The existing literature lacks sufficient data on the relationship between labor mobility and mental health. This project aims to fill this research gap by collaborating with employers and rural communities in Southwestern Ontario. The objective is to develop a scalable model for labor mobility that connects employers facing ongoing labor shortages with individuals from regions in Ontario with high unemployment rates.
The research team at the University of Toronto proposes a mixed-methods sequential explanatory study design, starting with a cross-sectional analysis and followed by focus groups. The primary objectives of the project include identifying and describing strategies, tools, and instruments to address stigma, fear, anxiety, and depression among Ontario workers. The project also aims to investigate the adverse health outcomes associated with mobile employment and long-distance labor commuting.
By examining the drivers and predictors of mental health conditions that lead to work absences or disruptions within the context of mobile employment and long-distance labor commuting, this project seeks to shed light on the impact of these factors on individuals' well-being. Additionally, the long-term vision is to develop solutions that support the training and education of future Ontario workers, preparing them for mobile employment and long-distance labor commuting scenarios.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: Behdin Nowrouzi-Kia, an experienced occupational therapist, has dedicated the past 12 years to working with injured workers. His professional focus revolves around occupational health and safety, exploring the social determinants of mental health, addressing traumatic brain injuries, and delving into the complexities of return to work challenges. Behdin's research pursuits are strongly influenced by his clinical experience as an occupational therapist, particularly in private practice, where he has been actively involved in facilitating return to work and preventing work-related disabilities.
Student roles: - Support data collection efforts by utilizing REDCap for quantitative data collection. - Facilitate the organization and execution of focus groups on Microsoft Teams for qualitative data collection. - Conduct comprehensive statistical analyses of both qualitative and quantitative data. - Collaborate in the writing process of the report and manuscript, ensuring accurate representation of findings and results.
Skills required: - Proficiency in collecting and analyzing data - Strong understanding and application of descriptive and inferential statistics
2. Access, use and preference of telehealth among immigrants.
Supervisor: Vess Stamenova
University: Toronto Metropolitan University
Location: Toronto, Ontario
Start date: 2027-05-03 (flexible)
Disciplines: Health Studies, Psychology, Sociology, Medical Sciences, Medicine, Nursing, Public Health
Given the increased adoption of telehealth, it is important to characterize immigrants’ level of access to telehealth and characterize barriers to telehealth access. Most healthcare systems have now returned to routine operations and healthcare policy makers have been integrating telehealth into a regularly functioning system. This integration, however, has often been associated with certain restrictions related to modalities of telehealth or requirements of pre-existing relationships with patients. These restrictions, however, may limit access to telehealth for immigrants in Ontario. For example, studies have consistently shown that patients with lower incomes, from racialized groups, non-English speaking are more likely to engage in telephone than video likely due to a variety of sociodemographic factors, but the regulations force a greater adoption of video. We are starting a mixed-methods research project that will use health administrative data, surveys, and interviews to describe the current levels of access to telehealth, the experiences, and modality preferences among immigrants in Ontario. The Globalink student will focus on our objective of examining immigrants’ perceptions of the barriers and facilitators of using video and telephone for physician consultations. This will include participation in survey data collection and analysis or qualitative components of conducting interviews with immigrants.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: I evaluate the effectiveness and impact of technologies on patients, providers, and the healthcare system. I also study barriers and facilitators to technology adoption. The goal of my work is to develop new models of technology-enabled care. My research ultimately feeds back into supporting organizational and policy decisions around the use of virtual care. I use qualitative, quantitative, and mixed research methods.
Student roles: The student will be integrated into my research team. The goal is to match the student's interests with project components (quantitative or qualitative) that fit the skills the student wants to develop. The student can be involved in quantitative data analysis, conducting interviews with users (patients, providers), analyzing and coding qualitative data (transcripts from interviews), and conducting literature searches related to telehealth.
• Research support, including literature reviews or data collection (20%) • Supporting research team on long-term projects as-needed, including fact-checking and managing documents, assisting in data analysis of a variety of qualitative and/or quantitative data (60%) • Meetings (10%) • Ethics Board proposal submission (10%)
Skills required: Required: • No pre-existing technical requirements are required. • Good oral communication • Good problem-solving and thinking Asset skills • knowledge of the healthcare system • past experience doing quantitative data analysis o R or SPSS o Experience creating graphs in Excel or R. o Working with large datasets. • Past experience with qualitative data analysis o NVivo o conducting interviews o fixing audio transcribed files
3. Advancing Rehabilitation Through Digital Health and Emerging Technologies: Evidence Synthesis and Innovation in Intervention Development
Supervisor: Diana Carolina Sanchez Ramirez
University: University of Manitoba (Winnipeg campus)
Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba
Start date: 2027-05-03 (flexible)
Disciplines: Health Studies, Rehabilitation Medicine, Public Health
The current project explores various aspects around the use of e-Health to support patient care in chronic respiratory conditions, including but not limited to current devices (e.g. wearables) and applications available on the market, their intended use ((self-) monitoring, evaluation, etc.), effectiveness, user acceptance and compliance, etc. In additional studies, we are testing the benefits of wearable devices, smart shirts and communication platforms to support virtual pulmonary rehabilitation.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: My research program aims to enhance quality of life and participation among people with respiratory diseases, and to advance in the field of respiratory care. Using wearable technology and virtual reality, I am currently developing studies leading to improve the delivery of pulmonary rehabilitation in patients with chronic respiratory conditions and post COVID19 patients.
Student roles: The students will contribute to the development of a literature review. They may also participate in the process of data collection, cleaning and/or preliminary data analyses. In addition, students with background in computer sciences may be involved in the design and testing of novel prototypes to support the delivery of virtual care.
Skills required: The ideal student will have: • Background in health sciences, rehabilitation, or public health • Good knowledge of medical terminology • Practical knowledge of medical databases and experience in the use of scientific literature • Interest in e-health and / or virtual patient care • Good communication and organizational skills • Flexibility and high level of commitment to assigned tasks • Be a good team player and critical thinker
4. Améliorer la pratique clinique pour augmenter l'activité physique chez les femmes pendant la grossesse
Supervisor: Julie Lavoie
University: Université de Montréal
Location: Montréal, Québec
Start date: 2027-05-03 (flexible)
Disciplines: Health Studies, Womens Studies, Medicine, Sports Science, Humanities, Medical Sciences, Nursing, Public Health, Educ-Phys Ed, Occupational Health, Recreation, Rehabilitation Medicine
La pratique d'activité physique pendant la grossesse peut réduire les risques de complications gestationnelles. Hors, il semble que les médecins et infirmières discutent rarement d'activité physique chez leurs patientes enceintes. Nous souhaitons donc évaluer si cela est bien le cas dans des hôpitaux au Québec en faisant passer des questionnaires à des femmes enceintes et aux intervenants de la santé. De plus, nous établirons du même coup ce qui constitue des barrières pour les intervenants et les femmes dans le but de développer des outils pour augmenter la promotion et la pratique de l'activité physique chez les femmes enceintes.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: Nous nous intéressons à l'impact de l'activité physique sur la grossesse d'un point de vue moléculaire et physiologique. Nous nous intéressons également aux barrières qui font en sorte que les femmes enceintes ne sont pas suffisamment actives ainsi que celles qui font en sorte que les professionnelles de la santé ne conseillent pas le personnes enceintes sur l'activité physique.
Student roles: La personne étudiante devra faire passer les questionnaires à des patientes. Elle devra faire des analyses statistiques des données récoltées. De plus, elle devra faire des revues de littérature. Pour ce faire, elle devra faire une formation à l'éthique humaine.
Skills required: La personne étudiante devra avoir la capacité d'interagir avec les personnes enceintes afin de faire passer les questionnaires. Elle devra également avoir des connaissances en statistiques pour analyser les données récoltées. De plus, elle devrait avoir de l'expérience dans la recherche de littérature afin de pouvoir contribuer à l'élaboration d'une revue de littérature.
5. Biopsychosocial predictors of persistent musculoskeletal (MSK) pain in the native and immigrant Canadian populations
Persistent musculoskeletal (MSK) pain affects a substantial proportion of the population, with prevalence estimates ranging from 13.5% to 47% worldwide. In Canada, approximately 20% of adults live with chronic pain, generating healthcare costs exceeding $6 billion annually. As the second leading cause of disability, chronic MSK pain imposes a significant socio-economic burden on individuals, employers, and healthcare systems. Although pain is widely recognized as a multidimensional and subjective experience shaped by biological, psychological, and socio-cultural factors, research has historically paid limited attention to socio-cultural diversity, often resulting in reductionist approaches to treatment. Immigrant-rich countries such as Canada offer a critical context for examining the cultural dimensions of pain. By 2041, immigrants are expected to represent up to one-third of the Canadian population, bringing diverse cultural, linguistic, and social backgrounds that shape pain perception and management. Despite this diversity, immigrants and other visible minority populations remain underrepresented in pain research. Evidence suggests that these groups may report higher levels of pain while receiving fewer non-pharmacological treatments. Thus, the goal of this research project is to advance understanding of the socio-cultural and biopsychosocial factors associated with persistent MSK pain. Specifically, it aims to compare these factors between native Canadians and immigrant populations. It is hypothesized that variables such as immigrant status, reason for immigration, religion, education, employment, income, resilience, self-efficacy and stress influence pain levels and functional outcomes. A cross-sectional study will be conducted in individuals with persistent MSK pain, using standardized self-report questionnaires administered via a digital platform. Multiple linear regression analyses will identify key predictors of pain severity and interference, as measured by the Brief Pain Inventory, across groups.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: Dr. Dayana Rosa’s research focuses on the study of persistent musculoskeletal pain. Her work has explored the biopsychosocial factors associated with pain persistence and, more recently, has expanded to include the sociocultural dimensions of pain. Embracing the multidimensional nature of pain, her research aims to promote a more inclusive and diversity-sensitive approach to health care. She adopts a person-centered, culturally sensitive, and integrative strategy to enhance the understanding, assessment, treatment, and prevention of musculoskeletal conditions.
