In this project we are developing an in vitro model to study the interplay of mineralization and aging at the single fibril level. We use self-assembled collagen fibrils and either age them using incubation in ribose (glycation) or mineralize them using the PILP process (Polymer Induced Liquid Precursor). We now want to understand the interplay between these two processes and study their impact on collagen molecular structure and collagen fibril mechanical properties. To do that we will combine second harmonic generation imaging which is sensitive to collagen molecular structure with atomic force microscopy based nano-indentation experiments.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: My group works at the interface between Soft Matter Physics and Biophysics. On the soft matter side we study the behaviour of complex fluids in extensional flow, typically polymer solutions, protein solutions or composites. We are particularly interested in methods to spin microfibres from these solutions and the fibres have applications in biomedical engineering typically.
Student roles: The student will be performing collagen self-assembly experiments, prepare solutions for mineralization and glycation, analyze fibrils samples by AFM and SHG imaging and analyze the data. If time permits we will also develop a theoretical model to explain the observed phenomenology.
Skills required: Background in molecular biophysics is a plus, some knowledge of microscopy is necessary.
We aim to formulate a classical theory of gravity that
(a) reduces to general relativity on scales where it has been experimentally verified,
(b) is free of singularities, and
(c) naturally gives rise to a bouncing cosmology, potentially leading to a cyclic universe.
We will propose tests of our model.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: I am a theoretical physicist working on cosmology, general relativity, and the foundations of quantum mechanics. In cosmology, I focus on three major open problems: dark matter, dark energy, and the resolution of the initial singularity. My research in classical and quantum general relativity involves exploring modifications to Einstein’s theory that are consistent with current observations and can resolve the singularity at r=0. I also investigate potential low-energy signatures of quantum gravity, aiming to bridge the gap between theory and experiment.
Student roles: The student will begin by reviewing the fundamentals of relativity and why superluminal signals are classically forbidden. They will then explore literature suggesting that quantum mechanics—through the rapid spread of wave packets—might enable superluminal signal transmission, and investigate how this could be tested experimentally.
We will meet approximately twice a week to review progress and assign new tasks. Toward the end of the project, the student will present their findings to the group. Through this project, the student will gain valuable research experience, which may be beneficial for future graduate studies.
Skills required: The student should have a background in quantum mechanics and general relativity. Knowledge of computational techniques (e.g., using scientific software) is optional but would be an asset.
3. AI-Based Quantification of Imaging Biomarkers from MRI and Bright-Field Microscopy
Supervisor: Viktoriia Batarchuk
University: Lakehead University (Thunder Bay campus)
Location: Thunder Bay, Ontario
Start date: 2027-05-03 (flexible)
Disciplines: Physics, Medical Sciences, Engg-Biomedical, Computer Science, Mathematics, Biological Sciences
This project will develop an AI-enhanced multimodal imaging framework for quantitative detection and analysis of molecular and morphological biomarkers using magnetic resonance imaging and bright-field microscopy. MRI provides non-invasive, three-dimensional information about tissue structure, contrast behavior, diffusion properties, and disease-relevant imaging features, while bright-field microscopy offers complementary high-resolution information about cellular morphology, sample organization, growth patterns, and tissue-like architecture. Integrating these modalities can improve biomarker interpretation across multiple spatial scales.
The project will focus on building a reproducible computational pipeline for preprocessing, segmentation, registration, denoising, feature extraction, and quantitative biomarker mapping from MRI and microscopy datasets. MRI-derived features may include intensity-based contrast, relaxation- or diffusion-related parameters and region-specific imaging signatures. Bright-field microscopy images will be analyzed using computer vision methods to extract morphological descriptors such as object size, shape, density, circularity, texture, growth dynamics, and spatial organization.
The goal is to develop interpretable computational biomarkers that improve the detection, quantification, and validation of biologically meaningful changes in experimental models. The project can be completed using pre-existing imaging datasets and computer-based analysis, ensuring feasibility within the internship timeline. If suitable samples and imaging workflows are available, selected predictions may later be validated through additional bright-field microscopy or MRI-based imaging experiments.
The expected outcome is a scalable AI-driven image-analysis platform that supports molecular imaging research, improves quantitative biomarker assessment, and contributes to future diagnostic, disease-modeling, and therapeutic-monitoring applications.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: My specialized research area lies at the intersection of molecular imaging, magnetic resonance imaging, bright-field microscopy, and artificial intelligence. My research focuses on developing quantitative imaging and computational analysis methods to detect, characterize, and interpret biological biomarkers across multiple spatial scales. Using machine learning, image segmentation, denoising, feature extraction, and multimodal data analysis, my work aims to transform complex biomedical imaging datasets into biologically meaningful and clinically relevant information. With expertise in applied physics, medical imaging, and AI-driven biomedical data processing, I aim to advance intelligent imaging tools for molecular diagnostics.
Student roles: The student will participate in setting up and conducting phantom imaging experiments under controlled conditions, including the preparation of MRI-compatible phantoms, selection of imaging parameters, acquisition of reference images, and documentation of experimental conditions. They may also assist with complementary bright-field microscopy imaging of relevant samples or phantom components to generate structural and morphological readouts for comparison with MRI-derived features. Following data acquisition, the student will preprocess MRI and microscopy datasets, organize them into structured formats, and develop computational workflows for denoising, segmentation, feature extraction, and quantitative biomarker analysis. These datasets will be used to train and evaluate machine learning models aimed at improving image quality, detecting subtle biomarker-related contrast patterns, and linking MRI-based measurements with microscopy-derived morphological information. Through this role, the student will gain hands-on experience with clinical MRI hardware, MRI-compatible phantom preparation, bright-field microscopy imaging, and quantitative multimodal image analysis. They will also develop practical skills in biomedical image preprocessing, segmentation, feature extraction, machine learning model development, and the interpretation of imaging biomarkers for molecular and translational research applications.
Skills required: The student should have a background in biomedical engineering, physics, computer science, or related fields. Programming experience in Python is essential, especially with libraries such as NumPy, SciPy, and PyTorch or TensorFlow. Familiarity with MRI principles, image analysis, or spectroscopy is an asset. An understanding of signal processing or statistical modeling is advantageous. The ideal candidate should be curious, collaborative, and eager to contribute to a multidisciplinary research environment. Interest in translational research and data-driven healthcare innovation.
4. AI-Enhanced Optical Brain Monitoring Using Deep Near-Infrared Spectroscopy
This project focuses on developing and evaluating AI-assisted methods for analyzing deep near-infrared spectroscopy (DeepNIRS) signals to improve non-invasive brain monitoring. The intern will work with optical brain imaging data collected from human subjects and develop computational tools to extract physiological information related to cerebral oxygenation and hemodynamics.
The project will involve preprocessing optical signals, implementing machine learning models for signal interpretation, and evaluating performance against physiological ground truth where available. Depending on background, the student may also contribute to the analysis of experimental data from optical brain monitoring systems developed in our laboratory.
The goal is to improve the accuracy, robustness, and interpretability of optical brain monitoring technologies for applications in neonatal care, stroke assessment, and neurocritical monitoring. The project provides hands-on experience in biomedical optics, data science, and translational neurotechnology.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: We develop advanced biomedical optical technologies for non-invasive monitoring of brain oxygenation and blood flow. Our research combines near-infrared spectroscopy, diffuse optical imaging, and computational methods to study cerebral physiology across the lifespan, with applications in neonatal brain health, stroke, and critical care monitoring.
Student roles: The student will contribute to the development and validation of computational tools for optical brain signal analysis. Responsibilities include preprocessing and analyzing near-infrared spectroscopy data, implementing machine learning algorithms, and assisting in the interpretation of physiological signals related to cerebral oxygenation and blood flow.
The student will work closely with graduate students and postdoctoral fellows in the lab and will participate in regular research meetings. They will also assist in documenting results and preparing figures for potential conference presentations or publications.
Depending on progress, the student may also gain exposure to experimental optical systems used for brain monitoring and contribute to data collection and system characterization.
The internship is designed to provide hands-on research experience at the intersection of biomedical engineering, neuroscience, and data science, with emphasis on translational applications in brain health monitoring.
Skills required: Background in engineering, physics, computer science, or neuroscience. Experience with programming (Python or MATLAB preferred) is essential. Familiarity with signal processing, data analysis, or machine learning is an asset. Interest in biomedical applications and willingness to work with physiological data are required.
5. Acoustically modulated light emmision from quantum dots
The project will be a spectroscopic analysis of quantum dots modulated by surface acoustic waves. The dots are embedded in quantum wires and emit light in the infrared wavelength regime. The project will look to characterize single quantum dots and their emission of single photons. Then, the effects of surface acoustic waves on the dots will be characterized by the resultant spectroscopic changes in the emitted light. For the experimental setup, the quantum dots will be in a cryostat that can be cooled to a temperature of 5K. After a laser (either as a continuous wave or as picosecond pulses) excites electron/hole pairs in the quantum dot, those pairs will re-emit photons with energies characteristic of the quantum dots coupled to the effects of the surface acoustic wave. The light output will be measured with a spectrometer and infrared sensitive camera and single photons detectors. As single quantum dots will be measured, the light output is small requiring limiting external light sources and potentially long acquisition times. However, success in the experiment will work toward the measurement of acoustically modulated single photons from quantum wires.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: Our research combines surface acoustic waves with semiconductor nanostructures to enable dynamically controlled structures. For basic measurements, our lab uses multiple types of radio frequency equipment to ensure the devices are operational. Advanced measurements can then be performed using optical interferometry to map the acoustic waves and optical spectroscopy to characterize the surface acoustic waves and their influence on the semiconductor structures. In addition, we are interested in phononic crystal structures based on surface acoustic waves to control the waves for applications in advanced sensors and telecommunication.
Student roles: The student will be focussed on the optical measurement from the quantum dots and investigating their behaviour. Measuring single quantum dots is difficult, and useful measurement algorithms to find the optimal quantum dots will be developed. Once found, identifying the physical origin of the various excitonic peaks will be determine by the probing the parameter space of wavelength, intensity, and lifetime. Once the quantum dots are characterized, a surface acoustic wave will be excited using radio frequency electronics. If required, the student may need to learn to fabricate the acoustic transducers in a local nanofabrication facility with cleanroom. The student should come ready to learn the techniques to be involved during the experiment, and time and support will be available to help them. The student should attend meetings and discuss the outcomes of the work and the possible implications with other students and their projects. The student would be expected to work with the supervisor and other students in a respectful and team-like manner. The student should also ensure proper safety protocols whenever in the laboratory.
Skills required: The student should have a background in physics or engineering physics, and a classroom knowledge of semiconductors and optics is preferred. Hands-on experience in optics is not required, but it would be an asset. Basic programming structure and knowledge (such as Matlab, Labview) will be useful as the experiment requirements change and evolve. The student should be willing to learn new experimental techniques and laboratory procedures.
The Universe apparently contains more matter than is visible or detectable by direct experiments. This is because the observable effects of gravity at astrophysical and cosmological scales appear stronger than that provided by visible matter. The missing 25% of matter in the Universe is known as Dark Matter. However, it is possible that visible matter simply exerts a stronger gravitational force than predicted by the standard theory (Newtonian or relativistic), which matches all observations, and that there is no need for dark matter. We recently showed that the Newtonian gravitational potential, augmented by a logarithmic term, can precisely provide this extra gravity to explain observations at the various length scales [1,2]. In this project, we will examine the origin of such a potential, ways to embed it in a covariant theory, and its theoretical and observational implications.
Reference:
[1] S. Das, S. Sur, Dark matter or stronger gravity?, Int. J. Mod. Phys. Vol.31, no.14, 2242020 (2022), arXiv:2205.07153
[2] S. Das, S. Sur, Gravitational lensing and missing mass, Physics Open, Vol. 15, 100150 (2023), arXiv:2303.03259
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: I am a theoretical physicist working on cosmology, general relativity, and the foundations of quantum mechanics. In cosmology, I focus on three major open problems: dark matter, dark energy, and the resolution of the initial singularity. My research in classical and quantum general relativity involves exploring modifications to Einstein’s theory that are consistent with current observations and can resolve the singularity at r=0. I also investigate potential low-energy signatures of quantum gravity, aiming to bridge the gap between theory and experiment.
Student roles: The student will begin by reviewing the key theoretical and experimental aspects of the dark matter problem. They will then investigate alternative theories that aim to explain the observations without invoking dark matter.
We will meet approximately twice a week to review progress and assign new tasks. Toward the end of the project, the student will present their findings to the group. Through this project, the student will gain valuable research experience, which may be beneficial for future graduate studies.
Skills required: The student should have a background in quantum mechanics. Knowledge of general relativity and computational techniques (e.g., using scientific software) is optional but would be an asset.
7. Anomalous coarsening in the conserved one-dimensional XY model
The one-dimensional XY model -- a chain of continuously rotating spins, the O(2) model -- is the simplest system that supports topological textures (smooth windings of the phase). Quenched from disorder, it does something unusual: instead of coarsening with a single growing length scale, it develops two -- a phase-coherence length L(t), measuring how far the spins stay aligned, and a phase-winding length L_w(t), measuring how spread-out the windings become. A 1995 Physical Review Letter from my group [Rutenberg & Bray, PRL 74, 3836] derived the scaling law z = 2 + mu*chi (chi = 1/2), which for conserved dynamics -- total magnetization fixed, "model-B" evolution -- predicts L(t) ~ t^(1/3) and L_w(t) ~ t^(1/6).
The non-conserved case (L ~ t^(1/2), L_w ~ t^(1/4)) is exactly soluble and settled. The conserved case is not: its derivation rests on a self-consistent late-time ansatz, and the 1995 simulations could not run long enough to confirm the exponents cleanly or to rule out logarithmic corrections and slow crossovers. Accessible compute has since grown by roughly a factor of a million, so a question out of reach in 1995 is now squarely answerable.
The project will (1) numerically run the conserved model far beyond 1995, measuring L(t) and L_w(t) independently to test whether t^(1/3) / t^(1/6) hold or carry logarithmic dressing; and (2) map the transient -- how long the system remembers its initial correlation length before universal scaling sets in. The same physics underlies magnetic skyrmion textures (the 2D O(3) cousin), making this the clean benchmark for a much richer problem. The aim is a publishable result in Phys. Rev. E.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: I am a theoretical physicist who studies statistical and condensed-matter physics. Many of the systems I work on are non-equilibrium, nonlinear, or stochastic, so numerical and computational techniques are needed to confront the theory with what actually happens. One long-running interest is phase-ordering kinetics -- how order grows by domain coarsening after a system is quenched from a disordered phase into an ordered one -- and in particular the role that topological defects and conservation laws play in setting the growth laws. We use physics-inspired dynamical models, large-scale simulation, and scaling analysis to extract universal behaviour from the data.
Student roles: Throughout the project the student joins weekly one-on-one meetings with me and weekly Rutenberg-group meetings -- opportunities to present results, and to ask and sharpen interesting questions.
The simulation code base is provided, so the student's effort goes where the physical judgement is, rather than into software engineering. The student drives the science: designing and running the production simulations, pushing them to longer times and larger systems, measuring the length scales and exponents, hunting for the logarithmic corrections and crossovers, producing and refining the scaling figures, and deciding what the numbers mean. The student steers the code, interprets every result, and helps write up the findings -- learning real scaling analysis and scientific computing along the way.
There are two staged levels of engagement:
First: drive the validated solver to reproduce the known non-conserved results (L ~ t^(1/2), L_w ~ t^(1/4)). This builds fluency with the workflow, the diagnostics (structure factor, gradient and zero-crossing statistics, winding counting), and the scaling toolkit.
Second: run the conserved case to long times, measure L(t) and L_w(t) independently, and test the t^(1/3) / t^(1/6) predictions against the possibility of logarithmic dressing -- the core open question, and a genuine, publishable result if done cleanly.
The student writes up their work in scientific form throughout -- both as a record and as the core of a peer-reviewed paper, on which they will be a co-author.
Skills required: Bright, motivated students can fill gaps during the project, but strong Python and numerical-analysis instincts are essential. What matters most is comfort driving scientific code: running simulations, extending the code base, and -- above all -- turning raw output into understanding (curve fitting, scaling collapse, knowing when a fit is real). Familiarity with NumPy/Matplotlib is expected. Any contact with statistical mechanics, phase transitions, or critical phenomena will deepen your enjoyment. Communication, independence, critical thinking, curiosity, and a willingness to read the literature all matter. You need not be a software engineer who can build a solver from scratch.
8. Are spin defects in hBN ready for quantum sensing in two-dimensional devices?
A number of optically active spin defects in hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) have recently emerged as promising candidates for quantum sensing in an atomically thin material. Two-dimensional materials are a very active field of research, and the compatibility of hBN with van der Waals assembly makes these defects attractive for integration into heterostructure devices with other two-dimensional materials, opening a path toward nanoscale quantum sensors embedded directly in functional devices. However, whether these emitters meet the optical and spin properties needed for sensing applications remains to be established.
In this project, you will work with a new set of hBN samples containing engineered defects. Using confocal photoluminescence microscopy, you will locate and map individual emitters, first at room temperature to assess emitter density and spatial distribution, then at 4 K for detailed spectroscopy. You will measure key optical properties including brightness, emission wavelength, and spectral stability over time, and confirm single-photon emission through photon antibunching measurements. You will also measure optically detected magnetic resonance (ODMR) to probe the spin state of individual defects and assess its addressability and coherence. Finally, you will examine how these optical and spin properties change when the hBN is placed in contact with other 2D materials used in device stacks, such as graphene or a magnetic 2D material. The resulting dataset will reveal how these defects can best be exploited under these conditions, opening new routes toward quantum sensing in integrated quantum devices.
Results will contribute directly to ongoing work and publications in the group. This internship may lead to graduate studies in the group.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: Our lab studies optically active spin defects in solids, in particular NV centers in diamond, using optical spectroscopy, low-temperature measurements, and nanofabrication. Beyond diamond, similar defect-based quantum emitters are emerging in other materials, including two-dimensional materials such as hexagonal boron nitride (hBN). Assessing whether these new emitters meet the optical and spin requirements for quantum sensing, namely brightness, stability, coherence, and spin addressability, is a key step toward integrating them into next-generation quantum sensing platforms.
Student roles: During this internship, you will: • Locate and map individual defect emitters in hBN samples using confocal photoluminescence microscopy, at room temperature and at 4 K. • Measure key optical properties of individual emitters: brightness, emission wavelength, and spectral stability over time. • Implement optically detected magnetic resonance (ODMR) to probe the spin state of individual defects. • Examine how optical and spin properties change when the hBN is placed in contact with other 2D materials, such as graphene or a magnetic 2D material. • Document your work and present your findings to the group at the end of the internship. You will attend weekly lab meetings and work closely with graduate students in the group, with regular guidance from the supervisor. You will also enjoy the dynamic and collaborative environment of the Institut Quantique, a hub for quantum research in Canada.
Skills required: We welcome late Bachelor's or Master's students from physics, materials science, or quantum science. Ideally, you bring some of the following: • Solid background in optics and quantum mechanics • Hands-on experience in an experimental lab setting • Experience with optical spectroscopy or manipulation of 2D materials • Familiarity with cryogenic systems or confocal microscopy is a plus • Python and Git for data acquisition and analysis • Enjoy working as part of a team A genuine curiosity for the physics and eagerness to learn new techniques will matter as much as prior experience.
9. Artificial Intelligence for Autonomous Synchrotron Experiments in Quantum Materials
Supervisor: Robert Green
University: University of Saskatchewan (Saskatoon campus)
Modern synchrotron facilities can collect scientific data much faster than it can be analyzed. As a result, researchers must often make important experimental decisions in real time, with limited information about which measurements will provide the greatest scientific value. This project will develop artificial intelligence tools that assist researchers during synchrotron experiments by analyzing data as it is collected and recommending the most informative measurements to perform next.
The project focuses on resonant x-ray scattering techniques used to study quantum materials. These experiments generate large and complex datasets that are traditionally analyzed using computationally intensive physical models. The student will help develop software that combines physics-based simulations with machine learning algorithms to rapidly extract material properties from experimental data and estimate uncertainties in the resulting models.
A key goal of the project is to create an intelligent framework capable of identifying which future measurements would provide the greatest reduction in uncertainty. Such systems, often referred to as autonomous or AI-guided experiments, are becoming an important direction in modern scientific research. The resulting tools could significantly improve the efficiency of synchrotron beamtime and accelerate the discovery of new materials.
The student will work closely with experimental data collected at the Canadian Light Source synchrotron facility, located on the University of Saskatchewan campus. Depending on project timing and interest, opportunities may also exist to participate in ongoing synchrotron experiments and interact directly with researchers using these advanced facilities.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: I study quantum materials using a combination of synchrotron-based x-ray experiments, computational physics, and artificial intelligence. Quantum materials exhibit unusual electronic and magnetic properties that arise from the collective behaviour of electrons, making them promising candidates for future electronic and quantum technologies. Our research uses advanced synchrotron techniques to probe these materials at the atomic scale and develops computational models that connect experimental measurements to underlying electronic structure. We are particularly interested in combining physics-based simulations with machine learning methods to accelerate scientific discovery and enable next-generation autonomous experiments.
Student roles: The student will contribute to the development of artificial intelligence and scientific software tools for the analysis of synchrotron x-ray scattering data. The project will involve generating large synthetic datasets using physics-based simulations, developing machine learning models to infer material properties from experimental measurements, and evaluating the accuracy and reliability of these approaches on real synchrotron datasets.
The student will participate in all stages of the research process, including scientific programming, data analysis, model development, visualization, and validation against experimental results. Depending on the student's interests and background, additional opportunities may include developing uncertainty quantification methods, implementing high-performance computing workflows, or exploring active-learning approaches that recommend future measurements based on expected scientific information gain.
The project combines concepts from artificial intelligence, computational physics, materials science, and scientific software engineering. The student will work closely with graduate students and researchers within the group while gaining experience with modern research tools, including machine learning frameworks, high-performance computing systems, and synchrotron data analysis software.
The ultimate objective is to develop an intelligent analysis framework capable of assisting researchers during synchrotron experiments by rapidly interpreting data and identifying the most informative measurements to perform next. Such technology has the potential to transform how large-scale scientific facilities are used and represents an exciting intersection of artificial intelligence and experimental science.
Students will gain experience in cutting-edge computational research while contributing to the development of tools that may ultimately support future autonomous scientific experiments.
Skills required: The ideal student will have a background in physics, engineering, computer science, mathematics, data science, or a related discipline. Experience with programming in Python, C/C++, or similar languages is beneficial. Familiarity with machine learning, scientific computing, numerical methods, linear algebra, or data analysis is desirable but not required. Students with interests in artificial intelligence, computational physics, quantum materials, or scientific software development are encouraged to apply. Strong problem-solving skills, curiosity, and a willingness to learn new computational and scientific techniques are essential.
10. Bayesian Optical Neural Networks for Adversarial-Robust Cybersecurity in Photonic Systems
This project proposes to develop Bayesian optical neural networks (BONNs) that leverage the inherent stochasticity of photonic hardware for built-in adversarial robustness and real-time uncertainty quantification. The approach builds on integrated photonic platforms pioneered by Prof. Roberto Morandotti's group at INRS-EMT, where optical microresonators and programmable photonic switches enable neural network architectures through time- and frequency-division multiplexing. This project aims to utilize incoherent light within photonic circuits as a natural entropy source for Bayesian inference, enabling probabilistic distributions directly in the optical domain.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: The rapid expansion of the Internet of Things (IoT) has led to billions of interconnected devices across critical infrastructures including telecommunications, healthcare, and financial networks. While these systems rely on deep neural networks to detect cyber threats, adversarial machine learning has exposed fundamental vulnerabilities. Crafted adversarial inputs can mislead deterministic neural networks, which produce overconfident predictions without quantifying uncertainty, compromising security.
Student roles: The student will design stochastic variational inference (SVI) training strategies tailored to the noise characteristics of photonic hardware, replacing conventional methods that yield deterministic models vulnerable to adversarial manipulation. By maintaining distributions over network parameters, BONNs can detect adversarial and out-of-domain inputs through elevated predictive uncertainty, even when the mean prediction is manipulated. The outcomes will contribute to secure, high-speed photonic AI systems capable of simultaneous classification and confidence estimation within optical communication infrastructures. The student will focus on developing Bayesian training methods for optical neural networks. The main tasks will be: 1. Designing stochastic variational inference strategies adapted to the probability distribution of the output nodes for incoherent light input. 2. Implementing adversarial attack scenarios and evaluating robustness using uncertainty metrics such as mutual information. 3. Developing simulations to benchmark Bayesian optical neural networks against deterministic models under adversarial conditions.
Skills required: The ideal candidate will have a background in physics, electrical engineering, photonics, or a closely related field, with a solid understanding of electromagnetic wave propagation and interest/experience with neural networks and their training. The candidate should be highly motivated, detail-oriented, and capable of working effectively in a collaborative research environment. Senior undergraduate and graduate students with a strong interest in photonics and optical machine learning are encouraged to apply.
11. Characterization of Artificial Ear Crystals via Second Harmonic Generation Microscopy
Supervisor: Danielle Tokarz
University: St. Mary's University (Halifax campus)
Falls among seniors are commonly linked with the sensation of dizziness and imbalance which is attributed to vestibular disorders. There is a persuasive medical hypothesis stating that balance disorders among the senior population are caused by the degradation of ear crystals known as otoconia. Otoconia are calcite-based micron-sized composite biocrystals present in the utricle and saccule of the inner ear which are coupled to sensory hair cells, providing the sensation of balance and spatial orientation, critical for moving without falling. Analysis of otoconia from older adults compared to infants showed a decrease in otoconial volume in the utricle and saccule and while possible mechanisms have been investigated, the dominant mechanism, other than ageing, has not been identified.
Recently, we have successfully imaged how the structure of otoconia, dissected from mice, change during degradation with our custom-built polarization-resolved second harmonic generation microscope. However, working with ex vivo ear crystals can be challenging as the dissection is difficult to perform and they degrade quite rapidly. Therefore, this study would benefit from the use of a model system other than ex vivo otoconia.
In this project, the student will study the degradation of artificial otoconia. Artificial otoconia have been reported to be synthesized in the literature. Following the same procedure, the student will synthesize artificial otoconia and them expose the otoconia to various solutions of degrading agents including ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, antibiotics and acidic/basic solutions. The student will visualize the degradation in real-time using a custom polarization-resolved second harmonic generation microscope. This project will help answer how otoconia degrade for applications in regenerative medicine.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: We perform interdisciplinary research at the interface of biology, chemistry, physics and engineering. We image the ultrastructure of biological and artificial microscopic systems using new quantitative ultrafast laser nonlinear optical microscopy imaging techniques. We are interested in characterizing how chemical and physical changes govern ultrastructural alterations during natural as well as artificial synthesis and degradation reactions in carbohydrate- and protein-dense natural and model systems. For example, we study how the structure of ear crystals, known as otoconia, change during degradation.
Student roles: The student will play a fundamental role in moving this project forward. The student will be required to learn how to use the custom polarization-resolved second harmonic generation microscope as well as custom analysis software. The student may be required to learn how to align the microscope which includes learning how to align a laser through optical components. The student will be expected to be a proponent of laser safety and follow the laser safety instructions given to them. The student may also be asked to present their work at a local conference or research day at the university. The student may also be asked to take part in manuscript preparation featuring their results. The student will be given WHMIS and laboratory safety training as well as laser safety training at the beginning of their internship. The student will also be expected to wear protective equipment (e.g. laser safety goggles when working with the laser or lab coat, goggles and gloves when working with chemicals).
Skills required: The ideal student would have a background in chemistry, biology, physics and/or engineering. It is essential that the student is eager to perform artificial otoconia synthesis, be willing to learn how to operate a custom-built microscope for imaging, as well as learn how to analyze their images using custom software. Laser safety training and training on artificial otoconia synthesis, use of the microscope and use of the imaging analysis software will be provided. Furthermore, a student who can work successfully in a team environment as well as an independent researcher is integral.
12. Characterization of Low Gain Avalanche Detectors
Supervisor: Douglas Bryman
University: University of British Columbia (Vancouver campus)
Project Name: Characterization of Low Gain Avalanche Detectors with Two-Photon Absorption.
Overview of the Project:
Low-Gain Avalanche Detectors (LGADs) are a type of silicon-based particle detector designed for precise timing measurements. They operate by amplifying the signal from a passing particle using controlled avalanche multiplication, but at a lower gain compared to traditional avalanche photodiodes. This balance allows LGADs to achieve excellent time resolution while maintaining good spatial resolution.
In the context of PIONEER (a next-generation experiment to study rare pion decays), LGADs are being considered for use in the active tracking target, where precise timing and tracking is essential to disentangle overlapping events and suppress background.
To better understand LGAD performance, especially gain behaviour, Two-Photon Absorption (TPA) techniques are employed at TRIUMF. TPA allows for localized energy deposition within the sensor, enabling detailed studies of the LGAD response as a function of depth. This is particularly useful for investigating gain suppression effects that occur under high carrier densities, helping to optimize detector design and operating conditions for maximal performance.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: Particle physics, Searches for Beyond Standard Model physics, rare pion and kaon decay experiments , detector developments
Student roles: Day-to-Day Duties: Taking measurements of different LGAD sensors with the TPA setup, as well as analysis of data taken in the M20 muon beamline at TRIUMF, simulations and presenting results. Learning Outcomes and Responsibilities:The student selected for this position will play an active role in the characterization of LGAD sensors, contributing to both the experimental measurements and the analysis of the data. This work will provide hands-on experience with state-of-the-art detector technologies and contribute directly to the development of instrumentation for the PIONEER experiment and other applications
Skills required: The student should enjoy hands-on laboratory work as well as programming. A good foundation in C++ or Python would be preferred.
13. Characterizing Antimicrobials and Cancer Therapeutics with Quantum Chemistry and NMR Spectroscopy
This research project will develop the computational modelling and experimental NMR skills of the student in the context of NMR crystallography. The target application areas are tungsten-containing organometallics that are being developed as antimicrobials, and platinum-containing compounds that are being developed for chemotherapy. We are interested in this line of research as conventional structure characterization methods used for crystalline materials, such as X-ray diffraction, typically require large single crystals. Generating large single crystals is sometimes very tough, and can be environmentally unfriendly due to excessive solvent use. NMR crystallography does not require single crystals, and so the product materials can be used as-is. This saves time, money, and is environmentally more friendly. The student will also work on ways of improving NMR crystallography process efficiency through the use of Python programming. However, it will be assumed that only limited programming and ZERO computational modelling knowledge is known beforehand. A further aspect of the research associated with this project lies in assessing the importance of relativity on physical observables and chemical structure. This is an important since tungsten and platinum are heavy elements, which means core electrons move near the speed of light. We will consider a variety of computational models that incorporate relativistic effects at different levels of complexity. The student will initially learn basic research workflows under the Linux environment. The student will then be guided naturally to: (i) develop models for chemical structures; (ii) calculate properties related to NMR crystallography (e.g., chemical shifts); (iii) verify that inputs are reasonable or make adjustments to the model to better reflect reality; (iv) perform solid-state NMR experiments using our brand new NEO NMR spectrometer (under supervision and with proper safety protocols); (v) analyze their computational and experimental data.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: My research background is in an area called 'nuclear magnetic resonance crystallography' (NMR-X). NMR-X combines solid-state NMR spectroscopy experiments and computational modelling (using density functional theory, machine learning, etc.) to determine aspects related to structure and dynamics. We are interested in many things, such as chemical structure, molecular conformations, crystalline packing, and bioavailability. I have been involved in many areas of research, ranging from active pharmaceutical ingredients, to nanoparticles, to heterogeneous catalysis using mesoporous silica support materials.
Student roles: The student will become very knowledgeable in computational modelling at the density functional theory (DFT) level. Experience in experimental solid-state NMR will also be gained. The student will be guided by the professor, and also a graduate student to ensure that the project is moving forward in a timely manner. Student will run computations using high-performance computing resources (Digital Research Alliance of Canada, which has access to nearly 250 000 CPUs!). They will need to analyze both the inputs and the outputs of their computations, create summary documents that describe the trends in computed NMR parameters as a function of various modelling conditions, present their findings to others in the group, and potentially at regional and national conferences. The results of this project will feed into other projects being carried out in this research group to better understand how computational models influence NMR parameters across a broad range of chemical systems. Use and development of Python (or similar) scripts to enhance the process workflow will also be important as the project progresses. The computational aspects may be supported by light synthetic work and it is highly probably that the student will perform solid-state NMR experiments on our solid-state NMR spectrometer, which is the only one in the Province of Saskatchewan!
