The research project will focus on developing automation technologies for biomanufacturing and bioprocessing, with a primary focus on monoclonal antibody production from mammalian cell culture. The overall goal of the project is to reduce the cost of biological therapeutics by improving the efficiency of the biomanufacturing process, with an emphasis on automation technologies. The project is being undertaken in close collaboration with a major industry sponsor, and will therefore require the signing of a non-disclosure agreement.
Ongoing research is primarily categorized into 3 segments: upstream, midstream, and downstream. Upstream consists of the cell culture process itself, with research focused on automating the continuous operation of the bioreactor, including the development of sensors to improve monitoring and gather data as an input for controller software. Midstream consists of the critical filtration system which allows product to exit the reactor while retaining cells, with research focused on modeling the process and maximizing the lifespan of the filters. Downstream is the processing of the product to ensure purity and quality, with research focused on optimizing the continuous chromatography process and developing associated analytics.
The project is being undertaken by a number of graduate students, each with a focus on a particular element of the overall process. Corporate research scientists from our sponsor are also actively involved in the research, with access to the lab and open lines of communication with the students. This presents an excellent opportunity for the successful applicant to network within the biomanufacturing industry.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: Our group specializes in bioprocess automation, specifically improving the production processes for biologics such as monoclonal antibodies and vaccines. We work on all aspects of the production process, ranging from the cell culture producing the biologic, to the filtration system separating the product from the culture, and ending in the purification and concentration of the product. Our research involves both developing process improvements at each stage, as well as automation systems to reduce the amount of manual input required. Our lab is located within the Biointerfaces Institute, a McMaster core facility that hosts advanced bioscience equipment and subject matter experts.
Student roles: The student will work closely with an experienced graduate student mentor to contribute to the research project according to their capabilities and interests. The student will first be introduced to the lab and their colleagues, as well as undergo appropriate safety training and specific equipment and protocol training. The student will then begin to perform experiments alongside their mentor until they are comfortable working autonomously. The student will also keep detailed notes and records of their experiments, both the results and the experimental parameters, and regularly provide these to their mentor. The student will also contribute to the research project by planning experiments, analyzing data, and troubleshooting issues as they arise. To these ends, the student will be expected to survey scientific literature related to the project in order to improve their familiarity with the subject matter. The student will meet regularly with their mentor to interpret results and plan upcoming tasks. The student will meet regularly with their supervisor to assess their progress and ensure they are well supported. They will also participate in regular lab research meetings which will include corporate research scientists from our industry sponsor. Towards the end of their term, the student will present a summary of their work and results at one of these research meetings and be expected to answer questions pertaining to these. If the student’s work contributes meaningfully to a scientific publication, they will review at least the sections of the publication to which they contributed to ensure their accuracy and completeness. The student will be granted authorship in such a publication according to their contributions.
Skills required: The ideal student will have a background in a related field such as chemical engineering, biochemistry, or process control, with some experience working in an academic or corporate research laboratory. Programming or modeling experience would also be an asset, as would experience in cell culture, chromatography, or filtration systems. The student should also have experience practicing lab safety as well as ideally following and refining SOPs. Some experience reviewing and analyzing scientific literature is essential. The student ought to be detail oriented, be capable of carefully documenting experimental results, and eager to learn quickly.
2. Characterization of in vitro tissue models with optical microscopy/spectroscopy
With a global ageing population, there is an urgent need for regenerative medical technologies to treat chronic diseases like liver cirrhosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), atherosclerosis, hepatitis C, and certain types of cancer. Chronic diseases are currently the leading cause of death worldwide, but there are still no meaningful therapeutic strategies for treating one of the major complications: fibrosis. Healthy tissues have a network of protein fibers that repair themselves effectively by the formation of scars. Although this is a beneficial process of repairing tissues, in most chronic diseases, an exaggerated wound healing response results in the build-up of collagen that impedes normal organ function - a condition called fibrosis. The lack of human disease artificial models is invariably bottlenecking progress in health research. In this project the student will be in charge of characterizing in vitro models using spectroscopy/microscopy.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: My research interests are primarily in the areas of tissue engineering, optics & microscopy (Raman spectroscopy, nonlinear optics), image analysis, extracellular matrix remodelling. The tools we develop in my lab are important in answering relevant biological questions related to the assessment of tissue function during normal and disease processes as well as in response to treatments. More info: www.teb-lab.com
Student roles: The student will be responsible for collecting data (images/spectra) from in vitro tissue models and will be responsible for creating a database. Depending on the student's interest/expertise, more emphasis can be given to the development and automation of routines to analyse the generated data. The image/spectral analysis will consist of segmenting specific structures (e.g. cells and fibers) as well as assessing band profile changes (intensities, displacements) and correlate the findings with information available in the literature. The student is expected to gain some understanding of general biological processes involved in cellular differentiation and correlate findings with spectral signatures when appropriate.
Skills required: The student must have: i. excellent independence and willingness to learn about different topics (e.g. cell biology, optics, tissue engineering, materials characterization, data analysis/statistics); ii. background in optics/spectroscopy is desirable; iii. familiarity with programming is desirable; iv. good communication skills and the ability to work in small teams is a must.
3. Design and Development of Gradient Coils for Low Field Portable MRI Applications
With the onset of new machine learning and computer vision, MRI applications with low field (less than 200 milli Tesla) are being revisited. The economic costs to build high field systems continues to rise with the cost and maintenance of superconducting magnets, while low field systems that us neodymium remain cheaper, and have recently been shown for portable applications.
This project aims to design gradient coils for low field applications. Primarily, the project starts by determining the current densities required to achieve the desired magnetic field gradients. Then the windings can be achieved to approximate those current densities while simultaneously minimizing the inductance. The project can be completed primarily with COMSOL multi-physics linked with python.
