*Updates for 2024 are in progress.

 

Supervisors

Bernadette Murphy | Jennifer Abbass Dick & Manon Lemonde | Mika Nonoyama | Nick La Delfa | Paul Yielder | Syed Qadri | Winnie Sun

 

Supervisor name: Bernadette Murphy

Project title: Effect of neck vibration on upper limb sensorimotor integration

Summary of research project: When people learn new skills, it changes the way the brain processes information. Neck pain and fatigue alter this response and also worsen motor performance. A challenge with experimental neck fatigue is that the fatigue recovers within a few minutes. Vibration of neck muscles affords a way to excite specific muscle receptors called muscle spindles, and when frequencies above 60 Hz are used for periods of 10 minutes, post vibration effects can last up to 22 hours, providing a longer time window to explore the impact of altered neck sensory inputs.
The aim of this Project is to investigate how altering neck sensory input with vibration affects brain excitability, and motor performance.

Student responsibilities/tasks:

• Students will assist in recruiting and testing participants, and performing data analysis.

Student qualifications required:

• Students need to have completed Intro to Movement Neuroscience and Motor Control and learning with strong grades.

Expected training/skills to be received by the Student:

• Collecting and analyzing somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) to study sensory processing by the brain
• Collecting and analyzing upper limb force matching data
• Learning to run statistical analyses and present data
• Communicating with research participants and obtaining informed consent.

Length of award: 16 Weeks

Location of award: In-Person

Available Award: NSERC USRA or Ontario Tech STAR Award

 

Supervisor name: Jennifer Abbass Dick & Manon Lemonde

Project title: An intergenerational approach to breastfeeding support

Summary of research project: Infant feeding trends have shifted over the years with breastfeeding being recommended in a historically formula feeding culture, causing intergenerational disconnect. No studies have examined Canadian grandparents breastfeeding knowledge, attitude or experiences with supporting breastfeeding. Grandparents will be recruited online to complete an online survey to determine knowledge, attitude, experiences, and preferences for educational support to determine gaps and needs for designing health promotional materials around breastfeeding education.

Student responsibilities/tasks:

• Literature search
• Development of the research proposal
• Research ethics board (REB) application (include online data collection form creation, identification of grandparents’ groups/associations)
• Upon REB approval recruitment via online platforms, and data analysis

Student qualifications required:

• Completion of third year research course
• Registered in the nursing program
• Interested in breastfeeding

Expected training/skills to be received by the Student:

• Survey creation including use of validated tools
• Completing REB applications
• Recruitment methods
• Data collection and analysis

Length of award: 14 Weeks

Location of award: Hybrid

Available Award: Ontario Tech STAR Award

  

Supervisor name: Mika Nonoyama

Project title: Testing the Effects of Temperature & Humidity on Human Performance for Individuals with Stable COPD in the ACE Facility Climatic Chamber: A Feasibility and Pilot Study

Summary of research project: There is little evidence describing how specific types of weather negatively impact individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The OBJECTIVE of this study is to determine if it is feasible to measure direct effects of temperature and humidity in 20 individuals with stable COPD in Ontario Tech’s ACE climatic chamber and assess outcomes resulting from the exposures. In addition, physiological human performance resulting from the exposures will be collected including heart rate, respiratory rate, skin temperature, accelerometry, dyspnea, ratings of perceived exertion, exercise capacity, and spirometry. A randomized crossover feasibility & pilot study will test 5 different weather exposures: hot/high relative humidity (RH), hot/low RH, cold/high RH, cold/low RH, and ideal (hot 28°C, cold -28°C, high RH 95%, low RH 37%, ideal 18°C and 50% RH). Participants will undergo 2-4 days testing in ACE. Examining human performance in individuals with stable COPD offers a unique opportunity to understand the functioning of the healthy state, which is the focus of this research. This study will inform further research aimed at elucidating the mechanisms underlying the association between weather and human performance.

Student responsibilities/tasks:

• Data collection in the ACE small climatic chamber (with other research team members)
• Assisting with data cleaning and analysis
• Potential contribution to writing reports
• Collaborate with graduate student(s) and other Ontario Tech University faculty and staff, and Lakeridge Health staff
• Learn about feasibility & pilot study methodology and COPD pathophysiology & management

Student qualifications required:

• Min A- in HLSC3910
• Able to work: independently, with older adults with physical disabilities, on site at Ontario Tech
• ASSETS: Experience with: reference managers (Endnote), data organization, academic/research writing, MS Office especially Excel; knowledge of respiratory physiology and pathophysiology; CPR training.

Expected training/skills to be received by the Student:

• Learn & practice how to build rapport and work with individuals with chronic lung disease, and an interdisciplinary research team
• Learning about various operations of Ontario Tech's ACE facility
• Completing data collection using questionnaires and walk testing
• Learn & practice data cleaning, organization and analysis
• Learn about feasibility & pilot study methodology

Length of award: 16 Weeks

Location of award: In-Person

Available Award: NSERC USRA or Ontario Tech STAR Award

  

Supervisor name: Nick La Delfa

Project title: Assessing the reliability of maximum voluntary contraction protocols

Summary of research project: Maximum voluntary contractions (MVCs) are the maximum amount of force or torque that you can generate with your muscles. In neuromechanics and biomechanics research, baseline MVCs are often used as a reference for what percentage of maximal muscular effort individuals are performing, allowing us to standardize workloads across participants of different strength. The purpose of this study is to examine various methods of obtaining baseline MVC strength and determine which method has the most reliability. With these data, we are hopeful that we will create a best practice method for obtaining baseline MVCs.

