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Faculty of Science Project Summaries

Supervisors  

Andrea Kirkwood | Brad Easton | Denina Simmons | Janice Strap | Joseph MacMillan| Liliana Trevani | Mehran Ebrahimi | Nisha Agarwal |

 

Supervisor name: Andrea Kirkwood

Project title: Investigating the Environmental Drivers of Aquatic Plant Communities in Urban Ponds

Summary of research project: Urban stormwater ponds are designed for flood control, yet can be densely colonized by aquatic plants. How aquatic plants influence the function of urban stormwater ponds has been a long-term research question of the Kirkwood Lab. This project will investigate how the environmental conditions (salinity, nutrients, temperature, etc.) in stormwater ponds control the amount and type of aquatic plants growing in the pond. The student will work in collaboration with a graduate student studying the macroinvertebrate communities in these ponds.

Student responsibilities/tasks:

  • The student will visit 10-15 stormwater ponds across Durham Region to take in-pond field measurements and collect water and biological samples.
  • They will also assist the graduate student with field and lab sample processing since they will be sharing the same data.
  • The student will learn new technologies in the field (mini-drone operation, sensor deployment) as well as lab analyses (water chemistry, plant measurement and identification).

Student qualifications required:

  • This project is intended for a student currently in their 3rd year of Biological Science so that they are eligible to continue the research as a 4th year thesis project.
  • Preference will be given to students in Environmental Biology or those who have taken at least 2 ecology-based courses. Exceptional students in their 2nd year may be considered.

Expected training/skills to be received by the Student:

  • Field sampling - The student will learn how to safely access urban ponds to collect water and biological samples using specialized equipment.
  • Lab Processing - The student will learn how to prepare and process samples for water chemistry and plant analyses.
  • Data Management and Analysis - The student will learn how to record, manage and analyze their data.
  • Team Collaboration - The student will develop necessary team skills of respect, communication and collaboration.

Length of award: 16 Weeks

Location of award: In-Person

Available Award: NSERC USRA or Ontario Tech STAR

 

Supervisor name: Brad Easton

Project title: Advanced materials for electrochemical energy storage and conversion

Summary of research project: The development of doped metal-oxide-based materials supports represent a unique platform for electrochemical energy conversion and storage applications. This project will be involve the synthesis and characterization of various nanostructured metal-oxide that are doped with different metals in order to modify their electronic properties and morphology. Detailed physical characterization will be performed to relate electrochemical performance with structure/composition. Specific attention will be focused on surface modification methods and bi-functional electrocatalysis for oxygen reduction and water oxidation.

Student responsibilities/tasks:

  • The student will work in collaboration with other team members on the synthesis and characterization of the materials. Materials characterization methods will include SEM, XPS, XRD, TGA, BET and UV-Vis spectroscopy.
  • In addition, the student will be responsible for electrochemical testing and evaluation of the materials.

Student qualifications required:

  • Chemistry majors.
  • Successful completion of CHEM 3540U, and CHEM 3040 is considered an asset.

Expected training/skills to be received by the Student:

  • Nanomaterials synthesis.
  • Electrochemical measurements.
  • Clean energy.
  • Analytical chemistry.
  • Surface chemistry.

Length of award: 14 Weeks

Location of award: In-Person

Available Award: NSERC USRA or Ontario Tech STAR

 

Supervisor name: Denina Simmons

Project title: Fish Behaviour as a Measure of Successful Environmental Enrichment

Summary of research project: The three R's of animal ethics are reduction, refinement and replacement. In the Aquatic Omics lab, we apply the Three R's as part of our fundamental research program. Tank enrichment involves using objects in fish aquaria that mimic the natural environment, providing habitat and is considered a refinement to improve the quality of life for fish used in research. In this project, we aim to investigate how tank enrichment strategies can benefit the health and well-being of the fathead minnow, a fish native to North America and an important model organism for studying freshwater ecosystems.

Student responsibilities/tasks:

  • Animal Care.
  • Data Collection.
  • Data Analysis.

Student qualifications required:

  • Student registered in one of the Faculty of Science's Biology Programs.
  • First year courses completed, minimum mean grade 80%.

