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Faculty of Health Sciences Project Summaries

Supervisors

Supervisor name: Bernadette Murphy

Project title: Effect of Neck Vibration on Sensorimotor Excitability

Summary of research project: Vibration of neck muscles excites muscle receptors called muscle spindles, providing a way to investigate how changing sensory input from the neck affects brain excitability. The aim of this project is to investigate how altering neck sensory input with vibration affects brain excitability, and motor skill acquisition. Sensorimotor processing will be investigated using either the EEG technique of somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) or transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). Participants will acquire a novel motor task with and without neck vibration. This project is important because it can demonstrate the direct impact of changes in sensory input from the neck on brain processing.

Student responsibilities/tasks: Student will assist in recruiting and testing participants, and performing data analysis. They will acquire skills in:

Collecting and analyzing somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) to study sensory.
processing by the brain and/or collecting and analyzing Motor evoked potentials (MEPs).
Collecting and analyzing upper motor learning data.
Running statistical analyses and data presentation.
Communicating with research participants.

Student qualifications required:

Strong grades in Intro to Movement Neuroscience and Motor Control and Learning (or equivalent).
Excellent organization and time management skills.
Working knowledge of Excel (or equivalent).

Expected training/skills to be received by the Student:

Training in data acquisition and analysis using advanced EEG and EMG data acquistion systems.
Training in statistical analysis and data presentation.
Student will improve their interpersonal and research communication skills.
Student will improve their ability to read and interpret literature in human neuroscience.
Student will improve their ability to communicate with human research participants while obtaining informed consent and ensuring their comfort during research experiments.

Length of award: 16 Weeks

Location of award: Hybrid

Available Award: NSERC USRA or Ontario Tech STAR

Supervisor name: Laura Banks

Project title: Exploring Teaching Excellence in our Academic Community: Hybrid (e-TEACH) Approaches to Enhance Student-Centred Learning Experiences

Summary of research project: This project will evaluate innovative technology use and accessibility in undergraduate teaching and learning at Ontario Tech University. First, a survey will be conducted to document classroom environments, technology use and accessibility, and related experiences (e.g., attitudes and behaviours) of faculty and students. Second, survey respondents will be invited to participate in an interview and/or focus group to characterize barriers and facilitators to using technology in the classroom. Ultimately, this initiative will inform priority discussion areas for a new community of practice to advance technology use within student-centered learning experiences at Ontario Tech University.

Student responsibilities/tasks:

To assist with environmental scan activities (survey administration, data collection/analysis).
To assist with interviews and focus groups.
To summarize data for conference presentations and/or manuscripts.

Student qualifications required:

Faculty of Health Sciences or Faculty of Education student preferred;
Cumulative GPA of 4.0 or higher preferred;
Prior experience in conducting literature reviews, research interviews and/or focus groups.

Expected training/skills to be received by the Student:

Research ethics.
Data analysis.
Conducting literature reviews.

Length of award: 14 Weeks

Location of award: Remote

Available Award: Ontario Tech STAR

Supervisor name: Laura Banks

Project title: The systematic review of cardiovascular outcomes in major clinical trials by sex and race: Maximizing knowledge translation opportunities

Summary of research project: This project involves the evaluation of cardiovascular (CV) outcomes following common interventions, which has the potential to impact over 2.5 million Canadians living with CV disease. This work is urgently required as randomized controlled trials and clinical guidelines evaluating CV outcomes after pharmacological (e.g., guideline-directed medical therapies for heart failure and anti-platelet therapies for ischemic heart disease) and/or device (e.g., surgical or transcatheter aortic valve replacement for aortic valve disease) interventions have often failed to report on sex, race, and age-related differences.

Student responsibilities/tasks:

Assist with multiple systematic reviews (title/abstract screening, full-text review, data extraction);
Liaise with other research team members to coordinate research activities.

Student qualifications required:

3rd or 4th Year Student in the Faculty of Health Sciences;
GPA of 4.0 of higher (preferred);
Prior experience with conducting literature reviews, systematic reviews;
Prior experience with analyzing data using SPSS/SAS as well as Excel.

Expected training/skills to be received by the Student:

Conducting systematic reviews.
Utilizing endnote and covidence online programs.
Data review and extraction.