Student roles: The student will actively contribute to the different stages of the research project. Key responsibilities will include administering digital questionnaires and conducting interviews, under supervision, with participants from diverse cultural backgrounds. The student will support data collection and assist in organizing and analyzing research data. They will also review relevant scientific literature to better understanding the topic and contribute to report writing. Regular meetings with the supervisor will guide progress and provide mentorship. The student will collaborate closely with the research team, participate in discussions, and complete tasks requiring teamwork, while developing skills in culturally sensitive research practices.
Skills required: The candidate should be an upper-level undergraduate or Master’s student in health sciences (e.g., physical therapy, rehabilitation/sports sciences). A background in the musculoskeletal system/pain is an asset. The student should show strong interest in understanding persistent pain from a biopsychosocial and socio-cultural perspective, particularly in diverse populations. Comfort interacting with participants from varied cultural backgrounds is essential. Strong communication skills in English and/or French are required to support data collection. The candidate should be able to manage digital questionnaires and handle research data rigorously. Organizational skills and ability to work both independently and collaboratively within a research team are expected.
6. Clinical validation of reactive balance training intensity
Supervisor: Avril Mansfield
University: University of Toronto
Location: Toronto, Ontario
Start date: 2027-05-03 (flexible)
Disciplines: Health Studies, Rehabilitation Medicine, Sports Science, Neuroscience
People who have previously experienced a stroke have an increased risk of falling compared to their age-matched counterparts. The risk of falls is associated with poor reactive balance control and this function can be trained using reactive balance training (RBT). RBT involves participants experiencing repeated balance perturbations to improve control of balance reactions. RBT improves control of reactive stepping in stroke survivors and reduces the rate of falls by 40% in older adults and people with stroke. However, clinicians are uncertain about the optimal parameters for prescribing RBT post-stroke. Intensity, or level of challenge, is one of the main components of exercise prescription. In RBT studies, when balance perturbations are delivered using devices like moving platforms, intensity can precisely be controlled by force provided by the device (e.g., speed of the moving platform). However, these kinds of devices as not usually used to do RBT in clinical practice. Manual RBT, where balance perturbations are provided by a push or pull from a therapist, or loss of balance during voluntary movement, is more feasible in clinical practice. The intensity of the balance perturbation is more difficult to precisely control with manual RBT.
The objective of this study is to determine if reactive‐balance training, with intensity evaluated by the clinician, can be delivered effectively in a typical outpatient setting. By establishing that clinicians can reliably reproduce and manipulate balance‐perturbation intensity without devices, we aim to provide clear, actionable evidence to support reactive‐balance intensity interventions in everyday clinical practice.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: We conduct research to improve safe independent mobility for older adults and people with stroke. Our research spans basic science (e.g., practice-based motor adaptation), to clinical trials aimed at increasing physical activity and preventing falls, and implementation research to move effective interventions into practice.
Student roles: Under the guidance of the supervisor, working closely with a graduate student, and with the help of a research assistant, the student will assist with conduct of the study, including recruiting human participants, collecting and analysing the data, and presenting the results. The student will learn to use a custom motion platform, force plates and 3D motion capture. They may also learn to write custom code (using software such as Matlab and Stata) for processing and analysing the data. They will improve their written and oral communication skills by writing a final report and presenting the findings to our lab group. They will also have the opportunity to expand their knowledge and skills through involvement in our team's research projects and attending workshops/lectures.
Skills required: Candidates should be enthusiastic, eager to learn, flexible, and comfortable working with human research participants. This position would suit a student interested in pursuing a career in health research, healthcare, rehabilitation sciences, or physiotherapy. We are looking for someone who is both a team player and who is also self-directed to work independently. Some knowledge of exercise and sensorimotor physiology, statistics and research design would be as asset. Basic skills in exercise testing and understanding of electromyography, kinematics, kinetics, and motion analysis would also be beneficial.
This project will develop a novel AI-driven epidemic intelligence framework that uses Large Language Models and multimodal data to support early outbreak surveillance, prediction, and forecasting. Traditional surveillance systems often rely on delayed structured reporting, limiting timely detection and response to emerging infectious disease threats. This project will explore how LLMs can integrate heterogeneous data streams, including news reports, public-health updates, social media signals, wastewater data, mobility patterns, genomic information, search trends, and health app queries.
The student will contribute to the development of a multi-agent framework consisting of surveillance, prediction, and forecasting components. The surveillance agent will synthesize unstructured data into outbreak signals or risk scores; the prediction agent will use these signals to model possible transmission dynamics and geographic spread; and the forecasting agent will simulate scenarios to project healthcare burden and support public-health planning.
The project will also explore neuro-symbolic reasoning, human-in-the-loop validation, active learning, and dashboard development to improve interpretability, reduce false alarms, and provide actionable insights for local health authorities. The work will contribute to responsible AI, epidemic intelligence, and proactive public-health preparedness.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: My specialized research area is community-oriented artificial intelligence, mathematical modeling, and data science for infectious disease prevention, preparedness, and response. I develop AI-enabled and mathematical modeling approaches to support public-health decision-making, with emphasis on epidemic dynamics, behavioral responses, vaccination strategies, climate and environmental drivers, and health equity. This research integrates epidemiological data, climate-informed modelling, and community-relevant analytics to address infectious disease challenges in Canada, Africa, and the Global South, while supporting resilient health systems and equitable outbreak response.
Student roles: The student will support the design and implementation of a multimodal LLM-based epidemic intelligence system for outbreak surveillance, prediction, and forecasting. They will collect and process structured and unstructured data sources, develop or adapt LLM-based tools for signal extraction, support multi-agent modelling, and evaluate forecasting outputs. The student will also help build dashboards, prepare visualizations, document methods, review relevant literature, and contribute to presentations and manuscript writing in collaboration with supervisors, epidemiologists, and interdisciplinary partners.
Skills required: The ideal student should have a background in artificial intelligence, data science, computer science, machine learning, health informatics, public health, epidemiology, statistics, bioinformatics, or a related field. Familiarity with large language models, natural language processing, multimodal data, epidemic modelling, forecasting, and health data analytics is preferred. Experience with Python, machine-learning libraries, data pipelines, dashboards, or APIs would be an asset. Strong coding, analytical, writing, communication, and teamwork skills are required.
8. Daily experiences, health, and well-being in old age
Supervisor: Theresa Pauly
University: Simon Fraser University (Burnaby campus)
Location: Vancouver, British Columbia
Start date: 2027-05-17 (flexible)
Disciplines: Health Studies, Medicine, Occupational Health, Psychology, Public Health, Quantitative Surveying, Sociology
The impact of daily events, referred to as responsiveness or reactivity, varies greatly across individuals. For some, a minor negative event can have a major impact on their functioning, while others brush it off without much effect. Higher reactivity to daily negative events has been associated with chronic health conditions, functional limitations, and low heart rate variability. This research project will investigate resources that boost older adults’ resiliency in daily life, both on a psychological level (e.g., savouring - the ability to attend to positive experiences and upregulating the positive emotions associated with them) and on a physiological level (e.g., engaging in physical activity). The study will recruit data from 360 older adults, who will provide 7 days of daily life assessments and take part in a standardized stress test (Trier Social Stress Test).
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: Research on how everyday events affect the health of older adults has grown rapidly. Older adults experience daily stressors, such as financial worries or interpersonal tensions, on about 30% of days. They also experience daily uplifts, like positive social interactions, on about 70% of days. These daily events cause short-term changes in their psychological and physical functioning, and over time, these changes influence their long-term health. This research uses real-time data collection methods to monitor older adults' emotions, social interactions, stress physiology (cortisol through saliva sampling), physical activity, and their environment as they go about their daily lives.
Student roles: The student's tasks may comprise: 1. Literature Review: Conducting comprehensive reviews of existing literature to gather relevant information and identify research gaps. 2. Data Collection: Assisting in the collection of data through various methods such as surveys, interviews, observations, or experiments. 3. Data Entry and Management: Organizing and entering collected data into databases or spreadsheets, ensuring accuracy and confidentiality. 4. Statistical Analysis: Assisting in the analysis of collected data using statistical software, interpreting results, and creating visual representations (charts, graphs). 5. Literature Summaries and Reports: Summarizing research findings or writing reports. 6. Research Design and Methodology: Assisting in the development and refinement of research protocols, designing experiments, or refining survey/questionnaire instruments. 7. Recruiting and Participant Management: Assisting in participant recruitment, scheduling appointments, and maintaining communication with study participants. 8. Administrative Support: Assisting with administrative tasks, such as organizing meetings, managing project documentation, and coordinating team activities. 9. Collaborative Contribution: Actively participating in team meetings, offering insights and suggestions, and supporting other team members in their research efforts.
Skills required: am seeking a student with strong organizational and time management skills, along with excellent written and verbal communication abilities. Flexibility, adaptability, and a thirst for knowledge are key. While a background in Psychology and prior research assistant experience are advantageous, they are not mandatory. Proficiency in research methodologies, statistical analysis, and data management is desired for data collection and/or analysis. Attention to detail and critical thinking skills are highly valued. Moreover, ethical awareness and adherence to research protocols are essential in this role.
