5 Mitacs Globalink (GRI) research projects for Summer 2027.
1. Adapting eSense to women with vulvovaginal pain
The goal of this project is to be part of a team of researchers, clinicians, commercializations experts, trainees, and patients, aimed at adapting an existing digital health tool, eSense, which delivers cognitive behavioural therapy and mindfulness-based therapy, to women with a chronic vulvovaginal pain condition called Provoked Vestibulodynia (PVD). Since 2017 we have been testing the feasibility and usability of eSense, followed by a large-scale randomized clinical trial, and an implementation study and found it to be highly efficacious. Now we will adapt eSense specifically to women with PVD and do a pilot test of usability, feasibility, and preliminary efficacy in order to inform a future larger randomized trial.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: I am an academic psychologist whose work focuses on women’s sexual health. In particular, I’ve been studying mindfulness-based treatments for common women’s sexual health concerns such as distressing low desire and provoked vulvovaginal pain.
Student roles:
It is expected that by the end of the 12 week internship the student will have become an important part of the larger eSense research team. They will work closely with a graduate student and the PI to assist in recruitment, screening, and running of participants (women diagnosed with PVD) in our eSense-PVD pilot trial. They will have experience with database management, cleaning, and if time permits, even preliminary analyses. They will report on their current deliverables and upcoming priorities to the PI weekly, and to the entire eSense team in weekly meetings. They will also contribute to other aspects of knowledge translation in the larger body of eSense related research projects, as time and interest permit.
Myself as well as various members of my lab (post-doctoral fellows, graduate students, undergraduate honours students, research assistants, and our laboratory coordinator) will work very closely with the student to provide joint mentorship that will strengthen their CV and provide a research experience that will hopefully fuel a passion for research in women's health. The student will therefore benefit from receiving mentorship from a variety of individuals with experience in this field. My laboratory, located at Vancouver Hospital, has complete infrastructure support and all necessary resources will be available to them to conduct activities (e.g., unrestricted access to computer and telephone; data management software). They will also have dedicated space at our centre to carry out duties such as creation of knowledge translation outputs. This research experience will allow the student to: 1) learn about provoked vestibulodynia (PVD); 2) gain knowledge of and familiarity with common questionnaires to assess sexual pain, sexual functioning and mood; 3) be intricately involved in clinical research for this population; and 4) gain research experience as a part of a multidisciplinary team.
Skills required:
By the time this MITACS student joins my research lab in May 2027, we will have completed an initial revision of our eSense platform to eSense-PVD. Key student attributes are: ability to work within a large and multidisciplinary team, familiarity with and experience (in any capacity) carrying out psychological intervention research, including study recruitment, screening, and managing datasets. Experience with SPSS is an advantage.
2. Clinical Nurse Educators' Professional Development and Socialization
The proposed study will: 1) clarify the intersectional pathways nurses take to become Clinical Nurse Educators (CNEs); 2) explore their professional debelopment and socialization
and perceived needs; and 3) develop multi-level action-oriented strategies for professional development and socialization. Our mixed-methods design will integrate a two-phase national data collection strategy: an online survey (n=208) and the Nominal Group Technique (n=13). The intern will work on the Nominal Group Technique component of the study.
Our findings will inform the development of support mechanisms to enhance CNE job satisfaction, facilitate effective human resources planning and management, and empower CNEs to become active agents of change in mitigating current and anticipated CNE and nurse shortages. These efforts are crucial to attain adequate nurse staffing levels and the delivery of high-quality patient care --essential priorities for healthcare organizations, the healthcare workforce, and Canadians. This timely interdisciplinary project will inform much-needed strategies to support CNEs within Canadian hospitals improving their capacity to support nurses on the front lines and strengthening our health workforce by fostering job satisfaction and retention.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: This area of research focuses on health human resources within acute care settings, namely looking at the role of Clinical Nurse Educators who provide training and support to practising nurses in acute care. We are interested in their professional development and socialization into the profession.
Student roles:
The student will work closely with the project PI, Dr. Kateryna Metersky, on each aspect of the project. The intern will work with the PI to conduct the Nominal Group Technique, and recruit participants for the session as well as engage in data collection and analysis. The intern will undergo a mentorship experience on how to conduct the Nominal Group Technique qualitative, thematic analysis and work with the PI to perform data analysis. The student will also be involved in the manuscript writing process and preparation of abstracts for conferences to disseminate the study findings. The student is required to have the willingness to be mentored and a curious mind as the PI is committed to providing the student with extensive learning opportunities.