Skills required: Please have a strong background in chemistry or physics at the undergraduate level (however, I have previously hosted those in chemical engineering, with very good results!). Some prior knowledge of NMR and basic organic chemistry would be beneficial, but is not critical. Students in computer science are welcome, since there is a strong computational/algorithmic aspect to the project. Any prior knowledge of programming/scripting (such as in C, Fortran, or Python) or X-ray crystallography would be beneficial. However, all specific skills needed will be provided as part of the training, so apply if interested!
14. Collinear fast beam laser spectroscopy
Supervisor: Jens Lassen
University: Simon Fraser University (Burnaby campus)
The student will develop an unserstanding of collinear fast beam laser spectroscopy and, time permitting, multi step laser excitation into Rydberg states and the properties and pecularities of Rydberg atoms. Thereafter the student will take part in assembling the voltage divider set up of the collinear field ionizer unit with ion filter and post acceleration region and install the device in the laser spectroscopy beamline. Finally initial laser spectroscopy and multi-step exciation in collinear fast beam laser spectroscopy will be attempted. In the lead up to laser spectroscopy the student will characterize the fluorescence detection system with the aim to minimize the detector background from scattered laser light, as well as the ion / atom beam realted detector background, simulate and analyze experimental data and prepare the system for an upcoming on-line experiment on 32Na. The initial setup and test measurements are planned to be conducted with stable 23Na so that the system behavior can be characterized at different beam intensities and the signal background be understood before the on-line experiment is conducted on the low intensity radioactive 32Na isotopes.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: Collinear fast beam laser spectroscopy is a Doppler free laser spectroscopy technique that is particularly suited to study atomic hyperfine structure and optical isotope shift of radioactive isotopes. In addition to being Doppler-free, the technique is ultra sensitive, as in beam direction all atoms are essentially in the same velocity group, and therefore contribute to the spectroscopy signal. We are applying the technique to determine the hyperfine structure of short lived isotopes, so that optical pumping schemes for nuclear spin polarization can be developed.
Student roles: Student is expected to learn the operation of experimental equipment and perform laboratory tasks independently. Student will work through a selection of supporting literature and textbook material, do literature research and give weekly presentations and progress reports on selected topics in atomic/molecular and optical physics topics related to the research performed. In parallel the student will experience work in the reaserch & development team at a large scale resaerch laboratory, i.e. TRIUMF's on-line isotope separator and accelerator facility. Supervised work with lasers and in radiation areas may be required. Training for these tasks will be provided. The student is expected to take part in the TRIUMF coop student enrichment program which includes soft skills workshops, student seminar series etc.
Skills required: Interest in experimental work, lasers and optics, experimental techniques and instrumentation is essential. Interest in operating experimental equipment and documentation skills is required. Some programming experience (python and/or C) would be beneficial. A background in atomic/optical/nuclear physics and electronics or interest in these areas would be beneficial. Student should be open to ask questions and be able to work independently, yet know when to ask for support. We provide an immersion into our research team with open discussions and hands on training. We do not expect the student to bring expert knowledge, but to leave understanding collinear laser spectroscopy.
15. Compilation de portes quantiques logiques
Supervisor: Olivier Landon-Cardinal
University: École de Technologie Supérieure (Montréal campus)
L'état d'un qubit logique encodé dans un code de correction d'erreur peut être corrigé si le qubit subit une erreur. Toutefois, pour déployer un algorithme quantique, il ne suffit pas de pouvoir protéger l'état logique, il faut aussi pouvoir le faire évoluer afin d'effectuer un calcul quantique. Il faut donc pouvoir appliquer des portes logiques sur le qubit logique et s'assurer que ces portes logiques ne font pas proliférer les erreurs. Les portes logiques qui n'augmentent pas les erreurs sont appelées portes transversales. Malheureusement, dans tout code de correction, les portes transversales ne forment pas un ensemble universel de portes (théorème de Eastin-Knill). Il faut donc un ingrédient supplémentaire.
L'approche standard consiste à préparer des états ressources, dits magiques, qui sont utilisés pour téléporter des portes qui ne sont pas transversales dans le code, par exemple une porte T dans le code de Steane. J'aimerais tester une approche alternative en décrivant explicitement le circuit quantique physique correspondant à une porte T et en essayant de réduire au maximum sa profondeur.
Le projet de recherche proposé consiste donc à :
1. Prise en main : se familiariser avec l'information quantique et plus spécifiquement avec la correction d'erreur quantique
2. Programmation : concevoir et programmer un compilateur
- qui prend en entrée en circuit quantique profond formé de portes de Clifford et de portes T
- retourne un circuit quantique équivalent plus compact
3. Exploration : utiliser ce compilateur afin de trouver des circuits compacts correspondant à une porte logique cible dans des codes de correction d'erreur quantique.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: Je m'intéresse à la correction d'erreur quantique. L'objectif est d'encoder un qubit logique délocalisé sur plusieurs qubits physiques. Si une erreur affecte un des qubits physiques, il est possible d'identifier l'erreur et de la corriger. Le qubit logique est ainsi protégé.
La correction d'erreur quantique est essentielle pour les prochaines générations d'ordinateur quantiques car les algorithmes demandent des circuits très profonds pour lesquels les erreurs physiques sont inévitables et risquent de proliférer en l'absence de correction d'erreur.
Student roles: L'étudiant sera en charge d'écrire le code du compilateur de circuits quantiques, de le tester et de d'avoir un regard critique sur les résultats obtenus.
Skills required: Facilité en algèbre linéaire. Capacité à programmer de façon autonome. Autonomie, débrouillardise et curiosité. Des connaissances préalables en information quantique sont un atout.
16. Computer simulations of crystal nucleation in water nanodroplets
Supervisor: Ivan Saika-Voivod
University: Memorial University of Newfoundland (St. John's campus)
Recent simulations in our group have uncovered the possibility of using nanodroplets to probe the low temperature and high pressure region of the phase diagram of liquid water. Crystal nucleation is naturally suppressed in nanodroplets because of their small size, and the Laplace pressure inside the nanodroplets, due to water's high surface tension, reaches the 100 MPa scale. While some of our research effort focus on inspiring experimentalists to use nanodroplets of real water to observe a liquid-liquid phase transition (LLPT) between two distinct phases of supercooled liquid water thought to occur near -40 degrees Celcius and at 100 MPa, the current project focuses on quantifying the impact of the LLPT on condensation and ensuing crystallization, for example, in the cold reaches of the atmosphere. The project involves simulating crystallization within nanodroplets of different sizes. At temperatures below the critical temperature of the LLPT, sufficiently small nanodroplets will be in the high-density liquid phase because of the high Laplace pressure and the free energy barrier to the nucleation of ice will be larger than in larger, low-density nanodroplets. The simulations will provide a framework for experimentalists to use crystallization rates both as a probe for the existence of the LLPT and as a signature of its impact on processes occurring in the atmosphere.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: We study supercooled liquids through classical molecular dynamics and Monte Carlo simulations, addressing questions pertaining to crystal nucleation, phase behaviour, and glassy dynamics. Of particular interest is a second critical point hypothesized to occur in water at deeply supercooled temperatures (below 238 K) and at a pressure near 100 MPa that terminates a first-order transition line between two liquid forms of water with different densities. While experimental evidence is mounting for the existence and location of this liquid-liquid critical point, homogenous nucleation is a significant obstacle to observing the equilibrium liquid at such deeply supercooled conditions.
Student roles: The student will carry out molecular dynamics and/or Monte Carlo simulations of a classical molecular model for water using software packages such as GROMACS and LAMMPS and/or home-grown codes (mostly written in Fortran). The student will analyze local molecular structure with available Python libraries and home-grown codes. Summary plots will be produced with Python and/or other plotting software. The plots will require understanding of how the quantities calculated are used in the theory describing the nucleation process. Scripting required to run multiple simulations on high-performance computing infrastructure, gather and prepare data for analysis, and to automate analysis, can be done in bash, Python, or any other suitable language. The student will present progress at informal research group meetings, and maintain a running Latex document to keep track of progress and to provide a basis for future publication.
Skills required: A general background in physics, particularly in thermal physics. Knowledge or in interest in computational physics and computer programming a plus.
17. Corrosion Resistance Electrocatalysts for Seawater Splitting
With growing concerns about climate change, the development of materials for renewable energy conversion has accelerated in recent years. Seawater splitting using electrocatalysts offers a promising and sustainable route for producing green hydrogen; a clean energy source that emits no CO2 upon combustion. However, seawater electrolysis presents greater challenges than pure water splitting due to the corrosive effects of high concentrations of chlorine species on the electrocatalysts. Additionally, effective electrocatalysts must demonstrate high selectivity for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) over the competing chlorine evolution reaction (CER). In this project, we aim to rationally design and fabricate highly active and selective multielemental electrocatalysts with minimal or no reliance on noble metals. These electrocatalysts will be engineered for enhanced stability and performance under harsh operating conditions, including oxidative environments and chlorine attack.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: My research program leverages both (electro)chemical and physical vapor deposition (PVD) techniques to develop degradation-resistant coatings and functional thin films, systematically investigate structure–property relationships, and translate these insights into energy, environmental, and engineering applications. The overall goal is to design high-performance materials capable of withstanding harsh and demanding operational conditions while maintaining long-term functionality and efficiency. Our work spans functional materials for corrosion protection, degradation-resistant (photo)electrocatalysts for hydrogen production, durable materials for hydrogen storage and transport, and advanced anti-icing and self-cleaning surfaces.
Student roles: The project involves the fabrication of thin electrocatalyst films, followed by performance evaluations using electrochemical techniques such as cyclic voltammetry (CV), linear sweep voltammetry (LSV), chronoamperometry, open circuit potential (OCP) measurements, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS).
Skills required: Students with backgrounds in physics, chemistry, chemical engineering, or materials engineering are encouraged to apply. Ideal candidates will have an understanding of electrochemical water splitting. Familiarity with materials characterization techniques (such as SEM, XRD, and XPS) and electrochemical testing methods, including cyclic voltammetry (CV), linear sweep voltammetry (LSV), chronoamperometry, open circuit potential (OCP), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), will be considered an asset.
18. Design and development of a compact and efficient laser with diode pumping
Supervisor: Arkady Major
University: University of Manitoba (Winnipeg campus)
Lasers have found a myriad of applications ranging from advanced optical communications (i.e. fast internet) and laser eye surgery to everyday use of laser printers or CD players. Construction of lasers, therefore, is an important task and requires a broad knowledge in diverse areas.
The goal of this project is to design, construct and test a compact and efficient solid-state laser. The project will involve literature review, careful selection and testing of multiple optical components (such as mirrors, crystals, excitation sources, lenses), evaluation of suitable laser resonators designs, their modeling, experimental implementation, as well as testing, characterization, analysis and optimization of laser performance. This will involve measurements of absorption and emission spectra, optical power, spatial beam intensity profile, and temporal evolution of laser output radiation. The experiments will start with demonstration of a laser operating in continuous wave regime and continue, time permitting, with pulsed regimes where generation of short optical pulses will be tested.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: My current research interests are in Biophotonics and closely related Photonics (the science of light). In particular, my efforts are focused on development of advanced laser sources and optical laser technologies for high-resolution imaging and spectroscopy of biological and other systems. The main areas of expertise are in basic science and engineering of diode-pumped solid-state lasers, nonlinear optics, label-free laser microscopy, and laser spectroscopy.
Student roles: The student (with supervision and help from the supervisor and senior graduate students) will conduct a literature review on the project topic which will help to establish the most promising design architecture of the laser. Laser resonator design simulations will be carried out. Next, electrical and optical components for the project will be selected, characterized and tested. After this the student can take the lead and spearhead the design of a laboratory prototype in consultation with the supervisor and senior graduate students. Selection of appropriate electrical and optical components will be made based on the simulated design specifications. This will require student to go through technical specifications of the commercially available components, send inquiries to the manufacturers if some info is missing or not provided, and communicate with technical support staff in the Department. In the experimental testing stage the student will work in a laboratory with electronic and optical equipment where the student will be encouraged to specify and design experimental layout and procedure for testing and characterization of the performance of the developed laser. Supervision and help will be provided at all stages. Next, a short report will be compiled by the student, outlining the current state-of-the-art based on the literature review, selection of a particular design, implementation steps, results of characterization, and remarks on future optimization strategies. Finally, the results will be presented to the research group in a short talk at the end of the internship.
Skills required: General knowledge of optics and laser operation would be beneficial. General knowledge of electrical circuits and electronics. Good command of English with good communication and writing skills.
19. Developing Hydrogen Embrittlement-Resistant Coatings for Hydrogen Energy Systems
As the demand for hydrogen fuel continues to rise, the associated energy infrastructure is increasingly exposed to high-pressure hydrogen environments, making it vulnerable to hydrogen embrittlement (HE). HE is a critical degradation phenomenon that causes subcritical crack growth, fracture initiation, and a loss of ductility, toughness, and strength—often leading to catastrophic material failure. To mitigate these risks, the development of HE-resistant materials is essential for the safe and reliable operation of hydrogen energy systems.
This project aims to investigate the mechanisms of hydrogen embrittlement and develop advanced materials and coatings to overcome the strength–ductility trade-off in materials used for hydrogen storage and transfer. Using high-vacuum arc melting system and magnetron sputtering, we will systematically select elements to design multielemental coatings with a strong tendency to form densely packed atomic structures (such as face-centered cubic (FCC) or hexagonal close-packed (HCP) phases) expected to enhance resistance to HE.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: My research program leverages both (electro)chemical and physical vapor deposition (PVD) techniques to develop degradation-resistant coatings and functional thin films, systematically investigate structure–property relationships, and translate these insights into energy, environmental, and engineering applications. The overall goal is to design high-performance materials capable of withstanding harsh and demanding operational conditions while maintaining long-term functionality and efficiency. Our work spans functional materials for corrosion protection, degradation-resistant (photo)electrocatalysts for hydrogen production, durable materials for hydrogen storage and transport, and advanced anti-icing and self-cleaning surfaces.
Student roles: The project involves alloy fabrication using an arc melting system and thin-film deposition using sputtering. This is followed by tribological performance evaluation and hydrogen permeation testing.
Skills required: Students with backgrounds in physics, chemistry, chemical engineering, or materials engineering are encouraged to apply. Ideal candidates should have a basic understanding of vacuum systems and physical vapor deposition. Familiarity with materials characterization techniques (such as SEM, XRD, and XPS) as well as electrochemical testing methods and hydrogen permeation testing will be considered an asset.
20. Development and programming of pulsed laser ablation technique
Supervisor: Nisha Rani Agarwal
University: Ontario Tech University (Oshawa campus)
This project focuses on the development and programming of a pulsed laser ablation (PLA) platform as a foundational synthesis tool for generating nanostructures essential to advanced bio‑sensing and plasmonic applications. As the lab establishes its core instrumentation capabilities, PLA will serve as a versatile, contamination‑free method for producing metallic, dielectric, and hybrid nanomaterials with tunable size, morphology, and surface chemistry. These nanostructures will directly support ongoing efforts in Raman/SERS/TERS spectroscopy, force‑based detection, and nano‑optical characterization, enabling a fully integrated pipeline from material synthesis to functional device testing.
The project will involve designing a modular PLA setup that includes precise control of pulse energy, repetition rate, beam shaping, and target–liquid interactions. By systematically varying ablation parameters, the research will map how laser–matter coupling governs nanoparticle nucleation, growth, and aggregation dynamics. The resulting materials will be characterized using the lab’s expertise in vibrational spectroscopy, plasmonic resonance mapping, and AFM‑based force microscopy, creating a feedback loop that links synthesis conditions to optical and mechanical performance.
Beyond producing application‑ready nanostructures, the project will establish a programmable, reproducible workflow for PLA that can be adapted for student training, cross‑platform comparison, and future automation. The long‑term vision is to integrate PLA‑generated nanostructures into biosensing architectures, plasmon‑enhanced detection schemes, and surface‑engineered probes for Raman‑based diagnostics.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: My expertise lies in development of novel characterization techniques for bio-sensing and plasmonic applications. Mostly, these characterization techniques deal with spectroscopy and force microscopy. As I am building my lab, I am looking to build a pulsed laser ablation technique which will be an introduction to synthesis of nanostructures that are vital to the sensing applications.
Student roles: 1. Understand the different optical elements and tools required to build pulsed laser ablation technique. 2. Design the optical bench for laser alignment, achieve ultra-high vacuum in the chamber. 3. Analysis of data and conclusion of results All data from different measurements will have to be evaluated and analyzed. Results will be interpreted logically and discussed scientifically. 4. Documentation and presentation of research project A report has to be written at the conclusion of the research project. This will be considered an official document for the student. Furthermore, the student will be encouraged to present their results to the scientific community as an oral presentation.
Skills required: The project is best suited for graduate and undergraduate students in physics and materials engineering seeking to enhance laboratory, analytical and interpersonal skills. The students should possess excellent scientific acumen and experimental skills. The student will work in highly collaborative environment. Thus, good communication abilities are desirable. The nature of research stretches across multiple disciplines and hence strong background in the following areas are required: -Basics of atomic, molecular and optical physics (undergraduate physics) -Basics of inorganic and functional chemistry (undergraduate chemistry) -Basics of materials science and spectroscopy (undergraduate materials engineering) -General mathematics and chemistry knowledge (high school science)
21. Development of Anticorrosion Protective Coatings
Corrosion is a major societal challenge with significant economic, safety, and health impacts, as well as contributing to resource depletion. One effective strategy to mitigate corrosion is the use of protective coatings that act as barriers between a material’s surface and the corrosive environment. For these coatings to be effective, their elemental composition and microstructure must be carefully designed and optimized. In this project, we will employ various alloy and coating fabrication/deposition techniques such as arc melting, physical vapor deposition, and electrodeposition to precisely control material properties at the atomic scale and fabricate dense, low-defect anticorrosion coatings. Our goal is to understand how elemental selection and microstructure influence the performance and long-term durability of these protective coatings.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: My research program leverages both (electro)chemical and physical vapor deposition (PVD) techniques to develop degradation-resistant coatings and functional thin films, systematically investigate structure–property relationships, and translate these insights into energy, environmental, and engineering applications. The overall goal is to design high-performance materials capable of withstanding harsh and demanding operational conditions while maintaining long-term functionality and efficiency. Our work spans functional materials for corrosion protection, degradation-resistant (photo)electrocatalysts for hydrogen production, durable materials for hydrogen storage and transport, and advanced anti-icing and self-cleaning surfaces.
Student roles: The project involves thin film deposition using arc melting and/or sputtering, followed by anticorrosion performance evaluations through polarization tests, open circuit potential (OCP) measurements, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS).
Skills required: Students with backgrounds in physics, chemistry, chemical engineering, or materials engineering are encouraged to apply. Ideal candidates will have an understanding of corrosion mechanisms and a basic knowledge of vacuum systems. Familiarity with materials characterization techniques—such as SEM, XRD, and XPS—and electrochemical testing methods, including potentiodynamic polarization, open circuit potential (OCP), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), will be considered an asset.
22. Development of advanced photon-detection techniques for rare-event searches with XLZD
XLZD searches for 0nbb events in a liquid xenon time-projection chamber. Radioactive decays will produce an ionization signal and the emission of scintillation light at 175nm. Both of these signals have to be recorded. New and advanced photon sensors are being developed that would enhance the experiment's sensitivity, if successful. These devices must be characterized and tested before they are considered for use in XLZD. The challenge is identifying photon sensor that can be operated at liquid xenon temperatures (168K), and that are radio-pure without adding significant background to the 0nbb search and with low dark count rate to not mimic dark matter signals. The collaboration has identified so-called Si photon multiplier (SiPM) detectors as the light detectors of choice and is pursuing their development.
You will join the local XLZD group at McGill, which focuses on characterizing SiPMs integrated into larger arrays and subsequent performance tests at room temperature and under cryogenic conditions. You will characterize UV light sources and use them to study SiPMs response functions at room temperature and at cryogenic temperatures. This project touches all aspects of lab work with a hardware component as well as some simple data analysis.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: We are searching for lepton-number violating neutrinoless double-beta decays (0nbb) in Xe-136 as part of the XLZD collaboration. If this decay is observed it would prove the existence of unknown physics beyond the Standard Model of particle physics and could help explained the observed matter-dominance in the universe. A positive observation would require the neutrino to be its own anti-particle, i.e. the neutrino has to be a Majorana particle. Other physics channels that XLZD will have world-leading sensitivity to is the search for WIMP dark matter particles. We focus on technology development to improve the sensitivity of XLZD.
Student roles: You will be embedded in the local neutrino group at McGill and learn about neutrino physics and detection techniques using liquid Xe. You will be working on the development of photon sensors as part of an international team of researchers. Your project will be well defined with achievable goals. You will perform every day lab work, and most studies and experiments within a small team of undergraduate and graduate students in our lab at McGill. Senior scientists at McGill and within the XLZD collaboration are happy to help you get started and will help you conduct your measurements.
You will learn how to design (using SolidWorks), set up photon detection systems, and perform measurements using SiPMs. You will undertake systematic performance studies using a UV light source and measure intensity and pulse width of the detected photons. The project offers broad training in manual lab skills and photon detection techniques and offers a unique introduction to the fascinating field of neutrino physics.
Skills required: This project is aimed at undergraduate students at all levels, i.e., no special skills are required. All you need is an interest in learning and improving lab skills, and an interest in particle and nuclear physics. We use SolidWorks, LabView, Mathematica, and Python in every-day-business. Some knowledge in any of these programs/languages will help you get started, but is absolutely not required as we have local experts that are happy to assist you.
23. Development of an Electromagnetic Device for Detecting Fiber Orientation in Cementitious Materials
Fiber orientation strongly influences the mechanical performance of fiber-reinforced concrete and ultra-high-performance concrete. This project aims to develop and calibrate an electromagnetic sensing device capable of detecting preferential fiber orientation in cementitious specimens.
The intern will contribute to the design and testing of a laboratory electromagnetic measurement setup based on coils, magnetic/electromagnetic field response, and signal acquisition. Under the supervision of graduate students and research staff, the student will prepare or analyze specimens with controlled fiber orientations and perform calibration measurements.
A key component of the project will be the development of Python scripts for signal processing, calibration, visualization, and interpretation of electromagnetic measurements. The student will compare sensor responses with known fiber orientations and help establish quantitative relationships between electromagnetic signals and fiber alignment.
The internship will provide training in applied electromagnetism, experimental instrumentation, Python programming, data analysis, and advanced cementitious composite materials. Results will contribute to the development of non-destructive tools for quality control and performance assessment of fiber-reinforced concrete and UHPC.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: Our research focuses on the development of advanced sensing techniques for cementitious materials and infrastructure applications. The project combines applied physics, electromagnetic measurements, data analysis, and cement-based composite materials to develop non-destructive methods for detecting fiber orientation in concrete and UHPC. The work integrates experimental calibration, signal processing, and Python-based data analysis to support material characterization and structural performance assessment.
Student roles: The student will contribute to the design, assembly, calibration, and validation of an electromagnetic sensing device for fiber orientation detection in cementitious materials. Responsibilities will include conducting laboratory experiments, acquiring and processing measurement data, developing Python scripts for signal analysis and visualization, and comparing sensor responses with reference measurements. The student will work closely with graduate students and researchers, participate in regular project meetings, maintain accurate experimental records, and assist in the preparation of technical reports and presentations. The role combines experimental physics, instrumentation, programming, and data analysis in a multidisciplinary research environment.
Skills required: Applicants should have a background in Physics, Applied Physics, Electrical Engineering, Engineering Physics, or a related field. Knowledge of electromagnetism, sensors, signal acquisition, and experimental instrumentation is desirable. Experience with Python programming, data processing, calibration methods, and basic electronics is highly recommended. Familiarity with magnetic fields, coils, impedance measurements, or non-destructive testing is considered an asset. The student should have strong analytical skills and an interest in applying physics-based measurement methods to civil engineering materials.
24. Dual-energy radiography for bone densitometry with Simultaneous Primary-Scatter x-ray imager
A particular medical application of our dual-mode primary plus scatter x-ray imager is to bone mineral densitometry. The current standard technique for bone mineral densitometry is dual-energy radiography, which images the patient by making two conventional transmission images using different x-ray spectra. In the absence of K-edges, the technique of dual-energy radiography extracts all available information from the transmitted primary x rays in radiology. While very useful, the resulting images are often still limited by low contrast. We have a project underway to extend x-ray bone assessment by also using information from scattered photons, by adding dual-energy radiographic capability to our imager.
The goal of the intern’s project will be technical instrumentation advances for simultaneous primary scatter x-ray imaging. In dual-energy radiography, two x-ray spectra are generated by changing the x-ray tube potential and by filtering the beam with attenuators, usually of metal. In our system, changing the primary x-ray beam energy for the purposes of dual-energy data acquisition will also change the low-angle scatter patterns. By Bragg’s Law, lowering the energy will increase the radius of the scatter patterns. While this could make the data processing more difficult, capturing two such patterns could also be beneficial to sorting out the signals used to generate the scatter image.
In our imaging system the object is translated through an array of pencil beams in a step-and-shoot manner. Our imaging detector is a PerkinElmer XRD 0840 AN13 flat panel imager with 400 micron elements and Gd2O2S sensor. The detector and rotating anode x-ray source are controlled by an Arduino system. Coding is in Python and Matlab.
Details of our current imaging system can be found in: Dydula, Xu, Johns, Proc. SPIE 11404 (2020) [doi: 10.1117/12.2554209]. Our most recent work was reported in Kemdirim & Johns, Proc SPIE 13043 (2024) [doi: 10.1117/12.3005049].
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: X-ray imaging in medicine, industry, and security can be limited by low material contrast. Our lab’s focus is to develop a higher-contrast imager that acquires multiple categories of x-ray information. Our current system acquires not only the conventional transmitted radiation, but also the signature of scattered radiation versus angle, out to about 10 degrees. At a basic level this is akin to combining bright field and dark-field imaging in microscopy. X-ray pencil beams are scanned over the object, the resulting radiation distributions are recorded, and point-by-point a stack of scatter images at different angles plus a transmitted image are built.
Student roles: The intern will lead the technical work under the direction of Prof. Paul Johns. The project will involve experiments with x rays, data capture, data assembly using Python, further data correction using Matlab, image processing and display using Matlab and ImageJ, and straightforward physics calculations using tables of x-ray spectra and interaction coefficients. Demonstrated ability to create new scripts in Python and Matlab are necessary for this project, as are ability to successfully modify existing code and document all work.
The intern will concentrate on instrumentation development. This will entail understanding the physics behind the x-ray spectra and detector signals, and experiments to confirm. Examples of advances needed are (i) deconvolution of primary beam blur which is due to the finite source size, possibly using Fourier tools, (ii) design of test objects (“phantoms”) that match tissue properties in both primary beam radiography and scatter imaging, (iii) optimization of the two x-ray tube potentials and filtrations for best image quality while keeping reasonable levels of thermal load on the x-ray tube and radiation dose to the subject.
The project presents an opportunity to learn fundamentals of radiation physics and x-ray lab skills while continuing to build programming experience and image analysis skills. We will meet weekly on a formal basis and informally whenever needed. The intern must document the technical work in a written report. All software must be commented and archived. The intern will be an author on any scientific conference presentation and/or journal article reporting on the work.
Skills required: Appropriate preparation for this project would be courses in modern physics and a senior physics laboratory, plus it is essential to have solid programming experience with Python and Matlab. Programming will be in the Windows environment and will likely be the activity spanning the most hours. In the lab, the intern will be expected to work with ionizing radiation. Although my lab’s interest is medical applications, the emphasis is on technology and prior life sciences courses are not expected. This project can provide an interesting mix of computation, physics analysis, and experiment.
25. Dynamical Probes of Order-by-Disorder in Frustrated Magnets
This project will investigate whether non-equilibrium dynamics can provide clear probes of order-by-disorder in frustrated magnets. In order-by-disorder systems, fluctuations select an ordered state and can gap an otherwise soft collective mode, producing a pseudo-Goldstone mode whose energy scale is unusually sensitive to temperature, field, and drive amplitude. The project will study this physics in simple spin models, such as compass-type or related models that exhibit order by disorder. The central idea we aim to explore is if dynamics may reveal fluctuation-selected magnetic order more clearly than static measurements
The main goal is to compare two complementary dynamical probes. The first is a field-quench protocol: the system is initially polarized by an applied magnetic field, the field is rapidly switched off, and the subsequent evolution of magnetization and collective modes is computed. The second is a driven-response protocol: the soft mode associated with the order-by-disorder selection is periodically driven, and its non-equilibrium response is compared with that of conventional ferromagnets or magnonic systems.
The project will begin with analytical modelling using classical spin-wave theory and linearized equations of motion. Depending on progress and student interest, it may extend to nonlinear response, temperature dependence, and numerical simulations using classical spin dynamics. The outcome will be a set of predictions for how fluctuation-generated gaps and pseudo-Goldstone modes appear in time-domain and driven magnetic response, helping identify experimentally accessible signatures of order-by-disorder.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: My research is primarily in quantum magnetism with some connections to strongly correlated systems more broadly. I study how frustration, many-body effects and quantum mechanics can produce emergent behaviour in real materials. Recent areas of focus include order-by-disorder, altermagnetism, spin dynamics, and frustration in anisotropic systems.
Student roles: The student will develop and analyze simple theoretical models of order-by-disorder magnets under time-dependent perturbations or non-equilibrium conditions. They will first review the relevant background literature on order-by-disorder, pseudo-Goldstone modes, magnetic quenches, and driven spin dynamics. They will then formulate the equations of motion for selected spin models, beginning with linearized spin-wave or classical dynamics around an ordered state.
A central task will be to compute the response following a field quench, including the time evolution of magnetization and low-energy collective modes. A second task will be to study the response to periodic driving of the soft mode selected by order-by-disorder, and to compare this behavior with more conventional magnetic systems. The work will involve deriving analytical expressions where possible, implementing numerical calculations to evaluate spectra and time evolution, and interpreting the results in terms of experimentally measurable signatures.
Depending on progress, the student may also explore finite-temperature effects, nonlinear response, or full classical spin-dynamics simulations. The expected outcome is a clear theoretical comparison of quench-based and drive-based probes of fluctuation-generated ordering, suitable for presentation in a report and potentially as the basis for a research publication.
Skills required: The student should have strong preparation in mechanics, linear algebra, differential equations, analytical problem-solving, and scientific programming. Experience programming in Python, Julia, C++, or a similar language is required, since the project will involve numerical calculations of spectra, time evolution, and driven response. A background in condensed matter physics, statistical mechanics, or quantum or classical mechanics would be useful. Familiarity with magnetism, spin models, Fourier methods, spin-wave theory, frustrated magnetism, or non-equilibrium dynamics would be helpful, but is not required.
26. Effect of spin transitions in catalytic reactions and charge transfer processes
The present project aims to find molecular indicators that could assist in the description of spin transitions of molecular systems relevant to either catalytic reactions or charge transfer (CT) processes.
Frequently, transition metal catalysts undergo spin-crossover (SCO) reactions which can enhance their catalytic activity by decreasing activation energies on the catalytic cycle; however, the same process may undermine its activity via unreactive products. The delicate interplay between both is paramount to achieving optimal yields of the desired products. Similarly, the effect of triplet states in charge transfer has attracted particular attention where spin-orbit charge transfer intersystem crossing (SOCT-ISC) enables long-lived excited states in triplet photosensitizers with interesting applications to photocatalysis, photodynamic therapy, and photovoltaics amongst other. One of the limitations of these triplet photosensitizers is their dependence on the polarity and viscosity of their environment. As such, solvent-independent photosensitizers are highly desirable with only a few examples reported.
The understanding of these processes as well as the identification of molecular indicators that can predict the catalytic or charge transfer behavior are essential to the design of machine learning implementations for automatic materials design via generative models which can help to optimize either the catalytic activity or finding solvent-independent photosensitizers. For this purpose, we will perform a series of density functional theory and Multireference ab-initio calculations on model systems followed by a screening of molecular indicators to study the effect of different substituents and solvents on SCO and CT molecular systems. This will include a series of Iron and Copper catalysts as well as prototypical charge-transfer compounds.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: Machine Learning applications for physical and chemical processes. Automatic differentiation. Quantum chemistry.
Student roles: The role of the selected applicant will include: Perform and manage the data for the electronic structure calculations, as well as analyze different electronic indicators, such as energy-gaps, spin-densities, and electron localization functions, amongst others in the application that they find most interesting. Participation in group meetings where they will present their results and discuss their findings.
Part of the project's findings will be used in a publication, which the student has to aid in the figure curating, drafting the method, and result sections.
Skills required: Basic coding skills, specifically Linux and Python.
Some experience with electronic structure software (Gaussian, OpenMolcas, Orca, Gamess, PySCF, etc) is beneficial but not essential.
Basic linear algebra knowledge.