This project would be particularly exciting to students who have an interest in electromagnetic modelling, electrical, mechanical, or biomedical engineering. The student will gain advanced finite element modelling skills. The student will get to perform an advanced optimization relating the electronmagnetics with the coil. Machine learning strategies should be considered in this process. This can be conducted on our institutions supercomputing resources. The final deliverables will be the design that includes the current densities and the winding configuration, and the simulated magnetic fields, as well as documenting the processes used to achieve these first two deliverables in case additional iterations of the design are required.
Although not to be completed during this internship, the lab aims to construct this magnet so the student will see their work realized. This work has the potential for publication in an academic journal and filing as a patent.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: My research area is focused on the exciting aspects of brain imaging technologies. I have extensive experience with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); and as an electrical and biomedical engineer, I work to expand the understanding of brain circuitry and circulation, and the development of new technologies. I use advanced data analytics, supercomputing and machine learning regularly in my research; and my trainees tend to be very skilled in these areas. I work with the MRI for data acquisition. I also have procured large databases for testing associations from brain images.
Student roles: These internships are oriented towards the development of software that can be used towards the research program aims. The trainee will be required to develop and software and commit their changes to a code repository. The student is expected to meet for research team meetings, and one-to-one meetings with the supervisor weekly. We work in a dynamic team environment on many projects, so interacting with the other lab members is usually helpful.
The students have the opportunity to work with the more senior graduate students, and this will help them to get a better sense of what a research career might have for them. There are many successful graduate students at the University of Calgary who have previously come on the Mitacs GlobalLink Program. It is a really great chance to make a small contribution to research, while learning a lot and visiting a new place.
Our lab is fun and good spirited. Calgary is a city of greater than one Million people on the south-western edge of the Canadian Prairie, it is located in the foothills of the Canadian Rocky Mountains, which includes vast National Parks and Wilderness. These regions are home to world class Skiing and Hiking. Calgary is a diverse city with many activities. Although known for wealth from the oil industry, Calgary is focused on remaking itself as a high-tech hub, with many emerging bio and tech companies. Calgary has beautiful rivers and pathways throughout. Calgary is the sunniest city in Canada with an average of 333 days per year! Canada is known for its inclusive and diverse society, and we aim for our lab to have a similarly kind atmosphere. I strongly encourage applicants who might have a research interest in this area to seize this internship opportunity and enhance your skills.
Skills required: An ideal student should have a demonstrated interest in a technical domain, such as: Biomedical, Electrical, Computer, or Software Engineering; applications from candidates in (Medical) Physics and Computer Science can also be a good fit for this research program and will be considered. Experience in computing and programming is desirable. Some experience in electromagnetics would be ideal. Motivation, a good attitude, and ability to work with others is required. Primarily, we are looking for students who have an interest in graduate studies in this research area, and may be interesting in returning to graduate school.
4. Developing a high-resolution microscopy device for rapid sample imaging
The standard test for predicting a breast cancer patient’s response to certain therapies involves measuring tissue sections under the microscope to observe cell phenotypes. Visualizing the sample often involves manually scanning samples at high resolution. This analysis is routine, but very time intensive. An alternative is using faster, low-resolution imaging that can be completed with an automated slide scanner; however, to obtain reliable results, many more cells need to be characterized, and thus the technique is not intrinsically faster. Pathologists urgently need a faster and more accurate automated method to evaluate samples.
Recent developments in high-resolution microscopy and computer vision offer a solution to this key issue. By adding a custom optical component developed by the Weiss Lab to the microscope, more information about each sample can be encoded into a single image. A software algorithm is then used to interpret this data to reconstruct the high-resolution reconstruction.
Therefore, the goal of this project is to develop and deploy a microscope add-on that fits into the imaging path of a fluorescence microscope just in front of the camera and contains the optical components needed for our imaging method. If successful, the proposed method is positioned to dramatically improve the collection efficiency and reliability of data needed by pathologists.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: The Weiss lab develops imaging-based approaches for a wide variety of biomedical applications. This includes new types of rapid-scanning microscopes for cancer diagnosis, ultrasensitive bacteria-characterization devices, and signal-analysis tools to make sense of multidimensional and noisy datasets.
Our multidisciplinary team comes from a variety of areas, including biomedical engineering, chemistry, materials science, physics, and more. Together with collaborators, we are deploying our knowledge of optics, quantitative analysis, biophysics, and chemistry to engineer solutions to challenging problems.
Student roles: The specific objective of this project is to develop an imaging instrument that can take data semi-autonomously. You will lead an aspect of this project by performing a literature review to identify possible solutions. You will then summarize the previous work done in the area and propose possible solutions. You will then implement one or more ideas and begin a validation study based on synthetic samples. This will involve developing a quantitative analysis pipeline for recording and assessing data to test the robustness, sensitivity, and other key parameters. Finally, you will propose improvements to the design and identify potential further applications. At all stages of the project, you will participate in team meetings with group members and meet regularly with Professor Weiss and collaborators. In these meetings, you will summarize your results in brief presentations and discuss possible directions for your research. Throughout the program, there will be various opportunities to attend professional research events and present your research, for example, as a poster.
Skills required: To succeed in this project, you must have experience with optical systems. This could be a theoretical background, hands-on experience, or both. The project requires developing an automated instrument, so some experience using microcontrollers, such as Arduino or Raspberry Pi, is strongly recommended. Experience with signal processing and image analysis will be necessary to process data quantitatively. At least some knowledge or experience in one of the following programming languages will be needed: Python, Matlab, Java, C++.