Length of award: 16 Weeks

Location of award: Remote

Available Award: CIHR USRA (exclusively for Black students) or Ontario Tech STAR

Supervisor name: Manon Lemonde

Project title: Taking care of older adults living with cancer

Summary of research project: Older adults living with cancer in rural and remote areas are affected by the lack of services and resources to ensure access to care which is on a continuum from screening to palliative care. The goal of this project is to undertake a systematic review of resources available to any adults with cancer in the rural and remote areas in addition to the emphasis on geriatric related services.
This review can include different types of documents from Canada and any other parts of the world where oncology care is provided. The important part will be to highlight where the gaps are and where the potential is for ensuring access fundamental rule to every Canadian citizen.

Student responsibilities/tasks:

Focus on understanding oncology continuum of care for older adults living with cancer in rural and remote areas.
Be responsible for researching evidence-base literature about resources and services from Canadian sources, as well as from other countries.
Consider grey literature.
Develop a systematic review.
Develop awareness of the topic, uncover current perspectives of the issue and find an attractive way to present the evidence.

Student qualifications required:

Interested in research within the health care system and oncology.
Completed three years in the faculty of health sciences and research methods course.
Have obtained a 3.0 GPA.
Autonomous, detail oriented with a strong sense of responsibility.
Self-motivated, goal oriented and well organized.
Reliable, punctual and good communicator.

Expected training/skills to be received by the Student:

Critical thinking and analysis about the health care system and oncology related care.
Identification of reliable source of evidence using a comprehensive framework.
Ability to discriminate information about the grey literature in a systematic review.
Building competence in learning about geriatric oncology and its particularities.
Access to experts in geriatric oncology from different institutions and organizations.

Length of award: 14 Weeks

Location of award: Remote

Available Award: CIHR USRA (exclusively for Black students) or Ontario Tech STAR

Supervisor name: Meghann Lloyd

Project title: Motor Skill intervention for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A 5-year follow up

Summary of research project: The overarching objective of the proposed research is to generate knowledge about the long-term trajectory of motor skill development in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and how motor skills enable participation in childhood contexts that support the development of social, communication and behavioural skills. To accomplish this, we are conducting a 5-year follow up study on a cohort of children with ASD who participated in a SSHRC funded fundamental motor skill intervention between 2017-2020, when they were 3-5 years of age and recruiting a new cohort of children who did not.

Student responsibilities/tasks:

Database management.
Data input.
Scoring of assessment protocols.
Contacting families for scheduling and follow up.
Recruitment.
Other tasks as assigned by the supervisor.

Student qualifications required:

Kinesiology study.
Vulnerable sector police check.
Experience with children with disabilities is an asset.
KINE 1120 required.
KINE 4401 preferred.

Expected training/skills to be received by the Student:

Experience scoring and interpreting developmental assessments for children with disabilities.
Experience collecting data with children with disabilities.
Experience with data entry and data management.
Experience with preliminary data analysis.

Length of award: 16 Weeks

Location of award: In-Person

Available Award: SSHRC USRA (exclusively for Black students) or Ontario Tech STAR

Supervisor name: Nicholas La Delfa

Project title: Examining the influence of simulated job rotation on muscle fatigue during complex tasks

Summary of research project: Many industrial jobs involve complex repetitive work. However, current ergonomics tools do not consider the order in which the task elements occur. Understanding the effect of work sequencing on fatigue could lead to better preventative fatigue mitigation in the workplace. Thus, this project will examine how different job rotation patterns, of otherwise equivalent workloads, can affect subjective and objective muscle fatigue outcomes (e.g. workday schedule of jobs A, B, C vs. B, A, C). This research will also provide critical context on the role of recovery within the workday. How these profiles can be optimised to minimise fatigue over the short- and long-term are currently unknown.

Student responsibilities/tasks:

Students will assist in coordinating data collection for a muscle fatigue study assessing the forces of muscular exertions, feelings of participant fatigue, and electrical muscle activity using electromyography (EMG).
Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, participant recruitment, data collection scheduling, sensor setup, troubleshooting, experimental design, and data acquisition.
Students will work as a team and independently.

Student qualifications required:

Strong interest for biomechanics and neuromuscular research and desire to learn new skills.
Must have taken Intro to Movement Neuroscience, Anatomy, and Biomechanics.
Minimum of a B GPA.
Must be available from 9 am-4 pm, Monday to Friday for the project duration.
Preference to candidates who have advanced kinesiology coursework or high GPA.