9. Developing a comprehensive assessment of upper limb spasticity after stroke: Exploring rehabilitation interventions for upper motor neuron syndrome
Spasticity is a common outcome of stroke, affecting approximately 38% of individuals within the first year. It is characterized by increased excitability of the stretch reflex and altered sensorimotor control, leading to involuntary muscle activation.
Occupational therapists play a crucial role in the treatment of upper limb spasticity following stroke. Various interventions, such as splinting, casting, stretching, functional electrical stimulation, neurodevelopmental therapy, and more, are employed to address this condition and its associated symptoms.
Upper limb spasticity can significantly impact functional abilities, causing pain and contractures. While botulinum neurotoxin A (BoNTA) has proven effective in reducing spasticity, the combined impact of BoNTA and rehabilitation on upper limb function remains unclear. This study consists of two phases.
During phase 2, the researcher will analyze data collected from questionnaires and medical records of individuals receiving BoNTA for spasticity reduction in their upper and lower limbs. The collected information includes demographic details (e.g., age, gender, marital status), stroke-related factors (e.g., affected side, type of stroke, time since stroke), employment status, and clinical characteristics (e.g., targeted muscle groups, treatment type and frequency, Chedoke McMaster Stroke Assessment hand or arm score, specific botulinum toxin used, dosage in units). Phase II involves the administration of the questionnaire to gather the aforementioned information. Individuals with joint deformities, contractures, cognitive impairments, or an inability to follow instructions will be excluded from the study.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: For the past 12 years, Behdin Nowrouzi-Kia has been dedicated to helping injured workers as an occupational therapist. His professional interests lie in occupational health and safety, social determinants of mental health, traumatic brain injury, and return to work issues. With over a decade of experience in clinical practice as an occupational therapist, Behdin's research activities are deeply rooted in his commitment to supporting individuals in their return to work and preventing work disability.
Student roles: 1) Conduct comprehensive statistical analyses on clinical datasets to derive meaningful insights. 2) Collaborate in the development and refinement of a profile for individuals experiencing upper limb spasticity following a stroke, aiming to enhance their functional outcomes and assess the effectiveness of different treatment approaches. 3) Aid in the preparation of a manuscript intended for peer-review submission, contributing to the dissemination of research findings and scientific knowledge.
Skills required: - Proficient in collecting and analyzing data using rigorous methodologies - Skilled in utilizing both descriptive and inferential statistical techniques
10. Effets de l’entraînement par intervalles à haute intensité sur le profil de risque cardiométabolique et la maladie stéatosique associée à un dysfonctionnement métabolique chez des personnes adolescentes caractérisées par la présence d’obésité
Problématique : La présence d’obésité chez la personne adolescente augmente le risque de présenter un profil de risque cardiométabolique altéré. Ces jeunes sont également exposés à un risque plus élevé d’être atteints de la maladie hépatique stéatosique associée à un dysfonctionnement métabolique (MASLD), une maladie chronique affectant le foie et associée à des complications importantes à long terme. Récemment, plusieurs études ont rapporté que chez l’adulte, un entraînement par intervalles à haute intensité (HIIT), comparativement à un entraînement continu d’intensité modérée (MICT), serait associé à plus de bénéfices sur la santé cardiométabolique et la MASLD. Toutefois, chez les jeunes, la littérature demeure encore limitée. Objectif : Ce projet a pour objectif de comparer l’impact du HIIT et du MICT sur le profil de risque cardiométabolique et la MASLD chez des personnes adolescentes présentant de l’obésité. Méthodologie : Pour ce faire, 40 personnes adolescentes seront randomisées en deux groupes de 20 (HIIT et MICT). Elles suivront un programme d’entrainement comptant 3 séances par semaine sur 12 semaines, où les deux approches seront calibrées pour générer une dépense énergétique équivalente. Les effets du programme seront évalués avant et après l’intervention à l’aide de mesures de la capacité cardiorespiratoire, de la composition corporelle et d’analyses sanguines. La MASLD sera évaluée avec une technique d’élastographie transitoire unidimensionnelle mesurée par Fibroscan avant et après le programme. Cette technique permet de mesurer le niveau de stéatose et de rigidité hépatiques. Résultats attendus : Puisque le HIIT permettra aux personnes adolescentes de passer plus de temps dans des zones d’intensités élevées, nous croyons que pour une même dépense énergétique, le HIIT sera associé à des bénéfices plus importants sur le profil de risque cardiométabolique et la MASLD que le MICT.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: Mes travaux de recherche portent principalement sur l’étiologie de l’obésité et ses conséquences métaboliques et cardiovasculaires ainsi que sur la mise en place de stratégies préventives et de prise en charge. Je m’intéresse particulièrement à l’influence des habitudes de vie comme l’activité physique, les comportements sédentaires et l’alimentation sur la santé métabolique et la prise en charge de l’obésité et des complications qui y sont associées (diabète de type 2, maladies cardiovasculaires).
Student roles: Contribuer à la collecte et à l'analyse des données. Contribuer à la revue de littérature et à la rédaction d'un article scientifique sur le sujet.
Skills required: L'étudiant doit être en mesure d'analyser des données qui touchent la santé cardiométabolique. Il peut aussi être apte à réaliser des évaluations de la condition physique. Il doit être en mesure de faire une revue de littérature sur une thématique en lien avec la thématique du projet.
Detonation nanodiamonds were chemically conjugated to basic amino acids (lysine and histidine) to impart positive charges to the surface. The functionalized nanoparticles are able to bind negatively charged nucleic acid drugs (e.g, DNA and RNA), forming diamoplexes. The diamoplexes are able to resist degradation in biological environment and deliver their nucleic acid cargo into mammalian cells.
The first objective of the project is to evaluate the physicochemical properties of the functionalized nanodiamonds and diamoplexes created with small interfering RNA. Size, surface properties and stability in biologically relevant liquids will be measured by light scattering and high-resolution microscopy techniques. Binding efficiency and ability of the functionalized nanodiamonds to protect small interfering RNA will be measured by gel electrophoresis.
The second objective relates to the evaluation of cellular uptake and localization of the functionalized nanodiamonds and their diamoplexes in a panel of cellular models for melanoma. These studies will assess the efficacy and safety of the diamoplexes. Bioassays, flow cytometry and microscopy will be used for quantitative measurement of small interfering RNA delivery efficiency and cellular toxicity. Synchrotron radiation-based soft X-ray microscopy (conducted at the Canadian Light Source) and transmission electron microscopy techniques (developed in our laboratory) will be employed to monitor the uptake pathway and intracellular fate of nanodiamonds and diamoplexes.
These studies will inform on future optimization of diamoplexes with regards to the type and proportion of amino acids conjugated on the surface of the nanodiamonds in order to maximize efficiency and minimize toxicity. The long term objectives are to select best performing (lead) diamoplexes for in vivo assessment of biodistribution, in vivo stability and efficacy studies in animal models of melanoma.
This study will set the foundation for novel safe and efficient gene therapy for melanoma.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: Nanodiamonds, used extensively in industry, have gained interest recently in the biomedical field. The purpose of our research is to engineer novel nanomaterials that can bind and carry nucleic acids into mammalian cells. We aim to advance knowledge of the use and safety of the functionalized diamond-core nanoparticles as drug delivery systems.
The specific goal is to engineer amino acid-functionalized nanodiamond carriers and establish structure-function relationship of the functionalized nanodiamond-nucleic acid complexes (called diamoplexes) in cellular and animal models of melanoma.
Student roles: Under my guidance and direct work with a graduate student, the student will to learn the required techniques for performing the experiments. S/he will also learn to design experiments and interpret data. She will learn how to correlate cellular uptake efficiency and/or toxicity with the surface properties and nucleic acid binding ability of the nanodiamonds. The student will prepare the cell cultures, design and perform cellular uptake experiments and analyze the results. S/he will present her results at weekly meetings, improving her/his communication skills. His/her scientific writing skills will be expanded by preparing reports, posters, and manuscripts.
Skills required: This project is multidisciplinary, with collaborators with expertise in pharmaceutical sciences, synthetic and analytical chemistry, cell biology, synchrotron sciences, and medical sciences. The student should be able to work in this environment. S/he is required basic theoretical gene therapy knowledge, pharmaceutical drug development and nanotechnology information. Basic practical laboratory skills, such as measuring/weighing chemical/pharmaceutical ingredients, pipetting liquids are required. Pharmaceutical calculations of ratios, doses and concentrations are an asset.
12. Examining the Health, Wellbeing, and Quality of Life of Older Adults and Caregivers Living in Rural and Northern Areas
Supervisor: Shannon Freeman
University: University of Northern British Columbia (Prince George campus)
Location: Prince George, British Columbia
Start date: 2027-05-10 (flexible)
Disciplines: Health Studies, Nursing, Psychology, Public Health, Social Work, Sociology, Medicine
In Canada, one in five older adults live in rural communities. These older adults are often vulnerable, facing multiple challenges to access health care services including poor access to community services/supports, lower incomes, higher costs of living, and challenges with transportation/mobility. Informal caregivers play an important role to support older adults to remain in their communities and age in place. Over 8 million Canadians provided care to a family member or friend who had a long-term health condition, disability, or age-related problem. In rural and northern communities in Canada, the importance of caregiver engagement to support navigation of service access and utilization for older adults is paramount.