27. Electronic Emulators of Quantum Topological Photonic Dynamics
This project develops programmable electronic feedback circuits that emulate the linearized dynamics of nonlinear photonic systems. Many driven photonic systems, such as Kerr resonators and optical parametric oscillators, are governed near a steady state by an effective dynamical matrix or Jacobian. This matrix determines stability, amplification, response to perturbations, noise sensitivity, and the possibility of non-Hermitian or topological behavior.
Instead of first implementing all couplings optically, this project will realize selected photonic dynamical models using electronic circuits and real-time feedback. The student will help build a low-dimensional circuit or feedback platform that allows effective damping, coupling, gain, nonreciprocity, and perturbations to be tuned and measured. Possible implementations include analog op-amp circuits, active filters, summing amplifiers, digitally controlled feedback loops, Red Pitaya/FPGA-style systems, or hybrid analog-digital platforms.
A concrete direction is to implement an electronic or topoelectrical emulator of the linearized Jacobian matrices that arise in nonlinear photonic systems, including Kerr-type or parametric models relevant to synthetic dimensions and quantum sensing. The student will measure transfer functions, impulse responses, stability thresholds, and reconstructed effective matrices, then compare them with numerical models.
The expected outcome is a working two-mode or few-mode programmable dynamical system with documented circuit design, measured response functions, reusable control or analysis code, and a clear comparison between the implemented electronic dynamics and the target photonic model.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: We work on programmable photonic and electronic systems for quantum photonics, nonlinear dynamics, and precision measurement. We are interested in how feedback, modulation, and real-time control can be used to emulate, engineer, and measure the dynamical response of photonic systems such as Kerr resonators, optical parametric oscillators, and synthetic frequency-mode platforms. This research combines analog and digital electronics, feedback control, signal processing, dynamical-systems modeling, topoelectrical circuits, and experimental photonics.
Student roles: The student will contribute directly to the design, construction, measurement, and modeling of a programmable feedback-circuit platform. Their role will be to implement a small electronic dynamical system that represents the linearized response of a target photonic model.
Possible responsibilities include designing or assembling op-amp-based summing circuits, filters, gain/loss elements, active coupling networks, or digitally controlled feedback loops; testing circuit stability and bandwidth; programming real-time control hardware such as Red Pitaya, FPGA-style platforms, microcontrollers, or DAQ systems; and measuring frequency-domain and time-domain response using oscilloscopes, spectrum analyzers, lock-in-style methods, or automated Python acquisition.
The student will also help compare the measured system to the target mathematical model. This may include reconstructing an effective Jacobian or response matrix from measured transfer functions, extracting eigenvalues or singular values, identifying stability thresholds, and testing how controlled perturbations change the system response.
By the end of the internship, the student is expected to deliver a documented circuit or feedback implementation, measured response data, reusable control and analysis code, and a technical summary explaining what dynamical matrix was implemented, how accurately it matches the target model, what limits the current platform, and how it can be extended toward photonic or quantum-sensing applications.
Skills required: The ideal student has hands-on experience or a strong interest in electronics, feedback control, signal processing, dynamical systems, or experimental physics. Useful skills include analog electronics, op-amps, filters, PCB prototyping, microcontrollers, FPGA/Red Pitaya, Python, Matlab, oscilloscopes, function generators, spectrum analyzers, transfer-function measurements, and linear algebra. Prior experience with photonics, topological systems, or quantum optics is helpful but not required. More important is the ability to build, debug, measure, model, and document a working physical system.
28. Enhancing Neutral Pion Identification at Belle II
Supervisor: Savino Longo
University: University of Manitoba (Winnipeg campus)
The objective of this project is to apply state-of-the-art Machine Learning algorithms to improve neutral pion reconstruction at the Belle II experiment. Located at the SuperKEKB electron-positron collider in Japan, the Belle II experiment is a next generation B-Factory conducting searches for beyond the Standard Model physics. Neutral pions are frequently emitted from SuperKEKB collisions and their reconstruction is crucial for numerous analyses completed with Belle II data. Neutral pions decay almost instantly to two photons, which are detected by the Belle II electromagnetic calorimeter. One of the primary challenges in reconstructing neutral pions at Belle II arises from significant backgrounds due to other neutral particles emitted from the collision including additional photons and neutral hadrons. This project will use Belle II simulation and data samples to train a Deep Neural Network to identify pairs of photons in the Belle II detector that originate from neutral pion decays. The Belle II collaboration consists of over 120 institutes from across the globe. This project provides an excellent opportunity for students to participate in internationally collaborative research. The Deep Neural Network trained in this project will have wide application across the Belle II collaboration.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: I conduct searches for new fundamental particles and interactions in the high energy particle collisions recorded by the international Belle II experiment located at the SuperKEKB electron-positron collider in Japan. My group focuses on Dark Sector searches at Belle II as well as developing innovative algorithms to improve photon and neutral hadron reconstruction. We additionally investigate novel particle detector technologies for future particle physics experiments such as the TUCAN Experiment and the MOLLER Experiment.
Student roles: The student will investigate Belle II simulation samples to determine key detector observables that can identify photon pairs originating from neutral pion decays. A Deep Neural Network will be trained on these observables to distinguish photon pairs from neutral pions vs. backgrounds. The performance of the Deep Neural Network will be evaluated using Belle II data samples by measuring the neutral pion selection efficiency and purity. The performance will be compared to existing Belle II algorithms for neutral pion reconstruction. The student will perform internationally collaborative research with the Belle II experiment and present their work regularly at local group meetings as well as in Belle II analysis-team meetings. The student will also write a report documenting the results of the study.
Skills required: - Interest in experimental subatomic physics, data-analysis, and Machine Learning - Experience programming and performing data analysis with Python (Pandas, Numpy, Scipy). - Experience with Python machine learning (Keras, Tensorflow or PyTorch)
29. Equilibria and stability of magnetically confined plasmas with strong flows
Supervisor: Andrei Smolyakov
University: University of Saskatchewan (Saskatoon campus)
The proposed research involves theoretical studies and numerical modeling of magnetically confined plasmas in space and laboratory. Plasma is an ideal gas of charged particles that exhibit collective behavior in form of various wave motions. Physics of plasmas addresses fundamental problems such as turbulence as well as a number of applied subjects important for a variety of plasma based technologies. Often plasmas are controlled by externally applied magnetic and electric fields and are in a state far from thermodynamical equilibrium, which makes them inherently unstable and results in fluctuations and turbulence. This project will study the steady state equilibria and stability of plasmas with large flow velocity, i.e. the states when the flow velocity is comparable and exceeds the characteristic velocities in the plasma, such as the ion sound velocity, Alfven and magnetosonic velocities. Under such conditions, inertial forces (related to the finite velocity) become important and should be included in the momentum balance together with pressure and Lorenz (JxB) forces. Moreover, the global plasma state equilibrium to a large degree is affected by the global geometry (topology) of the critical points, i.e, the points where the plasma velocity is equal to one of the signal velocities-the Alfven velocity, and the velocity of the fast and slow magnetosonic waves of the MHD model. Such equilibrium states are important for space plasmas, e.g. solar wind acceleration, winds and jets from magnetic stars, as well as for the laboratory plasmas for fusion and propulsion applications. The numerical modeling will be performed using advanced multi-fluid models and particle-in-cell codes.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: Theoretical plasma physics, physics of high temperature plasmas with applications to controlled thermonuclear fusion, laboratory plasmas for material processing and electric propulsion, and space and ionosphere plasmas.
Nonlinear and kinetic processes in plasmas, theory of waves and instabilities in magnetically confined plasmas, turbulence and anomalous transport.
https://research-groups.usask.ca/tpp/
Student roles: Depending on the student background and interests, the following tasks may be performed by the student. Reading the plasma physics journals and literature. Formulation and analysis of relevant model equations relevant to magnetized plasmas. Programming and numerical solution of linear and nonlinear differential equations describing the magnetized plasmas. Derivation and analysis of linear dispersion relations. Analysis of the numerical solutions, calculating the growth rates from initial value simulations. Summarizing the results, presenting the results in graphical form, writing the reports and scientific paper(s), making oral presentations. Student will be using the existing numerical codes and making modifications to the existing codes and/or writing her/his own codes.
Skills required: Required physics classes: Electrodynamics, Statistical Physics, Mechanics, Quantum Mechanics, Theoretical Physics, Waves and Oscillations, Plasma Physics, Fluid dynamics Mathematics: ODE and PDE, Nonlinear theory, Stochastic Theory, Linear Algebra, Numerical methods, Pseudo-Spectral methods. Computer Science and Programming: Numerical solution of PDE, Scientific Computations and Programming, High Performance Computing, MPI and OpenMP Upper years undergraduate (and graduate, if applicable) classes are desired. The above list describes general background which is desired and relevant to the project. It is not meant that the candidate should have taken every course on the list.
30. Experimental Silicon Nitride Microring Photonics for Quantum and Nonlinear Optical Dynamics
This project focuses on experimental measurements of silicon nitride microring resonators using an existing photonic probe-station platform in our lab. The goal is to identify, characterize, and control microring devices suitable for nonlinear and quantum photonics experiments, including four-wave mixing, parametric frequency conversion, and, eventually, on-chip squeezed-light generation.
The student will work with tunable lasers, fiber-to-chip coupling, polarization control, photodetectors, optical spectrum analyzers, RF/electronic instruments, and Python-based data acquisition. Initial measurements may include resonance scans, quality factor extraction, free spectral range and dispersion estimation, coupling regime identification, insertion loss measurement, thermal tuning response, and resonance stability characterization. These measurements will be used to determine which devices are suitable for stronger nonlinear measurements.
Depending on progress, the student may help perform pump-probe or four-wave-mixing measurements, measure conversion efficiency, characterize pump-induced resonance shifts, or test modulation-assisted coupling between frequency modes. The long-term motivation is to use SiN microrings for quantum-optical experiments in frequency space, including squeezed light, synthetic frequency dimensions, and programmable multimode quantum states.
The expected outcome is a reproducible measurement workflow on the existing probe-station platform, including calibrated resonator data, automated acquisition and analysis code, extracted device parameters, and a technical assessment of the next steps toward nonlinear or quantum photonic operation.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: A part of our group works on experimental integrated quantum photonics and nonlinear optical dynamics, with a focus on silicon nitride microring resonators, frequency-mode interactions, and chip-scale platforms for quantum light generation. We are interested in how high-Q optical resonators can be characterized, controlled, and used for nonlinear frequency conversion, parametric processes, squeezed-light generation, and programmable frequency-mode dynamics. This research combines photonic-chip testing, fiber coupling, tunable lasers, optical spectrum measurements, RF/electronic control, thermal tuning, and coupled-mode modeling of resonator response.
Student roles: The student will contribute directly to SiN microring measurements on an existing integrated photonics probe-station platform. Their role will be to operate, improve, automate, and quantitatively analyze chip-level optical measurements.
Possible responsibilities include optimizing fiber-to-chip coupling, controlling input polarization, measuring transmission spectra, calibrating tunable-laser scans, extracting resonance linewidths and quality factors, measuring free spectral range and dispersion, characterizing thermal tuning and resonance stability, and developing Python scripts for automated data acquisition and fitting. The student may also help perform nonlinear measurements, such as detecting four-wave mixing sidebands, measuring conversion efficiency, or characterizing how a strong pump modifies the resonator response.
If the student has suitable RF or electronics experience, they may help integrate modulators, RF sources, photodetectors, and feedback tools for frequency-mode control or laser-resonator stabilization. If the student has a suitable quantum-optics background, they may help connect measured resonator parameters to requirements for parametric generation, squeezing, or multimode quantum-state engineering.
By the end of the internship, the student is expected to deliver documented measurement procedures, calibrated resonator data, reusable acquisition and analysis code, and a technical summary identifying device performance, dominant experimental limitations, and next steps toward nonlinear or quantum photonic experiments.
Skills required: The ideal student has hands-on experience or strong interest in integrated photonics, fiber optics, lasers, nonlinear optics, quantum optics, photodetectors, RF/electronic instruments, or lab automation. Useful skills include Python, Matlab, LabVIEW, tunable-laser scans, optical spectrum analyzers, fiber alignment, polarization control, data fitting, and signal processing. Prior experience with silicon photonics, microring resonators, four-wave mixing, or squeezed light is helpful but not required. More important is careful experimental technique, patience with alignment and calibration, quantitative reasoning, and clear documentation.
31. Explainable AI from first principles: computing with oscillator networks
Artificial intelligence is transforming industries — yet the neural networks driving this transformation are poorly understood, even by their designers. This opacity creates real risks: unreliable predictions, unexplainable decisions, and systems that are difficult to audit, correct, or certify. The demand for interpretable AI is growing rapidly across sectors including healthcare, finance, autonomous systems, and national security. This project develops a fundamentally new approach to neural network design — one where computation is not only powerful but mathematically guaranteed to be explainable. Building on recent work published by our group (Budzinski et al., Communications Physics 2024), we introduce a complex-valued neural network (cv-NN) built from oscillatory units whose entire input-to-output computation is captured by a single, exact closed-form expression. Unlike conventional deep learning models, there is no black box: every computation can be inspected, predicted, and designed from first principles. The cv-NN generates rich spatiotemporal patterns that support logic operations, short-term memory, and secure information encoding. A nonlinear readout extracts outputs from these patterns — and remarkably, living biological neurons can serve as this readout, pointing toward future bio-hybrid computing architectures. The project will scale this framework to handle complex real-world tasks, develop training methods that preserve mathematical interpretability, and benchmark performance against standard deep learning approaches. Industry partners stand to gain access to neural network technology with built-in transparency — critical for regulatory compliance, model auditing, and deployment in high-stakes environments. This work positions oscillator-based, explainable AI as a viable and competitive alternative to black-box deep learning.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: Our group investigates how network connectivity shapes dynamics and computation in biological and artificial neural networks. Drawing on tools from physics, complex systems theory, network science, and AI, we develop mathematical frameworks that link network structure to emergent spatiotemporal behaviour. A central focus is building neural network architectures whose computations are exactly solvable, bridging the gap between theoretical neuroscience and explainable AI. This work has direct applications in neuromorphic computing, bio-hybrid systems, and the design of interpretable machine learning models for high-stakes real-world deployment.
Student roles: The student will play a central role in advancing the theoretical and computational foundations of oscillator-based neural networks, working directly within an active and collaborative research environment at the intersection of physics, mathematics, and artificial intelligence. The student's primary responsibilities will include implementing and simulating complex-valued neural network (cv-NN) models, building on the mathematical framework established in our foundational work. This involves writing and optimizing numerical simulation code, exploring how network architecture — including connectivity patterns, coupling strength, and phase delays — shapes computational capacity, and systematically benchmarking cv-NN performance against standard deep learning approaches on tasks of increasing complexity. On the theoretical side, the student will contribute to developing training algorithms that extend the cv-NN framework while preserving its core property of mathematical interpretability. This includes exploring how the exact closed-form solution of the network's dynamics can guide principled, gradient-free or hybrid optimization strategies, and investigating how scalability can be achieved without sacrificing explainability. The student will also contribute to translating research outputs toward industry-relevant applications. This includes identifying specific use cases — such as anomaly detection, time-series classification, or memory-augmented decision systems — where explainability provides a concrete competitive advantage over black-box alternatives, and prototyping cv-NN solutions for these tasks in collaboration with the industry partner. Throughout the internship, the student will participate in regular research meetings, present progress to both academic and industry audiences, and contribute to the preparation of scientific publications and technical reports. The student is expected to work independently while maintaining close communication with the supervising team, and to bring intellectual curiosity and initiative to an open-ended, frontier research problem.
Skills required: The ideal candidate has a strong foundation in applied mathematics or physics, with familiarity in dynamical systems, linear algebra, and differential equations. Experience with scientific programming (Python, MATLAB, or Julia) is essential for simulation and numerical analysis. A background in neuroscience or machine learning is an asset but not required. The student should be comfortable working at the intersection of theory and computation, and motivated by questions that bridge fundamental science and applied AI. Strong analytical thinking and scientific communication skills are expected.
32. Exploring Novel Quantum Materials at the McMaster Nuclear Reactor
This research project will involve the synthesis and characterization of new quantum materials at McMaster University. This work will involve preparing polycrystalline and single crystal samples of a variety of topical quantum magnets (including high temperature superconductors, quantum spin liquid candidates, and magnetic skyrmion materials) using McMaster's Centre for Crystal Growth. The structural, magnetic, and electronic properties of these samples will then be studied using a variety of materials characterization techniques. In particular, students will have the opportunity to carry out neutron scattering measurements using the McMaster Nuclear Reactor (MNR). The MNR is the most powerful neutron source in Canada, and the only facility in the country with neutron scattering capabilities. The MNR is currently home to two neutron scattering instruments: the McMaster Alignment Diffractometer (MAD), a general purpose triple-axis spectrometer, and the McMaster Small Angle Neutron Scattering facility (MacSANS). These instruments can be used to investigate structure and magnetic order in materials ranging from exotic magnets and superconductors, to biological membranes, polymers, and steels. Over the next 12 months, the MNR will also be expanding its capabilities for the study of materials at low temperatures, large applied pressures, and high magnetic fields. Students will have an opportunity to test these sample environments, and contribute towards the development of these new experimental capabilities. Although students will be free to choose between several different families of quantum materials, one of the primary goals of this project is to investigate Ru and Ir-based quantum magnets. These materials display unusual physical properties due to strong spin-orbit coupling effects which arise from heavy 4d/5d transition metal elements. This includes novel quantum mechanical ground states such as topological insulators, spin-orbital Mott insulators, and quantum spin liquids. In addition to having fascinating fundamental properties, these materials also have potential applications in quantum computers, sensors, and devices.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: This research project involves the study of quantum materials, novel materials which display unique or unusual physical properties due to the effects of quantum mechanics. The study of quantum materials is a branch of condensed matter physics, involving a blend of physics, chemistry, and materials science.
Student roles: The role of the student will involve a combination of sample synthesis and materials characterization. Sample synthesis work will take place in McMaster's Centre for Crystal Growth, and will involve preparing high quality powders and single crystal samples of novel quantum materials such as high temperature superconductors, quantum spin liquid candidates, and magnetic skyrmion materials. The student will then characterize the samples they produce, using x-ray and neutron scattering techniques to determine crystal structure, sample mosaic/crystallinity, and phase purity. In addition, they will use SQUID magnetometry and low temperature neutron diffraction techniques to investigate the magnetic ground state of their samples. Students will be expected to carry out analysis of experimental data, and to prepare figures, presentations, and reports to summarize their results.
Skills required: Applicants for this project should have a background in Physics, Chemistry, or Materials Science. Previous laboratory experience and familiarity with programming (Python, Matlab, etc) would be an asset, but is not required.
33. Fabrication of photonic band gap microfibres via dry spinning
This project represents a new research avenue for my group. We are interested in understanding the extensional flow behaviour of polymer/colloids solutions. The long-term goal is to produce meter long microfibres with photonic-band gap properties for applications in optics and photonics.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: My group works at the interface between Soft Matter Physics and Biophysics. On the soft matter side we study the behaviour of complex fluids in extensional flow, typically polymer solutions, protein solutions or composites. We are particularly interested in methods to spin microfibres from these solutions and the fibres have applications in biomedical engineering typically.
Student roles: The student will be using and improving an existing, home-built, extensional rheology platform. They may also use a microfibre fabrication platform to produce bundles and sheets and microfibres. The student will be responsible for preparing polymer/colloid solutions, performing shear and extensional rheology tests, and characterizing the microfibres using optical spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy.
Skills required: Python coding skills is a must have. Some experience with 3D printing and instrumentation would be a plus. Some soft matter physics knowledge is desirable, especially basic concepts in polymer physics and colloid crystallization.
34. From one to two: multiplexed quantum sensing with NV centers in diamond
NV centers in diamond are highly sensitive local probes of their electromagnetic environment, but conventional setups read out one emitter at a time, limiting both the speed and the type of information that can be obtained. Reading out several NV centers simultaneously opens the door to new ways of sensing: comparing signals from multiple emitters in parallel can reveal spatial and temporal information inaccessible to a single sensor. Realizing this requires a setup capable of addressing and reading out more than one NV center at the same time, which does not yet exist in the lab.
In this project, you will design and build a dual-spot excitation and collection scheme within an existing confocal microscope, align the optics to route signal from each spot to an independent single-photon detector, and develop the acquisition software needed to read out both channels simultaneously and in sync. Once implemented, the setup will be used to acquire the first simultaneous measurements from two nearby NV centers, laying the groundwork for novel multiplexed sensing approaches.
Results will contribute directly to ongoing work and publications in the group. This internship may lead to graduate studies in the group.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: Our lab studies optically active spin defects in solids, in particular NV centers in diamond, using optical spectroscopy, low-temperature measurements, and nanofabrication. NV centers are best known for quantum sensing and are also prominent candidates for quantum information processing. A central challenge in both fields is reading out several individual defects simultaneously, which requires dedicated optical instrumentation capable of addressing and collecting from multiple emitters in parallel. Developing and characterizing this kind of multiplexed readout is a key step toward novel quantum sensing approaches.
Student roles: During this internship, you will: • Design and build a dual-spot excitation and collection scheme within an existing confocal microscope, generating two independently controllable spots on the diamond sample. • Align the optics to route signal from each spot to an independent single-photon detector. • Write Python scripts, version-controlled with Git, to synchronize and record simultaneous, spin-dependent emission from both channels. • Characterize the optical system, including collection efficiency and inter-channel crosstalk. • Perform a first measurement comparing simultaneous emission from two nearby NV centers. • Document your work and present your findings to the group at the end of the internship. You will attend weekly lab meetings and work closely with graduate students in the group, with regular guidance from the supervisor. You will also enjoy the dynamic and collaborative environment of the Institut Quantique, a hub for quantum research in Canada.
Skills required: We welcome late Bachelor's or Master's students from physics, materials science, or quantum science. Ideally, you bring some of the following: • Solid background in optics and quantum mechanics • Hands-on experience in an experimental lab setting • Experience with free-space optics alignment • Familiarity with confocal microscopy or single-photon detection is a plus • Python and Git for instrument control and data acquisition • Enjoy working as part of a team A genuine curiosity for the physics and eagerness to learn new techniques will matter as much as prior experience.
35. Gravitational-wave astrophysics with Advanced LIGO
Supervisor: Jess McIver
University: University of British Columbia (Vancouver campus)
Gravitational-wave (GW) detector data, including the LIGO detectors, often contains a high rate of instrumental artifacts that can mask or mimic true astrophysical GW signals. This project will characterize noise sources in the Advanced LIGO detectors with the goal of reducing the number of 'false alarm' GW candidates and improving the reach of GW searches.
Student researchers will apply current data analysis techniques to identify, investigate, and mitigate the sources of transient noise sources in LIGO data. This work is critical to maximizing the confident recovery of GW events, especially those identified in near-real-time, which are of great interest to astronomers searching for electromagnetic counterparts to GW events. If desired, student researchers can also focus on advancing methods to infer signals sources from noisy GW data using astrophysical models.
Student researchers will have access to the LIGO remote control room on UBC campus as well as an experienced mentor team with wide-ranging expertise in LIGO detector characterization, calibration, and astrophysical data analysis. It time allows and the student is interest, work could extend to explore similar challenges for the LISA space mission.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: Gravitational waves (GWs) are tiny ripples in the fabric of spacetime that interact very weakly with matter. This makes GW detection very challenging, but it also makes GWs excellent probes of the inner dynamics of highly energetic systems, including colliding neutron stars and black holes. GWs have already revealed new black hole masses and tests of general relativity, and we expect further discoveries from future observing runs. Direct GW detection requires incredibly sensitive interferometers that require advanced quantum technology and register many forms of noise. A major current challenge limiting GW astrophysics is differentiating GW signals from this detector noise.
Student roles: Student researchers will work with the UBC LIGO Detector Characterization team and the LIGO Scientific Collaboration (LSC) to investigate the rate, character, and cause of noise artifacts in the Advanced LIGO detectors. Students will analyze LIGO time series data to identify behavior that could limit the performance of the astrophysical analyses, such as extended periods of decreased detector sensitivity or noise transients called "glitches". They will use time-frequency analysis, data visualization, and statistical techniques (including machine learning methods) to differentiate between true astrophysical signals and detector noise, and correlate detector behavior with trends in the local environment or a particular element of the detector instrumentation (such as the quantum "light squeezing" system or the intensity of the input laser power). Students will have the opportunity to participate in LIGO data quality shifts and LIGO-Virgo event candidate validation efforts within the LSC.
Skills required: Some experience with Python programming and undergraduate level coursework in calculus, classical mechanics, and electromagnetism are required. Coursework in thermodynamics and quantum mechanics and previous exposure to Fourier analysis are desirable. Curiosity about or experience with machine learning methods is also a plus.
36. Group functions for interferometry with polarized photons
Supervisor: Hubert de Guise
University: Lakehead University (Thunder Bay campus)
Partial distinguishability plays a pivotal role in quantum technologies because it directly controls the strength and structure of multi-particle quantum interference, which underpins the advantage of many photonic platforms for computing, sensing, and communication. Crucially, recent work has shown that partial distinguishability is not merely a source of experimental “noise” but a quantifiable resource parameter that can be modelled, measured, and sometimes even exploited. The natural way to study the partial distinguishability is through the use of group functions for unitary groups, which provide the amplitudes of an input state scattering to an output state in the an d-dimensional interferometer. In particular, the so-called two-rowed representations of these unitary groups accommodate partial distinguishability modelled as the polarization degree of freedom of particles: this is a sufficient entry point to include core features of partially indistinguishable particles. The first objective of the project is to develop a general formulation for these group functions for the group SU(4) (and more generally SU(d)). This can be done by extending previous work on SU(3), and by leveraging the decomposition of SU(d) transformation into SU(2) subtransformations. The next objective is to test and benchmark these functions extensively (in particular by comparing with known other algorithms) and finally to contribute to the study of these functions when the number of particles becomes very large. This is important because understanding and controlling partial distinguishability has become essential for benchmarking quantum advantage, designing scalable photon sources and interferometers, and defining realistic performance thresholds for near-term quantum technologies.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: I specialize in group theoretical methods applied to quantum physics. My research program includes applications of group functions for unitary groups to interferometry, the complexity of these functions and their asymptotic limit (limit of large numbers of particles), especially for partially distinguishable particles. I also have research interests in applications of coherent states with applications to the phase-space formalism of quantum mechanics.
Student roles: The student will work with the PI do develop an algorithm, implement in Mathematica or Python, test and benchmark the code, and participate in the general organization of the results.
Skills required: The student should be familiar with the quantum mechanics of the harmonic oscillator using creation and destruction operators. Programming skills are a definite asset, especially with Mathematica or Python. Some mathematical background in linear algebra is also desirable.
I recently discovered an approach to quantum state preparation via continuous-time quantum walk. While this algorithm makes it possible to target a known eigenstate of some Hamiltonian, its power to target an unknown quantum walk remains open. Even for frustration-free Hamiltonians, finding the ground state (which is a simultaneous eigenstate of each individual term) is believed to be a difficult problem for quantum computers. Quantum walks might provide some benefits compared to other (optimization) methods. It would be good to have a student who could explore the opportunities and potential limitations of this approach.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: Theory: quantum information sciences (approaches to quantum computing such as quantum walk and measurement-based models; quantum error correction; experimental approaches including ultracold atomic gases, photonics, quantum materials); condensed matter physics (especially topological materials); atomic, molecular, and optical physics; pure mathematics especially algebraic graph theory.
Student roles: During the first phase of the project, the student would first review the relevant literature and familiarize themselves with the main mathematical formalism. This would take something like one month. Then the student would embark on some scaffolded calculations to bring their understanding and skills from toy problems toward more sophisticated problems (probably one month to six weeks). The remainder of the time would be spent on bona fide calculations that would be of genuine interest to the scientific community.
Skills required: Quantum mechanics would be an asset but isn't strictly necessary. Most important is that the student have an excellent command of linear algebra. Students should be self-motivated and enjoy analytical calculations at the interface of quantum information theory and condensed matter physics. Familiarity with Python and/or Mathematica would be helpful, for testing calculations rather than major numerical calculations. A first course in solid-state physics would be useful, but again not necessary.
38. How does temperature affect charge-state dynamics of quantum sensors in diamond?
NV centers in diamond are highly sensitive quantum sensors and promising qubits for quantum information processing. In both contexts, device integration requires placing NV centers close to surfaces and interfaces, which is known to strongly affect their charge stability. Specifically, shallow NV centers undergo charge state transitions between the negatively charged NV⁻ and the neutral NV⁰ far more frequently than bulk centers. While this depth dependence is well established, and the temperature dependence of charge dynamics has been partly studied in bulk and ensemble samples, no study has directly compared how charge state dynamics evolve with temperature for shallow and bulk NV centers within the same sample. This comparison is needed to determine whether the dominant mechanism is thermally activated, tunneling-assisted, or some combination that depends on proximity to the surface.
To answer this question, you will implement optical charge-state readout in a confocal microscope with dual-channel single-photon detection, monitoring NV⁻ and NV⁰ emission simultaneously. Ionization and recombination rates will be measured from 4 K to room temperature on both shallow and bulk NV centers in the same diamond sample. Fitting the data to physical models will allow you to test whether the observed temperature dependence points to a thermally activated process, a tunneling mechanism, or a combination of both, and to determine how this depends on depth.
Results will contribute directly to ongoing work and publications in the group. This internship may lead to graduate studies in the group.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: Our lab studies optically active spin defects in solids, in particular NV centers in diamond, using optical spectroscopy, low-temperature measurements, and nanofabrication. NV centers are best known for quantum sensing and are also prominent candidates for quantum information processing. A central challenge in both fields is that integrating these defects into nanoscale photonic or electronic devices inevitably brings them close to surfaces and interfaces, which degrades their charge stability and spin coherence. Understanding and controlling this at the level of single defects is a key step toward functional, reproducible quantum devices.
Student roles: During this internship, you will: • Implement different optical charge-state readout methods for single NV centers on a confocal microscope, using dual-channel detection to monitor NV⁻ and NV⁰ emission simultaneously. • Write Python scripts, version-controlled with Git, to extract charge-state switching rates. • Map how ionization and recombination rates change from 4 K to room temperature, for both shallow and bulk NV centers in the same diamond sample. • Fit your data to physical models to identify the dominant mechanism behind the observed temperature dependence. • Compare shallow and bulk results to determine how the dominant mechanism depends on proximity to the surface. • Document your work and present your findings to the group at the end of the internship. You will attend weekly lab meetings and work closely with graduate students in the group, with regular guidance from the supervisor. You will also enjoy the dynamic and collaborative environment of the Institut Quantique, a hub for quantum research in Canada.
Skills required: We welcome late Bachelor's or Master's students from physics, materials science, or quantum science. Ideally, you bring some of the following: • Solid background in solid-state physics and quantum mechanics • Hands-on experience in an experimental lab setting • Experience with optics and/or electronics • Familiarity with cryogenic systems or confocal microscopy is a plus • Python and Git for data acquisition and analysis • Enjoy working as part of a team A genuine curiosity for the physics and eagerness to learn new techniques will matter as much as prior experience.
39. Improving Nonlinear Optical Microscopy with Faster Analysis Techniques
Supervisor: Danielle Tokarz
University: St. Mary's University (Halifax campus)
Our research focuses on developing laser scanning nonlinear optical microscopes to detect second and third harmonic generation (SHG and THG, respectively) signals to serve as new non-invasive imaging modalities that reveal the localization and dynamic ultrastructure of live microscopic biological structures inside organ tissues for improved understanding of biological function, and to inspire new therapeutics. One of our techniques, polarization-in, polarization-out SHG and THG (PIPO-SHG and PIPO-THG, respectively) microscopies, uses motorized rotating plates: One to rotate the polarization of the laser light and another to analyze the polarization of the harmonic signals. Although this technique works sensitively to determine polarization-sensitive SHG and THG parameters, the data analysis consists of using a custom MATLAB program that is time-consuming taking up to an hour for a single dataset. Accelerating the analysis speed of data is a step towards using this technique in real-time.