Critical and strategic minerals (CSMs) are essential for manufacturing many everyday electronic products and green technologies (e.g., displays, magnets, wind turbines, aircraft, vehicles, batteries) and offer significant potential for Canada’s economic growth. With some of the world’s largest reserves, Canada is well positioned to become a global leader in the CSM sector.
Traditional CSM recovery, through hydrometallurgy or pyrometallurgy, is complex and requires large amounts of water and chemicals (flotation agents, leaching solutions). It generates substantial waste (from open-pit or underground mining), while also involving high energy consumption and costs.
Biohydrometallurgy, which uses microorganisms (bacteria, fungi) to extract metals, represents a promising alternative. In addition to being more environmentally friendly, it provides a cost-effective and energy-efficient extraction method, enabling higher concentration yields and improved management of heavy metal and radioactive contamination.
This project focuses on the use of microorganisms (bacteria, fungi) to extract metals, aiming at the design and optimization of bioprocesses for mineral resource exploitation within a sustainable development framework.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: The research work is part of the launch of a biohydrometallurgy program within Professor Ilaria Rubino’s research group, in collaboration with Prof. Marc-Antoine Lauzon, in the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Sherbrooke.
Student roles: This research project aims to develop and optimize biohydrometallurgical processes by leveraging microorganisms whose potential for the extraction and purification of CSMs is well established. In particular, the intern will carry out the following tasks: 1) Prepare the mineralization samples provided by the company according to the different phases. 2) Observe their microstructure using optical microscopy. 3) Analyze CSM elements by inductively coupled plasma spectrometry (ICP). 4) Perform preliminary characterization for extraction using conventional hydrometallurgical methods (acid leaching). 5) Conduct a literature review on bioextraction to identify candidate strains. 6) Perform bioextraction tests with the most promising strains identified in the literature review. 7) Conduct a literature review to propose a protocol for isolating and characterizing indigenous strains, adapted to the mineralizations for future experimental studies. 8) Prepare the final report. The internship will take place in the laboratories of Professors Rubino and Lauzon, as well as within the Department of Chemical and Biotechnological Engineering. The work environment provides opportunities to initiate and strengthen research skills. Ideas from all group members are valued and strongly encouraged. The professors will provide supervision on techniques related to microbial cultures and mineralization characterization, respectively. The student will be invited to share questions and results during weekly meetings. They will have access to departmental technical staff, an office, and all necessary tools. The student will plan their research activities, ensuring a flexible schedule; if needed, the internship start date may be adjusted. The results may lead to a publication.
Skills required: Basic knowledge of the following topics would be an asset: (i) Microbiology: bacterial and/or fungal cultures (ii) Materials characterization: ICP, microscopy, SEM/EDX, XRD
6. Development of laser-based immune cell manipulation methods based on dynamic microscopy observations
Supervisor: Sébastien This
University: Université de Sherbrooke
Location: Sherbrooke, Québec
Start date: 2027-07-01 (flexible)
Disciplines: Engg-Biological, Engg-Biomedical, Engineering, Engg-Systems and Technology, Biological Sciences, Immunology, Science and Technology
The analysis of dynamic behaviors at the single-cell level using live-cell microscopy enables the prediction of immune cell function and fate. However, methods for isolating or long-term tracking cells based on their dynamic behaviors remain underdeveloped. Dr. This’s research focuses on the development of biophotonic and optogenetic approaches for cell manipulation and long-term study.
Depending on their interests and the progress of the projects, the trainee may contribute to:
• Adapting a photostimulation model to the tools available on the ”Faculté de médecine et des sciences de la santé” microscopy platform
• Developing live-cell imaging methods to decipher the signaling dynamics of immune cells
• Developing 3D photostimulation tools in cancer organoid models or model organisms
This internship will provide training in microscopy, bioengineering, and biophotonics, as well as transferable skills in laboratory management, including experimental organization, structuring new projects, and implementing tools and best practices in a start-up research environment.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: The laboratory’s research focuses on improving cancer immunotherapies, including both cellular and molecular therapies. Dr. This’s expertise combines high-throughput cellular imaging, computer-assisted image analysis, artificial intelligence approaches as well biophysical technologies for the manipulation of immune cells. The laboratory is particularly interested in T lymphocytes, with a central question: can their ability to eliminate tumor cells be predicted based on the dynamic analysis of their intracellular signaling?
Thus, the laboratory is not only focused on addressing fundamental questions in tumor immunology, but also aims to develop cutting-edge microscopy and photonic tools to answer these questions.
Student roles: Under the direct supervision of Dr. This, the intern will participate in the development of new experimental approaches in support of research projects, as well as in the setup and organization of a newly established laboratory. The intern will be required to carry out experiments in both a ‘wet lab’ environment (handling animal cells) and a ‘dry lab’ environment (image analysis, programming). This internship will also provide a unique opportunity to contribute to the development of the laboratory’s operating procedures and to the structuring of a strong and sustainable research environment.
Skills required: Prior experience in a research lab is preferred. Knowledge in cell biology, photonics, engineering, or bioinformatics is considered an asset. We are looking for curious and motivated students who are open to multidisciplinary learning and eager to develop new scientific and laboratory management skills. We strongly encourage applications from all qualified candidates, including those from marginalized communities.