Students will assist with a literature review to help understand how caregivers support older adults to access care services and navigate the Canadian healthcare system. As a member of Dr. Freeman’s interdisciplinary team, the MITACs intern will conduct a scoping review synthesizing recent research findings on the role caregivers play to support older adults to navigate the healthcare system. Furthermore this scoping review aims to identify and describe the health literacy of rural caregivers specific to northern communities in Canada. With the emergence of literature focusing on role of caregivers as healthcare system navigators as well as expanding of information on health literacy, it is very timely for this scoping review to identify the barriers and facilitators caregivers experience when assisting older adults to navigate the health care system specific to a rural and northern context.
The work completed during this MITACs internship may be a foundation for future opportunities at the Masters level. Previous MITACs interns have returned to UNBC and undertake graduate studies on Dr. Freeman's research team.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: Dr. Freeman is a Professor in Nursing at UNBC, Canada Research Chair in Aging and Technology, and Academic Director of the Centre for Technology Adoption for Aging in the North (www.ctaan.ca). Employing a population health perspective, her research focuses on improving the health and well-being of vulnerable populations with specialization in the areas of aging, technology, hospice palliative care, caregiving, and longevity. Dr. Freeman’s is skilled at mentoring quantitative, qualitative, and multi-methods, primary and secondary data collection, and knowledge synthesis methods. Dr. Freeman supervises Canadian and international graduate students in nursing, health sciences, medicine and interdisciplinary studies.
Student roles: The student and supervisor will conduct a knowledge synthesis to examine the role informal caregivers play to support older adults to age in place in rural and northern communities. The MITACs intern will collaborate with the Health Sciences librarian to develop a literature search strategy and retrieve all relevant literature. Next, with support and guidance from Dr. Freeman, the MITACs intern will lead the data extraction and synthesis. Dr. Freeman will mentor the MITACs intern to then employ a thematic and numerical approach to analyze the data.
In addition, there will be opportunity for the student to analyze secondary data provided by the local health authority to create health profiles and characterize older adults who access health care services according to their geographical status (rural vs. urban dwelling in the north). The student will be encouraged to identify whether there are any health disparities between rural and urban dwelling older adults in the north and to prepare a report for presentation to our community partners.
Focus will be placed on measuring quality of life and assessing factors affecting the quality of life of older adults and their caregivers. The student may have opportunity to visit local research sites and participate directly in knowledge exchange activities with community stakeholders. The student will be able to collaborate with members of the Dr. Freeman’s team and network with Health Authority executives and decision-makers. It is expected that the student prepare written and oral reports on their research findings to be disseminated to research partners and community stakeholders. In addition, the student will be expected to write a manuscript to disseminate their research findings to a larger audience.
Skills required: Required: * Background in health sciences, population health, public health, OR nursing * High personal motivation, self-management, and detail-orientation * Take responsibility meeting deadlines * Enjoy interacting with people * Interested in aging and older adults * Enthusiasm and willingness to learn new software and research methods * Proficient using Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Powerpoint) * Ability to: -Prepare tables, graphs, fact sheets and written reports -Prepare manuscripts suitable for publication
*I am very interested to support a student who may be interested to pursue a Master’s degree at UNBC in the future
13. Examining the Role of Technology to Support Aging in Place in Rural and Northern Communities
Supervisor: Shannon Freeman
University: University of Northern British Columbia (Prince George campus)
Location: Prince George, British Columbia
Start date: 2027-05-10 (flexible)
Disciplines: Health Studies, Nursing, Medical Sciences, Medicine, Computer Science, Psychology, Public Health, Studies Science and Technology
Older adults living in rural areas are often vulnerable, facing multiple challenges to access health care including poor access to care, lack of community services, lower incomes, higher costs of living, and challenges with transportation. Use of eHealth technology by older adults is increasing but has been embraced differently than younger persons. In rural, remote, and northern communities in Canada, the importance of eHealth technology including mobile health apps and telehealth has steadily grown in recent years. This research project aims to better understand how older adults perceive and use/do not use eHealth technology.
This project works closely with knowledge users from the regional health authority and older adults in northern British Columbia. The intern will be engaged in three ongoing research projects piloting innovative technologies in rural communities. Currently funded projects include looking at lighting for wayfinding for persons with dementia, adaptive clothing to support persons with Parkinson's, and effects of COVID-19 on technology use. The MITACs intern will be involved in a variety of ongoing research activities including literature searching, interviewing older adults and care providers, analysing data and writing of reports. The MITACs student will work collaboratively with our existing team members on this project to ensure more timely and effective ways to disseminate the information to policy and decision makers.
As a member of this interdisciplinary team, the MITACs research intern will take an active role to summarize findings to better understand how use of these technologies are mitigating the ‘digital divide’ for older adults residing in rural, remote, and northern communities in Canada.
The work completed during this internship may be a foundation for future opportunities at the Masters level. I have successfully recruited previous MITACs interns to return to UNBC and undertake MSc degree engaging in research with my research team.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: Dr. Freeman is a Professor in Nursing at UNBC, Canada Research Chair in Aging and Technology, and Academic Director of the Centre for Technology Adoption for Aging in the North (www.ctaan.ca). Employing a population health perspective, her research focuses on improving the health and well-being of vulnerable populations with specialization in the areas of aging, technology, hospice palliative care, caregiving, and longevity. Dr. Freeman’s is skilled at mentoring quantitative, qualitative, and multi-methods, primary and secondary data collection, and knowledge synthesis methods. Dr. Freeman supervises Canadian and international graduate students in nursing, health sciences, medicine and interdisciplinary studies.
Student roles: The student will be engaged in a variety of ongoing research activities according to his/her strengths and interests. Projects involve pilot implementation and evaluation of technologies therefore there is opportunity for mentorship in qualitative and/or quantitative research methods. Dr. Freeman will mentor the MITACs intern to employ a thematic and/or numerical approach to analyze the data. In addition, there will be opportunity for the student to go out into the community and interact with users, technology developers, and health care decision makers The student will be encouraged to identify whether there are any health disparities between rural and urban dwelling older adults in the north.
The student may have opportunity to visit local research sites and participate directly in knowledge exchange activities with community stakeholders. The student will be able to collaborate with members of the Dr. Freeman’s team and network with Health Authority decision-makers.
It is expected that the student prepare written and oral reports on their research findings to be disseminated to research partners and community stakeholders. In addition, the student will be expected to contribute to drafting of a manuscript to disseminate research findings to a larger audience.
KEYWORDS: NURSING, HEALTH, AGING, TECHNOLOGY, ACCESSIBILITY OF HEALTHCARE SERVICES, TELEHEALTH
Skills required: Required -Background in computer sciences, information technology,health sciences, population health, public health, sociology, medicine OR nursing -High personal motivation, self-management, and detail-orientation -Take responsibility meeting deadlines -Enjoy interacting with people -Interested in aging, gerontology, and technology -Enthusiasm and willingness to learn new software and research methods
Willingness to: -Perform literature search and synthesize information in a timely manner -Prepare tables, graphs, fact sheets and written reports -Prepare manuscripts suitable for publication -Proficient using Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
*Would like to support a student interested to pursue a Master’s degree at UNBC in the future
14. Exploring Work Disability and Functional Capacity in Individuals with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE): A Comprehensive National Study Using a Mixed-methods Sequential Explanatory Approach
A national collaborative study utilizing a multidisciplinary patient-centered approach to examine work disability and function in individuals with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) seeks to provide practical and individualized care solutions. SLE is a complex autoimmune disease that affects multiple organ systems, resulting in disability and mortality. Managing SLE requires a comprehensive multidisciplinary approach due to its diverse impacts on patients' lives. Research indicates that multidisciplinary teamwork in healthcare enhances patient engagement and involvement in work rehabilitation processes.
To ensure the breadth and applicability of our findings, our national research team includes various centers across Canada. This collaboration enables us to gain valuable insights into the extent and nature of work disability and function in SLE. By utilizing a multidisciplinary team, we aim to improve patient care and minimize communication gaps among healthcare professionals. This approach has demonstrated successful outcomes in the management of chronic conditions such as kidney disease, diabetes, and rheumatoid arthritis. However, limited evidence exists regarding the effectiveness of a multidisciplinary team approach in addressing work disability and functional outcomes in SLE.
Our project proposes a collaborative team effort to establish a comprehensive profile of work disability in individuals with SLE. The multidisciplinary research team comprises experts in epidemiology, patient education, medicine, knowledge mobilization, and both quantitative and qualitative research methods. The team members bring diverse clinical backgrounds in nursing, occupational therapy, psychology, psychiatry, rheumatology, and social work. By leveraging this expertise, we aim to advance our understanding of the complex relationships between SLE, work disability, and functional outcomes, ultimately improving the care and support provided to individuals with SLE in their work-related endeavors.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: Behdin Nowrouzi-Kia, an experienced occupational therapist, has dedicated the past 12 years to working with injured workers. His professional focus revolves around occupational health and safety, exploring the social determinants of mental health, addressing traumatic brain injuries, and delving into the complexities of return to work challenges. Behdin's research pursuits are strongly influenced by his clinical experience as an occupational therapist, particularly in private practice, where he has been actively involved in facilitating return to work and preventing work-related disabilities.
This is a joint project between the Department of OS&OT, University of Toronto and Toronto Western Hospital (University Health Network).
Student roles: - Proficient in collecting and analyzing data - Skilled in both descriptive and inferential statistics - Able to contribute to the writing of peer-reviewed publications
Skills required: Interest and academic background in: - occupational public health - descriptive and inferential statistics. This position is suitable for a student interested in pursuing a career in health care including medicine, occupational therapy etc.