Skills required:
No previous research experience is necessary for this project, although previous experience is considered an asset. Previous experience with qualitative research, focus groups or interviewing, participant recruitment, data collection and analysis, and manuscript and conference abstract writing are beneficial, but not necessary. The student has to be attentive to detail, timeline oriented and punctual with completing assigned tasks.
3. Development and Validation of a Peer Observation Tool for Clinical Nursing Education: A Multi-Phase Study
This project addresses a critical gap in nursing education, i.e., a structured framework for peer observation of clinical teaching. While peer observation is widely used in higher education to support teaching quality and professional growth, existing approaches are primarily designed for classroom settings and do not reflect the complexity of clinical learning environments.
This study aims to develop and validate a Peer Observation of Nursing Clinical Teaching (PONCT) tool with clearly defined areas of focus (core domains and observable indicators) to support the development of clinical nurse educators. A sequential, multi-phase methodological design will be employed. In Phase 1, the PONCT tool will be developed by integrating findings from a prior scoping review and internationally recognized nurse educator competency frameworks. In Phase 2, the tool will be validated through a national sample of faculty members using a structured survey and focus groups.
By joining this study, a Mitacs Globalink intern will gain hands-on experience in qualitative research on health professions education, learn about the Canadian Health Care System and Nursing Education in Canada, and grow culturally. The intern will contribute specifically to Phase 2 of the study, on the focus group component, where they will participate in data collection and analysis, including observation, field note documentation, and preliminary coding under structured supervision.
The project also benefits from an existing international collaboration with a Brazilian researcher (appendix 1). This collaboration will support cross-cultural perspectives in nursing education and may contribute to participant recruitment and knowledge exchange. The involvement of international partners enhances the study's global relevance and potential impact.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: I have the expertise to lead this project, supported by a strong track record in nursing education research and faculty development. I hold a PhD in Nursing and have academic experience in both Brazil and Canada, focusing on pedagogical innovation and assessment, including simulation, educational technologies, and integrative evaluation. I have led multiple studies on teaching quality and clinical education, using mixed methods and rigorous validation approaches. My experience in developing and adapting educational tools and conducting validation research positions me to successfully design, validate, and disseminate the Peer Observation of Nursing Clinical Teaching (PONCT) framework.
Student roles:
- Complete training in the Tri-Council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans (TCPS 2) and develop foundational knowledge of ethical research practices
- Develop skills in critically reading and appraising research literature
- Learn to synthesize academic literature and study findings to support final reports and knowledge translation activities
- Assist in the development of focus group interview guides and study materials
- Observe focus group sessions to understand qualitative data collection, group dynamics, and participant engagement in health education research
- Produce structured field notes capturing key ideas, interactions, and emerging patterns, strengthening analytical observation and documentation skills
- Review transcripts for accuracy and completeness
- Developg attention to detail and data management competencies
- Conduct preliminary coding of qualitative data, building foundational skills in thematic analysis, categorization, and pattern recognition
- Participate in research team discussions, contributing to theme development while strengthening critical thinking, interpretation, and communication
- Contribute to manuscript preparation and scholarly dissemination, including paper presentations
- Engage in international collaboration and cultural exchange, interacting with diverse peers and perspectives in an inclusive academic environment
- Gain exposure to the Canadian healthcare system and academic context, including opportunities to take a research course at MacEwan University
Skills required:
- Basic understanding of qualitative research design.
- Ability to assist in developing interview guides and study materials.
- Capacity to observe participant interactions, group dynamics, and engagement during focus group sessions.
- Capacity to complete accurate and organized field notes to capture key ideas, interactions, and emerging patterns.
- Attention to detail when reviewing transcripts for accuracy and consistency.
- Introductory skills in coding qualitative data.
- Collaboration, professionalism and ethics: awareness of confidentiality, respectful
4. Transnational Health Practices in Ukrainian Older Adults: Stress Perceptions, Coping and Resilience
Immigrants and refugees may engage in transnational healthcare practices (THPs) which include seeking information or different types of care outside of Canada using various
modalities like the internet, social media or even travel. THP may be used by older adult refugees in response to challenges with accessing healthcare locally and to address unmet
health needs related to language, geographic access, cost, wait times and perceived service quality experienced by immigrants or refugees. Despite refugees being the fast-growing older adult population in Canada, there is limited research on the use of THPs. The proposed study aims to generate a comprehensive understanding of the role THPs play in the lives of Afghan, Syrian and Ukrainian refugee older adults in the Greater Toronto Area.
