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Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science Project Summaries

Supervisors

Aaron Yurkewich | Hossam Gaber | Hossam Gaber | Hossam Gaber | Jennifer McKellar | Md Mashum Billal | Rachid Machrafi |

 

Supervisor name: Aaron Yurkewich

Project title: Intelligent Portable Hand Exoskeleton for Stroke Rehabilitation

Summary of research project: After a stroke, people often require hand motion and grip assistance to perform rehabilitation tasks and everyday activities independently. The Ontario Tech BioRobotics Lab has developed HERO Glove Insight, which is a powered hand exoskeleton that assists users to open and close their hand and maintain object-specific grip forces. We require an undergraduate student to design a fully portable version of our research prototype, in which they will design circuit boards, control strategies and computer vision algorithms that enable the system to be operated without external tethering or computing. They will use motion capture and electromyography to study their device’s effect on independence.

Student responsibilities/tasks: 

  • The undergraduate student should be excited to design printed circuit boards, cases, user interfaces and computer vision algorithms for wearable robotics applications.
  • The student will work with engineers, clinicians and patients to gain feedback on their device and make iterations to improve our ability to support hand rehabilitation and everyday independence.

Student qualifications required:

  • The student should have a strong understanding of circuit design and control systems, and an excitement to learn to develop circuit boards, 3D printed user interfaces and computer vision algorithms.

Expected training/skills to be received by the Student:

  • The student will learn biomedical engineering concepts in motion and muscle analysis, motor learning and patient-specific technology design.
  • The student will learn mechatronics engineering concepts in computer aided design, circuit board design and computer vision algorithm development.
  • The student will learn to communicate their research to therapists, patients and the robotics community during studies and at events.

Length of award: 14 Weeks

Location of award: In-Person

Available Award: NSERC USRA

 

Supervisor name: Hossam Gaber

Project title: Radioactive Waste Treatment Process Engineering

Summary of research project: Analyze radioactive waste, conduct Multiphysics simulation, develop simulation models of low level radioactive waste from SMR and CANDU. Analyze waste properties for BWRX and MSR models. Analyze treatment process design parameters, simulation, shielding and experimental analysis.

Student responsibilities/tasks: 

  • Literature review
  • Reports and presentation development
  • Multiphysics simulation
  • Experimental tests
  • Data analysis

Student qualifications required:

  • Engineering or physics degree background, simulation and experimental tests.

Expected training/skills to be received by the Student:

  • Simulation, experimental work

Length of award: 14 Weeks

Location of award: In-Person

Available Award: NSERC USRA

 

Supervisor name: Hossam Gaber

Project title: SMR-in-the-loop

Summary of research project: Design real time simulation with hardware-in-the-loop for SMR as integrated with grid and control room. Develop operation models and scenarios in normal and emergency conditions. Develop SMR simulation and evaluate performance measures with grid and control room integrations.

Student responsibilities/tasks: 

  • Literature review
  • SMR simulation
  • Hardware-in-the-loop
  • Operation analysis for grid-SMR integration
  • Analyze normal and emergency operation scenarios

Student qualifications required:

  • Engineering design
  • Hardware-in-the-loop
  • SMR simulation
  • Grid simulation
  • Control room modeling
  • Human-in-the-loop

Expected training/skills to be received by the Student:

  • SMR simulation
  • SMR operation modeling
  • Grid simulation with SMR
  • Hardware-in-the-loop and real time simulation

Length of award: 14 Weeks

Location of award: In-Person

Available Award: NSERC USRA

  

Supervisor name: Hossam Gaber

Project title: Control Room for SMR Implementations

Summary of research project: Develop advanced digital control room with human factors for SMR deployments. Modeling of SMR operation, human performance, control room design, integrate real time data, control room simulation, human-in-the-loop.

Student responsibilities/tasks: 

  • Literature review
  • SMR operation modeling
  • Simulation
  • Human performance analysis,

Student qualifications required:

  • Modeling and Simulation
  • AI algorithms
  • Control system

Expected training/skills to be received by the Student:

  • AI algorithms
  • Modeling and simulation
  • Human performance analysis

Length of award: 14 Weeks

Location of award: In-Person

Available Award: NSERC USRA

 

Supervisor name: Jennifer McKellar

Project title: Sustainability Improvements to a Microcreactor Life Cycle

Summary of research project: There is a considerable degree of interest in deploying very small modular nuclear reactors (microreactors) in certain applications to provide reliable, low-carbon energy. An existing study is exploring the life cycle environmental, economic and social impacts of using a microreactor at a mining site. The life cycle covers all activities ranging from raw material extraction through operation to final waste disposal. The goal of this student project is to examine ways to adjust the microreactor life cycle so as to reduce its negative environmental and economic impacts.