Expected training/skills to be received by the Student:

  • Animal Care and Ethics - the student will take CCAC-approved training course and will receive a certificate upon successful completion.
  • Animal Behavior Scoring - the student will be trained to conduct scoring of fish behavior using video recordings of fish tanks.
  • Statistical testing and data analysis - the student learn to conduct statistical testing on their data using R and/or GraphPad Prism software.

Length of award: 16 Weeks

Location of award: In-Person

Available Award: NSERC USRA or Ontario Tech STAR

 

Supervisor name: Janice Strap

Project title: Investigating How Bacteria Build Stronger Biofilms Under Stress

Summary of research project: Bacteria form biofilms, protective communities that enable survival in harsh, ever-changing environments. In Komagataeibacter xylinus, these biofilms are reinforced by self-produced cellulose. This project examines how environmental stress influences cellulose production and biofilm development by investigating a regulatory protein that may connect stress sensing with cellulose biosynthesis using bioinformatics, molecular and biochemical approaches to reveal how bacteria adapt to challenging conditions.

Student responsibilities/tasks:

  • Conducting experiments and documenting research activities in a laboratory notebook.
  • Techniques that will be used in this project include bioinformatics, aseptic technique, bacterial culture, sterilization, sample preparation, mutagenesis, complementation, cloning, analytical biochemical assays, gel electrophoresis, polymerase chain reaction, DNA/RNA extraction.
  • Students will be required to complete biosafety & WHMIS training.

Student qualifications required:

  • Applicants are expected to have successfully completed BIOL 2060U and BIOL 3080U with a minimum grade of B+. BIOL 3032 would be an asset.

Expected training/skills to be received by the Student:

  • Experiment, planning and organization.
  • Documentation of research activities.
  • Data analysis and interpretation.
  • Standard laboratory practices, maintenance and procedures.
  • Teamwork.

Length of award: 16 Weeks

Location of award: In-Person

Available Award: NSERC USRA or Ontario Tech STAR

 

Supervisor name: Joseph MacMillan

Project title: The Role of Gas Dynamics in Cosmological Structure Formation

Summary of research project: The current state-of-the-art simulations used to investigate structure formation in our universe are large, complex codes that include complicated physical calculations and have sophisticated techniques to speed up calculations. In this project, the student will develop their own simulation code for large-scale structure formation, starting with gravity and extending to gas dynamics and cooling. The simulation will have an emphasis on simplicity and clear physics rather than speed or resolution, making it appropriate for both research and teaching. Using this code we will then explore different models of gas dynamics and their effect on galaxy formation.

Student responsibilities/tasks:

  • The Student will be responsible for researching the necessary physics background -- including cosmology, comoving coordinates, gravity and gas dynamics -- and then implementing this physics in a simulation to model the formation of structure in the universe.
  • They'll then be responsible for maintaining the code throughout its development, using GitHub or similar, as well as documenting it, and exploring physics in the growth of structure.

Student qualifications required:

  • Completed courses PHY 2040U Mechanics II and PHY 3900U Astronomy II.
  • Some experience with Python coding is an asset.

Expected training/skills to be received by the Student:

  • Basic research skills (literature searches, reproduction of already-published results).
  • Programming and coding skills (Python, C, GitHub, Linux toolchains).
  • Data analysis (large datasets, visualization, plotting).

Length of award: 14 Weeks

Location of award: In-Person

Available Award: Ontario Tech STAR

 

Supervisor name: Liliana Trevani

Project title: Electrochemistry Raman: Revisiting the Electrochemical Oxidation of Alcohols

Summary of research project: As part of this research project, the student will study the electrooxidation of alcohols using Raman spectroscopy and electrochemical methods. In these initial studies, and while getting familiar with the experimental techniques, the student will focus on the oxidation of methanol on platinum (Pt) thin-film electrodes that were developed as part of a PhD thesis, as well as Au electrodes. By using Raman spectroscopy, we aim to obtain valuable information about surface species and reaction intermediates at the catalyst-electrolyte interface under various electrode potentials. The oxidation of methanol is an interesting model system due to its relevance in Direct Methanol Fuel Cells (DMFCs).

Student responsibilities/tasks:

  • The student will perform electrochemical studies in a three-electrode cell and Raman electrochemical measurements in a recently developed electrochemical flow cell with sapphire windows that will be optimized as part of this project and in collaboration with a graduate student.
  • The project will also require preparing solutions, using other sophisticated equipment, including inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry.