7. Effect of reinforcement by a 3D-printed scaffold on the biotransport properties of hydrogel
Hydrogel has been extensively used in the field of tissue engineering as a biomaterial to provide a hydrated growing environment for cells. However, hydrogels are inherently soft, making them unfit for repair of stiff connective tissues. Various strategies have been developed to create macroscopically stiff hydrogels while maintaining local softness of the hydrogel for cell growth. One effective way is by reinforcing the soft hydrogel with a fibrous scaffold, made with an additive manufacturing technique called melt-electrowriting (MEW). MEW allows 3D printing of tension-resistant fibres at micrometer size. The structural pattern of a MEW mesh can be tailored. An extensively used design is the one with a rectangular grid structure. The MEW fibres are deposited in grid pattern layer-by-layer (up to 100 layers), eventually forming fibrous mesh with a wall-like structure. The stiffness of the hydrogel following reinforcement by the MEW mesh is greatly enhanced by up to 50 times compared to its constituent parts. However, little is known regarding the changes to the fluid flow and biotransport properties due to the inclusion of the MEW mesh in the hydrogel. One key parameter that can be used as a measure of the ease at which fluid flow through the hydrogel is the so-called hydraulic permeability. MEW mesh with a regular grid is of particular interest as the wall-like structure may cause direction-dependent permeability, which can in turn affect the mechanical properties of the MEW-hydrogel composite. Therefore, the objective of this study is to develop an apparatus from an infusion pump to measure the hydraulic permeability of a MEW-hydrogel composite along three orthogonal axes. We hypothesize that the hydraulic permeability of a hydrogel is initially isotropic (independent of the direction of fluid flow) and becomes anisotropic (i.e., direction-dependent) when the hydrogel is reinforced by a MEW mesh with rectangular grid pattern.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: I have worked with biological tissues like articular cartilage and skeletal muscles and polymeric hydrogels such as agarose, and gelatin. I answer research questions through carefully designed in vitro, in situ and in vivo experiments and theoretical modelling. I am interested in unravelling the structure- composition-function relationships and cell-tissue interactions in soft connective tissues. By establishing foundational understanding of how mechanical forces are transduced to the cells, I hope to apply this knowledge in the field of tissue engineering with the ultimate goal of bio-fabricating a viable and functional tissue substitute for patients who suffer from soft tissue injuries/diseases.
Student roles: The student will be responsible for helping the PI in developing an apparatus from an infusion pump that facilitates the measurement of hydraulic permeability of hydrogel and hydrogel-MEW composite. The student will be trained to operate the infusion pump and the MEW printer and perform 3D printing to fabricate the designed scaffold. The student will also be responsible for collecting fluid flow data using the developed prototype and conduct data analysis to derive hydraulic permeability from the collected data.
Skills required: We are looking for highly motivated student who is strong in engineering design and eager to learn state-of-the-art 3D printing techniques and prototype development.
8. Evaluation of energy efficient HVAC strategies for vertical farming in high latitudes through thermal modelling
Supervisor: Huiqing Guo
University: University of Saskatchewan (Saskatoon campus)
The project will use thermal modelling methods to evaluate passive ventilation for indoor vertical farming and compare its energy efficiency with conventional HVAC system in cold regions. As cooling and dehumidification are the main challenges of indoor vertical farming, passive ventilation will have great potential to reduce energy requirement of indoor vertical farms. Building thermal modeling and energy simulation will be conducted to reveal the energy saving potential of the passive ventilation for vertical farming for various plants and locations.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: Dr. Guo specializes in research and teaching in the area of controlled environment for greenhouses and livestock barns. She developed the odour setback distance model OFFSET for livestock operations, set odour guidelines for the Province of Saskatchewan, and proposed comprehensive indoor air quality index for animal barns. Her research group also developed technologies for greenhouse and indoor vertical farming energy saving and dehumidification.
Student roles: The student will be working with other graduate student(s) and/or under the supervision of the professor, design the passive ventilation system for an indoor vertical farm, choose a modeling tool, setup the model and conduct modeling work.
Skills required: Engineering students in agricultural or mechanical engineering will have the required skills and background for this research and get some meaningful results in 4 months. Hopefully, this result will help the student(s) get into MSc program and serve as part of the MSc research work.
9. Fabrication of Flexible Piezoelectric Sensors based on Electro-Spun PVDF Nanofibers Filters
Supervisor: Ghaus Rizvi
University: Ontario Tech University (Oshawa campus)
Location: Oshawa, Ontario
Start date: 2027-05-03 (flexible)
Disciplines: Engg-Biological, Engg-Biomedical, Engg-Ceramic, Engg-Chemical, Engg-Manufacturing, Engg-Mechanical, Engg-Systems and Technology, Engineering, Statistics, Medical Sciences, Ceramics, Chemistry, Engg-Industrial, Engg-Software, Science and Technology, Engg-Materials
PVDF is a piezoelectric polymer but it can have a number of phases, of which the Beta phase exhibits the greatest piezoelectric effect. Fabrication of PVDF fiber using Electrospinning helps in increasing the amount of Beta phase in the fibres and this can be further increased by subjecting it to polarization in a high intensity electric field and/or using nano particulate piezoelectric filler materials.. As a consequence, a mat containing these fibers exhibits significant amount of piezoelectric effect which enables it to be used as sensor to measure the forces applied to its surface. The mats are highly flexible; therefore, these sensors are suitable for applications where flexibility is needed, such as in wearable devices or being embedded in textiles etc. Nanofibers produced from this technique offer exceptional properties like high surface area to volume ratio, flexibility, lower cost, high porosity, better aspect ratio and comparable mechanical properties. The optimization of electrospinning control parameters viz. polymer concentration (wt.%), high voltage (KV), flow rate (ml/hr.), needle-collector distance (cm.) and collector drum rpm will be carried out to achieve higher content of beta phase. The thermal, mechanical and morphological characterization of the samples will be carried out using Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Dynamic Mechanical Analyzer (DMA), Digital Microscope (DM), and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The optimized nanofiber-based membranes fabricated in this experimental study will offer a promising sensing mechanism for use in wearable devices and textile for collecting and monitoring health related data.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: My group is working on development and characterization of scaffolds for bone tissue growth, polymer and composite processing and characterization, production of nano fibers, production of flexible sensors, and volumetric additive manufacturing. The primary focus is on industrially relevant applied research
Student roles: This project can accommodate two students, who will be engaged to produce electrospun mats on a rotational drum and they will have the following responsibilities • Carry out literature search for related journal papers • Prepare various combination of nanofiller/polymer solutions • Design and fabricate different grades of sensors under the supervision of a PhD candidate, • Carry out characterization studies to evaluate the sensitivity of the sensors. • Characterize the sensor performance after a large number of cyclic operations to evaluate sensor robustness. • Analyze the results and prepare PowerPoint presentations
Skills required: Students should have second year level basic engineering knowledge. Should be motivated, and dedicated to work and have the capability to learn how to operate new equipment and characterize the samples.