15. Fostering Age Friendly Communities
Supervisor: Shannon Freeman
University: University of Northern British Columbia (Prince George campus)
Location: Prince George, British Columbia
Start date: 2027-05-10 (flexible)
Disciplines: Health Studies, Medical Sciences, Medicine, Nursing, Psychology, Public Health, Social Work, Sociology
Communities across Canada and globally are focusing on the importance to foster more age-friendly environments that better support inclusion and engagement our contemporary aging population. This project will focus on identifying the critical components necessary to enhance older adult involvement of higher education. Through this internship, trainees will identify and implement strategies to raise awareness and educate others about aging issues and build curriculum to support an increasing age-diverse population. The principles also provide a guiding framework to broaden opportunities for older learners to access higher education.
In this project, trainees will conduct an environmental scan of age-friendly universities and summarize recommendations according to age friendly university principles. Further, trainees will develop a plan to implement reflect existing and new efforts that to enhance the age friendliness of the academic environment. Trainees will prepare a report and presentation for decision-makers to reflect on how they can be more age-friendly.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: Dr. Freeman is a Professor in Nursing at UNBC, Canada Research Chair in Aging and Technology, and Academic Director of the Centre for Technology Adoption for Aging in the North (www.ctaan.ca). Employing a population health perspective, her research focuses on improving the health and well-being of vulnerable populations with specialization in the areas of aging, technology, hospice palliative care, caregiving, and longevity. Dr. Freeman’s is skilled at mentoring quantitative, qualitative, and multi-methods, primary and secondary data collection, and knowledge synthesis methods. Dr. Freeman supervises Canadian and international graduate students in nursing, health sciences, medicine and interdisciplinary studies.
Student roles: The student will be engaged in a variety of ongoing research activities according to his/her strengths and interests. Projects involve pilot implementation and evaluation of technologies therefore there is opportunity for mentorship in qualitative and/or quantitative research methods. Dr. Freeman will mentor the MITACs intern to employ a thematic and/or numerical approach to analyze the data. In addition, there will be opportunity for the student to go out into the community and interact with users, technology developers, and health care decision makers The student will be encouraged to identify whether there are any health disparities between rural and urban dwelling older adults in the north.
The student may have opportunity to visit local research sites and participate directly in knowledge exchange activities with community stakeholders. The student will be able to collaborate with members of the Dr. Freeman’s team and network with Health Authority decision-makers. It is expected that the student prepare written and oral reports on their research findings to be disseminated to research partners and community stakeholders. In addition, the student will be expected to contribute to drafting of a manuscript to disseminate research findings to a larger audience.
KEYWORDS: NURSING, HEALTH, AGING, AGE FRIENDLY COMMUNITIES, ACCESSIBILITY OF EDUCATION
Skills required: Required -Background in health sciences, population health, public health, social sciences, sociology, medicine OR nursing -High personal motivation, self-management, and detail-orientation -Take responsibility meeting deadlines -Enjoy interacting with people -Interested in aging, gerontology, and age friendly universities -Enthusiasm and willingness to learn new software and research methods
Willingness to: -Perform literature search and synthesize information in a timely manner -Prepare tables, graphs, fact sheets and written reports -Prepare manuscripts suitable for publication -Proficient using Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
*Would like to support a student interested to pursue a Master’s degree at UNBC in the future
16. Identifying the use and application of the core capability framework for telerehabilitation in the education of rehabilitation professionals: a scoping review
Supervisor: Ruth Barclay
University: University of Manitoba (Winnipeg campus)
Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba
Start date: 2027-05-03 (flexible)
Disciplines: Health Studies, Rehabilitation Medicine, Nursing
In 2021, a group of researchers in Australia developed a core capability framework for physiotherapists, to provide guidance in education and training of skills needed to deliver telerehabilitation care through videoconferencing. The objectives of this research project will be to identify the use and application of the core capability framework for telerehabilitation in the training of rehabilitation professionals in entry-level, research and clinical practice. A scoping review will be the method used to achieve the objectives. Frameworks by Arksey and O’Malley and the Johanna Briggs Institute as well as the PRISMA scoping review checklist will inform the process of the scoping review. The search strategy will be developed in association with the health sciences librarian. Inclusion criteria will be articles that focus on training of health professionals to provide telerehabilitation, and that refer to the core capability framework. Multiple databases will be searched. The review management software, Covidence, will be used to manage all retrieved articles, inclusions/exclusions and data extraction. Two reviewers will independently screen titles / abstracts and full text articles, as well as extract data from included articles. Results will be presented in chart and visual format, as well as text.
This project is part one of a larger group of studies looking at current telerehabilitation education and training in research studies, clinical practice and physiotherapy education. The results of the scoping review will be used to develop a survey of Manitoba physiotherapists to determine their educational needs around their telerehabilitation use. Results will also be used to review current training of entry-level physiotherapy students at the university.
Space and computers will be provided for student use in the College of Rehabilitation Sciences. Students will have the opportunity to visit lab spaces of other College of Rehabilitation Sciences faculty and Riverview Health Centre.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: I am a physiotherapist and Riverview Health Centre Research Chair in Telerehabilitation. People who live in rural and northern regions, or those who have difficulty leaving their homes have challenges in addressing their rehabilitation needs due to lack of access to physiotherapists and other healthcare professionals. Telerehabilitation uses technology such as videoconferencing to provide rehabilitation services by connecting the rehabilitation professional to the person receiving care. Telerehabilitation can incorporate screening, assessment, intervention, consultation, and monitoring. Research into telerehabilitation is important to provide rehabilitation access to all people, no matter where they live.
Student roles: The database search will be conducted prior to student arrival. Students will be trained in scoping review methodology and how to use Covidence, a review management software. Using Covidence, students will independently review titles and abstracts to include or exclude. If there is disagreement between two reviewers, the students will collectively review the title/abstract to determine inclusion or exclusion. The same process is repeated for full text articles. Reference lists of included articles will be reviewed by the students to identify if there are additional articles to include. When included articles have been determined, data extraction will be completed by the students, using Covidence. Data will be exported into excel and the students will summarize and synthesize the results, creating graph and visual presentations. All steps will be completed with assistance and guidance by Dr. Ruth Barclay. Additionally, some University of Manitoba graduate students may also assist in the process, being part of the team. The students will assist with writing the paper results and will be co-authors. If time permits, the students will use the results from the scoping review to write initial questions for a follow-up survey of Manitoba physiotherapists and their needs for education regarding telerehabilitation.
Skills required: Students should have experience in reading and interpreting health research literature, have good communication skills, experience working in a team, the ability to problem solve, and experience in summarizing and synthesizing information.
17. Investigating the cognitive, environmental, financial, personal, physical, psychological, and social care needs of Black Older Adults in Canada
Supervisor: Michael Kalu
University: York University (Toronto campus)
Location: Toronto, Ontario
Start date: 2027-05-03 (flexible)
Disciplines: Health Studies, Medical Sciences, Medicine, Nursing, Public Health, Rehabilitation Medicine, Social Work, Sociology, Quantitative Surveying, Recreation, Surveying
Canada’s increasingly diverse aging population is particularly evident in large cities such as, Halifax, Greater Toronto, and Winnipeg. Currently almost 20% of Canadians aged 65 and older are Black, a proportion expected to double in urban centers, where most immigrants from Africa and the Caribbean settle. These demographics highlight the urgent need for targeted efforts to address the unique social challenges, including unmet needs faced by Canadian Black older adults (BOAs). Recent research indicates BOAs are 1.22 times more likely to have unmet needs and 35.33% more likely to face adverse consequences from these unmet needs, compared to their White counterparts. Unmet needs, defined as unfulfilled want or desire, contribute to social inequities, leading to increased loneliness, reduced social engagement, shrinking social networks, and diminished quality of life and well-being. There is currently no evidence identifying or addressing unmet needs through Afrocentric-informed strategies for BOA in Canada, underscoring the necessity of this study.
The overarching goal of this research is to create knowledge about and foster a comprehensive understanding of the cognitive, environmental, financial, personal, physical/health, psychological and social needs of BOAs living in urban cities in three different geographic regions of Canada – East, Central, West.
This project uses a cross-sectional quantitative design and involves community-based data collection with BOAs (Black Older Adults) residing in Toronto, Halifax, and Winnipeg. The Mitacs intern will assist with survey data collection in Toronto alongside the research team and will conduct preliminary data analysis. The analysis will describe the needs of BOAs and examine predictors, moderators, and mediators of differences between those with met versus unmet needs, focusing on BOAs born in Africa, the Caribbean, and Canada.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: This line of research broadly focuses on "quality “living” for Black older adults refers to their overall well-being and satisfaction, including physical health, mental and emotional well-being, social connections, financial stability, sense of purpose, and happiness in their daily lives. This current proposed project focuses on quality “living” among Black older adults with the aim of exploring comprehensively their cognitive, environmental, financial, personal, physical/health, psychological and social needs to enhance equitable care (access, quality and culturally appropriate treatment and affordability) through quantitative surveying.