Student responsibilities/tasks: 

  • Learning about the microreactor life cycle, and the different activities it involves.
  • Identifying opportunities to change the activities (e.g., different method, different energy source). 
  • Calculating how environmental and/or economic performance of the activity changes when the activity is changed. 
  • Preparing a short report/summary of their work.

Student qualifications required:

  • Completion of 2nd-year in an Engineering or Science discipline preferred, but not required.
  • Awareness of basic economic calculations & micoreactors preferred, but not required.
  • Required:
    • Familiarity with Microsoft Excel and spreadsheet operations.
    • Strong independent work & communication skills.
    • General knowledge of energy & environmental issues.

Expected training/skills to be received by the Student:

  • Familiarity with sustainability concepts.
  • Familiarity with analytical techniques such as life cycle assessment.
  • General research skills, e.g., literature searches.
  • Awareness of various industrial processes, as the microreactor life cycle is explored

Length of award: 14 Weeks

Location of award: Hybrid

Available Award: NSERC USRA

 

Supervisor name: Md Mashum Billal

Project title: Optimizing Sustainable Biomass Supply Chains Using GIS and Artificial Intelligence

Summary of research project: This project will investigate how Geographic Information Systems (GIS), artificial intelligence (AI) and optimization can improve planning for sustainable biomass supply chains. The student will analyze spatial data on forest, agricultural and municipal biomass resources, evaluate transportation networks, and develop maps to identify suitable facility locations. The project aims to improve resource utilization while reducing transportation costs and environmental impacts. Students will gain hands-on experience with ArcGIS Pro, data analysis, optimization and sustainable energy systems.

Student responsibilities/tasks: 

  • The student will collect and analyze spatial and transportation data, develop Geographic Information System (GIS) maps, perform data processing and visualization and assist with optimization and sustainability analyses.
  • The student will interpret results, prepare figures and summaries, participate in weekly research meetings and contribute to technical reports and presentations.

Student qualifications required:

  • Completed at least a second year of Engineering or Science.
  • Background in engineering, data analysis or optimization.
  • Experience with Microsoft Excel; knowledge of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) is an asset.
  • Strong analytical, communication and teamwork skills.

Expected training/skills to be received by the Student:

  • Gain hands-on experience in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for spatial data processing, mapping, and suitability analysis.
  • Develop skills in biomass resource assessment, including data integration, availability estimation, and spatial interpretation.
  • Learn to perform transportation and supply-chain analysis for biomass collection and delivery to processing facilities.
  • Build research skills in data analysis, technical documentation, visualization, and interpretation of results for academic reporting and presentations

Length of award: 14 Weeks

Location of award: Hybrid

Available Award: NSERC USRA

 

Supervisor name: Rachid Machrafi

Project title: Isotope Content Optimization of High Sensitivity Scintillators for Neutron Detection

Summary of research project: Scintillators are widely used for gamma-ray spectroscopy because of their high efficiency, excellent energy resolution and high light output. Their response in mixed fields, however, can also be affected by neutrons, protons and heavy ions. This project will investigate these radiation effects using Monte Carlo simulations, modeling and experimental measurements. The study will focus on optimizing the isotope composition of newly developed scintillators to maximize neutron detection efficiency over a broad energy range. Measurements will use charged particles, neutrons and gamma-ray sources. Students will gain experience in radiation detection, scintillator physics and Monte Carlo.

Student responsibilities/tasks: 

  • Perform Monte Carlo simulations and analyze the simulation results.
  • Assist in planning and conducting experimental measurements.
  • Analyze experimental data and contribute to the preparation of research papers.

Student qualifications required:

  • Completion of at least two years of a Nuclear Engineering program.
  • Familiarity with the MCNP radiation transport code.
  • Strong interest in nuclear radiation, detector physics and experimental research.

Expected training/skills to be received by the Student:

  • Operating radiation detectors and associated electronics.
  • Operating and using a neutron generator and gamma sources.
  • Performing simulations with MCNP.
  • Radiation Safety Training.

Length of award: 14 Weeks

Location of award: Hybrid

Available Award: NSERC USRA