A little over a decade ago, researchers developed a faster method of analyzing a different polarization-resolved SHG microscopy technique referred to as polarization-in SHG (PI-SHG) microscopy. In PI-SHG, the polarization state of the laser is rotated and the corresponding SHG images are collected. Previously researchers fit a graph of the SHG intensity as a function of the input laser polarization state. However, researchers have more recently developed a one-dimensional Fourier Transform algorithm (1D FT) which has since been adopted by many research groups that use PI-SHG. 1D FT has allowed researchers to analyze their data within seconds. PIPO-SHG and PIPO-THG have an additional dimensionality since the linear polarization state of the SHG and THG signals are measured at each laser polarization state. Therefore, we currently require a student to help with the development of a two-dimensional Fourier Transform algorithm (2D FT) for analyzing PIPO-SHG and PIPO-THG data as well as testing this algorithm with our original analysis method.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: We perform interdisciplinary research at the interface of biology, chemistry, physics and engineering. We develop new quantitative ultrafast laser nonlinear optical microscopy imaging techniques for analyzing the ultrastructure of biological and artificial microscopic systems. We are interested in characterizing how chemical and physical changes govern ultrastructural alterations during natural as well as artificial synthesis and degradation reactions in carbohydrate- and protein-dense natural and model systems. For example, we study the change in collagen ultrastructure during cancer initiation and progression as well as induced tendon injury sites from repeated tissue stretching and compression.
Student roles: The student will play a fundamental role in the continued improvement of our custom nonlinear optical microscopes to achieve polarization-sensitive data for ultrastructural characterization. To ensure understanding of how our custom MATLAB analysis software works, the student will be required to learn how the microscope works. The student will develop 2D FT in MATLAB for PIPO-SHG and PIPO-THG analysis. The student will be expected to collect data with stable SHG and THG emitters including starch granules and collagenous tissues and then analyze their data using the previous analysis method and the new 2D FT method that they have developed. The student may also be asked to present their work at a local conference or research day at the university. The student may also be asked to take part in manuscript preparation featuring the 2D FT method. The student will be given WHMIS and laboratory safety training as well as laser safety training at the beginning of their internship. The student will also be expected to wear protective equipment (e.g. laser safety goggles when working with the laser or lab coat, goggles and gloves when working with chemicals).
Skills required: The ideal student would have a background in physics and/or engineering. Experience programming is required, and experience in hardware-software interfacing is very useful. Programming will be performed in a LabVIEW/MATLAB environment which will be taught if the student is unfamiliar. Laser safety training and training on laser and microscope building will be provided. Furthermore, a student who can work successfully in a team environment as well as an independent researcher is integral.
40. Innovative techniques to characterize quantum systems with applications to quantum technologies / Techniques innovantes de caractérisation de system quantique et application aux technologies quantiques
Successfully characterizing quantum states is fundamental to quantum physics and crucial to many real-world applications, including quantum computing.
The usual way to determine a quantum state is to perform a set of pre-defined measurements and then use a reconstruction algorithm to infer the most likely state behind the results. This method, quantum state tomography, has real drawbacks. It is indirect, complicated, and resource-intensive: the number of measurements grows quadratically with the dimension of the state.
Weak measurements offer an alternative. Based on a Von Neumann interaction, they characterize a quantum system directly and simply. The system is coupled to a pointer, and the measurement shifts that pointer by an amount directly proportional to the quantum state. For example, suppose you send a polarized photon with a Gaussian spatial mode through a thin birefringent crystal. The vertically polarized component is slightly shifted while the horizontally polarized one is left unaffected. Here the pointer is the photon's spatial mode, and its shift is directly proportional to the photon's polarization state, or wavefunction. Measuring the shift characterizes the quantum state directly, with no post-processing. But because the photon's spatial mode is elongated, this kind of measurement cannot be used in integrated optical networks, which limits its usefulness.
The goal of this project is to develop a new weak measurement scheme that uses time difference as the pointer, making it compatible with optical networks. The idea is to introduce a small time delay between the polarization components of a photon using interferometers. Because the measurement is encoded in time rather than in a spatial displacement, this approach is compatible with integrated optics. This would allow the development of an optical chip capable of characterizing quantum states, which could in turn be integrated into a quantum computer.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: Quantum technologies are moving from the lab toward real applications, from secure communication to sensing and computing. But these systems only work if we can measure them precisely, and quantum measurement is notoriously delicate: observing a quantum system tends to disturb it. My research develops new measurement and characterization techniques to extract more information from photonic quantum systems while limiting that disturbance. I focus on weak measurements and polarization-based methods that let us probe quantum states with high sensitivity. The aim is to give quantum technologies the reliable measurement tools they need to leave the laboratory.
Student roles: The students will be in charge of developing and building an experimental setup to reconstruct the quantum wavefunction of a polarized photon using weak measurements. More specifically, the students may have to :
1) Familiarize themselves with the concept of quantum weak measurements which is needed to perform the project thanks to the reading of a selection of scientific articles and regular discussions with the professor
2) Develop numerical simulations with Python (or Matlab) to test various experimental parameters to select the most suitable experimental configuration
3) Design an experimental setup, based on the numerical simulations results, to measure the wavefunction of polarized photons using attenuated laser to mimic single photons and an interferometer to perform the measurement.
4) Select the relevant components required to build the experimental setup among the equipment available in the laboratory
5) Build and test the experimental setup. The student will perform basic tests to confirm that the experimental setup behaves as expected
6) Acquire and analyse data using Python
7) Compare the experimental results with the theory.
8) (Possibly depending on the progress of the project) Write the first draft of the scientific article. The student will have the opportunity to learn about scientific writing and will be guided through the writing process.
According to the number of students working on the project and the preference of each student, it is possible to tailor the project to the preferences of each student i.e the project can be more theory and numerical simulation rather than experimental lab work for example.
Skills required: - A background in classical optics, with familiarity with concepts such as polarization and interference - A working knowledge of programming in Matlab or Python to carry out numerical simulations - An understanding of introductory quantum physics, including notions like the wavefunction - Some hands-on experience building or using an optical setup, in a lab course or a previous internship, would be an asset but is not required - Curiosity, rigour, and motivation to work at the interface of theory and experiment
41. Interferometry of Phononic Crystals based on Surface Acoustic Waves
The project will be to use a custom interferometer to study surface acoustic wave modes travelling through a phononic crystal. Surface acoustic waves are nano-earthquake on a chip that have wavelengths in the micron range and small surface displacements on the order of nanometers to picometers. However, they can be mapped and characterized with laser interferometric mapping, of which our group has expertise. Rather than plane waves, this project will study surface acoustic waves travelling through phononic crystals. Like photonic crystals, phononic crystals use etched holes in a surface arranged in periodic arrays to create resonant scattering centres. Given the size of the whole and the distance between holes, a bandgap is created with forbidden energy levels that do not permit the transmittance of waves through the crystal. As a result, waveguides can be created by placing an undisturbed surface between two semi-inifinte arrays of holes. This project will study (using optical interferometry) the transmittance of surface acoustic wave modes through phononic crystal waveguides in an effort to ultimately make acoustic circuits.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: Our research combines surface acoustic waves with semiconductor nanostructures to enable dynamically controlled structures. For basic measurements, our lab uses multiple types of radio frequency equipment to ensure the devices are operational. Advanced measurements can then be performed using optical interferometry to map the acoustic waves and optical spectroscopy to characterize the surface acoustic waves and their influence on the semiconductor structures. In addition, we are interested in phononic crystal structures based on surface acoustic waves to control the waves for applications in advanced sensors and telecommunication. Modelling of such devices is performed through our own custom finite-difference time-domain software.
Student roles: The student will be focussed on the optical measurements from the interferometric setup and characterizing the behaviour of the acoustic wave. Measurements will include spatial mapping as well as frequency and power dependence of the surface acoustic wave to characterize the surface acoustic wave and the phononic crystal waveguide. The student will be involved with setup of the optical components, equipment control, and analysis of the results. If need be, the student may be involved in the fabrication of new devices in the local nanofabrication facility and cleanroom. The student should come ready to learn the techniques to be involved during the experiment, and time and support will be available to help them. The student should attend meetings and discuss the outcomes of the work and the possible implications with other students and their projects. The student would be expected to work with the supervisor and other students in a respectful and team-like manner. The student should also ensure proper safety protocols whenever in the laboratory.
Skills required: The student should have a background in physics or engineering physics, and a classroom knowledge of optics is preferred. Hands-on experience in optics is not required, but it would be an asset. Basic programming structure and knowledge (such as Python, Labview) will be useful as the experiment requirements change and evolve. The student should be willing to learn new experimental techniques and laboratory procedures.
42. Investigating cell migration through constriction
Cell migration is fundamental to a wide range of physiological processes, including wound healing and immune response, as well as pathological processes such as cancer metastasis. A deeper understanding of how cells navigate complex microenvironments is essential for developing strategies to promote or suppress migration in clinical contexts. Central to this process is the actomyosin network, which undergoes dynamic remodelling as cells encounter mechanical constraints; yet, the biophysical mechanisms governing this remodelling remain largely unresolved. To address this critical gap, we will develop a novel microfluidic platform that integrates microfabricated constriction channels with real-time mechanical force measurement, enabling simultaneous observation of cytoskeletal dynamics and force generation. Using this platform, we will systematically characterize the dynamic fluctuations in the actomyosin network as cells migrate through precisely defined constrictions. Furthermore, we will leverage machine learning approaches to automate image acquisition and analysis, significantly increasing experimental throughput. Collectively, this project will yield fundamental new insights into the biophysical origins of actomyosin remodelling during confined migration, laying the groundwork for future therapeutic interventions targeting cell motility.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: Our lab aims to understand how cellular behavior emerges from the dynamics and structural organization of biomolecules. To achieve this, we use a combination of microfabricated cell mechanics devices and advanced optical microscopy techniques, such as lattice light sheet microscopy and single-molecule imaging. We also explore the role of machine learning in facilitating our research.
Student roles: The undergraduate student will be an integral member of the research team, contributing to both the experimental and computational aspects of this project. Under the supervision of the principal investigator and senior lab members, the student will assist in the fabrication of microfluidic devices using soft lithography and PDMS moulding techniques. The student will follow established protocols to ensure consistent and reproducible device quality across experimental runs. A central component of the student's role will involve conducting cell migration experiments using the microfluidic platform. This will include maintaining mammalian cell cultures following standard laboratory protocols, loading samples into microfluidic devices, operating fluorescence microscopes, and acquiring time-lapse images of migrating cells. The student will be expected to record and organize all experimental data in a systematic and well-documented manner. In addition to experimental work, the student will engage in computational tasks, including processing and analysing microscopy images using Python or MATLAB to extract quantitative information on cell behaviour and actomyosin dynamics. The student will also assist in developing and testing machine learning pipelines for automated image segmentation and analysis. Furthermore, the student will participate in regular lab meetings to discuss progress, troubleshoot challenges, and present findings, and will contribute to the preparation of figures, summaries, or reports that may support future publications or conference presentations. Throughout the project, the student will develop a strong foundation in experimental biophysics, microfabrication, and computational analysis — skills that are highly transferable to graduate studies or careers in research, engineering, and biotechnology.
Skills required: Ability to follow experimental protocols: The student should be detail-oriented and capable of learning and executing laboratory procedures accurately and safely, including cell culture, sample preparation, and device fabrication. Basic programming: Familiarity with at least one programming language (e.g., Python or MATLAB) for data analysis and visualization. Willingness to learn additional computational tools, including introductory machine learning, is expected. Strong work ethic and curiosity: A genuine interest in understanding how biological systems work at the physical level, and a willingness to engage with new concepts across biology, physics, and engineering.
Vacuum fluctuations allow for virtual photons to pop into and out of existence. Intense laser fields propagating in materials can make these virtual photons real, and in the right conditions can amplify the signal to create intense ultrashort pulses that are distinct from coherent laser light. These pulses are called bright squeezed vacuum, and form the basis for many novel quantum technologies.
We have been developing Kerr-based parametric amplification for generating intense ultrashort tunable laser pulses. We are interested in using our novel amplifier for generating bright squeezed vacuum sources, and using this light for quantum optics experiments.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: In the attosecond condensed matter experiments lab (ACMELab), we study light-matter interaction on the attosecond (10^-18 s) and femtosecond (10^-15 s) timescales. To this end, we use intense ultrafast lasers to excite and probe materials to measure their response. My background is in developing novel laser sources, nonlinear optics, and high harmonic generation, all which are aspects that we use for these experiments. To understand the physics, we model the systems and compare our experiments to our simulations. We then use this insight to develop new technologies and find new applications.
Student roles: During this project, the student will learn about quantum optics and sources of bright squeezed vacuum. They will need to understand the nonlinear optics processes involved to generate correlated photon pairs, and understand the quantum optics protocols for analysis.
Skills required: Background in programming in Python, Matlab, or C is required. The student will be developing code in one of these languages, although Python is preferred. Our current versions of our simulations are written in Python, as are our codes for instruments and data acquisition. Knowledge of Fourier transforms will be an asset because we use this function when simulating propagation and analyzing spectra.
This is project cosupervised by T. Barron and Sree Ram (S.R.) Valluri.
Due to the large data set size from auxiliary detection channels, and high frequency glitches, accurate identification of GW events is a challenge. This is more so for distant merger events having a low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). Glitches are non-Gaussian noise artifacts sometimes mistakenly identified as transient GW signals. There is a large spectrum of noise triggers, robust identification and glitch elimination will assist in identification/detection of real binary merger events.
Implementation of deep learning techniques, such as convolutional neural networks and various recurrent neural networks, will improve efficiency of filtering, classifying and analysing GW data. This would provide us with a better framework to isolate the GW merger events buried in noise and reduce the misclassification of events in a time-efficient way. This project has collaboration with GW Detection India/USA groups.
In addition to transient signals from binary merger events, continuous gravitational waves (CGWs) are hidden from massive ripples in space-time. Young pulsars generate gravitational waves via r-modes, analogous to Rossby waves in Earth’s oceans. A precise theoretical modelling of pulsar spin-down parameters including r-modes will contribute to a promising detection during the LIGO observing runs. Pulsar Timing Arrays of millisecond pulsars are also relevant in the detection and analysis of GW.
Building on these efforts, this project aims to further leverage advances in artificial intelligence to enhance the detection and characterization of gravitational-wave signals. Modern machine learning models can identify subtle patterns in large, noisy datasets that may be difficult to detect using conventional analysis techniques alone. By integrating AI-driven methods with established gravitational-wave search pipelines, this project seeks to improve signal extraction, reduce false alarms, and increase sensitivity to weak or distant astrophysical sources. Such developments have the potential to strengthen the overall detection capability
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: The supervisors' research areas are in the field of mathematical and theoretical physics. Dr. Valluri's doctoral thesis was on the Photoproduction of gravitational waves(GW). He has researched on the detection of GW for the past 20 years. He collaborates internationally on GW projects, and published articles in Physics Reports, Classical and Quantum Gravity, etc. He has trained senior undergraduates and graduate students on the study of GW forms. His former M.Sc. student, Marc Normandin, was on the LIGO team for the first 2015 detection of GW, and received the Special Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics from the Milner Global Foundation.
Student roles: The MITACS intern(s) will apply knowledge of statistics to the data mining process. They will learn the processes involved in developing a conceptual basis of Artificial Neural Networks, Support Vector Machines and Random Forest approaches, as well as the implementation of relevant software for these techniques. They will study the recent papers on the detection of gravitational waves (GW) from Black Hole (BH) mergers by LIGO as well as other relevant papers. With that background, the student will utilize and optimize methods in order to isolate noise from LIGO data sets, so that the efficiency and accuracy of GW detection can be improved. The student will learn to systematically extract relevant data from the different data bases of the GW Detection groups such as the LIGO , LIGO-India database, and to work effectively with different file formats and retrieve datasets. He/she will learn and develop relevant algorithms towards improvements of detection capability and analysis efficiency for LIGO. In addition, he/she will learn to communicate effectively with professors from other institutions, who are experts in relevant areas. The student will acquire valuable experience and connections by interacting with and assisting research colleagues. The student will obtain GW templates from GW Detection team scientists, and through comparison, conclude on the optimal machine learning algorithms. Soon LIGO and other GW Detection groups will also focus on the detection of GW from Pulsars and good data on the evolution of pulsar frequencies as well as their glitches is available from the Australian Telescope National Facility (ATNF ). The student may find it of substantial interest and value to do GW Data Mining on Pulsars. A study of Pulsar Timing will also be relevant in this investigation.
Skills required: The student should be strong in Statistics, Mathematical Methods, and Computer Science. Strong coding skills in C/C++, Python, and Matlab is required. Experience with parallel computing is desirable. Knowledge of machine learning algorithms is an asset. He/she should be enthusiastic about the exploration on the topic of gravitational waves. The student should have a little bit of background in physics and interest in astronomy and astrophysics and especially on Gravitational Waves. Prior experience on analyzing astrophysical data will be beneficial.
45. Loss of resilience across biological scales in aging mice
Aging erodes homeostasis. We model homeostasis as a multivariate, mean-reverting stochastic process: an interaction matrix W pulls biomarkers back toward equilibrium, and eigen-decomposing W yields independent natural variables, each with a recovery rate (its resilience). In recent work [Pridham & Rutenberg, Sci Rep 2023], fit to longitudinal mouse and human data, most natural variables sit near equilibrium, but a few slow ones chase a drifting equilibrium with age -- "mallostasis" -- and these carry the aging signal. That study used organism-level (functional) measures only.
The Kane lab now provides longitudinal mouse data at several biological scales: DNA methylation, metabolomics, and functional measures. This raises a genuinely new question. Are the least-stable modes -- the slow directions where decline concentrates -- confined within a single scale, or assembled from combinations across scales? Chronological age is the common axis against which every scale drifts.
The strategy is a two-level W. First, fit the model within each scale separately, extracting that scale's natural variables and recovery rates and identifying the slow modes that drift with age. Then fit a second, interscale coupling matrix on those per-scale natural variables; its slowest eigenmodes reveal whether the least-stable directions stay scale-local or emerge as cross-scale combinations. Few mice make this tight, so we lean on dimension reduction within scales, low-rank or symmetric structure, and bootstrap-over-mice for honest uncertainty.
There are three staged levels. First: reproduce the natural-variable and recovery-rate analysis within each scale (validated for mouse function in our 2023 paper). Second, the heart: couple the scales and test whether the least-stable mode is within-scale or built across scales. Third, a stretch: connect the dominant low-stability mode to outcomes -- survival, or response to an intervention such as NMN. Either result -- a cross-scale low-stability mode, or scale-local fragility -- is publishable.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: I am a theoretical physicist who studies biological and statistical physics. The systems I work on are typically non-equilibrium and stochastic, so numerical and computational techniques are needed to confront theory with data. One direction is organismal aging, which we treat as a dynamical system: we fit interaction networks to longitudinal biomarker data, then eigen-decompose them into independent natural variables, each with a recovery rate that measures resilience. A recurring theme is which modes are least stable -- the slow directions that drive age-related decline -- and whether they sit within one organismal scale or span several.
Student roles: Throughout the project the student joins weekly one-on-one meetings with me and weekly Rutenberg-group meetings -- chances to present results, and to ask and sharpen interesting questions.
The model and its fitting code are provided, so the student's effort goes where the scientific judgement is, not into software engineering. The student drives the science: preparing the multi-scale mouse data, fitting the model within each biological scale, extracting the natural variables and recovery rates, building the interscale coupling matrix, producing and refining the figures, and -- above all -- deciding what the numbers mean. Mouse multi-omic data is small, unevenly sampled, and shaped by survival effects, so careful, honest analysis matters as much as any single fit.
There are three staged levels of engagement. First: within each scale -- methylation, metabolomics, function -- fit the model and recover its natural variables, recovery rates, and the slow modes that drift with age, reproducing in these data the analysis we validated for mouse function. Second, the core: build a second W that couples the per-scale natural variables, and test whether the least-stable modes stay within a scale or are assembled across scales -- with bootstrap-over-mice keeping the small-sample claims honest. Third, if the data reach: connect the dominant low-stability mode to outcomes, such as survival or the response to an intervention like NMN.
Throughout, the student writes up their work in scientific form. This serves as a record and a spur to critical engagement, but also as the core of a peer-reviewed paper on which the student will be a co-author. Learning to find, read, and digest the related literature will support the whole undertaking.
Skills required: Bright, motivated students can fill gaps as they go, but strong Python and data-analysis instincts are essential. What matters most is comfort driving scientific code: running fits, extending a code base, and turning model output into understanding -- curve fitting, model comparison, and knowing when a fit is real. NumPy, pandas, and Matplotlib are expected; since the science lives in eigenvalues and eigenvectors, comfort with linear algebra helps. Exposure to statistics, regression, stochastic processes, dynamical systems, or statistical mechanics will deepen your enjoyment. Curiosity, independence, and reading the literature matter too. You need not build software from scratch.
46. Machine Learning-Accelerated Discovery of Novel Superconducting Materials
Supervisor: Yansun Yao
University: University of Saskatchewan (Saskatoon campus)
The discovery of advanced materials is crucial for Canada’s technological innovation and economic growth. Traditional methods of material discovery, involving iterative synthesis and testing, are time-consuming and often take years to yield new materials. However, the rapid advancement of computing techniques, particularly in the field of machine learning, now allows for accurate simulations to predict materials’ behaviors, which significantly accelerates the discovery process.
We aim to develop high-throughput machine-learning schemes for predicting new materials. Building on our expertise in high-pressure physics, we will focus on hydrogen-rich superconductors that can be synthesized under pressure. Superconductors are materials that conduct electricity without resistance below a certain critical temperature Tc (-135°C or lower). The requirement for low temperatures is a major bottleneck in the widespread application of superconductors. Recent experimental breakthroughs have demonstrated that certain binary hydrides can exhibit superconductivity near room temperature (-23°C) under extreme pressures. Therefore, our primary scientific goal is to find near-room-temperature superconductors that can operate at lower, or ideally atmospheric, pressures, thereby potentially revolutionizing the field of superconductivity.
Our research will explore the compositional space of complex hydrides and identify the most promising superconductors that are stable at low (near ambient) pressures and are feasible to synthesize. We will develop machine-learning models to expedite the prediction of new materials without relying on experimental input. Using our in-house software, which incorporates an evolutionary algorithm with machine learning potentials, we will predict the crystal structures of targeted materials. We will formulate a set of ‘descriptors’, i.e., the fingerprint representation of superconductors, to identify promising candidates from a large library of predicted structures using a machine-learning model. We will also develop machine-learning models to improve the function form of Tc commonly used for conventional superconductors.
This research is expected to lead to the ground-breaking discovery of hydride superconductors.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: Our group has become an influential contributor to the field of computational material discovery. Our goal is to advance the understanding of the fundamental principles governing the nature of matter and to pioneer the rational design of new materials. Using supercomputers, we begin by identifying desired properties and then predict the most suitable materials to achieve them. We also design the optimal synthesis routes and collaborate with experimentalists to bring these materials into reality. To achieve our objectives, we have developed new theoretical methods and computational tools, including artificial intelligence, to accelerate the discovery of new materials and their properties.
Student roles: The student will explore state-of-the-art machine learning methods for material discovery, focusing on recent review articles authored by our group. They will also become familiar with developing machine learning interatomic potentials for efficient crystal structure prediction, including moment tensor and neural network potentials.
Based on our previous experience, the student will create machine learning potentials suitable for fast crystal structure prediction. This will involve using bispectrum coefficient descriptors and iterative neural network fits and implementing these methods in the LAMMPS software package. The student will be able to combine these models with empirical approaches and experiment with various machine-learning techniques, such as moment tensor and symbolic regression. Additionally, the student will integrate these potentials with our in-house metadynamics and evolutionary algorithm packages for dynamic and static predictions of hydride superconductor crystal structures.
The student will curate a dataset of known hydride properties (energy, forces, and virial stress) obtained from density functional theory (DFT) calculations using VASP software. This dataset will be iteratively enhanced by incorporating newly predicted ternary hydrides. The student will retrain the machine learning potentials over several iterations, minimizing the cost function to better match the DFT data.
Our goal is to develop an automated process for building potentials and exploring the compositional space of ternary and higher-order hydrides. A significant challenge will be managing the rapid accumulation of data from automated structure screenings while ensuring sufficient data parallelism. The student will initially validate the models on a limited set of known ternary hydrides before expanding the search to identify novel ternary hydrides that are superconducting and thermodynamically stable at low pressures.
Upon completion, the student will compile their findings into a comprehensive report. The results of this research are anticipated to be published in a well-recognized scientific journal.
Skills required: The main skill/background required for the student will be to have a basic working knowledge of solid-state physics/material science that would typically be acquired in undergraduate courses. This would include understanding the basic ideas for crystal structures, including familiarity with real space and reciprocal space descriptions of periodic solids. The student should also have experience with basic computer code writing. Experience writing in Python or Fortran is desirable.
The objective of this project is to implement a novel platform capable of generating and measuring correlated photons. The summer project will involve the use of a ultrafast laser system to generate entangled Stokes-anti-Stokes photon pairs (SaS). Normal Raman processes yield scattered photons with energy that is either lower or higher than the excitation laser photon; those processes are called Stokes and anti-Stokes scattering, respectively. However, in the conditions of high fields, there is a probability for two incident photons to simultaneously generate an entangled SaS. The goal is for the students to investigate the formation of these entangled photon pairs.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: The research area is in nanotechnology and the application of laser spectroscopic methods to understand the behaviour of nanomaterials.
Student roles: The student will help with the experimental setup, measurements and data analysis.
Skills required: Good experimental skills in either optics and spectroscopy. Student should be able to code and to use specialized programs for data analysis.
48. Mechanistic modelling of dislocation kinetics in phase-field crystal systems
The proposed project builds on prior work using the phase-field crystal (PFC) model to study dislocation behaviour in crystalline materials. While previous efforts have demonstrated the ability of PFC frameworks to reproduce qualitative dislocation motion and defect interactions, a key remaining challenge is the development of predictive and mechanistic understanding of dislocation nucleation, migration pathways, and collective dynamics under varying thermomechanical conditions.
This project will advance beyond qualitative mapping by developing a systematic framework to quantify dislocation kinetics in both two- and three-dimensional crystalline lattices. We will begin with controlled 2D simulations to identify and classify fundamental dislocation mechanisms, followed by extension to 3D systems where additional complexity such as line curvature, junction formation, and cross-slip become relevant.
A key objective is to extract quantitative descriptors of dislocation motion, including velocity laws, interaction rules, and stress-dependent mobility. These outputs will be used to construct mechanistic “phase diagrams” of defect behaviour as a function of temperature, strain rate, and external loading conditions. The project will also explore improved numerical implementations of the PFC model to enhance stability and computational efficiency in large-scale simulations.
Simulations will be performed under systematically varied mechanical loading and thermal conditions to capture regime transitions in defect behaviour. The resulting datasets will be analysed using advanced visualization and statistical tools to identify underlying structure–property relationships governing plastic deformation at the microscale.
Overall, this work moves beyond qualitative visualization of defects toward a predictive framework for dislocation kinetics in crystalline materials. The outcomes will provide deeper physical insight into defect-mediated deformation and support the development of more accurate mesoscale models for materials design in structural and energy applications.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: My research focuses on phase-field and phase-field crystal (PFC) modelling to study microstructure evolution in crystalline materials. I develop multiscale computational frameworks that connect defect-level physics—such as dislocations, grain boundaries, and elastic interactions—to mesoscale structure evolution during solidification and phase transformation. Using high-performance computing, my work advances predictive modelling of materials behaviour under thermal and mechanical loading. Recent efforts have enabled improved representation of defect-mediated deformation mechanisms in crystalline systems, providing a pathway toward quantitatively reliable simulations of materials performance in technologically relevant environments such as nuclear and advanced manufacturing applications.
Student roles: The student will contribute across all stages of the research workflow, beginning with a focused literature review on phase-field crystal modelling and dislocation dynamics in crystalline materials. This will establish the physical and computational context for the project and guide implementation choices.
The student will then implement and extend an existing PFC simulation framework, starting with two-dimensional lattice systems to reproduce known dislocation behaviours. Once validated, the student will assist in extending the model to three-dimensional simulations, incorporating additional defect mechanisms such as dislocation line curvature, junction formation, and interaction effects.
A significant component of the work will involve designing and running systematic simulation campaigns under varying mechanical and thermal conditions. The student will collect and organize large-scale datasets describing dislocation evolution and will develop tools for visualization and quantitative analysis of defect trajectories and interactions.
The student will also participate in interpreting results, identifying trends in dislocation mobility and interaction rules, and relating these findings to underlying physical mechanisms. This includes contributing to discussions on model refinement and potential extensions to improve predictive capability.
Finally, the student will communicate research findings through regular progress updates, presentations within the research group, and a final report summarizing key results and insights. This role is designed to provide full exposure to computational materials research, from model development through to scientific interpretation and communication.
Skills required: The ideal student will have background knowledge in solid-state physics and materials science, including crystallography, defects, and mechanical behaviour of crystalline materials. Experience with scientific programming (Python or C++) and numerical methods is highly beneficial, particularly for implementing or modifying simulation codes. Familiarity with computational modelling approaches such as phase-field methods is an asset but not required. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills are essential for interpreting simulation results and identifying physical trends. The student will receive mentorship and training in phase-field crystal modelling, high-performance computing workflows, and data analysis techniques throughout the project.
49. Membraneless condensates of DNA and topoisomerase II
Supervisor: Maria Kilfoil
University: University of Prince Edward Island (Charlottetown campus)
One way for biological organisms to achieve spatiotemporal control is to regulate the localization of reaction components - concentrating components together can increase reaction kinetics, whereas segregating them apart can slow or inhibit reactions. In addition to canonical membrane-bound organelles, eukaryotic cells contain numerous membraneless compartments, or biomolecular condensates, that concentrate specific collections of proteins and nucleic acids. Many of these compartments form through liquid-liquid phase separation, and the principles, mechanisms and regulation of their assembly as well as their cellular functions are now starting to emerge. In this research project, bimolecular condensates that form under living in living cells and can be recreated "in vitro" (in a microscope slide chamber, for study by fluorescence microscopy), will be formed by preparing the model system involving topoisomerase II enzyme, which carries out dsDNA strand passage, together with linear DNA, ATP as an energy source, and salts to control the ionic and pH at physiological conditions. These will be used to study the dynamics of the condensed regions, in the context of our physical understanding of liquid-liquid phase transitions, an equilibrium physics concept which will be studied in this system that will be slightly out of equilibrium by virtue of the energy source and the energy consuming enzyme. In a sense, this system comprises a minimal active matter system. The morphology and dynamics of the condensed regions will be studied in detail by acquiring time-lapse fluorescence images and using custom image analysis methods developed in my lab. Moreover, the vitality/activity of the enzyme in the condensed versus background regions will be studied by combining optical tweezers measurements of
particle response in the regions, with quantification of beads' apparently random motions. These microscopic rheology measurements will be carried out using this custom but accessible equipment and custom analysis methods developed in my lab.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: My specialized research area is Biological Physics and soft condensed matter physics, which sit at the interface between physics (my primary discipline), biology, chemistry, and mechanical engineering. I have developed specialized methods to study the mechanical properties of soft materials and the mechanics of biological cells, using microscopic deformation techniques, combining light microscopy, fluorescence and confocal microscopy and time-lapse 2D and 3D imaging; custom-built optical tweezers and a microfluidic platform; and custom software to control the hardware. I have developed extensive suites of image analysis, particle tracking, and microrheology algorithms for analyzing data which are shared with my scientific community.
Student roles: The student will be engaged carrying out quantitative microscopy on an already-developed experimental system based on a 3D network of DNA in the presence of the DNA decatenating enzyme, topoisomerase II. The student will learn sample preparation protocols for biological physics materials (working with DNA and enzymes); in some samples, microscopic latex particles will also be distributed in the samples. The student will become familiar with optical tweezers hardware and software, and with data analysis algorithms; learn to present analyzed data in figures and be engaged in critical analysis of results; be engaged in discussions, and present results at the end of the internship period to a group of peer students.
Quantitative microscopy is not simply about collecting images. There is an entire workflow that connects image acquisition, visualization, computation and biological interpretation. The student will gain a rich experience. The student will use the microscope with fluorescence illumination and camera acquisition to acquire time-lapse images suitable and appropriate for quantitive analysis. Working with (acquiring, and capturing) experimental time-lapse image datasets will give the intern exposure to the kinds of data generated in real biological imaging experiments. The student will use a Python environment and custom particle-tracking algorithms developed by me to analyze the light microscopy data acquired on diffusing particles in the condensed regions and in the intervening spaces, and to analyze the fluctuating motions that will be derived from the images. The student will also use custom scripts that will be developed to analyze the dynamics of the entire condensed regions themselves. By examining trajectories obtained from tracking particles in Python, students will obtain the expertise of quantitative microscopy to understand how biological motion can be represented mathematically in the context of physical models. The student will help expand out current Biological Physics understanding of the cell's mechanics.
Skills required: The student should have sufficient background in physics and chemistry to understand concepts such as phase separation, be comfortable with at least 2nd-year level physics courses, especially mechanics, and have a working knowledge of basic numerical computing in, ideally, MATLAB or Python. Ideally the student will have a working knowledge also of pipetting (though this can easily be taught in the first week) and of use of a microscope, and some optics knowledge. Most importantly, the student must have an adventurous mind, and curiosity about how physical principles can be used to investigate and explain biological behaviour.