Student roles: 1. Establish rapport and build trust with participants through active listening and empathetic engagement. 2. Ability to develop and conduct survey interviews in a respectful and comfortable manner, ensuring participants feel at ease. 3. Record and transcribe surveys accurately in the software, while upholding confidentiality and privacy standards. 4. Familiarize themselves with descriptive and interferential quantitative analysis conducted in selected or desired software 5. Collaborate with peers or mentors to validate findings and ensure the co-dependent quantitative analysis. 6. Ability to make a comprehensive and scholarly presentation to peers during lab meetings and in a local academic conference
Skills required: We are seeking students enrolled in programs such as gerontology, social work, sociology, public health, interdisciplinary health, nursing, demography, rehab science, kinesiology and health sciences. Ideal candidates will (a) be able to attend community outreaches and conduct onsite survey completion in English; (b) possess or be willing to develop knowledge of quantitative data analysis and the use of software such as STATA, SPSS etc; (c) have strong writing skills or be eager to improve them; and (d) be capable of working effectively in a fast-paced laboratory environment.
18. Modafinil during Pregnancy and Congenital Malformations
Supervisor: Sherif Eltonsy
University: University of Manitoba (Winnipeg campus)
Modafinil is a mild psycho-stimulant drug that marketed as wakefulness promoting agent and used for the treatment of excessive daytime sleepiness associated with narcolepsy. In 2018, the pharmaceutical companies alerted that an interim analysis of post marketing surveillance signals detected major malformations increased among children exposed to modafinil during pregnancy compared with the background population. To add to the emerging evidence, we will conduct a scoping review on all study designs in accordance with recommendations from the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA‐ScR). All exposed pregnant women will be considered for inclusion. Only studies reporting infant malformation outcomes as primary or secondary outcome will be included. A search strategy will be developed with a librarian and the graduate student supervisor. We will systematically search the MEDLINE (PUBMED) and EMBASE. Additionally, we will manually search the reference lists of included studies and other systematic reviews on the subject and will include the relevant studies. Only studies in English and French will be included.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: Drug safety and health research
Student roles: The student will be responsible for every step of the review as outlined above in the methods such as, literature search, screen the articles, extract the data into tables/extraction sheets, and summarize the evidence. The student will write a manuscript to be published in an international peer‐reviewed journal and give presentation with the help of the supervisor.
Skills required: Health research
19. Modelling Risk Propagation and Designing a Governance Framework for AI Systems in Healthcare
This project will develop a formal risk-modelling and governance framework for artificial intelligence systems used in hospital and healthcare settings. Building on existing work mapping AI deployment across Canadian healthcare systems, the project will examine how AI-related risks emerge, propagate, and escalate when AI tools are embedded in real clinical workflows.
The student will model how AI system failures, performance limitations, misuse, edge cases, and adversarial scenarios can affect clinical decision-making, care pathways, patient safety, accountability, and health-system operations. The project will identify escalation pathways through which small AI errors or biased outputs may lead to larger clinical, operational, or governance harms.
The research will combine literature review, real-world AI deployment evidence, workflow analysis, risk modelling, and governance synthesis. The student will help design an evidence-based governance framework and practical checklist to support safer and more accountable use of AI in healthcare. The project will also produce an interactive public-facing dashboard to visualize risk propagation, failure modes, and governance insights. A final manuscript will be prepared for publication, contributing to responsible AI, health data governance, and patient safety in healthcare systems.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: My specialized research area is community-oriented artificial intelligence, mathematical modeling, and data science for infectious disease prevention, preparedness, and response. I develop AI-enabled and mathematical modeling approaches to support public health decision-making, with an emphasis on epidemic dynamics, behavioral responses, vaccination strategies, climate and environmental drivers, and health equity. This research integrates epidemiological data, climate-informed modelling, and community-relevant analytics to address infectious disease challenges in Canada, Africa, and the Global South, while supporting resilient health systems and equitable outbreak response.
Student roles: The student will review literature and real-world evidence on AI systems deployed in healthcare settings, identify potential failure modes, and model how risks may propagate through clinical workflows. They will analyze misuse, edge-case, and adversarial scenarios, map escalation pathways leading to clinical or governance harms, and help design an evidence-based governance framework and practical checklist. The student will also support development of an interactive dashboard, prepare visualizations, contribute to presentations, and lead or co-lead manuscript writing in collaboration with supervisors and interdisciplinary partners.
Skills required: The ideal student should have a background in health informatics, data science, artificial intelligence, computer science, public health, health policy, systems engineering, or a related field. Familiarity with healthcare systems, clinical workflows, responsible AI, risk analysis, governance frameworks, and data visualization is preferred. Experience with literature review, qualitative or mixed-methods synthesis, modeling, dashboard development, and programming tools such as Python, R, Tableau, or Power BI would be an asset. Strong analytical, writing, communication, and teamwork skills are required.
20. Perinatal Safety of Macrolide Antibiotics During Pregnancy
Supervisor: Sherif Eltonsy
University: University of Manitoba (Winnipeg campus)
Macrolide antibiotics, including azithromycin, erythromycin, and clarithromycin, are widely prescribed during pregnancy, yet evidence regarding their safety remains inconsistent. Concerns persist about potential associations with adverse outcomes such as congenital malformations, pregnancy loss, preterm birth, and neurodevelopmental disorders. While several observational studies have examined these risks, few have accounted for confounding by indication, and Canadian real-world data remain limited. This study will use comprehensive, population-based data to evaluate the perinatal and long-term neurodevelopmental safety of macrolide use during pregnancy.
The primary objective is to assess the association between prenatal exposure to macrolides and adverse pregnancy and child health outcomes. We will examine the prevalence of macrolide use during pregnancy, compare risks across individual agents, and explore the influence of exposure timing and duration.
We will conduct a retrospective cohort study using linked administrative health databases from the Manitoba Population Research Data Repository at MCHP. Pregnancies from 2005 to 2023 will be identified, and macrolide dispensations during pregnancy will be captured from the Drug Program Information Network. Outcomes will include major congenital anomalies, pregnancy loss, preterm birth, and neurodevelopmental conditions such as epilepsy, cerebral palsy, autism, and ADHD. Regression models with appropriate adjustment for confounding—including propensity scores matching—will be used to estimate risk differences and relative risks associated with macrolide exposure.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: Drug safety and health research
Student roles: The student will be responsible for every step of the review as outlined above in the methods such as, literature search, screen the articles, extract the data into tables/extraction sheets, and summarize the evidence. The student will write a manuscript to be published in an international peer‐reviewed journal and give presentation with the help of the supervisor.
The project is part of a multi-city study (Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa) to measure pollen levels and create an exposure surface map for pollens. These data will be used in turn to evaluate whether pollen exposure is related to an increased risk of hospitalization for cardiovascular disease. The student will conduct fieldwork to measure pollen throughout the duration of the internship throughout Kingston. The study will be involved in the creation of exposure surface maps to describing spatial and temporal (daily) changes in pollen levels. The project involves fieldwork, and will require some driving to different locations to set up and collect data. Training will be provided on how to set up and collect pollen data.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: I am an environmental epidemiologist whose expertise lies in the area of cancer and chronic disease. Many of my studies evaluate the health impacts of exposure such as air pollution, residential proximity to greenness and noise.
Student roles: The student will collect data on pollen concentrations, and likely measures on air pollution as well. This requires the student to travel to various locations in the city and set up and collect data. The student will also be involved in some of the analysis of the data, and the development of environmental exposure surface maps for Kingston, Ontario.
Skills required: Previous experience in statistical analysis and geographical mapping will also be valued. Being able to drive is necessary.
22. Prehospital Decision-Making and Alternatives to Emergency Department Conveyance
Supervisor: Yawo KOBARA
University: University of Windsor
Location: Windsor, Ontario
Start date: 2027-05-03 (flexible)
Disciplines: Health Studies, Occupational Health, Public Health, Statistics, Political Science, Public Policy and Administration, Computer Science, Development Studies, Econometrics, Economics, Geography, Humanities, Industrial Relations, Information Studies
The project Prehospital Decision-Making and Alternatives to Emergency Department Conveyance examines how emergency medical services (EMS) make on‑scene decisions regarding patient transport versus alternative care pathways. Through a comprehensive scoping review of existing evidence. The project aims to clarify the conditions under which alternative prehospital pathways can safely reduce unnecessary emergency department utilization, while identifying key risks, trade‑offs, and system‑level factors that influence patient safety, operational performance, and downstream healthcare demand.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: My research lies at the intersection of statistics, machine learning, and operations research, with a strong emphasis on healthcare systems analytics and decision-making. My work focuses on developing and applying rigorous quantitative methods such as statistical modeling, optimization, simulation, and data-driven AI techniques to improve healthcare system performance, patient flow, capacity planning, and policy-relevant outcomes. More broadly, my research program integrates analytics and artificial intelligence to address complex problems in healthcare delivery, operations management, and population-level outcomes.
Student roles: The undergraduate research assistant will support a scoping review examining prehospital decision‑making and alternatives to emergency department conveyance. The student will assist with identifying and screening academic literature, extracting and organizing study information, and contributing to structured summaries of system design, safety, and health system outcomes. The role involves close collaboration with the research team, attention to detail, and engagement with concepts related to emergency medical services, healthcare decision‑making, and system performance. This position offers hands‑on experience in health systems research and academic scholarship.
Skills required: We are seeking an undergraduate research assistant with an interest in healthcare systems, emergency care, or data‑driven policy research. The student will support a scoping review on prehospital decision‑making and alternatives to emergency department conveyance, involving literature searching, screening, data extraction, and synthesis. A background in health sciences, public health, engineering, business analytics, or a related field is preferred. Strong reading, writing, and organizational skills, along with curiosity about healthcare decision‑making, patient safety, and system performance, are essential; prior research experience is an asset but not required.