10. Fabrication of Soft Tissue Scaffold based on Electro-Spun Nanofibers Filters
Supervisor: Ghaus Rizvi
University: Ontario Tech University (Oshawa campus)
Location: Oshawa, Ontario
Start date: 2027-05-03 (flexible)
Disciplines: Engg-Biological, Engg-Biomedical, Engg-Ceramic, Engg-Chemical, Engg-Manufacturing, Engg-Materials, Engg-Mechanical, Engg-Systems and Technology, Engineering, Statistics, Medical Sciences, Health Studies, Manufacturing
Having the ability of fabricating a highly porous scaffolds with controlled property distribution is very beneficial for Tissue Engineering. Such scaffolds can be fabricated using electrospinning of nanofibers. Nanofibers produced from this technique offer exceptional properties like high surface area to volume ratio, flexibility, lower cost, high porosity, better aspect ratio and comparable mechanical properties. This makes them better tissue scaffold. The optimization of electrospinning control parameters viz. polymer concentration (wt.%), high voltage (KV), flow rate (ml/hr.), needle-collector distance (cm.) and collector drum rpm will be carried out to achieve highly porous structures having fibers of desired diameter size and inter-spacing. Nanofiber filter membranes (of polymers like Polypropylene, Polyvinylidene Fluoride, Polyacrylonitrile, Polyethylene etc.) will be manufactured with three different membrane thicknesses. The thermal, mechanical and morphological characterization of the samples will be carried out using Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Dynamic Mechanical Analyzer (DMA), Digital Microscope (DM), and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The optimized nanofiber-based membranes fabricated in this experimental study will offer a promising mechanism for developing usable tissue scaffolds for soft tissues such as skin or other membranes like tissues.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: My group is working on development and characterization of scaffolds for bone tissue growth, polymer and composite processing and characterization, production of nano fibers, production of flexible sensors, and volumetric additive manufacturing. The primary focus is on industrially relevant applied research
Student roles: This project can accommodate one student, who will be engaged to produce electrospun mats using different electrospinning techniques, such as rotational drum and parallel plate and will have the following responsibilities • Carry out literature search for related journal papers • Prepare various combination of nanofiller/polymer solutions • Design and fabricate different scaffolds under the supervision of a PhD candidate, • Carry out degradation studies for different number of days. • Characterize the scaffold before and after the degradation using Micro CT X-Ray scanner • Analyze the results and prepare PowerPoint presentations
Skills required: Students should have second year level basic engineering knowledge. Should be motivated, and dedicated to work and have the capability to learn how to operate new equipment and characterize the samples.
11. Geometry Optimization of a Novel Spray Device for Hemostatic Powder Delivery in Severe Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding
Supervisor: Dana Grecov
University: University of British Columbia (Vancouver campus)
The novel spray device is being developed to deliver hemostatic powder via a long, narrow catheter to treat severe gastrointestinal bleeding. One of the key components of the device is a cyclone-type mixing chamber, in which pressurized gas enters and creates a swirling flow. This swirl is important because it helps suspend, disperse, and transport the powder toward the catheter outlet. A reciprocating sieve introduces powder into the chamber in a controlled manner, while the gas flow carries the particles through the outlet and catheter.
The device's performance strongly depends on the internal flow pattern in the mixing chamber. If the swirl is too weak, particles may not be properly entrained and can accumulate inside the chamber. If the flow is too strong or poorly directed, it may increase the pressure drop, cause powder retention, or reduce delivery efficiency. Therefore, optimizing the chamber geometry is important for improving powder dispersion, reducing the risk of clogging, and achieving repeatable powder delivery.
In this project, the student will study how different mixing chamber designs affect gas flow and powder transport. Experimental work may include testing different chamber geometries and gas flow rates, followed by measurements of delivered mass, retained powder, pressure drop, and delivery repeatability. Numerical simulations will be performed in ANSYS Fluent to analyze the internal flow field, including swirl strength, velocity distribution, turbulence intensity, and pressure drop. Particle-tracking simulations may also be used to study particle trajectories, powder entrainment, wall deposition, and regions with a higher risk of particle accumulation inside the chamber.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: My research focuses on complex fluids and soft matter, combining computational modeling, rheology, fluid mechanics, and transport phenomena to investigate the behavior of biological and multifunctional materials. Current research areas include liquid crystals and active matter, nanocellulose-based biomaterials, biofluids, tribology, and non-Newtonian fluid dynamics. My work integrates theoretical analysis, numerical simulations, and experimental methods to understand flow instabilities, structure-property relationships, and transport processes in complex fluids, with applications in biomedical engineering, responsive materials, lubrication, and advanced manufacturing.
Student roles: The student will evaluate alternative mixing chamber geometries and may fabricate prototypes using 3D printing. They will perform benchtop gas-flow and powder-delivery experiments, assess device performance, and develop CFD or CFD–particle simulations to compare different designs and identify an optimized chamber geometry.