50. Moire effects in 2D quantum materials
Supervisor: Ziliang Ye
University: University of British Columbia (Vancouver campus)
The monolayer transition metal dichalcogenide (TMD) is a 2D semiconductor exhibiting many interesting optical properties such as direct bandgap at Brillouin zone corners, optically accessible valley degree of freedom, and strong excitonic effect. Recently, these new properties are found to be tunable by making twisted homo- and hetero-structures with other 2D quantum materials, where electronic and optical properties can be altered on the nanometer scale by forming so-called moire superlattices. A range of fascinating new physical phenomena including correlated insulating behavior and unconventional superconductivity have been observed in such structures. This summer, we would like to invite students interested in experiencing experimental condensed matter research to join us to study the emerging property of the moire superlattice formed by twisted 2D materials. The intern will have the opportunity to learn hands-on skills of making high-quality heterostructures as well as advanced optical spectroscopy and data analysis techniques.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: We are specialized in developing and applying advanced optical spectroscopy and imaging techniques to low-dimensional quantum materials. Our current focus is on exploring emerging optical properties in 2D van der Waals materials such as graphene, transition metal dichalcogenides, and their homo- and hetero-structures.
Student roles: The intern student will learn from scratch on how to prepare few-layer van der Waals materials and to fabricate their homo- and hetero-structures. The student will also learn to use state-of-the-art characterization tools for 2D materials such as atomic force microscopy, reflection contrast spectroscopy, Raman and photoluminescence spectroscopy, and nonlinear optical spectroscopy. The intern will be advised to lead some basic instrumentation projects for developing customized experimental apparatuses for studying 2D materials and to assist other group members' ongoing projects at the same time.
Skills required: quantum physics, solid state physics, general lab skills, basic programming skills. optics or 2D material knowledge is preferred but not required.
51. Multifunctional Photothermal Superhydrophobic Coatings for Anti-Icing and Self-Cleaning Applications
Ice formation is a common phenomenon in cold-climate regions and can cause severe damage to infrastructure such as power lines, aerospace equipment, wind turbines, and other critical systems. These effects lead to substantial economic losses worldwide and may also pose risks to human safety. Therefore, the development of novel technologies to prevent infrastructure from freezing at low temperatures is highly desirable. The fabrication of (super)hydrophobic surfaces can not only reduce the rate of ice formation but also serve as multifunctional coatings by mitigating corrosion and enhancing self-cleaning performance through effective water droplet repellency.
Incorporating photothermal materials into the coatings can further enhance functionality by converting incident light into heat, thereby enabling de-icing behavior. In this project, we aim to rationally design and fabricate (super)hydrophobic coatings and precisely control surface characteristics using physical and (electro)chemical deposition techniques to develop low-surface-energy coatings integrated with photothermal materials.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: My research program leverages both (electro)chemical and physical vapor deposition (PVD) techniques to develop degradation-resistant coatings and functional thin films, systematically investigate structure–property relationships, and translate these insights into energy, environmental, and engineering applications. The overall goal is to design high-performance materials capable of withstanding harsh and demanding operational conditions while maintaining long-term functionality and efficiency. Our work spans functional materials for corrosion protection, degradation-resistant (photo)electrocatalysts for hydrogen production, durable materials for hydrogen storage and transport, and advanced anti-icing and self-cleaning surfaces.
Student roles: The project involves thin-film depositions using electrochemical and/or physical methods. This is followed by surface functionalization and patterning. Performance is then evaluated using several techniques. Wettability is assessed through water contact angle and sliding angle measurements. Optical properties are characterized using UV-Vis spectroscopy. Photothermal response is evaluated using infrared thermal imaging. For metallic surfaces, corrosion performance is studied using electrochemical methods. These include potentiodynamic polarization tests, open-circuit potential (OCP) measurements, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS).
Skills required: Students with backgrounds in physics, chemistry, chemical or materials engineering are encouraged to apply. Ideal candidates should have a solid understanding of surface science, nanofabrication, and corrosion mechanisms. Familiarity with materials characterization techniques such as SEM, XRD, and XPS, as well as electrochemical testing methods including potentiodynamic polarization, open-circuit potential (OCP), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), will be considered an asset.
The subject of this project is studying displacement flows of viscoplastic fluids in geometry that is in motion. Viscoplastic fluids are non-Newtonian fluids. The main feature of a viscoplastic fluid is that the fluid does not really deform until a critical shear stress is exceeded locally. Therefore, these gelled or soft-solid materials are seen to be hard-to-remove especially when they are in restricted geometry with a lot of boundaries. However, there are many industrial processes where we do need to deal with the removal of viscoplastic materials. One of the main of these applications is in the petroleum industry, e.g., in the primary cementing process (PCP) in which viscoplastic drilling mud must be completely removed by cement to provide zonal isolation. Certain geometrical movements (e.g., pipe reciprocation) are being used to enhance this process, without proper justification or guidance from laboratory research. The proposed research involves studying particular geometrical motions that facilitate the removal of viscoplastic fluids by another fluid, which is highly relevant to PCP, and has high impact in the field of energy and environment.
The goal in this new research direction is to employ certain slow movements of flow geometry to remove a viscoplastic fluid by another fluid. The research conducted by the student will deliver how this removal may become possible. In particular, she will investigate the effects of two movements of the geometry on the fluid flow during the displacement flow process:
• Slow reciprocation of a pipe geometry along the direction of the flow.
• Slow oscillation of a pipe geometry around its longitudinal axis.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: At the Laboratory of Complex Fluids Research (LCFR), our primary interest is complex fluid dynamics research to solve problems of industrial relevance, by adopting experimental, analytical and computational techniques, together providing a deeper understanding. Areas in which we will look for new research challenges include but are not limited to fluid mechanics, multiphase flows, non-Newtonian flows, suspension flows, polymer flows, micro, nano and bio-fluidics, and interdisciplinary fluid dynamics applications. The students will receive world-class training in fluid mechanics and perform exciting experiment, while working with a strong research team in a collaborative environment.
Student roles: In our laboratory, the students will be part of large, motivated team to perform exciting experiments. The students will be responsible to design experimental setups, perform careful experiments, analyze data, write post-processing codes, and write reports. The student will receive training in fluid mechanics, rheology, experiments, etc. The student will be working with graduate students and postdoctoral fellows on a day-to-day basis.
Skills required: * The student must be familiar with fluid mechanics and understand its concepts. * The student must be also willing to perform laboratory experiments.
* The student needs to have a high GPA.
* The student needs to be hard-working person.
* The student needs to be passionate about research.
53. Novel Neutral Kaon Identification Methods with 5D Calorimetry at the Belle II Experiment
Supervisor: Savino Longo
University: University of Manitoba (Winnipeg campus)
Located at the SuperKEKB electron-positron collider in Japan, the Belle II experiment is a next generation B-Factory conducting searches for beyond the Standard Model physics. The detection of the subatomic long-lived neutral kaon particle (K0L) is essential for numerous measurements to be completed at Belle II, including measurement of the time-dependent matter-antimatter asymmetry of the decay B -> J/psi K0L, which provides a key input to testing the unitarity of the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa quark mixing matrix.
K0L detection is challenging due to the significant photon backgrounds present and the limited accuracy of the simulation of K0L material interactions. This project will study Belle II data and simulation samples to evaluate the performance of K0L detection with the Belle II CsI(Tl) crystal calorimeter. Using the five-dimensions of calorimeter information available, including energy, 2D position, timing, and pulse-shape, the data-to-simulation agreement will be measured and techniques to improve the identification of K0L particles will be explored. The Belle II collaboration consists of over 120 institutes from across the globe. This project provides an excellent opportunity for students to participate in internationally collaborative research.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: I conduct searches for new fundamental particles and interactions in the high energy particle collisions recorded by the international Belle II experiment located at the SuperKEKB electron-positron collider in Japan. My group focuses on Dark Sector searches at Belle II as well as developing innovative algorithms to improve photon and neutral hadron reconstruction. We additionally investigate novel particle detector technologies for future particle physics experiments such as the TUCAN Experiment and the MOLLER Experiment.
Student roles: The student will collaborate with Belle II graduate and undergraduate students and gain experience performing advanced data-analysis techniques with large datasets while also developing working knowledge of particle physics detectors. The student will develop code to select a control sample of neutral kaons from Belle II data and simulation. This student will identify key calorimeter observables for neutral kaon vs. photon identification and evaluate their data to simulation agreement. The student will perform internationally collaborative research with the Belle II experiment and present their work regularly at local group meetings as well as in Belle II analysis-team meetings. The student will also write a report documenting the results of the study.
Skills required: - Interest in experimental particle/nuclear physics, data-analysis, and Machine Learning - Experience programming and performing data analysis with Python (Pandas, Numpy, Scipy).
54. Novel Scintillator Readout Configurations for Particle Physics Calorimetry
Supervisor: Savino Longo
University: University of Manitoba (Winnipeg campus)
Electromagnetic calorimeters constructed from scintillator crystals are frequently applied at particle physics experiments for high energy photon detection. Crystal calorimeters are well-established to achieve excellent photon energy resolution, however, they are limited in their ability to localize the longitudinal location of the particle interactions within a crystal volume. Extending the calorimeter observables to include this information could lead to significant improvements to areas of calorimetry such as precise directional information for photons and photon vs. neutral hadron identification. In this project, the student will aid in laboratory and simulation investigations of CsI(Tl), pure CsI and PbWO scintillator detectors instrumented with dual-ended readout. The objective will be two evaluate the impact of dual-ended readout on the energy, timing, and longitudinal position resolution of the detectors and compare the experimental results to GEANT4 Monte Carlo simulation predictions. The student will also contribute to simulation studies to predict the impact of dual-ended readout on calorimeter performance for future experiments including upgraded Belle II and the Electron Ion Collider.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: I conduct searches for new fundamental particles and interactions in the high energy particle collisions recorded by the international Belle II experiment located at the SuperKEKB electron-positron collider in Japan. My group focuses on Dark Sector searches at Belle II as well as developing innovative algorithms to improve photon and neutral hadron reconstruction. We additionally investigate novel scintillator detector technologies to extend the capabilities of electromagnetic calorimeters at future particle physics experiments such as upgraded Belle II and the Electron Ion Collider.
Student roles: The student will work with a graduate student to acquire cosmic muon data locally at the University of Manitoba with CsI(Tl), pure CsI and PbWO scintillator detectors instrumented with dual-ended readout. The student will analyze the laboratory data to measure the energy, timing and longitudinal position resolution of detectors with and without dual-ended readout. The results from the three different crystals will be compared to evaluate the impact of scintillator light yield and decay time on the performance gain from dual-ended readout. The experimental measurements will be compared to GEANT4 simulations incorporating realistic scintillation effects. The student will work with graduate students to use GEANT4 simulations to make predictions for the impact of dual-ended readout on the calorimeter performance of future experiments such as upgraded Belle II and the Electron Ion Collider. The student will present their work regularly at local group meetings as well as have the opportunity to present at Belle II and Electron Ion Collider calorimeter R&D meetings. The student will also prepare a report to document the results of the study.
Skills required: - Interest in experimental subatomic physics and data-analysis. - Experience programming with C++. - Experience programming and performing data analysis with Python (Pandas, Numpy, Scipy). - Laboratory experience working with scintillator detectors will be considered an asset.
The theory of relativity stipulates that the maximum speed of propagation of any signal is c, the speed of light in vacuum. Yet, there have been many attempts to construct theoretical models in which signal propagation can exceed this speed. One common requirement in these models is that the systems under question must be quantum in nature. We will examine these models, the criticisms thereof, and potential ways of addressing those concerns to construct a viable model for superluminal signal propagation. We will study potential ways of testing this proposal and its its implications.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: I am a theoretical physicist working on cosmology, general relativity, and the foundations of quantum mechanics. In cosmology, I focus on three major open problems: dark matter, dark energy, and the resolution of the initial singularity. My research in classical and quantum general relativity involves exploring modifications to Einstein’s theory that are consistent with current observations and can resolve the singularity at r=0. I also investigate potential low-energy signatures of quantum gravity, aiming to bridge the gap between theory and experiment.
Student roles: The student will begin by reviewing the fundamentals of relativity and why superluminal signals are classically forbidden. They will then explore literature suggesting that quantum mechanics—through the rapid spread of wave packets—might enable superluminal signal transmission, and investigate how this could be tested experimentally.
We will meet approximately twice a week to review progress and assign new tasks. Toward the end of the project, the student will present their findings to the group. Through this project, the student will gain valuable research experience, which may be beneficial for future graduate studies.
Skills required: The student should have a background in quantum mechanics. Knowledge of general relativity and computational techniques (e.g., using scientific software) is optional but would be an asset.
56. Optimization of Vibro-Compaction for Improved Green Anode Density for Aluminum Production: A fluid mechanics analysis
Supervisor: Seyed Mohammad Taghavi
University: Université Laval (Québec campus)
Location: Quebec, Québec
Start date: 2027-05-10 (flexible)
Disciplines: Physics, Engg-Chemical, Engg-Civil, Engg-Mechanical, Engg-Petroleum, Engineering, Engg-Materials, Engg-Geological, Engg-Metallurgical, Engg-Electrical, Engg-Environmental, Engg-Fuel, Engg-Industrial, Engg-Manufacturing, Engg-Mineral, Engg-Mining, Engg-Aeronautical, Engg-Biological, Engg-Biomedical, Engg-Ceramic, Engg-Computer, Engg-Software, Engg-Systems and Technology, English Literature
Canada is home to many premier aluminum smelters, including leading companies such as Alcoa, Rio Tinto Alcan, and Alouette, which rank among the largest of their kind globally. Despite the significance of aluminum production to the region, it is a complex process that incurs substantial energy consumption and environmental consequences. To mitigate these challenges, we will embark on an extensive study aimed at examining the effect of vibro-compaction on the density of green anodes used in aluminum production. Green anodes are typically fabricated by compacting anode paste in a mold through vibro-compaction. Nonetheless, this method remains only partially understood and is known to generate density gradients within the anodes that compromise cell performance. Previous research in this area is limited by several factors, including the lack of clarity in physical parameters and limited applicability to a range of anode paste recipes. Our study seeks to address these shortcomings by characterizing the mechanical behavior of anode paste during vibro-compaction at high frequencies (e.g., 25 Hz) in a laboratory-scaled setting. We will study the process from a fluid mechanics perspective. To achieve our goal, we will employ a suite of advanced techniques including ultra-high-speed and laser imaging, tomographic particle image velocimetry (PIV), Ultrasound Doppler velocimetry (UDV), and laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) to analyze the anode-forming process. These techniques will enable us to generate more uniform density distributions within green anodes and provide insights into the impact of anode geometry and recipe on the mechanical behavior of anode paste during vibro-compaction. Ultimately, the findings of this study will be used to optimize the process and reduce the environmental impact of aluminum production in Quebec.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: At the Laboratory of Complex Fluids Research (LCFR), our primary interest is complex fluid dynamics research to solve problems of industrial relevance, by adopting experimental, analytical and computational techniques, together providing a deeper understanding. Areas in which we will look for new research challenges include but are not limited to fluid mechanics, multiphase flows, non-Newtonian flows, suspension flows, polymer flows, micro, nano and bio-fluidics, and interdisciplinary fluid dynamics applications. The students will receive world-class training in fluid mechanics and perform exciting experiment, while working with a strong research team in a collaborative environment.
Student roles: In our laboratory, the students will be part of large, motivated team to perform exciting experiments. The students will be responsible to design experimental setups, perform careful experiments, analyze data, write post-processing codes, and write reports. The student will receive training in fluid mechanics, rheology, experiments, etc. The student will be working with graduate students and postdoctoral fellows on a day-to-day basis.
Skills required: * The student must be familiar with fluid mechanics and understand its concepts. * The student must be also willing to perform laboratory experiments.
* The student needs to have a high GPA.
* The student needs to be hard-working person.
* The student needs to be passionate about research.
57. Orbital susceptibility and quantum geometry in graphene multilayers
Graphene multilayers are a fascinating two-dimensional material platform, ideally suited to explore the interplay of electronic interactions and the quantum geometry of wavefunctions. In this project we will use analytical and numerical (self-consistent Hartree-Fock) techniques to explore the orbital magnetism and orbital susceptibility of different symmetry-broken phases in graphene multilayers, focusing on the connection with quantum geometric properties of their low-energy bands. One of our goals will be to provide predictions for magnetometry experiments on these systems (utilizing either nanoSQUID or GMR sensors).
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: Theory of quantum matter: superconductivity, symmetry-breaking and collective modes, topological phases and quantum geometry.
Student roles: Perform theoretical research in view of advancing the research project. This includes reading the relevant literature; performing analytical and numerical calculations; attending group meetings, scientific & networking events as required; prepare a final report and presentation detailing the progress achieved.
Skills required: Familiarity with quantum mechanics and statistical mechanics at the advanced undergraduate level. Some experience with scientific programming (we work in Python, but experience in other languages is helpful as well). Knowledge of basics of condensed matter theory is a plus.
58. Organic-based devices for electronics, thermoelectrics and spintronics
Emerging interest in the use of conjugated polymers for
- thermoelectric applications has led to greater focus on innovative material design and precise control of electrical doping to surpass the performance of inorganic materials and offer a thermoelectric solution with lower manufacturing costs and difficulties.
or
- magnetosensing applications: this will imply studying how heavy charge carriers in polymers (polarons) can carry spin and react to external magnetic fields.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: Prof. Orgiu's research group seeks to understand new electronic and optical phenomena occurring in molecular solids such as organic (semi-)conductors or 2D materials such as graphene and transition metal dichalcogenides. Professor Orgiu's research program is unique in that it uses supramolecular approaches with materials such as graphene and transition metal dichalcogenides to test new physical scenarios arising from the combination of molecules and 2D materials.
In the framework of this internship, the focus will be on the discovery of novel properties of organic polymers/small molecules for applications in thermoelectrics, magnetosensing and electronics.
Student roles: The intern's main task will be to fabricate and study films of a radical polymer doped with small molecules. The project proposed here lies at the crossroads of materials science and nano-fabrication. It offers the opportunity to learn several techniques: - Doping of (semi)conductors - Thin-film manufacturing - Photolithography (cleanroom) - Characterization of thin films (optical microscopy, atomic force microscopy) - Electrical characterization of field-effect transistors (Figure 1) o Under ambient conditions o Under nitrogen atmosphere o Under vacuum o At low temperatures down to 5K - Manufacture and characterization of thermoelectric devices
Skills required: A background in Physics or Electrical/Physical Engineering, or in a related discipline providing sufficient background in solid state/semiconductor physics, is required. Physical chemists and material scientists are very welcome as well! Past experience with nanofabrication, low-temperature physics, low-noise electronic measurements, thermal transport measurements are a plus. The candidate must be fluent in both written and spoken English. Spoken and written French are also highly appreciated (but not mandatory for the position).
When an intense laser pulse impinges on a material, the electronic response creates new frequency components. In the extreme case of strong-field ultrafast pulses, these frequency components span from the infrared (IR) to beyond the vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) in a process called high harmonic generation (HHG). Although HHG has been well explored in the gas phase, condensed matter HHG has garnered much interest within the past decade due to technological applications such as atomically thin materials (monolayer materials such as graphene and MoS2, twisted bilayer materials, etc), the possibility of nanofabrication and material engineering, and petahertz optical switching. We propose to study HHG in condensed matter systems and atomically thin materials to study the interplay of bands with these ultrafast driving fields to understand the electronic response.
This research project aims to develop quantum simulations to study high harmonic generation in technologically-relevant materials. The student is to understand how various parameters affect the high harmonic spectrum, and to predict experimental outcomes based on the developed models.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: In the attosecond condensed matter experiments lab (ACMELab), we study light-matter interaction on the attosecond (10^-18 s) and femtosecond (10^-15 s) timescales. To this end, we use intense ultrafast lasers to excite and probe materials to measure their response. My background is in developing novel laser sources, nonlinear optics, and high harmonic generation, all which are aspects that we use for these experiments. To understand the physics, we model the systems and compare our experiments to our simulations. We then use this insight to develop new technologies and find new applications.
Student roles: The student will begin by understanding existing code that models the interaction of strong laser fields with simple 1-dimensional periodic systems. The student will then modify this code to simulate 2-D systems to understand effects of polarization and two-colour measurements and how that affects the electronic states and electron trajectories. Finally, the student will input the states for well-known atomically thin systems to generate high harmonics in these experimentally realizable systems. To develop these codes, the student will be working with the supervisor and graduate students working on complementary projects studying the evolution of quantum systems. The student may also have opportunities to work with experimentalists by automating data acquisition and instrumentation.
Skills required: Background in programming in Python, Matlab, or C is required. The student will be developing code in one of these languages, although Python is preferred. Our current versions of our simulations are written in Python, as are our codes for instruments and data acquisition. Knowledge of Fourier transforms will be an asset because we use this function when simulating propagation and analyzing spectra.
60. Pattern formation in the geometric model of coiling
Supervisor: Behrooz Yousefzadeh
University: Concordia University (Montréal campus)
When a viscous fluid falls onto a surface, it coils – think of honey falling onto toast. If the surface starts moving (replace the toast with a belt), then different patterns are formed on the belt. An unconventional approach to additive manufacturing takes advantage of this coiling phenomenon. To enable this manufacturing technique, it is necessary to understand the underlying mechanism of pattern formation in falling viscous liquids.
When the height of the fall is low enough that inertial effects can be neglected, the patterns can be described by the geometry and elasticity of the thread at the contact point. A system of three ordinary differential equations, the geometric model, can describe the basic coiling patterns. A recent set of experiments has pointed out some discrepancies between the patterns predicted by the geometric model and those observed experimentally. These deviations hint at unaccounted dynamics that merit further theoretical investigation. Specifically, a detailed analysis of the mechanisms for transition between patterns remains to be performed. This analysis will establish a full understanding of the morphology of the patterns, as well as a more complete prediction, and ultimately control, over the coiling behavior.
The goal of this project is to investigate some numerical aspects of the geometric model of coiling. This will help better understand the bifurcation structure of coiling and the transition between co-existing patterns.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: I specialize in understanding the dynamic behavior of nonlinear structures and systems. Nonlinear phenomena can be difficult to predict and analyze, but they often bring fascinating surprises with them. Examples include formation of waves that do not change their shape as they propagate, localization of energy within a structure, and pattern formation in mechanical systems. This specific project falls under the area of pattern formation. I use a combination of experimental, numerical and analytical approaches in my research projects.
Student roles: The student will join the existing team working on coiling of viscous threads. The proposed project is heavily based on mathematical analysis of the geometric model of coiling. There could be room to get involved in other aspects of the project in collaboration with other team members.
Skills required: Strong background in ordinary differential equations, including their numerical analysis, is absolutely necessary. Familiarity with concepts of nonlinear dynamics (bifurcations, basins of attraction, multistability) will be very helpful. A curious mind is indispensable for this project.
Chalcogenide alloys such as Ge:Sb:Te (GST) have properties that are widely compositionally controllable, which moreover can be switched in non-volatile fashion by external (optical or electronic) stimuli between physical states with markedly different refractive indices, conductivities, etc. Such materials underpin optical data storage technologies (i.e. rewritable DVDs and Blurays), and have played a significant recent role in nanophotonics in particular silicon photonics and photonic metamaterials research as ‘active media’, delivering a variety of tuneable, reconfigurable, and nonlinear optical functionalities based typically upon the change in refractive index between amorphous and crystalline states. They have much more to give. Therefore, this project will focus on 1) the realization of novel chalcogenide-based all-optical switching and memory devices, including nano-mechanically bistable metasurfaces, which harnesses the density change that accompanies structural phase transitions to initiate nanoscale movement within and among metamaterial unit cells fabricated on elastic nanoscale membranes. 2) The demonstration of ‘random access’ phase-change metasurfaces, in which individual or small clusters of unit cell elements within a large array can be selectively switched on-demand.
Activities will include computational modelling of the optical properties of phase-change reconfigurable nanostructured metamaterials based upon thin GST films, and the fabrication and characterization of test structures leading to the demonstration of a non-volatile pixelated switchable metasurface for future display and sensing applications.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: At the Nanoscale Optics Lab, we develop the next generation of technologies that will enable quantum leaps in computing, telecommunications, photovoltaics, sensing and display technologies. Group leader, Behrad Gholipour is an expert in chalcogenide semiconductors, optical fibres, material discovery and dielectric/plasmonic metamaterials/metasurfaces. In all these cases, he is interested in light-matter interaction with a focus on optoelectronic switching phenomena and novel nanofabrication techniques. He has pioneered ground-breaking technologies which are being pursued by many researchers/companies around the world. His work has resulted in global news coverage and >100 journal/conference publications including those in Science, Nature Photonics and Advanced Materials journals.
Student roles: Through this, you will get a chance to work on finite difference time domain simulations of various metamaterial architectures, the growth of novel materials (e.g sputtering and evaporation) in a cleanroom environment as well as exposure to various nanoscale patterning tools (e.g focused ion beam milling as well as electron beam and photolithography) and optical and electronic microscopy and metrology (scanning electron microscopy, ellipsometry and microspectrophotometry) techniques.
Skills required: Applicants from all relevant backgrounds in engineering are invited to apply. Applicants with a background in electronics, material science, physics, chemistry and an interest/previous experience in telecommunication networks, metamaterials, phase change materials, nanotechnology and photonics would be preferred.
62. Photon precertification for quantum communication
One of the most promising applications of quantum information is quantum cryptography, which leverages the properties of quantum systems to communicate in an absolutely secure manner. A key objective in this research field is the implementation of Device-Independent Quantum Key Distribution (DIQKD), which aims to provide such secure communication even with devices whose performance is not guaranteed.
DIQKD has recently been implemented in initial experiments over short distances. However, scaling these approaches to usable ranges presents a significant challenge due to the inevitable photon losses during long-distance transmission.
An attractive solution is the use of photon precertification. With this method, photon losses are mitigated by splitting photons using parametric fluorescence before detection. The presence of a qubit can thus be confirmed before its detection. However, early experiments in photon precertification still had limitations that restricted their usefulness.
This project aims to validate a new photon precertification setup that would address these limitations and confirm the presence of photons more efficiently. Once this new setup is built, it will be characterized using quantum process tomography, which allows for the reconstruction of the transformation performed by the setup and thus confirms that the precertification is carried out with high fidelity.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: Quantum information technology aims to harness the quantum properties of various physical systems to develop a wide range of new technologies, such as more powerful sensors, quantum computers, and cryptography systems. While several physical media are of interest for quantum technologies, photons are particularly well-suited for applications requiring quantum information transfer. My research focuses on developing novel methods to create, manipulate, and precisely measure quantum light states for these applications.
Student roles: The student's primary role will be to characterize the quantum transformation performed by the pre-certification setup.
To do this, they will first construct an automated quantum tomography setup using motorized wave plates and polarizers. This automated setup will allow for a sufficient set of measurements to reconstruct the output quantum state. This set of measurements will be repeated for various input states fed into the setup, enabling the complete reconstruction of the transformation performed by the quantum pre-certification setup.
Once this characterization setup is operational, the student will become familiar with the pre-certification setup. This step will include learning a variety of experimental techniques in quantum optics, including the use of lasers, nonlinear crystals, and nanowire superconducting detectors for photon detection. Once these methods are mastered, the first characterizations of the pre-certification setup will be performed.
Finally, the student will work on optimizing the setup, using the results obtained to iteratively improve its performance. During this process, it will be necessary to critically analyze these experimental results, keeping complete records of the experimental measurements and using their reasoning to evaluate the best ways to improve the setup.
Skills required: Ideally, the student will have taken courses in optics and quantum mechanics, the latter preferably at a level using Dirac notation. They should also have prior experience in experimental physics, whether through coursework or previous internships. Knowledge of Python programming is an asset, but not required.
63. Physics of Climate Change
Supervisor: Kent MOORE
University: University of Toronto (Mississauga campus)
The proposed research project will involve the student working with members of my research group to study the impact that thinning arctic sea ice has on the stability of a remarkable ice arch that forms each winter along the northern limit of Nares Strait, the body of water that separates Ellesmere Island from Greenland. The formation of this arch inhibits the transport of Arctic sea ice down through Nares Strait for approximately 6 months of every year. Recently, there are observations that the arch is not as stable as it has been in the past and indeed has collapsed 2-3 months earlier than expected. If the stability of this arch is indeed weakening and its collapse will consistently occur earlier, then this will have an impact of the loss of Arctic Sea as well as on the downstream oceanography of the Labrador Sea. In this project, the student will work will simple models of sea ice flow through a narrow strait to confirm that the hypothesis that thinning sea ice is indeed leading to a weakening of the ice arch. In addition, the student will work with satellite observations of sea ice motion in the region to identify the inter-annual variability as well as any long-term trends in the stability of the arch.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: My research is involved with understanding the physical processes that are active in the climate system and how they are changing as the planet warms. The focus of my research is on processes active in the polar regions that are associated with the flux of heat, moisture and momentum across the air-sea-ice interface. In my research, I make use of satellite imagery, the output of numerical models as well as observations made by my group and colleagues.
Student roles: The student will be expected to set up and solve simple models of the flow of ice through a narrow strait as well as process and interpret satellite data of Arctic sea ice motion. The student will be expected to contribute to any scientific papers that arise from the project as well as present the results as a poster during UTM's annual undergraduate research event. The student will interact with members of my research group thought out the period of the internship and will have weekly meetings with Professor Moore.
Skills required: The student will be expected to have a strong background in physics, including computational methods used to solve physical problems. Experience with programming environments such as Python or Matlab would be an asset. No specific experience in environmental science is required as the focus will be on the application of physics to the study of the stability of the arch.
The goal of this project is to extend the application of Picard–Lefschetz theory as a framework for defining the gravitational path integral in alternative formulations of quantum cosmology. In General Relativity, restricting attention to homogeneous and isotropic cosmological spacetimes allows the quantization problem to be formulated through a path-integral approach in minisuperspace. Recent developments have shown that Picard–Lefschetz theory provides a powerful method for rendering such Lorentzian path integrals mathematically well defined and physically meaningful. This project will investigate how these techniques can be generalized to alternative formulations of gravity, including modified gravity theories, with the goal of developing new descriptions of quantum cosmological evolution and gaining insight into the physics of the early universe.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: I am a theoretical physicist with experience in cosmology and high-energy physics. My research has encompassed quantum gravity, quantum cosmology, early and late-time cosmology, string theory, condensed matter, and aspects of quantum fields and physics in curved spacetimes.
Student roles: The students will conduct a comprehensive review of the literature on Lorentzian path-integral quantization in quantum cosmology, with particular emphasis on Picard–Lefschetz methods and related approaches. Building on this foundation, the students will investigate how these techniques can be applied to alternative formulations of gravity and cosmology, exploring new frameworks for describing quantum evolution. The project may lead to novel insights into the dynamics of the early universe and the role of quantum effects in cosmological settings.
Skills required: Knowledge of the following topics is required: basics of quantum mechanics, constrained systems, and integration of complex functions. Although not required, some knowledge of general relativity and path integrals would be helpful.
In 2005, Yves Couder and Emmanuel Fort discovered that a millimetric droplet, bouncing on the surface of a vibrating liquid bath, may self-propel across the bath’s surface through a resonant interaction with its own wavefield. This system represents a macroscopic realization of de Broglie’s pilot-wave theory of quantum dynamics and sparked a new field of study, termed “pilot-wave hydrodynamics”. This project will extend my previous research which considered the dynamics of multiple interacting droplets (which could form bound states such as pairs, rings and lattices). Using an established numerical code written in MATLAB, the student will investigate the properties of a droplet gas (hundreds of interacting droplets) and consider phase transitions such as freezing and melting.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: Millimetric droplets bouncing on the surface of a vertically vibrating fluid bath may self-propel through a resonant interaction with their own wavefield, displaying behaviours previously thought to be exclusive to the microscopic quantum realm. This research program seeks to understand how multiple droplets interact through their shared wavefield to form a variety of bound and dynamical states. A video summary of my research related to pilot-wave hydrodynamics can be found here: <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LtT3sfbSXs>.
Student roles: The student will perform numerical simulations of systems of differential equations using MATLAB to understand the behaviour of pilot-wave systems containing many interacting droplets. They will investigate new dynamical behaviours and develop mathematical models to rationalize the observed behaviour.
Skills required: Background in physics, ability to understand and analyze systems of differential equations, programming skills (MATLAB preferred).