Expected training/skills to be received by the Student:

Muscular Fatigue: Learn about muscle fatigue by reading research designing experiments, collecting data, and evaluating performance under load.
Project Management: Students will learn to organize, plan, and manage tasks efficiently for the successful execution of a high-quality investigation.
EMG Collection: Students will operate research-grade EMG instrumentation to collect and analyze data, gaining skills in measuring muscle activity.
Relevance of Job Rotation in Ergonomics: They will connect findings to ergonomic strategies like job rotation to minimize fatigue in the workplace.

Length of award: 16 Weeks

Location of award: In-Person

Available Award: NSERC USRA or Ontario Tech STAR

Supervisor name: Shilpa Dogra

Project title: Sedentary Physiology

Summary of research project: This research is focused on understanding the physiological consequences of prolonged and interrupted sitting. Specifically, we are aiming to understand whether 4 hours of sitting leads to endothelial dysfunction that can be reversed with walking interruptions. We are also aiming to identify novel biomarkers in the oral microbiome that can be used to advance this area of research.

Student responsibilities/tasks:

Data Collection: In lab activities include maximal exercise testing, saliva sample collection, monitoring walking interruptions.
Sample Analysis: Supporting analysis of saliva samples.
Literature Review: Supporting review of research aimed at identifying markers in the microbiome that respond to short-term interventions.

Student qualifications required:

Ideal candidate is someone who can conduct maximal exercise testing (upper level Kinesiology student) and/or has experience with conducting literature reviews.

Expected training/skills to be received by the Student:

Lab skills related to sedentary and exercise physiology: maximal exercise testing, saliva collection, exercise interventions.
Literature Review: Skills related to screening and synthesizing literature.
Sample Analysis: wet lab skills related to analysis of saliva samples.

Length of award: 16 Weeks

Location of award: Hybrid

Available Award: NSERC USRA or Ontario Tech STAR

Supervisor name: Syed Qadri

Project title: Bovine Red Blood Cell Physiology

Summary of research project: Mammalian red blood cells (RBC) exhibit several differences in their morphology, circulating longevity, metabolism, and protein diversity. This Project aims to identify the key differences in cellular ion balance, plasma membrane changes, and signaling networks in bovine and human RBCs. Understanding these differences will provide new insights into veterinary diagnostics of bovine RBC diseases.

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.
Examination of red cell markers.
Understanding mechanisms of bovine anemias.

Length of award: 16 Weeks

Location of award: In-Person

Available Award: NSERC USRA or Ontario Tech STAR

Supervisor name: Syed Qadri

Project title: Influence of Blood Bank Storage on Human Red Blood Cell Functions

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.

Length of award: 16 Weeks

Location of award: In-Person

Available Award: CIHR USRA (exclusively for Black students) or Ontario Tech STAR

Supervisor name: Winnie Sun

Project title: Examining the Feasibility, Clinical and Implementation Outcomes of Using Virtual Reality Reminiscence Therapy for People with Dementia in Long-Term Care

Summary of research project: The purpose of this proposed project is to examine the acceptability, appropriateness and feasibility of using Virtual Reality Reminiscence Therapy (VRRT) in Durham Region LTC, with focus on exploring which mode of delivery (generalized vs. customizable storyboard) contributes to the greatest impact on PWD (mental health, cognitive function and social connection).

Student responsibilities/tasks:

Recruitment of study participants.
Data collection using Virtual Reality Reminiscence Therapy at Alzheimer's Society and Durham Region Long-Term Care.
Data analysis and knowledge mobilization activities.

Student qualifications required:

Minimum A- grades overall.
Experience with exergaming and using virtual reality.
Experience with working with older adults (especially people with dementia).
Experience with SPSS and qualitative interviews is preferred.

Expected training/skills to be received by the Student:

Student will receive training related to participatory co-designing of technological innovations through advisory members (ie family caregivers, people with dementia and staff).
Students will receive training related to conducting qualitative interviewing and data analysis.

Length of award: 16 Weeks

Location of award: In-Person

Available Award: SSHRC USRA (exclusively for Black students) or Ontario Tech STAR