Skills required: The student should have a background in fluid mechanics, mechanical design, or numerical simulation. Experience with CAD software, 3D printing, experimental measurements, and CFD software such as ANSYS Fluent would be helpful. Knowledge of turbulent, swirling, and particle-laden flows would be an asset.
12. Innovative design and optimization of cold climate constructed wetlands for sustainable water solutions
Supervisor: Flor (June) Garcia Becerra
University: University of Northern British Columbia (Prince George campus)
In this project, you will focus on the performance of constructed wetlands in cold climates. Through laboratory-scale experiments and data-driven/machine-learning models, you will research the design and operational strategies to intensify and foster the use of constructed wetlands. You will assess your findings within the context of small-scale nature-based solutions for on-site effective wastewater treatment and provision of reclaimed water in urban and rural areas.
The project will be carried out within UNBC’s School of Engineering Water and Sanitation Holistic Technologies (WASH-T) group. Guided by the motto "Science in Action for Sustainable and Resilient Solutions," the WASH-T group harnesses the power of collaboration and diverse expertise to drive real-world impact. In this research, you will join forces with talented researchers, access cutting-edge research facilities, receive comprehensive professional skills development, and partake in engaging social activities. This internship offers valuable hands-on experience and the opportunity to shape sustainable and resilient water systems.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: Water and Sanitation (W&S) focusing on urban and remote areas:
- Small-Scale W&S Solutions: Frugal innovation approaches to address W&S challenges in cities and remote regions. Understanding of the social and ecological aspects of the local environment.
- Circular Water (One-Water): Strategies for creating circular systems that optimize W&S resources in urban and remote settings. Focus on efficient water use, recycling, and waste reduction.
- Sustainability and Resilience: Impacts of climate change in urban and rural settings. Socio-technological adaptation processes to enhance sustainability and resilience capacities.
Student roles: The student will assist in constructing, operating, and testing system performance. On the technicall side, this will include the preparation of synthetic wastewater, loading systems, sampling and testing for treatment indicators, and analyzing and presenting the resulting data. On the modeling side, it will include the use of programming languages (such as Python and R), database compiling and data-driven analysis. The student will also assist in conducting desk-based research work and preparing academic products such as literature reviews, scientific manuscripts, and conference abstracts.
Skills required: The candidate for this research project should ideally have experience in modeling, nature-based solutions, and engineering design. They should possess strong analytical and problem-solving skills, as well as the ability to interpret complex data sets. Familiarity with laboratory safety protocols and effective communication skills, both written and verbal, are essential. The candidate should be a collaborative team player and demonstrate self-motivation and excellent time management. An interest in environmental science and sustainable solutions would be advantageous. While not all skills are mandatory, a combination of these competencies will greatly contribute to the candidate's suitability for this position.
13. Investigating biomaterials for lab-grown tissues and their effects on cellular responses
This 12 week undergraduate research project will allow the student in the interdisciplinary evaluation of biomaterials intended for understanding fundamental mechanisms of fibrosis. Under the supervisor’s guidance, the student will design, construct, and interpret in vitro assays to compare how primary human lung fibroblasts respond to hydrogel scaffolds differing in stiffness, ECM mimetic peptide content, and degradation profile.
By the end of the placement the student will have developed competence in biomaterial handling, cell culture, robust quantitative imaging, and comprehensive critical data interpretation—skills directly applicable to academic or industrial careers in regenerative medicine.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: My research team is part of the Tissue Engineering and Applied Materials (TEAM) Hub. For more info, please visit: www.teamhubottawa.com. My research interests are primarily in the areas of tissue engineering, optics & microscopy (Raman spectroscopy, nonlinear optics), image analysis, extracellular matrix remodelling. The tools we develop in my lab are important in answering relevant biological questions related to the assessment of tissue function during normal and disease processes as well as in response to treatments. More information: www.teb-lab.com
Student roles: The student will be responsible for designing protocols to test the effect of specific biomaterials on cellular responses. It will be done using a variety of techniques and assays (3D-bioprinting, optical imaging, flow cytometry, etc). The student will also be responsible for creating a database with all the findings. Depending on the student's interest/expertise, more emphasis can be given to the development and automation of routines to analyse the generated data. The student is expected to gain some understanding of general biological processes involved in cellular differentiation and correlate findings with information available in the literature when appropriate.
Skills required: The student must have: i. excellent independence and willingness to learn about different topics (e.g. cell biology, optics, tissue engineering, materials characterization, data analysis/statistics); ii. background in cell biology, biochemistry, biomaterials or tissue engineering is desirable; iii. independence and good problem-solving skills is a must; iv. organization and good communication skills and the ability to work in small teams is a must.
14. Optimization of aerobic granular sludge systems for simultaneous brewery wastewater treatment and enhanced xanthan and curdlan production
Supervisor: Oliver Iorhemen
University: University of Northern British Columbia (Prince George campus)
Aerobic granular sludge (AGS) technology is widely recognized by the International Water Association as one of the most promising biological wastewater treatment innovations of the 21st century. AGS consists of dense, self-immobilized microbial consortia embedded within a matrix of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), which are secreted by microorganisms under controlled operational conditions. This unique structure enables high biomass retention, metabolic diversity, and superior treatment efficiency.
AGS systems have demonstrated robust performance in treating both municipal and industrial wastewaters, including complex effluents such as brewery wastewater. Beyond conventional pollutant removal, AGS offers significant potential for resource recovery through the synthesis of value-added biopolymers within the granule matrix. The high EPS content and diverse metabolic pathways present in aerobic granules create a favorable microenvironment for the biosynthesis of industrially relevant polysaccharides.