66. Plasma diagnostics, control and data processing for the STOR-M Tokamak Experiments
Supervisor: Chijin Xiao
University: University of Saskatchewan (Saskatoon campus)
The STOR-M tokamak is currently the only tokamak in Canada. It is a perfect machine for an intern to carry out research projects within a relatively small group under close supervision from the professors. The trainees have the opportunity to participate in the tokamak operation, control and diagnostics. The proposed project will focus on two separate projects. The first project deals with the measurement of plasma temperature and density, the fundamental plasma parameters, in the edge region of the tokamak using electric probes. Electric probes are widely use in all types of plasma devices. The construction and operation is relatively simple. The rich plasma physics can be studied based on electric probe measurements. It has been used to study the fluctuations and turbulences in the plasma. Another research project will involve the control of various devices surrounding the STOR-M tokamak based on programmable devices, such as the Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) and programmable multi-function A/O cards. It is fully expected that the trainee will gain a comprehensive experience of electric probe measurement including probe fabrication, installation, electric circuit preparation, data collection and analysis. This will provide a fantastic research experience for any undergraduate or graduate university student.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: Fusion energy is the ultimate solution to energy shortage problems. Tokamak is a type of plasma confinement device using strong magnetic field to confine the hot fuel (plasma) in the reactor. The International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) being built currently in Cadarache, France with participation from China, the European Union, India, Japan, Korea, Russia and the United States will be the largest tokamak. Recently, many privately funded companies have attracted large amount investment for fusion energy development. The STOR-M tokamak in the Plasma Physics Laboratory at the University of Saskatchewan in Canada is one of those small tokamaks
Student roles: Student will be assigned a well-defined project to be completed under supervision of myself and graduate students. The student is expected to plan and manage the project and report the progress and problems encountered to the supervisor. Student is expected to attend the weekly group meeting to discuss his/her project and contribute to discussions on other projects. The project should be well described and documented at the end of the project so other student(s) can utilize the results derived from the project and continue the work if needed.
Skills required: General knowledge in Physics and Engineering, Good Laboratory skills, including electronics and computer programming. Motivated, quick learner.
67. Plasmonic simulations of nanostructured surfaces
Supervisor: Nisha Rani Agarwal
University: Ontario Tech University (Oshawa campus)
Achievement of high plasmonic enhancements for reaching higher sensitivity of analytes is since ever at the forefront of research activity in the field of Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS). Hence, there is a strong drive to fabricate efficient nanostructured substrates for SERS. The composition, size and nanostructure of an artificially roughened surface can be changed over wide ranges, depending on the technique and the process parameters used in the fabrication. Nevertheless, some special sites known as hot spots contribute to the strongest signal enhancement that can be as high as 10^10, thus allowing for the detection of Raman signals from single molecules. Hot spots are responsible for most of the estimated substrate average enhancement. Substrates with high SERS activity have to display meaningful local electromagnetic (EM) field enhancements.
In my lab, we fabricate different SERS active nanostructured devices and we would like to understand the performance differences based on different morphology.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: My expertise lies in development of novel characterization techniques for bio-sensing and plasmonic applications. Mostly, these characterization techniques deal with spectroscopy and force microscopy. As I am building my lab, I am looking for some plasmonic simulations to explain phenomena of the nanostructured substrates produced in my lab.
Student roles: 1. Understand the technique of Finite Difference time Domain and theory of Lumerical solutions 2. Design the nanostructure and apply source, monitors, mesh in the software. 3. Test Apply all material properties 4. Simulate the electric fields at different points on the nanostructure. 5. Analysis of data and conclusion of results. All data from different measurements will have to be evaluated and analyzed. Results will be interpreted logically and discussed scientifically. 6. Documentation and presentation of research project. A report has to be written at the conclusion of the research project. This will be considered an official document for the student. Furthermore, the student will be encouraged to present their results to the scientific community as an oral presentation.
Skills required: The project is best suited for graduate and undergraduate students in physics and materials engineering seeking to enhance laboratory, analytical and interpersonal skills. The students should possess excellent scientific acumen and experimental skills. The student will work in highly collaborative environment. Thus, good communication abilities are desirable. The nature of research stretches across multiple disciplines and hence strong background in the following areas are required: -Basics of atomic, molecular and optical physics (undergraduate physics) -Basics of inorganic and functional chemistry (undergraduate chemistry) -Basics of materials science and spectroscopy (undergraduate materials engineering) -General mathematics and chemistry knowledge (high school science).
68. Polymer fibers for quantum light transport
Supervisor: Pablo Bianucci
University: Concordia University (Montréal campus)
One of the ultimate research goals in our research group is to design and fabricate polymer optical fibers used to guide single photons. We have an ongoing collaboration with a group at Université Laval with expertise in the synthesis and embedding of colloidal quantum dots in polymer fibers, and we plan to create designs that we can make into real fibers with quantum dots embedded. These fibers would let us collect the single photon emission of the quantum dots and guide it towards devices where they can be used for quantum information processing or cryptography.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: In our research group we study (experimentally and theoretically) the behaviour of light confined in very small spaces, particularly its interaction with matter. We trap light using structures known as optical microresonators, capable to confining light in microscopic spaces for long times. Our goals include improving our fundamental understanding of light, as well as designing and implementing new and improved photonic devices (for applications in areas such as telecommunications, chemical and biological sensing, or quantum science).
Student roles: The student will focus on 3D printing preforms for polymer fibers. In addition, the student will also do a literature review on photonic crystal fibers and basic concepts of photonic topological insulators to be able to create photonic crystal fiber designs to study them using computer electromagnetics simulation. We use software for electromagnetic simulations such as finite-difference-time-domain (MIT MEEP), band structure calculations (MIT MPB), and finite-element-method (COMSOL and/or ngsolve) to perform simulations. The student will learn how to use the different software packages, visualize data, and extract conclusions from it.
Skills required: The project will involve 3D printing of fiber preforms, so familiarity with 3D printing will be a plus. In addition, there may be a need to do simulations of optical fibers based on photonic-crystal like designs, so familiarity with photonic crystals, waveguide theory, and electromagnetic simulations is also a plus.
We are developing a new kind of optical clock which uses three photons to excite the atomic transition instead of one. Arranging the three clock lasers in a Doppler-free configuration allows state of the art clock performance without tight confinement of the atoms in an optical lattice. Eliminating the lattice trapping reduces the atomic density and removes systematic clock frequency errors due to the energy shifts created by the trapping light. Furthermore, three-photon excitation allows probing isotopes of ytterbium atoms with no nuclear spin, which have exceptionally low sensitivity to magnetic field noise. The projected precision and accuracy of the clock is below one part in 10^16, which is at the state of the art for robust atomic clocks today.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: Our group studies and builds the world’s most precise atomic clocks. We achieve this by performing spectroscopic measurements of optical transitions in alkaline-earth atoms. These clocks have potential applications in many fields, such as navigation, communications, and fundamental physics research. They are also an essential component in the global effort to redefine the SI second based on an optical atomic clock. Developing cutting-edge quantum technologies combines research in laser physics, quantum physics, and atomic physics, as well as advanced techniques in optics, programming, electronics, computer-aided design, and more.
Student roles: The student will work on the design and commissioning of the laser systems required to cool, manipulate, and probe the atoms in the Doppler-free three-photon clock. Four separate laser systems are under development; at 399 nm for laser-cooling a cloud of Yb atoms; at 556 nm for additional laser-cooling, state readout, and for driving the clock transitions; at 649 nm for driving the clock transition; and at 680 nm also for driving the clock transition. In designing these systems, careful consideration must be given to power, intensity noise, and frequency stability, aligning these requirements with the overall clock architecture. Each system will require mechanical assembly, optical alignment, and frequency stabilization through optimized servo feedback.
The student will be expected to actively participate in the design process as well as the setup and characterization of these laser systems. The student will also be expected to collaborate closely with other team members and to effectively report findings and progress during group meetings and in written documentation.
Skills required: An ideal student for our research group should have a strong background in physics, especially atomic and optical physics. Proficiency in data analysis and programming software, such as Python, as well as electronics design and soldering are valuable. Familiarity with laser systems, optics, and spectroscopy, though not mandatory, would be advantageous. Additionally, the candidate should possess excellent problem-solving abilities, an attention to detail, the ability to work collaboratively, and a keen interest in precision measurement and quantum technology.
70. Probing for new physics with quantum controlled molecules
Why is the universe made primarily of matter rather than equal amounts of matter and antimatter? This is one of the major unanswered questions in physics. At RadMol, we use quantum-enabled techniques to precisely control and study radioactive molecules that are exceptionally sensitive to new physics beyond the Standard Model.
As a summer researcher, you will contribute to the development of a next-generation experiment that searches for tiny symmetry-violating effects in molecules. You will gain hands-on experience designing, building, and characterizing experimental hardware while learning modern techniques in laser-based measurements, data acquisition, numerical modelling, and scientific computing.
The project provides excellent preparation for graduate studies and careers in quantum science and technology, including quantum computing, quantum sensing, simulation, ion trapping, and precision measurement. More broadly, you will develop strong experimental, computational, and problem-solving skills that are valuable across many scientific and technical fields.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: My research focuses on precision tests of fundamental symmetries using quantum-controlled atomic and molecular systems, with an emphasis on searches for permanent electric dipole moments (EDMs) that can reveal new sources of symmetry violation beyond the Standard Model of particle physics. By combining techniques from atomic, molecular, and optical (AMO) physics with radioactive nuclei, my work aims to develop highly sensitive experiments that probe some of the most fundamental questions in modern physics.
Student roles: You will contribute to the design, prototyping, and commissioning of experimental apparatus for precision measurements with radioactive molecules. Depending on your interests and background, your work may include laboratory construction and testing, data acquisition and analysis, computer modelling and simulation, and the characterization of key experimental components.
Throughout the project, you will work closely with researchers in the group and develop practical skills in experimental physics, scientific computing, and quantitative problem solving.
Skills required: We are looking for students who are curious, motivated, and excited to learn. You should enjoy hands-on experimental work, collecting and analyzing data, and using evidence to guide improvements to a system.
A strong background in undergraduate-level physics is beneficial, particularly in areas such as classical mechanics, electromagnetism, and quantum mechanics. Experience with laboratory work, programming, data analysis, or numerical simulation is also valuable, but a willingness to learn is the most important qualification.
71. Quantifying Fibrillar Reorganization in Photo-Crosslinked Collagen via Second Harmonic Generation Microscopy
Supervisor: Danielle Tokarz
University: St. Mary's University (Halifax campus)
Recently, we have successfully developed a protocol for the synthesis of collagen fibrils, and we are excited to use this model system under our custom-built polarization-resolved second harmonic generation microscope to perform experiments that answer both basic and applied biomedical research questions.
In particular, we are interested in combining the synthesis of collagen fibrils with riboflavin/UV-induced crosslinking. Riboflavin acts as a photosensitizer and when exposed to UV-A light, it generates reactive oxygen species that induce covalent bonds between collagen molecules. While this is the "gold standard" for treating corneal ectasia (like keratoconus), the exact structural remodeling of collagen at the fibrillar level is still not fully understood.
In this project, the student will perform riboflavin/UV-induced crosslinking to their synthetic collagen fibrils and capture the organization of the collagen fibrils using a polarization-resolved second harmonic generation microscope. Visualization of the reorganization of the collagen fibrils will be performed in real-time as the UV-induced reaction progresses. Through analysis of their data using a custom analysis program, it is expected that the student will measure the supramolecular organization of collagen fibrils over time. The riboflavin concentration and UV dosage will be adjusted to observe the resulting fibrillar architecture. Data from this project may also be supported by the use of an atomic force microscope. This project will help answer the basic scientific question of how the supramolecular organization of the fibrils changes but will also provide specifications for how the fibrillar architecture of the collagen can be changed for applications in regenerative medicine.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: We perform interdisciplinary research at the interface of biology, chemistry, physics and engineering. We image the ultrastructure of biological and artificial microscopic systems using new quantitative ultrafast laser nonlinear optical microscopy imaging techniques. We are interested in characterizing how chemical and physical changes govern ultrastructural alterations during natural as well as artificial synthesis and degradation reactions in carbohydrate- and protein-dense natural and model systems. For example, we study the change in collagen ultrastructure during cancer initiation and progression as well as induced tendon injury sites from repeated tissue stretching and compression.
Student roles: The student will play a fundamental role in moving this project forward. The student will be required to learn how to use the custom polarization-resolved second harmonic generation microscope as well as custom analysis software. The student may be required to learn how to align the microscope which includes learning how to align a laser through optical components. The student will be expected to be a proponent of laser safety and follow the laser safety instructions given to them. The student may also be asked to present their work at a local conference or research day at the university. The student may also be asked to take part in manuscript preparation featuring their results. The student will be given WHMIS and laboratory safety training as well as laser safety training at the beginning of their internship. The student will also be expected to wear protective equipment (e.g. laser safety goggles when working with the laser or lab coat, goggles and gloves when working with chemicals).
Skills required: The ideal student would have a background in physics, chemistry, biology and/or engineering. It is essential that the student is eager to perform collagen fibril synthesis, be willing to learn how to operate a custom-built microscope for imaging, as well as learn how to analyze their images using custom software. Laser safety training and training on collagen fibril synthesis, use of the microscope and use of the imaging analysis software will be provided. Furthermore, a student who can work successfully in a team environment as well as an independent researcher is integral.
72. Quantitative functional MRI methods for studying brain physiology
Functional MRI is widely used for the non-invasive study of the organization of the human brain. The MRI signal contains rich information related to the underlying brain physiology. In particular, the MRI signal is sensitive to the oxygenation of blood, which dynamically varies with brain activity. This relationship is commonly exploited for fMRI using a technique known as Blood Oxygenation Level-Dependent (or BOLD) fMRI.
This project aims to determine how small vs. large blood vessels contribute to the BOLD signal and how their contributions change with spatial resolution. To probe these relationships, you will simulate the MRI signal from the brain under various physiological (e.g., vessel size, blood volume, oxygenation, etc.) and experimental conditions (e.g., spatial resolution, magnetic field strength, etc.). You may also have the opportunity to analyze previously acquired high-spatial-resolution fMRI data to compare against your simulations.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: My laboratory seeks to improve the interpretation of functional MRI (fMRI) signals for human brain mapping and provide quantitative biomarkers for studying mental health and neurological disorders. We develop acquisition and analysis strategies to extract the physiological information that underpins fMRI signals, such as cerebral blood flow, blood volume, and oxygen metabolism. In synergy with experimental work, we perform detailed simulations of fMRI signals from the brain vasculature to help inform our imaging, analysis, and interpretation.
Student roles: The primary responsibilities of the student will include: • learning about MRI physics and simulations • running biophysical simulations of the MRI signal • analyzing simulation results • communicating results to lab members
Skills required: The student should be comfortable with computer programming, ideally in Python or MATLAB. Familiarity with the Unix/Linux computing environment, shell scripting, or the C (or Objective-C) programming language would be desirable. Experience with data analysis is desirable.
73. Quantum Algorithms at the Electron-Ion Collider
Supervisor: Wouter Deconinck
University: University of Manitoba (Winnipeg campus)
The Canadian subatomic physics community, through the EIC Canada Collaboration led by UM, holds leadership roles in the EIC program and in the international ePIC collaboration (with 850+ members) which will build the first detector at the EIC: the ePIC detector, budgeted at a total cost of US$300M. In particular, the UM group leads various software and computing efforts in the ePIC collaboration. These includes simulation and reconstruction software, and data production campaign operations.
The project will focus on the implementation of a scalable quantum-as-a-service algorithm interface layer for our grid-scale data production workflows. The current pain-point with quantum algorithms in our field is that we run large scale computing workflows on up to 10,000 heterogeneous compute nodes worldwide at the same time; the demonstration of QaaS at this scale has not been achieved in our field, nor their management in a collaborative context, but we are nearing this level of integration. While there has been work in our field on using QaaS in prototype environments (using local API access tokens), the integration of these algorithms in a collaborative context requires that we have standard interfaces, ways to allocate and distribute access tokens, and manage their use, and that quantum algorithms can be defined and patched into the non-quantum workflows.
The student will integrate one quantum algorithm in the event reconstruction workflow of the ePIC reconstruction software. The exact nature of the event reconstruction questions is a matter of rapid evolution, but may include any of the following:
- quantum clustering algorithm for jet reconstruction,
- quantum machine learning for pattern recognition in the Barrel Imaging Calorimeter.
The deliverable for this project would be the demonstration of a successful Open Science Grid QaaS workflow in our standard data production campaigns, using a quantum algorithm payload for a standard clustering algorithm.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: The Electron-Ion Collider is a US$3B new particle collider facility to be built in the current decade at Brookhaven National Lab, Long Island, New York, by the US Department of Energy. At the EIC, for the first time, polarized electrons will collide with polarized protons and light ions, and unpolarized heavy nuclei at intensities a thousand times higher than at previous (unpolarized) colliders. The EIC is at the center of a global 1400+ scientist effort to answer questions about the origin of mass and spin of the proton, and the dynamics of dense gluon systems.
Student roles: The student will work in a highly dynamic subatomic physics collaboration, with global participants in all major world regions. The student will develop, along with the rest of the reconstruction development team, initial prototypes which will be evaluated. The prototypes will result in implementation of the quantum algorithms in the continuous integration and production pipelines of the ePIC collaboration, where they are run reproducibly.
Skills required: - strong collaborative work ethic, supported by portfolio of git activity, - C++ and/or Python experience, - familiarity with subatomic physics concepts.
74. Quantum Foundations and Quantum Spacetime
Supervisor: Jonathan Sharp
University: University of Alberta (Edmonton campus)
This project concerns a recent proposal aiming to link relativistic spacetime with quantum mechanics (described in detail here: sharpresearch.ca). This could be regarded as a spacetime-based interpretation of quantum mechanics, but it is also a proposal for a quantum spacetime, i.e. the a step towards quantum gravity. Topics include: Bell nonlocality, quantum indeterminacy, and the quantum measurement problem. The overall aim is to provide spacetime-based explanations for quantum phenomena. This provides new insights into the structure of quantum mechanics, for instance, Planck's constant receives a spacetime role. For a specific student project of limited duration, the scope would be much narrower, so these topics are given as examples only. For example, my current students are working on specifically on deriving basic quantum equations (De Broglie, Schrodinger) from space-time concepts.
There are also potential connections to quantum information: the spacetime interpretation addresses the quantum meaurement problem, i.e. answers; what is a quantum measurement? This is a key issue in quantum information because loss of coherence (via measurement-type interactions) is a major technical hurdle for building quantum computers.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: My research is in the area of quantum foundations, which is the intersection of theoretical physics and philosophy, i.e., the various interpretations of quantum mechanics. My particular approach starts from spacetime considerations, so can be called spacetime foundations. This start with relativistic spacetime, but (initially at least) in non-gravitational scenarios. This work impacts the quantum measurement problem, with potential consequences for quantum computation (related to decoherence mechanisms).
I also work in the experimental side (spin physics of NMR and MRI), which is related, although not the focus of this project.
Student roles: The main role is theoretical physics and/or philosophy of physics work. We will be developing and interpreting new explanations for quantum and spacetime phenomena. This will involve normal scientific activities: writing papers etc.
Skills required: There are two aspects: theoretical physics and interpretations of quantum mechanics (quantum foundations). A interest in at least one of these areas is required. Specific areas: special relativity, quantum mechanics. Some of the work might also involve knowledge of concepts from general relativity and quantum field theory, but this is not required.
75. Quantum Key Distribution with High-Dimensional Time-Bin Entanglement in a Reconfigurable Network
This internship project aims to develop and experimentally demonstrate a multi-user QKD platform based on high-dimensional time-bin entanglement. Building on recent advances in integrated spiral waveguides and programmable on-chip interferometric circuits, the project will generate time-bin entangled qudits using spontaneous four-wave mixing. A dual-pump state-multiplexing strategy will be employed to enable entanglement sharing across overlapping spectral channels, reducing the number of required wavelength channels by a factor of two compared to conventional approaches. The student will contribute to the realization of an entanglement-based BBM92 QKD protocol in a fully connected network involving six users, operating at repetition rates compatible with standard telecom systems. The project will include the generation, distribution, and measurement of high-dimensional entangled states across fiber links, as well as the characterization of key performance metrics such as visibility, quantum bit error rate, and secret key rate. Successful completion of the project will provide an important step toward resource-efficient quantum communication networks.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: Quantum key distribution (QKD) is a cornerstone technology for future secure communication networks, offering information-theoretic security based on quantum mechanics. While recent progress in integrated photonics has enabled high-dimensional time-bin entanglement compatible with telecom infrastructure, extending these advances to scalable multi-user quantum networks remains a major challenge. In particular, conventional wavelength-division multiplexed architectures require a quadratic scaling of spectral resources with the number of users, severely limiting network scalability.
Student roles: The student will participate in the experimental development of a multi-user QKD platform based on time-bin entangled qudits. Key tasks include programming and stabilizing on-chip interferometric circuits, implementing state-multiplexed photon-pair generation, synchronizing network components, and performing single- and multi-photon measurements to evaluate QKD performance across multiple user pairs.
Skills required: The ideal candidate will have a background in physics, electrical engineering, photonics, or a closely related field, with a solid understanding of basic quantum optics and programming, and interest in quantum communications. The candidate should be highly motivated, detail-oriented, and capable of working effectively in a collaborative research environment. Senior undergraduate and graduate students with a strong interest in photonics and quantum optics are encouraged to apply.
Quantum materials (QM) encompass many systems in condensed matter physics, ranging from strongly correlated electron systems, 2D Dirac materials, superconductors, ultra-cold atoms and topological insulators [1]. Owing to their unique quantum properties, QM are a fertile ground for researchers and offer many scientific and technological opportunities.
Our laboratory specializes in the fabrication and physical characterization of Quantum Materials in devices. This internship will greatly enrich the summer student with different skills:
1. Learning how to prepare Quantum Materials : this involves getting acquainted with optical microscopy.
2. Fabrication of devices: This involves learning how to do microfabrication in a clean room at LMN http://inf.emt.inrs.ca/?q=en/LMN
3. Data treating
4. Electrical characterization of devices at low-temperature (1.8 K up to 400 K) and in presence of high magnetic fields ( 0 to 9 Tesla)
Specific projects include but are not limited to
a) New QM-based device architectures.
b) Low-T and high-B characterization of devices integrating quasi-2D molecular layers on QM as the (semi)conducting layer.
c) Fabrication of thermoelectric devices with QM as the active layer.
We are a very inclusive and international research group working at the forefront of Quantum Materials science
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: Prof. Orgiu's research group seeks to understand new electronic and optical phenomena occurring in molecular solids such as organic (semi-)conductors or 2D materials such as graphene and transition metal dichalcogenides.
Professor Orgiu's research program is unique in that it uses supramolecular approaches with materials such as graphene and transition metal dichalcogenides to test new physical scenarios arising from the combination of molecules and 2D materials.
Student roles: This internship will greatly enrich the summer student with different skills: 1. Learning how to prepare Quantum Materials : this involves getting acquainted with optical microscopy. 2. Fabrication of devices: This involves learning how to do microfabrication in a clean room at LMN http://inf.emt.inrs.ca/?q=en/LMN 3. Data treating 4. Electrical characterization of devices at low-temperature (1.8 K up to 400 K) and in presence of high magnetic fields ( 0 to 9 Tesla)
Skills required: A background in Physics or Electrical/Physical Engineering, or in a related discipline providing sufficient background in solid state/semiconductor physics, is required. Physical chemists and material scientists are very welcome as well! Past experience with nanofabrication, low-temperature physics, low-noise electronic measurements, thermal transport measurements are a plus. The candidate must be fluent in both written and spoken English. Spoken and written French are also highly appreciated (but not mandatory for the position).
77. Quantum Search for Constrained Query Optimization
Query optimization is a central problem in database systems. A database optimizer must search over many possible query plans, access paths, operator choices, materialization decisions, and resource allocations, while satisfying constraints imposed by memory limits, available indexes, operator compatibility, dependencies among intermediate results, and latency or service-level objectives. Recent work has explored quantum and quantum-inspired methods for selected database optimization tasks, especially join ordering, multiple query optimization, index selection, and transaction scheduling. However, many practical query-planning subproblems remain insufficiently studied from a quantum optimization perspective, particularly when hard constraints and non-quadratic symbolic cost models are important.
This project will investigate quantum optimization methods for constrained query optimization. The student will formulate small but meaningful database optimizer subproblems as finite combinatorial search problems, using precomputed database statistics, selectivity estimates, operator-cost constants, and resource budgets. The project will compare several quantum and hybrid quantum-classical approaches, including Grover Adaptive Search, the Quantum Approximate Optimization Algorithm (QAOA), and D-Wave-style hybrid constrained solvers. A key focus will be on how each method handles hard feasibility constraints: Grover Adaptive Search can mark feasible threshold-improving plans directly through an oracle, whereas QAOA and annealing-based methods often require penalty terms or constrained formulations.
The project is not intended to claim near-term quantum advantage for full database systems. Instead, it will provide a careful feasibility study and prototype benchmark for constrained database optimizer subproblems. The student will analyze trade-offs among solution quality, feasibility rate, circuit or model size, penalty sensitivity, solver latency, and classical baseline performance. By combining literature review, formal problem modeling, prototype implementation, and experimental benchmarking, the project will identify which constrained query-optimization settings are most structurally compatible with quantum search and optimization methods.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: Our research group, led by Prof. Hans-Arno Jacobsen, focuses on distributed systems and interdisciplinary quantum computing. The group works on a broad range of quantum computing topics, including quantum algorithms, quantum error correction, quantum software, and quantum machine learning. Prof. Jacobsen also leads Canada's Quantum Software Consortium (QSC), which explores distributed quantum solutions. This project aligns closely with QSC's objectives and fits well within the group's expertise in quantum software, distributed systems, data management, and hybrid quantum-classical optimization.
Student roles: At the start of the program, the student will review literature on quantum optimization for database systems, constrained query optimization, Grover Adaptive Search, QAOA, quantum annealing, and hybrid quantum-classical solvers. The review will pay particular attention to which database problems have already been studied, such as join ordering, index selection, multiple query optimization, and transaction scheduling, and identify constrained query-planning subproblems that remain less explored.
The student will then define one or two compact benchmark problems for constrained query optimization. Possible examples include choosing physical query-plan configurations, access paths, materialization decisions, or resource-aware plan variants for a fixed query or small workload. The problem formulation will use finite precomputed constants, such as cardinality estimates, selectivity values, operator costs, memory requirements, and dependency or compatibility matrices, so that both feasibility checks and symbolic costs can be evaluated by optimization models or reversible oracle circuits.
The student will implement prototype solvers and baselines. This may include a Grover Adaptive Search oracle that marks feasible plans whose symbolic cost is below a threshold, QAOA or penalty-based QUBO formulations, D-Wave hybrid constrained models where available, and classical baselines such as exhaustive search, branch-and-bound, simulated annealing, or greedy local search. The student will benchmark these methods on small generated and, where feasible, database-derived instances.
Throughout the project, the student will maintain a clean codebase using Git, document experimental assumptions, perform computational resource profiling, organize results, and present weekly progress updates. By the end of the internship, the expected deliverables are a literature summary, a documented prototype benchmarking framework, reproducible experimental results comparing quantum and classical methods, and a final technical report. If results are sufficiently strong, the project may support a workshop paper or demonstration in the data management area.
Skills required: The student should be comfortable programming in Python and using common scientific libraries such as NumPy, pandas, and Matplotlib. A solid background in algorithms, discrete mathematics, optimization, databases, or linear algebra is expected. Familiarity with SQL, query processing, Bash, and Git-based version control would be an asset. Prior experience with quantum computing concepts or frameworks such as IBM Qiskit, D-Wave Ocean, or PennyLane is highly desirable but not required. The successful candidate should be motivated to read scientific literature, write clear technical reports, present results, manage time effectively, and work collaboratively in a research environment.
78. Quantum control of chaos for quantum computation and communication (1)
Supervisor: Shohini Ghose
University: Wilfrid Laurier University (Waterloo campus)
The study of chaos theory has led to great progress in the modeling and control of various real-world systems including lasers, biological systems, robotics, signal processing and financial systems. The chaotic behaviour in these systems is characterized by their extreme sensitivity to small perturbations - a phenomenon popularly known as the butterfly effect. At the quantum level of atoms and photons, the concept of chaos is ambiguous due to the quantum uncertainty principle and the apparent linearity of quantum mechanical evolution. In this project, our goal is to characterize and control chaotic dynamics at the quantum level. These studies will give us a fundamental understanding of the connections between the microscopic quantum world and our macroscopic classical world. Furthermore, they will help to build a toolbox of quantum control necessary for a variety of future applications including ultra high-speed quantum computation, design of new molecules for chemical and biological purposes, precision measurements techniques, and quantum cryptography and security.
This proposed research project will focus on analyzing a specific system called the quantum kicked top and developing a quantum simulation of it. Previously we have analyzed the effect of chaos on quantum correlations or entanglement - an important resource for quantum computing. The student will perform numerical simulations to identify and analyze this chaos in the quantum dynamics. This will include studies of entanglement and quantum phase transitions. The chaotic system we are studying has been experimentally implemented recently. The student will also have the opportunity to experimentally test the system in the IBM quantum computer. Our calculations will use experimentally feasible parameters and help guide future quantum control experiments. Waterloo is a major hub for quantum information science and the student will have the opportunity to interact with leading researchers in theory and experiment.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: My research is in the area of quantum information science, which is the study of how to harness the laws of quantum physics to revolutionize computing, communication and information processing, and to perform novel tasks such as teleportation. I also study quantum cryptography and explore fundamental questions such as the connections between chaos theory and quantum physics. I am a theoretical physicist, but I have been working closely with experimental groups. My team has also implemented new algorithms on the IBM quantum computer and D-Wave's quantum device to apply quantum optimization applied to finance and environment.
Student roles: Given the relatively short duration of the project, the student will learn about the specific system to be studied by first running existing numerical programs and reproducing known results. Once the student has developed an understanding of the system, they will modify the existing programs to write new modules and extend our studies of the system. In particular, the student will explore the system dynamics as various parameters and terms are modified. The student will develop codes to calculate specific properties of the systems such as entanglement, decoherence, discord etc. Furthermore, the student will learn how to program the IBM quantum computer and implement the quantum dynamics on it. The work will be carried out together with a more senior PhD student in my group. The student will meet with me every week to discuss the project and will be expected to maintain a journal (similar to a lab notebook) of progress as well as challenges faced. At the end of the project the student will submit a report and give an oral presentation to the rest of the research group members. Any new results produced will be submitted for publication in a research journal such as Physical Review. The student will participate in the writing of the paper and/or will present the results at a conference if the opportunity arises.
Skills required: The student should have taken a course in Quantum Mechanics at the third or fourth year level. A background in linear algebra, and some knowledge of computer programming or numerical software such as Matlab or Mathematica is preferred. Knowledge of quantum computation or chaos theory is not required, but would be advantageous. The student should have good communication skills and be comfortable working with other students.
79. Quantum reservoir computing with classical-shadow readout
The student will contribute to developing a hybrid learning framework in which a randomized measurement method, known as classical shadows, will be used to extract compact features from a quantum reservoir without reconstructing the full quantum state. Additionally, the student will tune the reservoir toward an optimal regime, known as the ‘edge of chaos’, where the system is correlated enough to generate useful nonlinear features but not so scrambled that memory is lost.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: Modern machine learning increasingly requires models that can extract structure from signals whose information is distributed across time, nonlinear interactions, and correlations. Reservoir computing provides a hardware-efficient solution to this problem by utilizing a fixed dynamical system that maps the input into a high-dimensional feature space. Only a simple classical readout needs to be trained. However, classical reservoirs are ultimately limited by the dimensionality and correlation structure that can be generated by a finite classical system. Quantum reservoir computing extends this principle to many-body quantum dynamics, where entanglement, interference, and Hilbert-space expansion can produce compact feature representations that may be
Student roles: The student will develop and test the simulation pipeline, implement randomized-measurement feature extraction, train classical readout models, and benchmark performance on temporal-memory and nonlinear prediction tasks. They will compare reservoir layouts, identify optimal operating regimes, analyze sample efficiency and inference latency, and prepare figures and documentation for reports and publications.
Skills required: The ideal candidate will have a background in physics, electrical engineering, photonics, or a closely related field, with a solid understanding of basic quantum optics and interest/experience with quantum computing. The candidate should be highly motivated, detail-oriented, and capable of working effectively in a collaborative research environment. Senior undergraduate and graduate students with a strong interest in photonics and optical machine learning are encouraged to apply.
80. Quantum-Assisted Multi-Agent System Optimization for Autonomous Swarms
Supervisor: Sukhjit Sehra
University: Wilfrid Laurier University (Waterloo campus)
This project proposes the development of a Quantum-Assisted Multi-Agent Optimization and Generative Framework for autonomous swarm systems, with a primary focus on coordinated drone operations. The research will explore how quantum-inspired optimization and multi-agent reinforcement learning can be integrated to solve complex coordination problems in dynamic and uncertain environments. Key challenges include task allocation, path planning, collision avoidance, energy-efficient movement, adaptive communication, and cooperative decision-making among multiple autonomous agents.