23. Ready for the Next Beat: Building the Evidence Base for Personalized Transition Care in Congenital Heart Disease
Supervisor: Anna Chudyk
University: University of Manitoba (Winnipeg campus)
Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba
Start date: 2027-05-03 (flexible)
Disciplines: Health Studies, Medical Sciences, Medicine, Nursing, Occupational Health, Pharmacy, Physiology, Psychology, Public Health, Rehabilitation Medicine, Social Work, Sociology, Studies Science and Technology, Womens Studies
Youth with congenital heart disease often face challenges when transitioning from pediatric to adult healthcare services. Difficulties during this period can result in gaps in care and poorer health outcomes. Transition readiness assessments may help identify youths' strengths, needs, and priorities so that healthcare teams can provide tailored supports at the right time.
Working as part of an international research team, two Globalink interns will contribute to a systematic review examining published transition readiness assessment tools used among youth with congenital heart disease and other chronic health conditions. Together, the interns will assist with literature screening, data extraction, evidence synthesis, and the preparation of knowledge translation products.
Interns will receive training in systematic review methods, evidence synthesis, and patient-oriented research while working alongside faculty members and graduate trainees. They will participate in regular team meetings and contribute to research outputs that will directly inform future co-design and implementation activities aimed at improving transition care in Manitoba. Depending on progress and interests, students may also contribute to conference abstracts and peer-reviewed publications.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: Our research focuses on patient-oriented health services research and implementation science. We work alongside patients, caregivers, healthcare providers, and decision-makers to improve healthcare delivery through collaborative approaches. This project focuses on improving the transition from pediatric to adult care for youth with congenital heart disease by identifying and evaluating transition readiness assessment tools that can support more personalized, equitable, and responsive models of care.
Student roles: The two interns will function as active members of the research team and collaborate throughout the internship while also taking ownership of specific components of the project. Working alongside faculty members and graduate trainees, they will contribute to a systematic review examining transition readiness assessment tools used with youth with congenital heart disease.
Responsibilities may include screening titles and abstracts, reviewing full-text articles, extracting and organizing study data, maintaining documentation within review software, synthesizing findings across studies, and identifying strengths, limitations, and gaps within the existing literature. Interns will participate in discussions related to methodological decisions and contribute their perspectives as the team interprets findings and considers their implications for future research and practice.
Throughout the internship, students will receive hands-on training in knowledge synthesis, systematic review methodology, scientific writing, and participatory research practices. Learning to conduct rigorous knowledge syntheses is a fundamental research skill that underpins evidence-based healthcare, informs clinical guidelines and policy decisions, identifies priorities for future research, and strengthens the design of primary studies. Interns will participate in regular meetings with faculty members and graduate trainees, receive individualized mentorship and feedback, and gain exposure to patient-oriented research and implementation science approaches. Depending on the progress of the review and the interns' interests, opportunities may exist to contribute to conference abstracts, presentations, knowledge translation products, and peer-reviewed publications.
By the end of the internship, students will have developed practical skills that are highly transferable to graduate studies and health research careers, while contributing to a project with direct implications for improving the transition from pediatric to adult care for youth living with congenital heart disease.
Skills required: Applicants must have strong English reading and writing skills, excellent attention to detail, and the ability to think critically when reviewing and synthesizing academic literature. The ideal student will be organized, reliable, intellectually curious, and able to follow a structured review protocol while thinking critically about the evidence they encounter. Prior experience with literature reviews, knowledge synthesis, or health research is an asset, but not required. Students should be comfortable working independently and collaboratively within a multidisciplinary research team and be eager to learn, contribute, and engage actively in discussions about the research process.
24. Recovery of Postural Control in People with MS
Supervisor: Gerome Manson
University: Queen's University (Kingston campus)
Location: Kingston, Ontario
Start date: 2027-06-01 (flexible)
Disciplines: Health Studies, Medical Sciences, Anatomy, Psychology
This project investigates whether transcutaneous spinal stimulation (TSS) can improve postural stability in people with multiple sclerosis (MS). Postural instability affects approximately 50% of individuals at MS onset, increasing fall risk and reducing quality of life. Current pharmaceutical treatments do little to address these sensorimotor symptoms. TSS is a non-invasive technique that delivers electrical stimulation to the spinal cord through surface electrodes, enhancing the responsiveness of spinal sensorimotor networks. Our previous work has demonstrated that TSS can improve postural stability in people with MS and alter brain activation patterns during stability tasks.
The project has three aims. First, we will use TSS to probe differences in spinal sensorimotor function between individuals with MS and neurologically healthy controls, and test whether TSS acutely improves anticipatory and reactive postural responses during perturbation and limits-of-stability tasks. Second, we will use simultaneous TSS and fMRI to examine how stimulation modulates brain activation and functional connectivity within sensorimotor circuits, linking these neural measures to clinical and postural outcomes. Third, we will conduct a 12-week feasibility study integrating TSS-assisted balance training with a structured exercise program for individuals with MS, assessing recruitment, adherence, and retention alongside exploratory measures of postural stability and quality of life.
The student will gain experience with TSS, electromyography, motion capture, force-plate-based postural assessments, and neuroimaging, while working within an interdisciplinary team that includes physiatrists, neurologists, biomechanists, and psychologists. This project will generate the mechanistic and feasibility evidence needed to establish TSS as a low-cost, accessible therapeutic intervention for postural instability in MS.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: My research investigates how the nervous system controls movement by integrating sensory information from visual, vestibular, and somatosensory systems. I specialize in transcutaneous spinal stimulation (TSS), a non-invasive neuromodulation technique that enhances spinal sensorimotor network function. My lab develops novel TSS methods and uses electromyography, motion capture, and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to understand how spinal stimulation engages both spinal and supraspinal circuits. I apply these tools to study postural control and motor learning in healthy individuals and clinical populations, including people with multiple sclerosis and spinal cord injury.
Student roles: The student will contribute to participant recruitment and screening in collaboration with clinical partners at Providence Care and the MS Clinic. They will collect data across all three aims, including administering TSS, recording electromyographic and kinematic data during postural stability tasks, and assisting with fMRI data acquisition. The student will be responsible for processing and analyzing data using R and/or Python, contributing to the interpretation of results, and preparing manuscripts for publication. They will also help coordinate the 12-week exercise and balance training program in Aim 3, including scheduling sessions and tracking adherence and retention metrics. The student will present findings at lab meetings, departmental seminars, and national or international conferences.
Skills required: The ideal candidate will have an undergraduate degree in kinesiology, neuroscience, biomedical engineering, physiology, or a related discipline. Experience with human neurophysiology, motor control, or rehabilitation research is preferred. Familiarity with data collection techniques such as electromyography, motion capture, or force-plate-based balance assessments is an asset. The student should be comfortable learning new technical skills, including programming in R or Python for data analysis. Strong organizational skills and the ability to work both independently and collaboratively are essential, as the project involves coordinating with clinical partners and interdisciplinary research teams.
25. Social Isolation and Falls Risk Across Aging Populations: A Multi-Country Analysis Using the Gateway to Global Aging Data
Supervisor: Shanthi Johnson
University: University of Windsor
Location: Windsor, Ontario
Start date: 2027-05-12 (flexible)
Disciplines: Health Studies, Public Health, Computer Science, Engg-Computer, Social Work
Social isolation is a recognized risk factor for falls, cognitive decline, depression, and premature mortality among older adults. However, the strength and mechanisms of this relationship vary across countries due to differences in family structures, social protection systems, cultural norms around aging, and health system access. Existing research is predominantly single-country, limiting our understanding of which social connectedness factors are universally protective and which are context-dependent.
This project uses the Gateway to Global Aging Data (G2Aging) platform to conduct a multi-country comparative analysis of social isolation and falls risk. G2Aging provides pre-harmonized, research-ready variables across longitudinal aging studies including the US Health and Retirement Study, the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing, the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe, the Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing, the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging, the Longitudinal Aging Study in India, and others covering over 365,000 respondents and one million observations.
The intern will: conduct a targeted literature review on social isolation and falls across national contexts; extract and prepare harmonized variables on social participation, loneliness, living arrangements, falls incidence, and functional limitations from selected G2Aging datasets; perform cross-national statistical analyses examining whether social isolation indicators predict falls risk consistently across countries or vary by social and institutional context; and disaggregate findings by gender, age cohort, and household structure.
The intern will work with and be supervised by Dr. Shanthi Johnson (VP Research and Innovation, Professor, Human Kinetics), whose research on falls prevention and social isolation among diverse aging populations provides the methodological framework. The project offers training in cross-national secondary data analysis, harmonized dataset management, and global aging research skills highly valued in public health, health policy, and international development careers.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: Our research investigates the relationship between social isolation, social connectedness, and falls risk among aging populations across diverse national contexts. We leverage the Gateway to Global Aging Data (g2aging.org). A platform hosting harmonized longitudinal datasets from 16 Health and Retirement Studies spanning 44 countries to conduct cross-national comparisons of how social environments shape health outcomes in later life. This work is part of the University of Windsor's broader commitment to Age Friendly University Global Network membership and the research program on healthy aging, falls prevention, and health promotion, led by the Office of the Vice-President, Research and Innovation.
Student roles: The intern will serve as a data analyst conducting cross-national analysis of social isolation and falls using the G2Aging harmonized datasets. Their work will contribute to peer-reviewed publications and advance understanding of global patterns in social determinants of falls risk.
Week 1–2: Orientation and literature review. The intern will be oriented to the research project, G2Aging platform navigation, data access protocols, and ethical requirements. They will complete a focused literature review on social isolation and falls across national contexts, identifying key harmonized variables available in G2Aging datasets and selecting 3–5 countries for comparison based on data availability and theoretical relevance.