The proposed research aims to optimize AGS systems for the simultaneous treatment of brewery wastewater and enhanced production of high-value biopolymers, specifically xanthan and curdlan. By tailoring operational parameters and microbial community structure, this work seeks to maximize polysaccharide yield while maintaining efficient organic and nutrient removal, thereby advancing the integration of wastewater treatment and bioproduct generation within a circular bioeconomy framework.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: My research interests include biological wastewater treatment, removal of contaminants of emerging concern from wastewater, wastewater biorefinery (resource recovery from wastewater), process intensification of drinking water biofiltration, and biochar-based water treatment systems
Student roles: The students will receive training on aerobic granular sludge (AGS) formation and will work with my current graduate students to successfully run AGS bioreactors. Additionally, the intern will perform routine wastewater sampling and analyses (chemical oxygen demand, total nitrogen, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, phosphorus, alkalinity, etc) as well as biomass analyses (mixed liquor suspended solids, mixed liquor volatile suspended solids, sludge volume index, particle size analyses). The intern will be involved in literature review, presentations during research meetings, and preparation of mid- and final-program reports. The intern will also receive professional development training to develop salient skills.
Skills required: Students with a strong environmental engineering background, good laboratory practices, water and wastewater analysis, understanding of environmental microbiology, scientific communication skills, and ability to work without friction in a team are desired.
15. Optimization of densified activated sludge technology for simultaneous removal of conventional and emerging contaminants and recovery of value-added bioproducts
Supervisor: Oliver Iorhemen
University: University of Northern British Columbia (Prince George campus)
Wastewater treatment facilities are increasingly being transformed into water resource recovery facilities that not only protect receiving environments but also recover valuable products from wastewater. Densified activated sludge (DAS) technology has emerged as a promising process-intensification approach that enhances sludge settleability, treatment capacity, nutrient removal, and operational stability while reducing infrastructure requirements. Recent studies have demonstrated that DAS systems can achieve superior removal of conventional pollutants, including organic matter, nitrogen, and phosphorus, through the selective enrichment of dense microbial aggregates under controlled feast–famine conditions. Furthermore, densification promotes the formation of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) and specialized microbial communities with enhanced metabolic capabilities.
This project aims to develop and evaluate DAS technology for the simultaneous removal of conventional pollutants and contaminants of emerging concern (CECs), while maximizing the recovery of high-value bioproducts from wastewater. The research will investigate the effect of operational parameters, including hydraulic retention time, solids retention time, feast–famine cycling, selective wasting, and nutrient loading, on microbial community structure, contaminant removal performance, and resource recovery potential. Particular emphasis will be placed on the biosynthesis and recovery of xanthan, curdlan, polyhydroxyalkanoates (bioplastics), and the amino acids tyrosine and phenylalanine from densified sludge biomass.
The expected outcomes include optimized DAS operating strategies, improved understanding of microbial mechanisms governing contaminant removal and bioproduct formation, and the development of an integrated framework for transforming wastewater treatment plants into circular bioeconomy hubs. The project will contribute to sustainable wastewater management and resource recovery while providing advanced training opportunities for highly qualified personnel in environmental biotechnology and water resource recovery.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: My research interests include biological wastewater treatment, removal of contaminants of emerging concern from wastewater, wastewater biorefinery (resource recovery from wastewater), process intensification of drinking water biofiltration, and biochar-based water treatment systems.
Student roles: The students will receive training on densified activated sludge (DAS) formation and will work with my current graduate students to successfully run DAS bioreactors. Additionally, the intern will perform routine wastewater sampling and analyses (chemical oxygen demand, total nitrogen, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, phosphorus, alkalinity, etc) as well as biomass analyses (mixed liquor suspended solids, mixed liquor volatile suspended solids, sludge volume index, particle size analyses). The intern will be involved in literature review, presentations during research meetings, and preparation of mid- and final-program reports. The intern will also receive professional development training to develop salient skills.
Skills required: Students with a strong environmental engineering background, good laboratory practices, water and wastewater analysis, understanding of environmental microbiology, scientific communication skills, and ability to work without friction in a team are desired.
The research project will assess the hemocompatibility of these new PEEK membranes by determining the extent to which blood clot form, proteins adhere to the surface, and other biological responses to a foreign material in exposure to blood. Upon assessing the PEEK membranes' hemocompatibility, we will compare various surface functionalization approaches to minimize negative responses. These include binding biocompatible functional groups, modifying the PEEK surface with hydrophilic chemical groups, and coating the membrane with biologically adaptive coatings.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: Prof. Charles-Francois de Lannoy's research group has invented a new type of membrane made from the polymer PEEK. This membrane has high resistance to solvents, oxidative attack, pH, and high temperatures. This robust membrane therefore can be cleaned aggressively without losing its important transport and selective properties. We are currently developing a blood dialysis membrane using this material to separate blood cells and proteins, from uremic toxins. Current research has demonstrated its excellent separation capabilities and we need to assess its bio- and hemocompatibility.
Student roles: Summer research students will be engaged in 1) making membranes 2) characterizing the membranes for their surface properties including porosity and surface hydrophilicity 3) exposing membranes to artificial blood and assessing protein adhesion
Students will receive training from a MSc student in membrane development and biological compatibility testing. Following these material techniques, students will learn membrane and surface analysis techniques.
Furthermore, students will develop presentation skills through group meeting presentations, poster presentations at the end of the term, and a technology pitch competition internal to the department.