The project will use simulation platforms such as AirSim, ROS-Gazebo, and SimPy to model realistic swarm scenarios and evaluate the performance of proposed algorithms. Quantum and quantum-inspired components will be tested using platforms and hardware ecosystems such as IBM Quantum, IonQ, and Rigetti, where feasible. The expected outcome is a scalable framework that combines classical AI methods with emerging quantum computational resources to improve optimization quality, convergence speed, and adaptability in autonomous swarm applications. The project aligns with the broader goals of next-generation intelligent systems and the National Quantum Mission by contributing practical algorithms, simulation-based validation, and a roadmap for quantum-assisted optimization in real-world domains.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: This project addresses the pressing need for scalable, intelligent optimization frameworks capable of leveraging quantum computational resources in practical, high-impact domains. By integrating principles from evolutionary computation, multi-agent systems (MAS), quantum-enhanced reinforcement learning, and quantum generative modeling, the proposed research aims to deliver not only novel algorithms but also a unified theoretical framework and practical roadmap for nextgeneration optimization under the National Quantum Mission.
Student roles: The student will support the design, implementation, and evaluation of quantum-assisted optimization methods for autonomous swarm systems. The student will review relevant literature, develop simulation scenarios for coordinated drone swarms, implement baseline and proposed algorithms in Python, and test them using suitable platforms. The student will also explore quantum-inspired components using tools such as Qiskit, PennyLane, IBM Quantum, IonQ, or Rigetti platforms, where applicable. The role will include analyzing experimental results, comparing performance with classical approaches, documenting findings, contributing to research reports, publishing research publications, and preparing project documentation.
Skills required: The student should have a background in computer science, artificial intelligence, or a related field. Strong programming skills in Python are expected, along with basic knowledge of optimization, machine learning, reinforcement learning, or multi-agent systems. Familiarity with quantum computing frameworks such as Qiskit, PennyLane, or Cirq, and simulation platforms such as AirSim, ROS-Gazebo, or SimPy, would be an asset. The student should be comfortable with algorithm development, experimentation, and interdisciplinary research.
81. Quantum-Assisted Passenger Flow Assignment in Transit Networks: A QUBO Framework
Combinatorial optimization problems in transportation have emerged as a natural domain for quantum computing, with the bulk of existing work concentrated on vehicle routing, ride-pooling, traffic flow assignment, and transit network design. Despite this growing body of literature, most studies rely on synthetic datasets and relatively simple network topologies. More importantly, the problem of assigning observed passenger flows to route itineraries in a transit network, where passengers may travel across multiple routes and transfer within the system, has not yet been formulated within the Quadratic Unconstrained Binary Optimization (QUBO) framework.
The proposed research will develop a QUBO-based formulation for transit passenger flow assignment using Automatic Passenger Counter (APC) data. The assignment of boarding and alighting observations to full passenger itineraries shares structural similarity with the Ride Pooling Problem and the Quadratic Assignment Problem, both of which have established QUBO representations in the literature. Building on these foundations, the proposed framework will reformulate the transit flow assignment as a binary optimization program, encoding transfer feasibility, capacity, and route continuity constraints as quadratic penalty terms. The scalability of the resulting formulation in terms of qubit requirements will be assessed against the Calgary Transit network, providing a real-world benchmark for evaluating the readiness of current quantum processors to handle transit-scale combinatorial problems.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: My main research activities focus on transportation network modeling, public transportation planning and operations, and big data analytics using mobility sensing data. I work on applying advanced data analytics techniques to transportation systems in order to generate actionable intelligence for cities and transportation authorities. This includes analyzing large-scale mobility datasets to support real-time decision-making, improve system efficiency, and enhance the resilience and sustainability of urban transportation networks, particularly in the context of emergency response and infrastructure planning.
Student roles: The student will assist with the development, implementation, and evaluation of a QUBO-based formulation for transit passenger flow assignment using Automatic Passenger Counter (APC) data. Their role will include reviewing relevant literature on quantum computing applications in transportation, combinatorial optimization, ride-pooling, quadratic assignment problems, and existing QUBO formulations.The student will contribute to documenting the mathematical formulation, assumptions, data preparation steps, computational experiments, and key findings. They will support the evaluation of whether current quantum computing hardware is suitable for transit-scale passenger flow assignment problems and help identify the main computational bottlenecks and opportunities for future research.
Skills required: The student should be comfortable with mathematical modelling and combinatorial optimization, including binary/integer programming, network flow models, assignment problems, and constraint formulation. Familiarity with Quadratic Unconstrained Binary Optimization (QUBO), quantum annealing, or quantum computing is an asset, but not strictly required if the student has a strong optimization background and willingness to learn.
Strong programming skills are required, preferably in Python, with experience in data processing, optimization libraries, and working with large network or tabular datasets.
82. Réplication expérimentale de l'expérience de coïncidence de faisceau divisé pour l'interaction onde-matière
Supervisor: Halim Boutayeb
University: Université du Québec en Outaouais (Gatineau campus)
Ce projet de recherche s'inscrit dans le domaine des fondements de la science quantique et vise à répliquer l'expérience de coïncidence de faisceau divisé (beam-split coincidence experiment) initialement développée par le chercheur Eric S. Reiter. L'objectif est d'analyser de manière critique et rigoureuse les mécanismes d'interaction onde-matière et le comportement des détecteurs face à des rayonnements discrets (quanta).
Le projet consiste à mettre en place un banc d'essai expérimental de haute précision comprenant des sources de radiation spécifiques, un système de division de faisceau et des capteurs de détection de coïncidence hautement sensibles à l'échelle subatomique. Alors que l'interprétation conventionnelle repose sur le postulat probabiliste de la mécanique quantique standard, cette recherche explore un modèle alternatif basé sur un seuil de charge classique au sein des détecteurs.
Le stagiaire sera responsable de l'assemblage du dispositif, de l'étalonnage des instruments dans des conditions de laboratoire hautement contrôlées et de l'acquisition des données de mesure. En mesurant précisément les taux de coïncidence, ce projet vise à apporter un éclairage nouveau sur la nature du photon et sur les processus de détection quantique. Les résultats expérimentaux seront confrontés aux modèles théoriques existants.
Cette réplication minutieuse, réalisée en collaboration consultative avec Eric S. Reiter, permettra de documenter les limites et les zones de convergence entre la théorie ondulatoire classique et les formalismes quantiques. Les retombées du projet touchent directement l'amélioration de la précision des capteurs quantiques et la compréhension fondamentale de l'instrumentation de mesure.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: Mon domaine de recherche englobe l'électromagnétisme computationnel, la modélisation des ondes, la conception d'antennes et l'électronique radiofréquence (RF). Je m'intéresse particulièrement à l'application rigoureuse des modèles ondulatoires classiques et aux frontières de l'interaction onde-matière. Notre laboratoire développe des bancs d'essai expérimentaux pour analyser les mécanismes de détection à l'échelle photonique, contribuant ainsi à l'étude fondamentale des phénomènes de coïncidence et à la validation des modèles théoriques qui sous-tendent les technologies et capteurs quantiques actuels.
Student roles: Le stagiaire Globalink jouera un rôle de premier plan dans l'exécution de ce projet de métrologie et de physique quantique expérimentale. Ses responsabilités principales seront :
- Analyse technique : S'approprier le protocole expérimental de l'expérience de Reiter à travers la littérature scientifique disponible et participer aux discussions scientifiques avec l'équipe de supervision. - Montage du banc d'essai : Manipuler et assembler les équipements de laboratoire, incluant les sources d'émission, les séparateurs de faisceau et les modules de détection de coïncidence de photons. - Contrôle de l'environnement : Assurer le calibrage rigoureux des instruments pour garantir des mesures stables et éliminer les bruits de fond qui perturbent les signaux à l'échelle quantique. - Campagne de mesures : Mener de façon autonome et systématique les expériences de coïncidence et archiver les données brutes. - Analyse des signaux : Développer des scripts (MATLAB/Python) pour traiter les statistiques de détection et comparer les résultats avec les prédictions des modèles classiques et quantiques. - Valorisation : Rédiger un rapport de recherche rigoureux contribuant à la préparation d'une publication scientifique majeure.
Skills required: Nous recherchons un étudiant de premier cycle avancé (3e ou 4e année) ou en début de master, ayant une solide formation en physique générale, en électromagnétisme ou en génie électrique. Des compétences pratiques en laboratoire (manipulation d'instruments de mesure, oscilloscopes, systèmes d'acquisition de données) sont indispensables. Une familiarité avec la théorie des ondes et des notions de base en programmation (MATLAB ou Python) pour le traitement des données seront de grands atouts. Le candidat doit être minutieux, autonome et rigoureux.
83. Search for dark matter with the Belle II experiment
Supervisor: Christopher Hearty
University: University of British Columbia (Vancouver campus)
The production of dark matter in the laboratory, or the production of the particles that connect dark matter to Standard Model particles, is expected to be a rare process, due to the feeble coupling between dark matter and Standard Model particles. (Standard Model particles comprise all ordinary matter, including electrons and protons). The Belle II experiment has recorded ten's of billions of electron-positron annihilations; these could includ the dark matter events we are searching for. The project is to develop the software and analysis tools to distinguish this tiny signal from the vast background of Standard Model interactions. We rely on simulated events (electron-positron annihilations) of both signal and background to develop these methods. A related, and critical task, is to characterize how well the simulated detector represents the real one.
The project uses data from the Belle II experiment, which is located at the SuperKEKB electron-positron collider in Tsukuba, Japan. The project itself is located at the University of British Columbia, in Vancouver, Canada.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: Experimental particle physics
Student roles: The student will work with postdoctoral fellows and graduate students of the University of British Columbia Belle II group to characterize the signatures of dark matter processes in the Belle II detector, and to distinguish them from background processes. Steps include producing simulated signal events, developing tools to extract possible events of interest from the large Belle II data set (100's of PB of data), and using data analysis and visualization techniques to search for the events within this extracted sample. The analysis techniques may include machine learning. The student will use statistical techniques to quantify the significance of possible signals.
Skills required: Undergraduate-level coursework in quantum mechanics is required, along with an introduction to special relativity. Experience with data analysis or programming in Python or C++ is useful, but not required. The project may require the development of machine learning tools; an interest or experience in this area is advantageous.
84. Simulation of a bowed string for musical acoustics
Supervisor: Behrooz Yousefzadeh
University: Concordia University (Montréal campus)
When a bow is drawn across a string, the interaction between the bow and string is governed by friction forces that give rise to self-sustained oscillations. The complexity of this interaction has made the bowed string one of the most studied systems in musical acoustics. The resulting motion is responsible for the sound produced by instruments such as the violin, viola and cello.
This project will investigate how different friction models influence the behavior of the bowed string. The focus is on developing numerical simulations of a bowed-string model and understanding the role of commonly used friction laws in shaping the string motion. Emphasis will be placed on the musically relevant range of bowing parameters, such as bow force and bow speed. The project will examine both the transient response, which describes how the string motion develops after bowing begins, and the steady-state response, which determines the long-term vibration patterns and sound production.
The work will provide insight into the role of friction modeling in predicting the onset of stable oscillations, the emergence of alternative vibration regimes, and transitions between different types of string motion. The project combines concepts from musical acoustics, nonlinear dynamics, and computational modeling.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: I specialize in understanding the dynamic behavior of nonlinear structures and systems. Nonlinear phenomena can be difficult to predict and analyze, but they often bring fascinating surprises with them. Examples include formation of waves that do not change their shape as they propagate, localization of energy within a structure, and pattern formation in mechanical systems. I use a combination of experimental, numerical and analytical approaches in my research projects.
Student roles: The student will review the relevant literature, perform numerical simulations of bowed-string models with different friction laws, and analyze the resulting vibration patterns. The student will participate in regular meetings, present progress, and contribute to the interpretation of the results.
Skills required: Students with strong backgrounds in mathematics and physics are encouraged to apply. The successful candidate will specifically have a strong background in differential equations, including their numerical analysis. An interest in acoustics and vibrations is desirable. Prior experience with MATLAB or Python will be a great asset.
85. Single-particle tracking microscopy to understand the physical organization of bacterial cell shape
Bacteria are surrounded by a rigid shell, the peptidoglycan cell wall, a single covalently linked macromolecule that gives the cell its shape and size. For cells to grow and change cell shape, dedicated proteins/enzymes need to cut covalent bonds in the cell wall and insert new cell-wall material. The question we address in this project: Can we see how a particular enzyme known to cut the cell wall contributes to the enlargement of the cell wall. To study this question we have labeled individual proteins with fluorescent labels, and we can follow their motion using single-particle tracking (SPT) in laser-based TIRF microscopy. We hypothesize that proteins transition between different states of motion: diffusive, immobile, or persistently moving. These different motion types can give us indirect information about where the molecules are active, how long they are bound to their substrate or to other enzymes, whether binding/unbinding are cooperative or require the presence of partners. However, the analysis of different motion states is complicated by noise. To interpret noisy single-particle tracks, we recently developed a statistical analysis pipeline (github.com/vanTeeffelenLab/ExTrack). In this project the student will use SPT and image analysis to characterize the motion of a particular fluorescently labeled enzyme and learn if and how it contributes to cell growth.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: Our interdisciplinary lab uses approaches from both physics and biology to understand how bacteria control their cell shape during growth. Cell shape is physically determined by the cell envelope and notably by the peptidoglycan cell wall. To learn how cells control envelope geometry, architecture, and physical integrity we study cells at the single-cell level using live-cell imaging. We then measure and perturb processes and variables ranging from cell-cycle progression, mechanical forces, and biomass growth, to single-protein movement. Since the cell envelope is also one of the major targets for antibiotic theory, our work ultimately helps to develop better antibacterial strategies.
Student roles: The student will conduct, under supervision and training from a senior lab member: - operation of a custom TIRF microscope for single-particle tracking microscopy - bacterial cell culture - sample preparation - microscopy, including TIRF adjustment, choice of imaging parameters, etc - computational image analysis using ExTrack - various physical and chemical perturbations of the celll - optionally, the student can also be involved in the generation of relatively simple genetic manipulations of the bacterial strain of interest - Finally, we aim to interpret the data in terms of theoretical models of enzyme activity and growth
Skills required: The student needs to have a strong quantitative background in physics, engineering, or a related discipline, with experience in coding (preferably python and matlab). Additionally, prior education in biophysics is a big plus. Experience with cell-biology is not strictly required but of helpful. Most importantly, the student needs to bring a keen interest to understand phenomena in fundamental biology using advanced quantitative experimental approaches.
86. Slippery When Yielded: Investigating the Flow of Yield Stress Fluids over Superhydrophobic Surfaces
Supervisor: Seyed Mohammad Taghavi
University: Université Laval (Québec campus)
Location: Quebec, Québec
Start date: 2027-05-10 (flexible)
Disciplines: Physics, Engg-Chemical, Engg-Civil, Engg-Mechanical, Engg-Petroleum, Engineering, Engg-Materials, Engg-Geological, Engg-Metallurgical, Engg-Electrical, Engg-Environmental, Engg-Fuel, Engg-Industrial, Engg-Manufacturing, Engg-Mineral, Engg-Mining, Engg-Aeronautical, Engg-Biological, Engg-Biomedical, Engg-Ceramic, Engg-Computer, Engg-Software, Engg-Systems and Technology, English Literature
Yield stress fluids are a class of non-Newtonian fluids that exhibit a threshold for applied stress, known as the yield stress. When the applied stress exceeds the yield stress, the material behaves like a viscous fluid, while below the yield stress, the material acts as a rigid solid. Examples of yield stress fluids include waxy crude oil, foamed cement and cement slurry, food products like chocolate cream and jam, and cosmetic products such as moisturizing cream.
Superhydrophobic surfaces are surfaces that exhibit exceptional slipperiness when liquid flows over them, offering a range of new applications such as drag reduction and flow handling in microfluidic devices. The flow of yield stress fluids over superhydrophobic surfaces has current applications in the synthesis of biofluids in microfluidic devices and potential applications such as drag reduction for the flow of waxy crude oil through pipelines.
This internship project aims to investigate the flow of yield stress fluids in channels lined with superhydrophobic walls. The primary objective is to characterize the slip property of the flow in contact with the wall, represented by a slip length. The flow configuration will be a pressure-driven channel flow, also known as Poiseuille flow, of yield stress fluids with superhydrophobic walls. The Herschel-Bulkley model will be used to model the yield stress fluid, and micro-scale groovy patterns will be created on the wall surface to fabricate the superhydrophobic wall, allowing the fluid to slip.
Despite the potential for practical applications, there is a lack of research on the slip characteristics of non-Newtonian fluids over superhydrophobic surfaces. This project aims to fill this gap by employing mathematical modeling, numerical simulations, and experimental measurements to investigate the slip characteristics for the flow of yield stress fluids over superhydrophobic surfaces.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: At the Laboratory of Complex Fluids Research (LCFR), our primary interest is complex fluid dynamics research to solve problems of industrial relevance, by adopting experimental, analytical and computational techniques, together providing a deeper understanding. Areas in which we will look for new research challenges include but are not limited to fluid mechanics, multiphase flows, non-Newtonian flows, suspension flows, polymer flows, micro, nano and bio-fluidics, and interdisciplinary fluid dynamics applications. The students will receive world-class training in fluid mechanics and perform exciting experiment, while working with a strong research team in a collaborative environment.
Student roles: In our laboratory, the students will be part of large, motivated team to perform exciting experiments. The students will be responsible to design experimental setups, perform careful experiments, analyze data, write post-processing codes, and write reports. The student will receive training in fluid mechanics, rheology, experiments, etc. The student will be working with graduate students and postdoctoral fellows on a day-to-day basis.
Skills required: * The student must be familiar with fluid mechanics and understand its concepts. * The student must be also willing to perform laboratory experiments.
* The student needs to have a high GPA.
* The student needs to be hard-working person.
* The student needs to be passionate about research.
87. Sources laser ultra-cohérentes utilisant des matériaux nanostructurés
Le laser est une source de lumière très polyvalente utilisée dans d'innombrables disciplines, telles que l'information quantique, les mesures de haute précision, les télécommunications à haut débit, l'usinage industriel et les traitements médicaux. Les propriétés d'émission des lasers diffèrent considérablement de celles des sources lumineuses conventionnelles en raison de leur cohérence très élevée provenant de l'émission stimulée. Un laser est constitué d'un matériau luminescent placé à l'intérieur d'un résonateur et excité par un mécanisme de pompage. L'émission stimulée et l'amplification de la lumière se produisent lorsque celle-ci circule entre les deux miroirs du résonateur. Dans certains cas, comme pour les lidars, les télécommunications à haut débit ou la spectroscopie de haute précision, il est important que le laser émette à une fréquence unique et avec une largeur de raie très étroite. Cependant, comme les cavités laser conventionnelles émettent un spectre contenant plusieurs raies de fréquence distinctes, il est alors nécessaire d'ajouter des éléments de filtrage à l'intérieur du résonateur pour éliminer les fréquences indésirables. Nous avons récemment découvert qu'il est possible d'obtenir une émission monomode en forçant les états propres de polarisation du résonateur à fusionner en un seul état propre, également appelé point exceptionnel. Nous avons également découvert que des métamatériaux en couches minces spécialement conçus pouvaient réaliser cette émission. Ce projet vise à concevoir et à produire une puce laser émettant à une fréquence unique à l'aide de miroirs laser nanostructurés. Sous la supervision active de son tuteur, la personne étudiante construira et testera des dispositifs laser équipés de miroirs aux propriétés optiques particulières. Elle acquerra les notions fondamentales de la science des lasers. Elle sera également initiée aux techniques de dépôt de matériaux nanostructurés et de miroirs à réseau résonant.
Références :
1. https://doi.org/10.1515/nanoph-2022-0783 https://arxiv.org/abs/2105.06836
2. https://opg.optica.org/josab/abstract.cfm?uri=josab-42-5-1077
3. https://opg.optica.org/optcon/fulltext.cfm?uri=optcon-4-2-295&id=567621
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: Mes recherches visent à accroître la cohérence des lasers afin de focaliser la lumière sur une tache plus fine, d'obtenir une largeur de raie spectrale plus étroite ou de produire des impulsions lumineuses plus courtes. Pour ce faire, j'utilise les techniques de dépôt de couches minces et de nanofabrication pour créer des surfaces optiques originales qui, intégrées à un dispositif laser, améliorent sa cohérence et sa stabilité. Nos dispositifs laser peuvent ensuite être utilisés avantageusement dans les capteurs, en télédétection (notamment pour les lidars), ainsi qu'en optique non linéaire, en spectroscopie de haute précision et en télécommunications.
Student roles: Sous la supervision active du professeur, la personne étudiante réalisera les tâches suivantes :
1) Introduction aux techniques de dépôt de couches minces et à la fabrication de miroirs nanostructurés. 2) Caractérisation des propriétés optiques de la source de pompage, des miroirs anisotropes et des matériaux luminescents. 3) Expérimentations avec le prototype laser : a. Préparation du montage expérimental, c'est-à-dire alignement du résonateur laser, du matériau actif et du dispositif de pompage ; b. Acquisition et analyse des données d'oscillation du laser, avec une attention particulière portée au spectre de sortie et à la longueur de cohérence de l'émission laser ; d'autres propriétés d'émission du laser, telles que le seuil d'oscillation, l'état de polarisation et la puissance de sortie, présentent également un intérêt. c. En fonction de son profil et de ses centres d'intérêt, la personne étudiante participera à l'élaboration d'un montage optique pour la stabilisation active de la fréquence d'émission du laser afin d'atteindre la largeur de raie spectrale limite quantique (limite de Schawlow-Townes).
Skills required: La peronne étudiante devra posséder les compétences et qualités suivantes : 1) un vif intérêt pour la physique fondamentale et expérimentale ; 2) des connaissances de base en optique, par exemple un cours d'introduction ; 3) des connaissances de base en programmation, par exemple Matlab, Python, etc. ; 4) un esprit critique ; 5) le souci du détail ; 6) une aptitude au travail d'équipe.
88. Spin density wave order and its non-equilibrium dynamics in the nickelates
Rare-earth and multilayer nickelates are quantum materials in which electrons can organize into collective states, including spin density wave order, charge order, metal–insulator transitions, and superconductivity. This project will investigate spin density wave order in PrNiO3 and/or La3Ni2O7 single crystals using resonant x-ray scattering data that has already been collected at synchrotron and x-ray free-electron laser facilities.
The central goal is to understand how magnetic order develops in these materials and how it responds when driven out of equilibrium by an ultrafast laser pulse on femtosecond-to-picosecond timescales. By comparing equilibrium and time-resolved measurements, the project will explore how spin density wave order is connected to the structural, electronic, and superconducting properties of nickelates. The work will be entirely literature- and code-based, focused on analyzing and modelling existing datasets rather than collecting new experimental data.
This project is well suited for a student interested in quantum materials, magnetism, superconductivity, ultrafast science, and scientific programming. It will provide experience with modern x-ray scattering methods, non-equilibrium phenomena, and the interpretation of experimental data from large-scale research facilities.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: My research focuses on quantum materials in which electrons spontaneously organize into ordered phases, such as spin density waves, charge order, and superconductivity. I use resonant x-ray scattering, angle resolved photoemission spectroscopy and ultrafast pump–probe techniques to study how these collective electronic states form, interact, and respond to external perturbations. A central goal is to understand how magnetic and electronic order are connected to high-temperature superconductivity in the cuprates and nickelates, and how these orders can be controlled on ultrafast timescales.
Student roles: The student will contribute to the project by helping transform existing resonant x-ray scattering datasets into physical insight about spin density wave order in nickelates. Their role will begin with a guided literature review on magnetic order, superconductivity, and resonant scattering in rare-earth and multilayer nickelates. Based on this background, the student will help identify relevant theoretical expectations and experimental signatures to compare with the available data.
The student will then develop and apply analysis code for analyzing equilibrium and time-resolved scattering measurements. This may include organizing datasets, subtracting backgrounds, fitting peak positions, widths, and intensities, extracting/fitting temperature- or time-dependent order parameters, and visualizing results. Depending on interest and progress, the student may also help implement simple simulations of resonant scattering signals, polarization dependence, reciprocal-space peak shapes, or pump–probe dynamics.
The student will meet regularly with the supervisor to discuss progress, troubleshoot analysis approaches, and connect the results to the underlying physics. By the end of the internship, the student is expected to summarize their findings in a set of figures, documented analysis code, and a brief presentation or written summary for the research group.
Skills required: Applicants should have a background in physics, materials science, electrical engineering, chemistry, or a related field, with an interest in condensed matter physics. Prior experience with scientific programming, especially in Python, MATLAB, or similar languages, is highly desirable. Familiarity with data analysis, numerical modelling, or reciprocal space would be an asset, but is not required. The student should be comfortable reading scientific literature, working independently, and developing code to analyze complex experimental datasets.
89. Spin manipulation and imaging for ultra-cold gas dynamics
Supervisor: Jeffrey McGuirk
University: Simon Fraser University (Burnaby campus)
This project will create novel potentials in which to study the dynamics of ultra-cold atoms. Complicated optical patterns will be created by manipulating laser light with spatial light modulators. The key idea is that electromagnetic fields of a laser can alter the energy and polarization in atoms. These perturbations affect interactions between atoms, through electromagnetic forces and quantum mechanical exchange symmetries. By tuning the frequency, intensity, polarization, and, most importantly, spatial distribution of laser light, a host of interesting new dynamical behaviors can be observed in ultra-cold gases, including spin waves, magnetic instabilities, and long-range ordering in magnetic domains. The focus of this project will be using optical patterning techniques to create novel spatial and time-dependent optical profiles for manipulating a quantum gas, and also to perform simulations and analysis of atomic dynamics.
Both computational and experimental techniques will be used for this project. The project will involve computer control of devices for optical manipulation, installation of lasers and optical elements required for manipulating ultracold atoms, and testing of the system. Opportunities for computational numerical simulations and machine learning predictions may arise, as well as working with atom-imaging systems and image-processing algorithms too.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: The McGuirk group is an atomic physics laboratory working with the coldest matter in the universe. We use laser cooling and evaporative cooling techniques to bring gases to near absolute zero temperature, where quantum mechanical effects become important. At such low temperatures, gases cease behaving like classical gases and act as quantum objects, called Bose-Einstein condensates. Our recent work has focused on dynamical properties of out-of-equilibrium gases - quantum fluid dynamics - particularly spontaneous magnetization, spin waves, non-classical diffusion, domain formation, and magnetic instabilities in these quantum systems.
Student roles: The student will work independently as well as hand-in-hand with other lab members to achieve the project goals and will become familiar with techniques involving lasers and optics, ultrahigh vacuum systems, electronic control systems, microwave and rf spectroscopy, and image processing and analysis.
Skills required: Students must be pursuing a degree in Physics or a closely related discipline. This project requires knowledge of some quantum mechanics and electromagnetism. Experience working with experimental optical systems, python or Matlab, or other general experimental physics experience is advantageous, but is not required.
90. Spin-exchange optical-pumping method for nuclear spin polarization of radioactive isotopes
Supervisor: Ruohong Li
University: St. Mary's University (Halifax campus)
Situated at TRIUMF, Canada’s Particle Accelerator Centre, the polarizer facility is one of a few in the world, that can provide access to short-lived, highly spin-polarized beams of radioactive isotopes. This facility has opened unique avenues to investigate material properties, life science, nuclear structures, and fundamental symmetries. With the recent expansion of users and facilities, more novel polarized beams are highly demanded, such as nuclear-spin polarized 230,232Ac and 58,74Cu, with promising applications to biomedical science, e.g., Alzheimer’s disease and cancer treatment. The beam development challenges are unknown/limited information on electronic structure and properties.
To avoid the challenges associated with measuring the atomic properties of exotic isotopes, we propose a universal polarization technique based on spin-exchange optical pumping. In this approach, alkali atoms, such as Rb, are first optically pumped to achieve a high degree of spin polarization. A fast beam of the isotope of interest is then directed through the spin-polarized Rb vapor, where polarization is transferred to the radioactive ions through spin-exchange interactions. Using polarized Rb vapor as an intermediary eliminates the need for isotope-specific optical pumping schemes and detailed knowledge of the atomic structure of each isotope. This approach significantly simplifies the laser system by requiring only a single optical pumping setup while providing a broadly applicable method to produce polarized radioactive isotope beams. The technique is particularly attractive for exotic isotopes whose atomic transition frequencies and hyperfine structures are poorly known or have not yet been measured.
The student's project will focus on applying a Faraday rotation system to measure the spin polarization of Rb vapor optically pumped by a Ti:Sa laser. By systematically varying the properties of the laser, including its power and beam diameter, the student will investigate the experimental conditions that maximize Rb polarization.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: My research mainly focuses on:
1) laser nuclear-spin polarization to provide highly nuclear-spin-polarized beams to material science, nuclear physics, and life science studies;
2) use collinear laser spectroscopy and resonance laser ionization spectroscopy to study atomic (autoionizing states and electron correlation) and nuclear properties (charge radii and nuclear moments);
3) develop efficient laser ionization schemes to provide highly purified isotopic/isomeric beams, especially of exotic isotopes, to nuclear and astrophysics studies.
Student roles: - The student will gain an understanding of the principles of optical pumping and Faraday rotation. - The student will learn how to use continuous-wave Ti:Sa and diode laser and polarizing optics. - The student will have the opportunity to participate in online polarized-beam experiments and contribute to ongoing research activities.
Skills required: The student is required to have a physics background. Completion of courses in quantum physics/atomic physics/optics will be ideal.
91. Stabilized Homodyne Readout for Squeezed-Light Quantum Sensing
This project develops stabilized homodyne readout and automated measurement tools for squeezed-light quantum sensing experiments. The student will work with an optical parametric oscillator and balanced homodyne detection platform to measure phase-sensitive optical noise, diagnose technical limitations, and implement reproducible measurement protocols.
The project will focus on moving from component-level characterization to system-level squeezed-light measurement. Possible tasks include measuring squeezing and anti-squeezing spectra, automating local-oscillator phase scans, improving optical mode matching, implementing slow feedback or locking for stable homodyne readout, and comparing measured spectra with input-output models of the optical parametric oscillator.
Depending on progress, the student may also help implement a simple quantum-sensing measurement, such as detecting a weak phase or amplitude modulation using coherent and squeezed-light references. This will involve calibrated noise measurements, signal-response measurements, and analysis of how loss, phase noise, detector noise, and imperfect locking affect the observed sensitivity.
The expected outcome is a reproducible workflow for squeezed-light measurements: automated data acquisition, calibrated noise spectra, stability diagnostics, comparison with a theoretical model, and clear identification of the technical limitations that must be improved for quantum-enhanced sensing.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: We work on experimental quantum optics and precision optical measurement, with a focus on squeezed light, balanced homodyne detection, optical parametric oscillators, and information-efficient sensing. We are interested in how quantum states of light can be generated, measured, and used to extract physical information beyond classical noise limits. Our work combines free-space optics, optical cavities, low-noise photodetection, feedback control, RF/electronic measurement, and statistical modeling of optical signals and noise.
Student roles: The student will contribute directly to the development of a squeezed-light measurement platform. Their role will be to operate, improve, automate, and quantitatively analyze one or more parts of the homodyne-readout and optical-parametric-oscillator measurement chain.
Possible responsibilities include aligning the local oscillator and signal beam for balanced homodyne detection, optimizing optical mode matching, measuring squeezing and anti-squeezing spectra, automating local-oscillator phase scans, acquiring noise spectra from oscilloscopes or spectrum analyzers, and developing Python-based scripts for repeatable data collection and analysis. The student may also perform targeted detector or electronics characterization when needed to diagnose technical limitations, such as excess electronic noise, detector saturation, imperfect common-mode rejection, bandwidth limits, or phase instability.
If the student has suitable electronics or control experience, they may help implement feedback loops for cavity locking, local-oscillator phase stabilization, or RF modulation using PID controllers, Red Pitaya/PyRPL, microcontrollers, or Python-controlled instruments.
By the end of the internship, the student is expected to deliver a documented experimental workflow, calibrated data, reusable code or procedures, and a clear technical summary of the current measurement performance, dominant noise sources, and next steps toward a quantum sensing demonstration.
Skills required: The ideal student has hands-on experience or a strong interest in optics, lasers, optical cavities, photodetection, analog/RF electronics, feedback control, or instrument automation. Useful skills include Python, Matlab, LabVIEW, oscilloscopes, spectrum analyzers, function generators, PID control, Red Pitaya/PyRPL, signal processing, and Fourier/noise analysis. Prior experience with quantum optics or squeezed light is helpful but not required. More important is evidence of careful experimental work, debugging ability, quantitative reasoning, and willingness to document measurements clearly.