Week 3–4: Data extraction and preparation. The intern will download harmonized datasets from G2Aging, extract relevant variables (social participation, loneliness, living alone, falls, ADL/IADL limitations, self-rated health), and build a pooled multi-country analytic file. They will develop a detailed codebook documenting variable definitions, coding decisions, and cross-study comparability notes.
Week 5–8: Statistical analysis. The intern will conduct bivariate and multivariate analyses examining associations between social isolation indicators and falls outcomes across selected countries. Analyses will use country-stratified logistic regression and pooled models with country interaction terms to test whether associations differ across contexts. Findings will be disaggregated by gender, age cohort, and household structure.
Week 9–10: Interpretation and synthesis. The intern will interpret cross-national patterns, identify which social connectedness factors appear universally protective versus context-dependent, and develop publication-ready tables and figures.
Week 11–12: Manuscript contribution and presentation. The intern will draft a results and discussion section for a manuscript, prepare a research poster, and present findings to the research team. They will receive mentorship on academic writing, cross-national research design, and co-authorship pathways.
Weekly supervisory meetings and participation in research team discussions are integral to the internship.
Skills required: The student should be enrolled in an undergraduate or master's program in public health, epidemiology, sociology, gerontology, kinesiology, data science, or a related discipline. Required skills: experience with quantitative data analysis using statistical software (Stata preferred; R, SPSS, or SAS also acceptable); understanding of basic epidemiological or biostatistical concepts; strong analytical and critical thinking skills; proficiency in English (written and oral). Preferred assets: prior experience with large survey datasets or secondary data analysis, familiarity with longitudinal study design, coursework in global health or comparative health systems, and interest in aging research.
26. Telerehabilitation for Shoulder Pain in Older Adults: Integrating Digital Health and Symptom Monitoring to Optimize Remote Care
Supervisor: Mirella Veras
University: University of Manitoba (Winnipeg campus)
This research project focuses on advancing telerehabilitation approaches for shoulder pain management in older adults, with an emphasis on pain assessment and post-exertional malaise (PEM). The project integrates The Shoulder Pain app to support remote education, symptom tracking, pain monitoring, and individualized exercise-based rehabilitation. It also incorporates the BottleCap platform, a digital biomarker platform designed to capture physiological and/or biomechanical indicators that may help monitor recovery, functional status, and responses to rehabilitation.
The study aims to examine how combining patient-reported pain outcomes with objective biomarker data can improve remote assessment, identify PEM-related responses to activity, and support more personalized rehabilitation strategies for older adults with shoulder pain.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: My research focuses on digital health, rehabilitation science, and artificial intelligence (AI), aiming to develop equitable, inclusive, and technology-enabled solutions for aging populations. I design and evaluate AI-driven interventions using wearable sensors and data platforms to enhance mobility, autonomy, and quality of life in older adults and individuals with disabilities. The work supports precision rehabilitation, telemonitoring, and self-management, especially in rural and underserved communities. Grounded in health equity and ethical AI, my research addresses the digital empowerment divide and contributes to evidence-based clinical innovation, policy development, and the advancement of patient-centered digital rehabilitation systems.
Student roles: The student will support the implementation and evaluation of a telerehabilitation program for shoulder pain in older adults. Responsibilities include assisting with participant recruitment and onboarding, guiding participants in the use of The Shoulder Pain app, and supporting remote monitoring of symptoms, pain levels, and adherence to exercise programs.
The student will contribute to data collection and management, including patient-reported outcomes and digital health data, and assist with preliminary data analysis under supervision. Additional tasks may include supporting literature reviews, preparing study materials, and contributing to reports or presentations. The role requires regular communication with participants and the research team, ensuring accurate documentation and adherence to study protocols.
Skills required: The student should have a background in kinesiology, physiotherapy, health sciences, physical education, or a related field. Experience or interest in telerehabilitation, musculoskeletal pain, and older adult health is desirable.
The student should have foundational knowledge of research methods, pain assessment, and exercise-based rehabilitation. Familiarity with digital health tools, such as mobile health apps and remote monitoring, would be an asset. Strong communication skills, attention to detail, and an interest in working with older adults are also important.
27. Utilization of Direct-Acting Antivirals Among People with HIV-HCV Co-Infection in Manitoba: A Population-Based Cohort Study
Supervisor: Sherif Eltonsy
University: University of Manitoba (Winnipeg campus)
Co-infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) remains a significant public health concern, particularly given the elevated risk of liver-related complications and mortality in this population. Although direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) have transformed HCV treatment with high sustained virologic response rates, access to and uptake of these therapies among people living with HIV-HCV co-infection may be influenced by multiple factors including comorbidity burden, treatment complexity, and sociodemographic disparities.
Real-world data evaluating DAA utilization in co-infected individuals remain sparse, particularly within Canadian jurisdictions. Understanding the patterns and determinants of DAA prescribing in this high-risk population is essential to inform equitable treatment strategies and public health planning.
Objectives:
This study aims to examine the temporal trends in DAA prescribing among individuals with HIV-HCV co-infection in Manitoba and to identify demographic and clinical factors associated with treatment uptake.
Methods:
We will conduct a retrospective, population-based cohort study using data from the Manitoba Population Research Data Repository housed at the Manitoba Centre for Health Policy (MCHP). The study cohort will include adults (≥18 years) with documented HIV and chronic HCV infection between September 2010 and December 2023.
DAA prescriptions will be identified from the Drug Program Information Network (DPIN). We will assess quarterly prescribing trends over time and use interrupted time series (ITS) analysis to evaluate any significant changes in utilization. Logistic regression will be used to identify sociodemographic and clinical factors associated with DAA initiation, including sex, age, geographic region, income quintile, and comorbidities.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: Drug safety and health research
Student roles: The student will be responsible for every step of the review as outlined above in the methods such as, literature search, screen the articles, extract the data into tables/extraction sheets, and summarize the evidence. The student will write a manuscript to be published in an international peer‐reviewed journal and give presentation with the help of the supervisor.
Skills required: Health research
28. Women's neuroendocrine health
Supervisor: Theresa Pauly
University: Simon Fraser University (Burnaby campus)
Location: Vancouver, British Columbia
Start date: 2027-06-15 (flexible)
Disciplines: Health Studies, Medicine, Nursing, Occupational Health, Physiology, Public Health, Womens Studies
This research project will investigate how women’s neuroendocrine functioning and thermoregulatory processes change across the menopausal transition. The project will utilize existing daily life datasets that include repeated measurements of temperature regulation and environmental heat exposure in older women, alongside datasets capturing salivary cortisol and related indicators of hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis functioning.
A key focus will be on characterizing both average levels and day-to-day variability in these physiological systems, and how they differ across pre-, peri-, and postmenopausal stages. The project will also examine how thermoregulatory challenges (e.g., heat exposure) and neuroendocrine responses co-vary in daily life, providing insight into the extent to which hormonal changes during menopause are linked to altered stress physiology and heat sensitivity.
By integrating multiple existing datasets, this project aims to identify patterns of resilience and vulnerability in women’s physiological regulation during midlife and older adulthood. Findings may help clarify mechanisms underlying common menopausal symptoms (e.g., hot flashes, disrupted stress regulation) and inform future approaches to promoting health and well-being in aging women.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: Research on women’s neuroendocrine health across midlife and older adulthood is rapidly expanding, particularly in the context of menopause-related changes. The menopausal transition is marked by substantial shifts in hormonal regulation that influence thermoregulation, stress physiology, and overall well-being. My research integrates intensive longitudinal methods and biomarker data to examine how everyday physiological processes—such as body temperature regulation and neuroendocrine activity (e.g., salivary cortisol)—unfold in naturalistic settings. By leveraging real-time and repeated assessments, this work aims to better understand within-person variability in physiological functioning and its implications for health across the pre-, peri-, and postmenopausal stages.
Student roles: Literature Review: Conducting comprehensive reviews on menopause, neuroendocrine regulation (e.g., cortisol), and thermoregulation (e.g., heat sensitivity, temperature variability). Data Management: Organizing and preparing existing datasets, including merging datasets, cleaning variables, and ensuring data quality and confidentiality. Biomarker Processing Support: Assisting in the preparation and structuring of salivary cortisol data (e.g., organizing sampling times, checking compliance, preparing variables for analysis). Statistical Analysis: Assisting with the analysis of intensive longitudinal data (e.g., multilevel modeling), examining within-person variability and differences across menopausal stages. Data Visualization: Creating clear visual summaries (graphs, figures) to illustrate patterns in thermoregulation and neuroendocrine activity. Literature Summaries and Reports: Preparing concise summaries of research findings and contributing to reports or manuscripts. Research Design Contribution: Assisting in refining analytic strategies and conceptual models linking thermoregulation and neuroendocrine functioning. Administrative Support: Supporting organization of project materials, documentation, and team coordination. Collaborative Contribution: Participating in team meetings, contributing ideas, and supporting ongoing research activities.
Skills required: I am seeking a student with strong organizational and time management skills, along with excellent written and verbal communication abilities. Flexibility, adaptability, and a strong interest in women’s health and physiology are key. A background in Psychology, Health Sciences, or related fields is advantageous but not required. Prior experience with research methods, statistical analysis, and data management is highly desirable, particularly experience working with intensive longitudinal data or biomarker data (e.g., cortisol). Familiarity with statistical software (e.g., R, SPSS, or similar) is an asset.