Student responsibilities/tasks:

• Your main focus during the summer will be data collection for the study described above.
• As such, you will be trained in the use of surface electromyography, force/strength measurement and psychophysical rating scales. This skill set will also allow you to help with other studies being collected in the lab.
• Other responsibilities and tasks will include: initial stages of data analysis, literature integration and manuscript preparation.

Student qualifications required:

• 'A-' or higher in Biomechanics (KINE 2040 or HLSC 4471U) AND Occupational Ergonomics (KINE/HLSC 4475U).
• Note, if you are currently enrolled in KINE 4475U, you will still be considered for this Project.

Expected training/skills to be received by the Student:

• How to operate biomechanics laboratory equipment
• Basic data reduction, processing and analysis
• Knowledge translation in academic and industry-focused forums

Length of award: 16 Weeks

Location of award: In-Person

Available Award: NSERC USRA or Ontario Tech STAR Award

  

Supervisor name: Paul Yielder

Project title: Effect of altered neck inputs on eye reflexes

Summary of research project: Because of the particular role the part of the brain called the cerebellum has in modulating eye movements, it has provided us with a unique way to directly measure cerebellum function, using measures such as the vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR). The VOR keeps the eyes on target despite head and/or body movements that include the head, whether these movements are self-produced or externally imposed. This research uses a state of the art eye tracking system to measures changes in the way the output of cerebellum is affected by recurrent neck pain. This work will measure the vestibulo-ocular reflex and hand-eye coordination in individuals with recurrent neck pain

Student responsibilities/tasks:

The Student will assist in:

• Recruiting participants and obtaining informed consent, statistical analysis and data presentation of collected data
• Collecting and analyzing the vestibulo-ocular reflex using the Eye-Link II eye-tracking system
• Using 3D motion analysis to measure spatial and temporal error in maintaining target fixation throughout head movement.

Student qualifications required:

• Kinesiology students who have strong grades in Neuroscience courses (e.g. Intro to Movement Neuroscience, Motor Control completed or in progress) are eligible to apply.

Expected training/skills to be received by the Student:

• Student will receive training in utilizing an advanced high speed eye-tracking system
• Student will receive training in analyzing vestibulo-ocular reflex results
• Student will learn to use 3D motion analysis to measure spatial and temporal error in maintaining target fixation throughout head movement.
• Student will receive training in statistical analysis and data presentation.
• Student will improve their interpersonal and research communication skills.

Length of award: 16 Weeks

Location of award: In-Person

Available Award: NSERC USRA or Ontario Tech STAR Award

 

Supervisor name: Syed Qadri

Project title: Modulation of red blood cell functions in vitro

Summary of research project: Cellular functions of red blood cells (RBC), are affected by multiple mediators and stressors in vivo, contributing to the pathophysiology of various clinical conditions as well RBC storage quality in blood banking. This Project aims to identify the mechanisms that influence the morphological and metabolic phenotypes of RBCs in response to stressful stimuli. These pathophysiologic responses dictating the RBC ionic balance and lipid organization in the plasma membrane will be studied in vitro. 

Student responsibilities/tasks:

• For this Project, the Student will assist in the preparation of different buffers required for RBC sampling and subsequently subjecting them to different treatments.
• The Student will examine cell function using ektacytometry and cytofluorometry.
• In parallel, the Student will also perform thorough literature reviews on the research topic.

Student qualifications required:

• The students should have completed ANY of the following courses (Minimum B grade):
  BIOL 2030; BIOL 2020; BIOL 2080; MLSC1110/HLSC2110; or HLSC2460/2461
• Familiarity with basic laboratory skills is preferred.

Expected training/skills to be received by the Student:

• Understanding of laboratory methods in hematology
• Experience in transfusion science research
• Examination of red cell markers

Length of award: 14 Weeks

Location of award: In-Person

Available Award: NSERC USRA or Ontario Tech STAR Award

 

Supervisor name: Winnie Sun

Project title: Examining the physical, social and educational benefits of CLEAN exergame for persons with dementia to promote hand hygiene and influenza vaccine uptake

Summary of research project: The purpose of this Project is to develop an educational exergame for person with dementia (PWD) to practice effective handwashing through the use of motion capture technologies, while delivering educational content related to infection control, and evidence-based resources to educate them about the importance of vaccination.  This Project aims at examining the meaning and value of utilizing educational and social exergaming for PWD in the community and institutional settings. Using mixed methods approaches, this feasibility study will be implemented with the goal of developing and pilot-testing the CLEAN exergame for persons with dementia in the community, and institutional settings. 

Student responsibilities/tasks:

Student will assist with:

• The co-designing and development of CLEAN exergame, in collaboration with industry partners and stakeholders
• The pilot-testing of the prototype exergame in Ontario Shores, and Adult Day Program in Oshawa Senior Citizen Centre
• Data collection and data analysis of user experience and outcome measures
• Knowledge translation and dissemination activities, such as publication and conference presentation.

Student qualifications required:

• Minimum B+ grade
• Experience with older adults and person with dementia is preferred
• Solid knowledge in exergaming is preferred
• Experience with educational training and/or technology/gaming is preferred
• Skills with qualitative and/or quantitative research methods
• Excellence in writing and oral/communication skills

Expected training/skills to be received by the Student:

• Student will develop skills in the co-designing of exergaming for person with dementia and to evaluate its effectiveness through mixed methods approaches
• Student will develop qualitive interviewing skills with older adults, while collecting pilot-testing data from exergaming and will be trained in triangulation of study data for analysis.

Length of award: 14 Weeks

Location of award: Hybrid

Available Award: Ontario Tech STAR Award