Skills required: Required skills: - experience in a wet lab including making solvents and suspensions, pipetting, handling acids - data analysis - reading and writing scientific reports and papers
Additional beneficial skills: - experience working with blood - experience with membranes - experience with protein analysis
17. Real-time measurement of metabolic activities of cells in cartilage subjected to dynamic loading
Supervisor: Eng Kuan Moo
University: Carleton University (Ottawa campus)
Location: Ottawa, Ontario
Start date: 2027-05-31 (flexible)
Disciplines: Engg-Biological, Engg-Biomedical, Engg-Systems and Technology
Articular cartilage is an important soft connective tissue covering the bone ends, helping with shock absorption and joint lubrication. The metabolism of cartilage depends on its mechanical environment. It has been shown that under- or over-loading of cartilage leads to dysregulated biosynthesis in cartilage, resulting in a painful joint disease called osteoarthritis. Dynamic loading is thought to improve solute transport into cartilage tissue, giving cells access to the required nutrients for enhanced biosynthesis. Previous studies showed that cartilage responded to cyclic loading applied at a frequency below 0.001 Hz with reduced biosynthesis. Above 0.001Hz, however, the dynamic loading at 1-4% strain generally stimulates tissue synthesis. We recently found that the cartilage cells (i.e., chondrocytes) in healthy cartilage exhibited distinct morphological and volume changes in response to static and dynamic mechanical loading. Specifically, in the first 100s of a sinusoidal cyclic loading at 0.2 Hz, the in-situ chondrocytes experienced volume increase (4%) from unloaded baseline value at peak tissue load and a loss of cell volume (8%) upon tissue unloading in a given loading cycle. Furthermore, the baseline volume fluctuation subsided and returned to their baseline volume following the first 100s of cyclic loading. The mechanism by which dynamic loading increases cartilage biosynthesis remains poorly understood. The goal of this study is to perform optical redox imaging of in-situ cartilage cells subjected to cyclical loading using a confocal laser microscope to reveal the real-time metabolic response of chondrocytes to mechanical loading. We hypothesized that the baseline fluctuation of cell volume during cyclic loading is crucial for nutrient uptake and waste removal from the cells, resulting in increased metabolic rate.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: I have worked with biological tissues like articular cartilage and skeletal muscles and polymeric hydrogels such as agarose, and gelatin. I answer research questions through carefully designed in vitro, in situ and in vivo experiments and theoretical modelling. I am interested in unravelling the structure- composition-function relationships and cell-tissue interactions in soft connective tissues. By establishing foundational understanding of how mechanical forces are transduced to the cells, I hope to apply this knowledge in the field of tissue engineering with the ultimate goal of bio-fabricating a viable and functional tissue substitute for patients who suffer from soft tissue injuries/diseases.
Student roles: The student will be responsible for helping the PI in developing the optical redox imaging protocol to measure the metabolic response of chondrocytes to mechanical loading. The student will harvest fresh cartilage-bone samples from porcine knee joints. The student will also be trained to operate the mechanical loading device and confocal laser microscope available in the PI’s lab. Finally, the students will develop an image processing tool to determine the cellular metabolic response from the collected images.
Skills required: We are looking for highly motivated students with biomedical engineering background. The students should be comfortable with learning new laboratory skills such as harvesting of cartilage explant from animal knee joints, imaging using confocal laser microscope, and performing the subsequent image analysis.
18. Structural Imaging of skeletal muscles of mice subjected to high-sugar diet
A substantial proportion (up to 25%) of Canadian adults are obese, a condition which degrades their health and quality of life. Glucose, fructose and sucrose are the major sources of carbohydrate energy. Westernised diets contain a great amount of palatable carbohydrates that increase calorie intake and promote obesity. Recent studies show that dietary sugar of certain types, such as a fructose-glucose mixture, is more obesogenic than fructose and glucose alone. As skeletal muscle is a key site for glucose regulation, its quality is affected by obesity, including muscle loss, ectopic lipid accummulation, and increased collagen deposition, which impair muscle functions. In particular, over-production of collagen (i.e., fibrosis) in muscle leads to increased muscle stiffness and reduced range of motion, further limiting the physical activities that the obese individuals are capable of. The extracellular matrix (ECM) of mammalian muscles contributes more than 50% of the passive stiffness of the muscle. However, existing methods, which focus on measuring total collagen content, are not able to fully explain the passive stiffness of whole muscles from composition and histological data. The goal of this study is to measure the structural integrity of the ECM of skeletal muscle in a diet-induced obesity mice model. The mice are fed standard chow diets that are supplemented with and without high level of either glucose, fructose or sucrose. We will use an established optical clearing (CLARITY) approach to make the muscles light-transmissible before performing structural imaging of the ECM using polarized light microscopy. The hypothesis is that the collagen organisation in skeletal muscle are disrupted by high-sugar diet, with the extent of disorganisation dependent on the carbohydrate type and muscle fibre type.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: I have worked with biological tissues like articular cartilage and skeletal muscles and polymeric hydrogels such as agarose, and gelatin. I answer research questions through carefully designed in vitro, in situ and in vivo experiments and theoretical modelling. I am interested in unravelling the structure- composition-function relationships and cell-tissue interactions in soft connective tissues. By establishing foundational understanding of how mechanical forces are transduced to the cells, I hope to apply this knowledge in the field of tissue engineering with the ultimate goal of bio-fabricating a viable and functional tissue substitute for patients who suffer from soft tissue injuries/diseases.
Student roles: The student will dissect specific muscle groups, such as the gastronemius and soleus from mouse hindlimbs. The specimens will be optically cleared by following the CLARITY protocol. The transparent muscle samples will then be imaged by polarized light microscopy to determine the structural organization of the muscle. Finally, the student will develop an image processing workflow to extract structural parameters from the collected images.
Skills required: We are looking for highly motivated students with biomedical engineering background. The students should be comfortable with learning new laboratory skills such as muscle tissue processing and polarized light microscopic imaging.