construction and engineering industry. It will also improve Sasset’s unique product to serve community and different industries.

Evident : Modèle de fondation pour images ultrasonores

Dans le domaine du contrôle non destructif, l’intelligence artificielle peut être déployée pour inspecter des images ultrasonores (ce sont des échographies de matériaux métalliques, composites ou autres), pour y détecter des défauts de fabrication ou d’usure (fissures, corrosion, etc.). Traditionnellement, les modèles d’IA sont entraînés pour un cas d’usage spécifique sur les données relatives au cas. Ces dernières années ont vu l’apparition de modèles de fondation, qui sont des modèles pré-entraînés sur de vastes quantités de données très diversifiées, capables d’être ensuite adaptés rapidement pour différents cas d’utilisation. Le projet de recherche consiste à développer un modèle de fondation pour images ultrasonores, en adaptant un modèle pré-entraîné, et aussi en pré-entraînant un modèle vierge sur des images ultrasonores, puis à les adapter pour une tâche spécifique et comparer leurs performances avec un modèle d’IA traditionnel entraîné uniquement pour la même tâche.

Evaluating Patient & Provider Satisfaction with a Self-Referral Healthcare Pathway

The proposed project will evaluate patient and provider satisfaction with a self-referral healthcare pathway for musculoskeletal injuries (injuries to the bones and joints) in a rural sport medicine clinic. In addition, patient wait times and outcomes will be compared between this self-referral pathway and the usual referral pathway.

Recommandations pour une solution numérique inclusive d’aide au budget destinée aux personnes présentant un traumatisme craniocérébral

Les personnes ayant un traumatisme craniocérébral (TCC) rencontrent des difficultés pour gérer et maintenir un
budget. La technologie peut assister et soutenir les fonctions cognitives déficitaires du TCC et contribuer à
l’amélioration de la participation sociale. La littérature démontre un manque crucial de technologie adaptée aux
personnes ayant un TCC.
Objectif : Développer des recommandations pour une solution numérique inclusive d’aide au budget (SNIB)
dans laquelle les paramètres d’assistance répondent aux besoins des profils cognitifs, sensoriels et des facteurs
environnementaux des personnes présentant un TCC.
Méthodologie : Elle s’appuie sur la recherche-action participative en technologie et l’application des
connaissances intégrées. Deux étapes : 1) analyser l’environnement pour identifier les besoins des futurs
usagers et les différents profils d’assistance et, 2) développer des recommandations.
Résultats attendus : 1/Identification des besoins spécifiques des personnes TCC de l’association.
2/Recommandations d’une SNIB. 3/Proposition d’une SNIB existante ou d’un cahier des charges de
développement de SNIB.

AI Solutions Engineer Intern

Tekside aims to streamline marketing processes through harnessing the power of artificial intelligence (AI) to provide insights and streamline content creation. The core focus is ensuring that the content we generate is not generic but highly personalized and relevant to specific customer segments. Tekside emphasizes the activation of tailored content using Intelligent Email Marketing. Tekside plans to start with a pilot Market research study that leverages emerging AI technologies to extract unique market insights about what customers are talking about in the market (on social media). Using AI tools provides data on the pulse of a market and emerging messaging threads that brands can harness and perhaps shape in their marketing.

L2M – Cross-platform App for self-assessment of speech in noise performance

The DSP and electroacoustics lab (DEAL) at the National Centre for Audiology (NCA) conducts research and development in the digital health technology landscape, with a specific focus on creating a mobile hearing assessment application. This initiative is crucially timed to address the escalating issue of hearing loss, which is anticipated to impact 2.5 billion people globally by 2050. The DEAL’s project is particularly vital given the increasing use of smartphones among older adults and the recent regulatory approvals for over-the-counter hearing aids. This convergence of factors presents both significant opportunities and challenges for DEAL’s knowledge translation activities.
The present project aims to address the critical market problem of inaccessible and inconvenient hearing assessments, especially for the aging population and those with mobility or geographical limitations. The traditional approach to hearing tests, requiring visits to specialized clinics and expert supervision, poses notable accessibility challenges. DEAL’s mobile application, designed for easy and convenient home-based hearing assessments, seeks to bridge this gap, tapping into a clear market demand.
The project focuses on leveraging the app’s unique features, such as its offline functionality and compatibility with simple wired and wireless technology, to enhance its appeal and usability, especially for less tech-savvy older adults. By aligning the product with the needs of over-the-counter hearing aid companies, we envisage an opening up of new avenues for partnerships and market entry.

Abrasive Waterjet Polishing of Large Hydraulic Turbine Blades Year Two

The objective of this project is to improve the quality of the hard-to-reach areas of the hydraulic turbine blades using abrasive waterjet polishing method. By this way, the energy lost caused by parietal friction between the turbine blades and the flow will be decreased and consequently the efficiency of the turbine will be improved. Previously, the polishing process of some parts of the turbines was performed manually which caused uneven finished surface and poor quality in some areas. With this method, through a uniform polishing strategy, the desired surface quality can be achieved. The polishing parameters affecting the quality of the final surface using this method have been initially investigated during the PhD research of the applicant. During post-doc, a comprehensive experimental study will be done on this process and using a more advance test-rig polishing of more complex surfaces similar to those of hydraulic turbines will be performed.