Semi-structured interviews with 20 to 25 refugee older adults will be conducted from the same three communities, but the intern will focus on the Ukrainian community, to examine the role of THPs in stress perception, coping and resilience in the context of health promotion, illness diagnosis and disease management as well as what individual (e.g., age, gender, education) and contextual factors (e.g., local and transnational access to same language physicians) and processes affect their access and use information, care, and services. This project will contribute to advancing knowledge in the area of (re)settlement and integration, aging, and the THPs in Canada. The findings will lead to the development of more effective integration policies and the delivery of efficient and equitable health information, care, and services.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: The research area that we are exploring is refugee health and well-being, transnational health practices, older adult refugees, stress, coping and resilience.
Student roles:
The successful candidate will work with the project PI Dr. Metersky throughout the study design, delivery and dissemination processes. The student will be involved in every step of the study design process through being guided and working on participant recruitment and screening of interested participants for study eligibility. The student will then receive training and engage in the conduct of individual semi-structured interviews with the study participants. The student, in collaboration with the project team, will be instructed on how to engage in data analysis and will use thematic analysis to analyze the collected stories of experience. Finally, the student will assist the study team in preparing the findings of the study for publication as a manuscript and presentations at national and international conferences.
Skills required:
Successful completion of a research course is considered an asset for this project. Having previous experience with conducting exploratory qualitative studies will be considered an asset. This includes having previous experiences with participant recruitment, data collection (through individual semi-structured interviews) and analysis (using thematic analysis). As well, previous experience with manuscript writing is beneficial, but not necessary. The student has to be attentive to detail, timeline oriented and punctual with completing assigned tasks.
5. Understanding the mental health experiences of Black women in Nova Scotia: A qualitative study guided by Black feminist theory
The mental health of Black women is an issue of growing interest. Historically, there has been a stigma surrounding mental health in Black communities. Additionally, while conditions such as anxiety, depression, attention disorders, autism, and addictions have received attention, much less is understood about how these conditions impact Black women, particularly in Nova Scotia. Due to long-standing issues of inclusion and representation in research, there is a substantial evidence gap related to the experiences and perceptions of mental health for Black women.
To address this evidence gap, our team will use one-on-one semi-structured interviews and questionnaires to examine and describe the mental health experiences and perceptions of Black women in Nova Scotia.
This multi-method qualitative project will conduct primary research to better inform mental health policies and service delivery for equity-deserving groups in Nova Scotia. Importantly, this project will offer insight into current mental healthcare initiatives as well as existing policy and service gaps.
The project objectives include: 1) describing the perceptions and experiences of mental health for Black women in Nova Scotia; 2) establishing a Black health research repository in Nova Scotia; 3) developing a suite of mental health resources for Black women in Nova Scotia; 4) developing mental health policy and service recommendations for practitioners and policymakers in Nova Scotia; and 5) building capacity in Black mental health research in Nova Scotia.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: Dr. Keisha Jefferies is an Assistant Professor and a University Research Chair in the School of Nursing at Dalhousie University. She is also the Director of MBRACe (Multidisciplinary Black Research and Advocacy Centre). MBRACe is a research hub where she generates quality evidence, develops evidence-informed initiatives, and supports the future generation of critical health leaders. She has clinical experience in neonatal intensive care and breastfeeding support. Dr. Jefferies’ research interests include Black populations' health, nursing leadership, and examining anti-Black racism in nursing education and practice. She possesses expertise in the areas of health policy, qualitative research, and evidence syntheses.
Student roles:
Students will have the opportunity to participate in research training, attend regular meetings with the project team, research beneficiaries, and offer critical insights into the project. More broadly, students will have the opportunity to participate in qualitative methodology.
Depending on the progression of the project and timelines, students will support the qualitative and quantitative analysis of data, the development and dissemination of a comprehensive report, manuscript writing, development and dissemination of arts-based knowledge products such as informational videos, digital posters, infographics, pamphlets, and brochures. The student will also support other knowledge dissemination activities, such as in-person workshops for Black women, and community-oriented events in collaboration with community partners. The student will also support the development of an online research repository related to Black health data in Nova Scotia. Students will also perform other related tasks or duties.
Skills required:
Students with an interest in the health of historically marginalized groups and an openness to learning. It would be helpful for students to have an understanding of mental health, and more broadly, health, including social and structural determinants of health and health promotion. Training in a health profession or mental health and experience in qualitative methodology would be an asset. Interested students should possess the ability to write and think creatively and critically, work independently and as a team, be familiar with software such as Microsoft Suite (Word, PowerPoint, Excel), and have knowledge of other programs, including Canva and Zotero/Mendeley.