Student qualifications required:

  • The student should have completed the second year of the chemistry program and the following 3rd year courses: Instrumental Analytical Chemistry I and II (CHEM 3530 and CHEM 3540) with a minimum B grade.
  • Other requirements are: Good organizational skills, motivated to perform laboratory work, write short reports and enjoy science discussions.

Expected training/skills to be received by the Student:

  • The Student will get hands-on training in the use of equipment (electrochemical and spectroscopic methods) along with other experimental techniques.
  • The Student will get training in general lab work while following health and safety principles. For that, the Student will take courses offered by Ontario Tech.
  • The Student will have the opportunity to get proficiency in using the knowledge acquired in analytical chemistry courses in the framework of research.
  • The URA program will help the Student to improve/develop presentation skills and technical writing.
  • Everything will be learned in a group where equity, diversity and inclusion principles guarantee fair treatment and equal opportunities.

Length of award: 16 Weeks

Location of award: In-Person

Available Award: NSERC USRA or Ontario Tech STAR

 

Supervisor name: Mehran Ebrahimi

Project title: Machine Learning Techniques for Medical Image Processing

Summary of research project: Several medical image processing techniques have been found to be useful for detection, diagnosis and pre-surgical localization of tumours. The goal of this project is to extend and validate machine learning algorithms aimed at solving real-world inverse problems in the field of medical image processing. The research will be conducted at the Imaging Lab in the Faculty of Science, Ontario Tech.

Student responsibilities/tasks:

  • The Student will be responsible for utilizing and extending our current image processing, machine learning and data visualization tools and algorithms in either Matlab or Python.
  • The student will be engaged in literature review, mathematical modelling, programming and validation of the results.
  • In addition, the student is expected to produce scientific reports of the results in form of a poster and/or a conference paper.

Student qualifications required:

  • The Student is required to have a good understanding of calculus and linear algebra.
  • In addition, programming skills in Python or Matlab is required.
  • Experience working with imaging data, machine learning and optimization is desirable but not required.
  • Students in Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics or a related field are encouraged to apply.

Expected training/skills to be received by the Student:

  • Image Pre-processing.
  • Mathematical Modelling.
  • Numerical Simulations.
  • Data Analysis.
  • Document/Report/Manuscript preparation.

Length of award: 16 Weeks

Location of award: Hybrid

Available Award: NSERC USRA or Ontario Tech STAR

 

Supervisor name: Nisha Agarwal

Project title: Identifying Quantum Mechanical Effects in a Tip-Enhanced Raman Scattering System

Summary of research project: Tip-Enhanced Raman Scattering combines scanning probe microscopy with surface-enhanced Raman scattering to analyze chemical processes at the nanoscale. A laser focused on a sharp, metallic probe tip generates a strong localized electromagnetic field (a "hotspot"). When this hotspot is brought close to a sample, it significantly enhances the Raman signal, allowing for chemical imaging with resolution down to angstroms.
Our goal is to analyze the field of a laser beam around a metal-coated tip and study the associated skin effect and surface plasmons. This dynamics of a simple molecule in this field will be studied as an open quantum system to quantify the effect of thermal and quantum noise.

Student responsibilities/tasks:

  • The Student will model laser–tip electromagnetic fields and analyze surface plasmon excitation and skin effects.
  • Simulate molecule and field interactions as an open quantum system.
  • Quantify decoherence, thermal, and quantum noise effects. Assist in data analysis, visualization and interpretation of nanoscale spectroscopic results.

Student qualifications required:

  • Completed courses in Quantum Mechanics, Electromagnetism, and Optics (B+ or higher).
  • Skilled in Python, data analysis and simulation tools (Mathematica).
  • Strong math background.
  • Knowledge of nanophotonics, plasmonics, or spectroscopy and good communication skills are assets.

Expected training/skills to be received by the Student:

  • Training in quantum simulation to model molecule and plasmon interactions and analyze quantum noise effects.
  • Hands-on experience with nanoscale optical field modeling, data analysis and interpretation of tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy results.

Length of award: 14 Weeks

Location of award: In-Person

Available Award: NSERC USRA or Ontario Tech STAR