92. Statistical physics of large-scale circulations in thermal convection
Supervisor: Joseph Fitzgerald
University: Memorial University of Newfoundland (St. John's campus)
Thermal convection occurs when a fluid is heated from below or cooled from above. An everyday example is heating a pot of water on the stovetop: Even before the water begins to boil one can observe circulations in the pot that are driven by buoyancy. Fluid near the bottom of the pot is heated by the stove and undergoes thermal expansion, reducing its density. The resulting buoyant forces cause this less-dense fluid to rise to the top, generating a circulation that transports heat from the bottom to the top. Convection is a crucial mechanism of heat transport for systems ranging from cooling systems to the ocean and atmosphere, the Earth's mantle, and the interiors of stars. One of the most central questions in convection physics is how much heat transport is generated for a given temperature difference across the system (say, the difference between a stars core temperature and the temperature in the outermost layer). Previous work has found that turbulent unmixing can play a major role in determining this heat transport due to the development of what are called 'large-scale circulations' (LSCs) in convecting fluids. In turbulent convection, heat is transported by turbulent plumes that carry heat from the hot to cold regions. These plumes are primarily vertical due to their buoyancy. LSCs, on the other hand, are horizontal flows near the boundaries of the fluid that are generated spontaneously by turbulent unmixing, which concentrates horizontal momentum near the boundaries. These horizontal flows deflect the rising turbulent plumes, preventing them from moving vertically and reducing heat transport. No accepted theory exists for the generation of LSCs. In this project, we will combine high-performance computing with a statistical theory of turbulence to try to develop fundamental physical theory for LSCs and their effect on h
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: The primary focus of my group is the role of turbulence in the atmosphere/ocean/climate system. We are all familiar with turbulence (very complex fluid flow) from everyday experiences such as stirring milk into coffee. When we stir coffee with a spoon, the resulting complex flow mixes the milk and creates a uniform fluid. Surprisingly, turbulence can also have the opposite effect: generating structure and inhomogeneity from a uniform background. This phenomenon is called 'turbulent unmixing' and is the reason for the striped patterns observable on Jupiter. Our work investigates the physics of turbulent unmixing from a statistical and computational perspective.
Student roles: During the first phase of the project, the student will use existing software to run high-resolution simulations of turbulent convection on high-performance computing systems. Working closely with the supervisor, the student will become familiar with the equations governing convection, numerical simulation methods, and techniques for analyzing simulation data. The student will develop a data-analysis pipeline to study the formation, equilibration, and structure of large-scale circulations (LSCs) and to quantify their effect on heat transport.
During the second phase of the project, the student will work with the supervisor to learn how statistical physics can be applied to turbulence and convection. The student will use computational tools to solve and analyze statistical models of convection and will compare the predictions of these models with results from high-resolution simulations. Using this combination of theory and simulation, the student will investigate the physical mechanisms responsible for the formation of LSCs and their interactions with turbulent thermal plumes.
Through this work, the student will gain experience in scientific programming, high-performance computing, numerical simulations, data analysis, and the application of statistical physics to complex fluid flows. The project is designed to provide experience with both computational and theoretical approaches to modern research in fluid dynamics.
At the end of the project, the student will present their results as part of our annual summer undergraduate research symposium and will prepare a short written report describing the project's findings and future directions.
Skills required: Extensive prior experience with fluid dynamics (e.g., the Navier–Stokes equations) is not required. Students from physics, mathematics, engineering, computer science, or related disciplines are encouraged to apply.
Essential skills:
- Programming experience (we will use Python, but any programming experience is acceptable). - Strong working knowledge of multivariable and vector calculus (e.g., gradients and divergence). - Familiarity with ordinary differential equations and basic mathematical modeling. - Interest in applying mathematics and computation to physical systems.
Beneficial but not required:
- Prior coursework in fluid mechanics. - Familiarity with partial differential equations - Familiarity with high-performance computing - Experience with simulations
93. Study of collective excitations in superfluid helium
Supervisor: Valery Milner
University: University of British Columbia (Vancouver campus)
MAIN OBJECTIVE. Our research is focused on expanding the boundaries of controlling quantum systems with light. Specifically, we develop new methods of exciting extreme rotational states of molecules – the so called “molecular super-rotors”, and investigate the effects of ultra-fast rotation on the quantum systems of interest, e.g. superfluid helium and helium nanodroplets.
BACKGROUND. Control of molecular rotation has been long recognized and successfully used as a powerful tool for steering chemical reactions, imaging individual molecular orbitals, generating extreme ultraviolet radiation, deflecting molecular beams and separating molecular isotopes. Recent theoretical studies have indicated enormous potential of extending the reach of rotational control to ultra-high rotational states. Ultrafast molecular spinning has been predicted to change the character of molecular collisions with solid surfaces, alter molecular trajectories in external fields and suppress collisional decoherence. New ways of molecular cooling and selective chemical bond breaking by inducing super rotation have been suggested. Yet, owing to the challenges of bringing a large number of molecules to fast synchronous rotation, very little experimental work has been done on molecular super rotors.
METHODOLOGY. Our research team is developing two new approaches to ultrafast rotational control of molecules. (1) We have recently built an “optical centrifuge” in which molecular rotation is achieved by forcing the molecules to follow the rotating polarization of a laser field. Using the centrifuge technique, we have succeeded in producing, observing and controlling molecular rotors inside superfluid helium. (2) We are also developing a method of exciting extreme rotational states with high-power ultra-short pulse trains. Each laser pulse in the train exerts a small torque on a molecule, making it rotate toward the field polarization. The cumulative effect of multiple pulses enables one to induce fast molecular rotation without breaking the molecule apart. The rotating molecule is used as a nano-probe.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: Superfluid helium;
Optical Centrifuge;
Quantum coherent control;
Light-matter interaction;
Control of molecular dynamics;
Femtosecond pulse shaping;
Student roles: The successful candidate will assist a senior Research Associate in carrying out a series of laser experiments aimed at the research topics outlined in the Project Description. Daily activities will include optical alignment of various laser components, troubleshooting laboratory electronics, collecting and processing data.
Skills required: We are looking for a senior student with experience in the field of optics. Familiarity with cryogenics lasers, vacuum systems, mechanical design and numerical analysis is a plus, although not a must.
94. Study of entanglement generation and quantum frequency conversion via nonlinear optical devices / Étude de la génération d'intrication quantique et de la conversion de fréquence quantique via des dispositifs optiques non linéaires
Supervisor: Stefania Sciara
University: École de Technologie Supérieure (Montréal campus)
Quantum photonics offers a versatile platform for quantum communications. Photons possess numerous degrees of freedom, such as temporal and frequency modes, that can be used to encode and transmit information between two or more nodes of a network. Furthermore, photon generation and transmission is compatible with integrated architectures and standard optical fibres. A crucial phenomenon for quantum communications is entanglement, which enables information transmission between the nodes of the networks even in absence of a physical communication channel. as in quantum state teleportation. Despite these advantages, the use of entangled photons for quantum communications is hampered by fundamental and technological challenges, primarily related to losses and the relatively low emission rate of photon pairs.
This project focuses on the study of nonlinear optical processes for entangled photon state generation in time, spectral and spatial domains, and quantum frequency conversion (up-conversion and down-conversion) techniques in waveguide-based devices. The goal is to explore and understand the physical and technical properties necessary to minimize photon losses and increase the generation rates. To this end, the project will comprise an intensive study of the physics of entangled photons, as well as of parameters like the quality factor, the frequency resonance, the bus-to-ring gap, the evanescent coupling towards optimizing two-photon generation via third-order nonlinear media (e.g., silicon-based waveguides and micro rings). At the same time, optical properties like birefringence, ordinary and extraordinary axes in second-order nonlinear crystals (e.g., lithium niobate) will be considered to utilize these devices as entanglement sources and/or for quantum frequency conversion. Beside optical properties and device technology, this project will pay attention to the physics of entangled photons themselves, for instance, by exploring entanglement in multiple degrees of freedom and how such entanglement can play a role in reducing optical losses and increasing the generation rates.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: My research area covers quantum optics and photonics, in particular, the fundamentals of photonic entanglement along with its exploration and use for quantum communications. I conduct research on entanglement in more degrees of freedom, like time, frequency and spatial modes, and how they can be combined coherently to deliver complex entangled photon states suitable for quantum communication purposes, including quantum repeaters and quantum memories. In parallel, my research covers the realization of time and frequency entanglement via nonlinear integrated optical waveguides and their transmission over single-mode fibres for quantum communication protocols like entanglement distribution and quantum state teleportation.
Student roles: This project will involve two students. Along with the review of relevant literature and academic textbooks provided by Prof. Sciara, the students will study the physics of entangled photons and of non-linear optical phenomena like second-/third-harmonic generation, parametric up- and down-conversion and spontaneous four-wave mixing. The students will analyze the response of third- and second-order materials when subjected to laser-induced excitations, with the scope of understanding the best conditions to generate entangled photons and to convert frequencies (e.g., visible to infrared). One student will focus on and master physical quantities like the quality factor, the frequency resonance, the bus-to-ring gap, the evanescent coupling in, e.g., silicon-based waveguides and resonators. In parallel, the other student will focus on and master optical properties like birefringence, ordinary and extraordinary axes in second-order nonlinear crystals (e.g., periodically-poled or thin-film lithium niobate). This internship will enable the students to deepen their knowledge in quantum physics and quantum optics, as well as to extend their computational skills to quantum photonic engineering. While the nature of the internship will be mostly theoretical, during this stage they will have the opportunity to get access to a research infrastructure in microelectronics, quantum optics and photonics at ÉTS, which would help them to acquire a better vision of experiments. Prof. Sciara is part indeed of the LACIME laboratory, which hosts state-of-the art equipment and scientific instruments like lasers, oscilloscopes, function generators, single-photon detectors, spectrum analyzers that can be occasionally used to reproduce some simulations. Furthermore, the students will have access to the computation and cloud servers offered by Calcul Québec (member of the Canadian Digital Research Alliance), as well as to online training offered by it.
Skills required: The students are required to have a background in physics and nonlinear optics, with at least a basic knowledge of quantum optics. Theoretical skills are required, along with extensive programming skills (Python, MATLAB, Wolfram Mathematica, or Ansys Lumerical) and proficiency in English and/or French. A basic laboratory experience is just welcomed. Much importance will be given to the intern’s motivation to learn new concepts, to fundamental research and to teamwork. Students in their final year of Physics or Physical Engineering are well suited for the project, but the position is also open to junior students with a background in optics.
95. Synthesis and Characterization of Quantum Materials
This project will involve the synthesis of new quantum spin liquid candidates in single crystal form using a variety of techniques such the optical floating zone furnace. The signatures of a quantum spin liquid include the absence of magnetic order down to zero temperature and highly entangled spins. In this project we will use a variety of experimental techniques including x-ray diffraction (powder and single crystal), magnetic susceptibility, heat capacity, neutron scattering and possibly muon spin rotation/relaxation.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: My research area is the experimental study of quantum materials, concentrating on quantum spin liquid candidates and unconventional superconductors. My group synthesizes new materials, often in single crystal form, then does both bulk characterization of structure, magnetic and thermodynamic properties, followed by detailed microscopic characterization using muon spin rotation/relaxation and neutron scattering
Student roles: The student will be involved in all aspects of this project. They will acquire hands-on experience with a variety of synthesis and characterization techniques. They will analyze data they collect on samples they have synthesized. The student will interact with myself and my graduate students and other undergraduate student researchers.
Skills required: The successful candidate for this role will have a good physics background, hopefully with some knowledge of quantum mechanics and condensed matter physics. Specific experimental skills can be learned during the internship, but some experience with data analysis would be helpful.
96. Synthesis and characterization of high-temperature superconductor thin films
Supervisor: Ke Zou
University: University of British Columbia (Vancouver campus)
New superconductors could have a tremendous impact on our society, for example by increasing the efficiency of energy storage and transport as global consumption continues to grow, or by providing the basis for next-generation quantum computers, to name only a few. In this research, our main goals are to grow atomic layers of new superconductors, increase their transition temperatures, and help shed light on the underlying mechanisms. Among the different families of new superconducting materials, we are focusing on iron-based materials in thin film forms, where superconductivity in single atomic layers was only discovered a few years ago. No one had imagined that an iron-based material could be a superconductor because of iron’s famous magnetic properties since the conventional wisdom said that magnetic moments would destroy superconductivity. Instead, the iron-based superconductors have a relatively simple structure and exhibit a surprisingly high transition temperature. Small changes to the crystal structure and substitution of some atoms with different elements have pushed the transition temperature even higher, and no one knows yet what the limits are.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: Superconductivity is one of the most interesting research topics in condensed matter physics and quantum materials nowadays, pushed by unexpected discoveries of new families of superconducting materials over the past 20 years. It almost seems like every material can be made superconducting, that is, go into a state of zero resistance, if “tweaked” appropriately. However, unlike conventional superconductors, whose theoretical description won Bardeen, Cooper, and Schrieffer the Nobel prize in 1972, these new materials continue to defy explanation and surprise researchers.
Student roles: Students who join us at the Quantum Materials Institute (QMI) will learn to grow films of iron-based superconductors by CVD/MBE and to study their physical properties like atomic structure and morphology using atomic force microscopy (AFM), a technique that is widely used in research and industry nowadays. Students will also learn how we characterize the chemical composition through X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and how we characterize the electronic properties such as the superconducting transition temperature and resistivity through magnetotransport measurements at low temperatures. There will be opportunities to interact with other groups studying quantum materials, a great environment that will help us investigate what makes these iron-based superconductors tick. Each student will have their own independent research project.
Skills required: We use chemical vapor deposition (CVD) as well as molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) for the synthesis of superconducting materials. CVD and MBE are film deposition techniques widely used for mass production of devices and circuits in the microelectronics industry that relies on controlled chemical reactions to produce the desired crystal. In addition, in CVD or MBE we can easily change the substrate or add a variety of materials to modify the conditions of growth that allow us to control the resulting film properties. Any related background in physics, chemistry, and materials science are welcome.
97. Terahertz conductivity of high-temperature superconductors
Supervisor: Steve Dodge
University: Simon Fraser University (Burnaby campus)
A MITACS student would take responsibility for measuring the terahertz conductivity of high-temperature superconductor samples, analyze the resulting data in light of current condensed matter theory, and prepare their work for publication. The student would learn the basic physics needed to understand the basic research motivation, perform terahertz time-domain measurements as a function of temperature, analyze the results, compare with existing theory, and prepare a draft publication.
References:
https://doi.org/10.1103/xbv7-3s3h
https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.96.024501
https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.98.054506
https://doi.org/10.1364/OE.417724
https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevResearch.2.013228
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: Our group uses femtosecond lasers to study the time-resolved optical properties of solids. In particular, we use terahertz time-domain spectroscopy to measure the conductivity of semiconductors, metals, and superconductors, as a function of both frequency and temperature. With this information we can experimentally determine the mobility of semiconductors, the carrier scattering lifetimes of metals, and the superfluid density of superconductors.
Student roles: Participating students will receive personalized training in terahertz time-domain spectroscopy, low-temperature measurements, and statistical data analysis, all directly from Steve Dodge. They will measure the terahertz transmission amplitude of selected materials as a function of frequency and temperature, and compare these measurements with theoretical predictions at the frontier of condensed matter physics. The successful student will prepare a draft manuscript for subsequent publication.
Successful MITACS students will participate in a vibrant undergraduate student research summer program at Simon Fraser University, which involves regular research talks by local researchers and international visitors. They will also be integrated fully into the Dodge research group, which includes presenting recent work at group meetings each week.
Skills required: Strong motivation and interest in physics are the main requirements. Experience in optics, low-temperature physics, statistical data analysis, and computer-controlled data acquisition are all helpful but not required.
98. Testing of a Fast Nonlinear Optical Microscope
Supervisor: Danielle Tokarz
University: St. Mary's University (Halifax campus)
Our research specializes in building laser scanning nonlinear optical microscopes to detect second harmonic generation (SHG) and third harmonic generation (THG) signals to serve as new non-invasive imaging modalities that reveal the localization and dynamic ultrastructure of live microscopic biological structures inside organ tissues for improved understanding of biological function, and to inspire new therapeutics. One of our microscope techniques, polarization-in, polarization-out SHG and THG (PIPO-SHG and PIPO-THG, respectively), makes use of motorized rotating plates: One to rotate the polarization of the laser light and another rotator to analyze the polarization of the harmonic signals. Although this technique works to achieve polarization-sensitive data, revealing nanometer scale ultrastructural changes, imaging using this technique is very slow, with one scan taking ~12 minutes.
Over the course of the past couple of years, we have been trying to improve the speed of this technique by performing fast modulation of the laser polarization. We have done this by incorporating two electro-optic modulators into the excitation pathway of the beam and timed them with the laser and detection scheme to obtain an entire period of polarization modulation at each scanned pixel.
We currently require a student to help with fast signal acquisition. We plan to implement photomultiplier tube amplitude measurements with new photomultiplier tubes timed to the repetition rate of the laser. We plan to achieve simultaneous sampling of the signal polarization profile by splitting the signal into 6 different polarization channels using prisms, enabling to measure all the Stokes parameters simultaneously at each laser pulse. We also require a student to test fast signal acquisition using a wide range of SHG and THG emitters including starch granules, semiconductor nanowires and collagenous tissues and compare these results to that of our original technique (PIPO-SHG and PIPO-THG).
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: We perform interdisciplinary research at the interface of biology, chemistry, physics and engineering. We develop new quantitative ultrafast laser nonlinear optical microscopy imaging techniques for analyzing the ultrastructure of biological and artificial microscopic systems. We are interested in characterizing how chemical and physical changes govern ultrastructural alterations during natural as well as artificial synthesis and degradation reactions in carbohydrate- and protein-dense natural and model systems. For example, we study the change in collagen ultrastructure during cancer initiation and progression as well as induced tendon injury sites from repeated tissue stretching and compression.
Student roles: The student will play a fundamental role in the continued improvement of a fast laser scanning nonlinear optical microscope to achieve polarization-sensitive data for ultrastructural characterization. The student will be required to learn how to align the laser through optical components. The student will be expected to be a proponent of laser safety and follow the laser safety instructions given to them. Synchronization with the laser and photomultiplier tube detectors will need to be performed and once this has been achieved, measurements will be performed with stable SHG and THG emitters including starch granules and collagenous tissues. These results will be compared to results obtained using our original technique (PIPO-SHG and PIPO-THG). The student may also be asked to present their work at a local conference or research day at the university. The student may also be asked to take part in manuscript preparation featuring the continued improvement of a fast laser scanning nonlinear optical microscope. The student will be given WHMIS and laboratory safety training as well as laser safety training at the beginning of their internship. The student will also be expected to wear protective equipment (e.g. laser safety goggles when working with the laser or lab coat, goggles and gloves when working with chemicals).
Skills required: The ideal student would have a background in physics and/or engineering. It is essential that the student is eager to build and work with their hands. Laser safety training and training on laser and microscope building will be provided. Experience programming is required, and experience in hardware-software interfacing is very useful. Programming will be performed in a LabVIEW/MATLAB environment which will be taught if the student is unfamiliar. A student who can work successfully in a team environment as well as an independent researcher is integral.
A robust prediction of all quantum gravity theories is the existence of a minimum measurable length, leading to a modification of the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle—known as the Generalized Uncertainty Principle (GUP) [1]. This implies corrections to quantum mechanical Hamiltonians, with effects that can sometimes be estimated near current experimental sensitivity.
In this project, I will study the time evolution and spreading of wavefunctions of large molecules. GUP amplifies the standard quantum mechanical spreading, and larger molecules enhance this further. While the "doubling time" has been studied for Gaussian wavefunctions [2], I will extend the analysis to more general wavefunctions, using their statistical moments. This is motivated by the fact that real molecular wavefunctions are typically non-Gaussian, though their first few moments are often known. Spreading and the real part of the wavefunction are promising experimental observables. I will also estimate potentially measurable quantum gravity effects in magnetometers [3].
We will start with wavefunctions from known statistical distributions and later generalize. Several experimentalists have expressed interest in testing for such quantum gravity effects, and we will share our results with them. A positive detection would be a first, while a null result would place strong bounds on quantum gravity parameters.
[1] S. Das, E. C. Vagenas, Phys.Rev.Lett.101:221301(2008).
[2] S. Das, S. Modak, Eur. Phys. J. Plus (2023) 138: 366.
[3] M. Fridman, J. Maldaner, G. Porat, S. Das, Eur. Phys. J. Plus 140, 458 (2025).
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: I am a theoretical physicist working on cosmology, general relativity, and the foundations of quantum mechanics. In cosmology, I focus on three major open problems: dark matter, dark energy, and the resolution of the initial singularity. My research in classical and quantum general relativity involves exploring modifications to Einstein’s theory that are consistent with current observations and can resolve the singularity at r=0. I also investigate potential low-energy signatures of quantum gravity, aiming to bridge the gap between theory and experiment.
Student roles: The student will begin by reviewing aspects of quantum gravity phenomenology and the Generalized Uncertainty Principle(GUP). They will then investigate applications to various low-energy laboratory based systems.
We will meet approximately twice a week to review progress and assign new tasks. Toward the end of the project, the student will present their findings to the group. Through this project, the student will gain valuable research experience, which may be beneficial for future graduate studies.
Skills required: The student should have a background in quantum mechanics. Knowledge of general relativity and computational techniques (e.g., using scientific software) is optional but would be an asset.
100. Tests of modified gravity via gravitational waves
The Lambda-CDM model has been remarkably successful in explaining recent cosmological observations, including those from supernovae and the cosmic microwave background. However, it is widely recognized that a more comprehensive model may be needed—one that addresses the challenges posed by dark matter, dark energy, and the big bang singularity. In this project, we will explore alternative models, particularly those emerging from f(R) theories of gravity. We will examine their implications for both early- and late-time cosmology, as well as their potential signatures in gravitational wave observations, which may offer strong evidence for or against such theories.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: I am a theoretical physicist working on cosmology, general relativity, and the foundations of quantum mechanics. In cosmology, I focus on three major open problems: dark matter, dark energy, and the resolution of the initial singularity. My research in classical and quantum general relativity involves exploring modifications to Einstein’s theory that are consistent with current observations and can resolve the singularity at r=0. I also investigate potential low-energy signatures of quantum gravity, aiming to bridge the gap between theory and experiment.
Student roles: The student will begin by reviewing key aspects of gravitational wave production and detection, as well as the fundamental equations of modified gravity theories such as f(R) gravity. They will then investigate how deviations from standard general relativity affect these phenomena.
We will meet approximately twice a week to review progress and assign new tasks. Toward the end of the project, the student will present their findings to the group. Through this project, the student will gain valuable research experience, which may be beneficial for future graduate studies.
Skills required: The student should have a background in quantum mechanics. Knowledge of general relativity and computational techniques (e.g., using scientific software) is optional but would be an asset.
101. Theory of quantum dynamics in many-particle systems
This project will study non-equilibrium states of simple many-particle quantum systems (such as Bose-Einstein condensates) following a rapid "quench" where the system is suddenly disturbed. This scenario is being actively pursued in a large number of laboratories around the world and gives insight into quantum dynamics. I am particularly interested in universal aspects of dynamics: common features that appear in a wide range of different systems. A big hint we receive from the study of critical phenomena (phase transitions) is that universality tends to be associated with singularities where certain quantities, such as the correlation length, diverge. There are deep reasons for this: catastrophe theory (a theory of singularities) says that only certain types of singularity are stable to perturbations and thus occur generically in nature. In fact, in up to four dimensions there are only seven stable catastrophes each of which takes on a particular geometric shape (examples of these include rainbows, the bright lines on the bottom of swimming pools and rogue waves at sea). This project will involve looking for these catastrophes in quantum dynamics, e.g. quantum "rainbows". Indeed, it has been suggested that Hawking radiation from a black hole is an example of such a quantum catastrophe and so we will be looking for analogues of this behaviour in other systems such as Bose-Einstein condensates. It is anticipated that the student will acquire a range of skills in many-body quantum mechanics and calculational methods.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: I am a theoretical physicist who works in the areas of quantum optics, condensed matter physics, and atomic, molecular and optical (AMO) physics. Within this, I specialize in the quantum dynamics of many-body systems, especially those that can be realized using ultracold atomic gases, e.g. Bose-Einstein condensates and degenerate Fermi gases. A general theme of my research is whether quantum dynamics can show universality. It is well known that close to singularities (such as phase transitions) equilibrium systems fall into different universality classes: I am trying to extend these ideas to dynamics.
Student roles: The student will be expected to conduct research in theoretical physics supervised by me. This will involve daily discussions with me, pen and paper calculations and numerical calculations on a computer. There will also be some reading of relevant research papers and maybe certain parts of textbooks depending on the background knowledge of the student. The student will be part of a research team and will be expected to take part in weekly group meetings and give presentations on their research to the rest of the group. Finally, the student will be expected to write-up their results as a research report with the hope that this could form the basis of a scientific paper.
Skills required: The student should have a strong background in quantum mechanics and some experience with computer programming is preferable. Applied mathematics students are also encouraged to apply. The research will involve both "pen and paper" type work and computer simulations using a language such as Matlab, Mathematica, Python, Fortran etc.
102. Tipping points in the dynamics of mouse frailty
The frailty index (FI) -- the fraction of measured health deficits an individual has accumulated -- is a powerful summary of organism-level health in aging. In recent work [https://arxiv.org/abs/2412.07795], my group modelled the FI as a dynamical system of damage and repair, fit to two large longitudinal human cohorts. Both damage resistance (robustness) and recovery (resilience) decline smoothly with age and with FI. This produces two dynamical states -- a healthy young state with low FI, and an old state that drifts toward high FI -- separated by a sharp transition, a tipping point, near age 75. Crossing it accelerates further decline.
The human studies are longitudinal -- but humans receive health care, so a tipping point near age 75 may reflect medicine as much as biology. Mice receive none: if the same transition appears in an animal model, it is intrinsic to aging's damage-and-repair dynamics, not an artifact of health care. Mice also offer controlled genetics, chosen interventions, and full lifespans in two years. The Kane lab and others provide longitudinal mouse FI data, openly and collaboratively. The project asks whether the same structure -- declining robustness and resilience, and a tipping point -- appears in mice, and where it falls relative to lifespan, not calendar age.
The student takes the validated human code base and applies it to mouse data. The first level reproduces the damage/repair fit and maps the mouse nullcline, velocity field, and any tipping point. The second compares the sexes through the model parameters (baseline damage and repair, aging rate, and the damage-promotes-damage strength that sets how sharp the transition is). The third tests interventions: does an aging treatment such as NMN delay, sharpen, or remove the tipping point? A clean cross-species result -- whether or not mice tip -- is publishable.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: I am a theoretical physicist who studies biological and statistical physics. The systems I work on are typically non-equilibrium and stochastic, so numerical and computational techniques are needed to confront theory with data. One main direction is organismal aging: how to characterize, predict, and improve individual health and mortality. We treat health as a dynamical system, building physics-inspired models of damage and repair and fitting them to longitudinal data. A recurring theme is emergent nonlinear behaviour -- bifurcations, tipping points, and critical transitions -- in how aggregate health declines with age, and what such transitions reveal about the underlying
Student roles: Throughout the project the student joins weekly one-on-one meetings with me and weekly Rutenberg-group meetings -- chances to present results, and to ask and sharpen interesting questions.
The model and its fitting code are provided, so the student's effort goes where the scientific judgement is, not into software engineering. The student drives the science: preparing the mouse frailty data, running the damage/repair fits, mapping the nullcline and velocity field, locating any tipping point, producing and refining the figures, and -- above all -- deciding what the numbers mean. Mouse data is small and unevenly sampled, with strong survival effects at late ages, so careful, honest analysis matters as much as any single fit.
There are three staged levels of engagement. First: fit the damage/repair model to a mouse FI dataset and reproduce, in mice, the analysis we built for humans -- robustness, resilience, and the population-level nullcline -- testing whether a tipping point appears and where it falls relative to lifespan. Second: stratify by sex and compare the dynamical parameters (baseline damage and repair, aging rate, and the damage-promotes-damage strength that controls how sharp the transition is). Third: turn to interventions, asking whether a treatment such as NMN shifts the nullcline -- delaying, sharpening, or removing the tipping point.
Throughout, the student writes up their work in scientific form. This serves as a record and a spur to critical engagement, but also as the core of a peer-reviewed paper on which the student will be a co-author. Learning to find, read, and digest the related literature will support the whole undertaking.
Skills required: Bright, motivated students can fill gaps as they go, but strong Python and data-analysis instincts are essential. What matters most is comfort driving scientific code: running fits, extending a code base, and turning model output into understanding -- curve fitting, model comparison, and knowing when a fit is real. Familiarity with NumPy, pandas, and Matplotlib is expected; exposure to statistics, regression, or stochastic processes will deepen your enjoyment. Any contact with dynamical systems or statistical mechanics is a bonus. Communication, independence, critical thinking, curiosity, and a willingness to read the literature all matter. You need not build software from scratch.
103. Topology-informed morphology descriptors for sparse nanoparticle systems
Supervisor: Ayse Turak
University: Concordia University (Montréal campus)
This project will establish a physics-grounded morphology descriptor framework for sparse nanoparticle arrays, where spatial organization is used as a deliberate design variable to amplify collective interfacial, transport, and field-mediated effects. Current analysis of AFM and SEM datasets relies on the in-house disLocate package, which extracts spatial statistics including bond order parameters, Voronoi tessellations, nearest-neighbor distributions, and pair correlation functions. These metrics capture local order and two-point correlations but do not directly quantify global connectivity, higher-order organization, or scale-dependent structural invariants. The proposed work will test the hypothesis that topological descriptors (Euler characteristic, Betti numbers, and persistent homology) provide complementary invariants that probe connectivity transitions, void-network topology, and emergent percolation behaviour in disordered sparse systems. Using experimentally derived particle coordinate datasets, the student will compute parallel topological metrics across arrays spanning different densities, processing conditions, and degrees of geometric disorder. A systematic comparison will evaluate descriptor sensitivity, scale dependence, and robustness to segmentation thresholds and finite-size effects. By identifying regimes where topology distinguishes morphologies that appear statistically similar under classical metrics, the project will clarify how geometric sparsity governs emergent connectivity, disorder-driven structural transitions, and structure-function coupling in nanoparticle assemblies. The outcome will be a validated descriptor toolkit linking geometric disorder to physically meaningful connectivity measures relevant to device engineering.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: The Turak Functional Nanomaterials Laboratory seeks to develop new design principles for functional materials by leveraging sparsity and disorder as enabling features, rather than limitations. Our work explores how nanoscale organization governs interfacial, transport, and field-mediated phenomena across applications in energy storage, sensing, and optoelectronics. To achieve this vision, we combine scalable fabrication approaches with advanced characterization and data-driven analysis to uncover structure–function relationships in nanoparticle systems. This project forms part of a broader framework where sparse, non-periodic organization is used as a deliberate design principle to enable efficient, low-material-intensity devices.
Student roles: The student will curate AFM/SEM-derived particle datasets, apply the existing disLocate spatial-statistics package, and implement a complementary topology workflow (persistent homology and related invariants). They will perform comparative scaling, finite-size, and robustness analyses, develop reproducible code notebooks, and synthesize results into a unified, physics-informed morphology framework.
Skills required: The ideal student will have a strong background in physics, applied mathematics, computer science, or a related quantitative discipline, with experience in data analysis and scientific programming (preferably Python). Familiarity with image analysis, computational geometry, statistical methods, or materials characterization would be advantageous. The project requires curiosity about complex spatial systems and the ability to work with large experimental datasets to extract physically meaningful insights. Prior exposure to graph theory, topology, persistent homology, or topological data analysis would be considered an asset but is not required, as the necessary concepts and methodologies can be learned during the project.
104. Transparent and flexible "plastic" solar cells for portable applications
Solar cells commercialized to date can be divided in two categories: i) high-cost high-efficiency devices from crystalline inorganic materials and ii) low-cost low-efficiency ones from cheap, disordered materials. Increasing the market for solar energy by developing lightwight and portable devices at high-efficency and low-cost is vital to enhance competitiveness with respect of non-renewable energy sources. Organic mixtures of fullerenes (spheroidal molecules entirely formed by carbon atoms) and electrically semiconducting polymers (a discovery awarded the 2000 Nobel Prize for Chemistry) are extremely promising as low-cost materials for flexible "plastic" solar-cells. When mixed together, conducting polymers and fullerenes are intense light absorbers, with record efficencies over 10% in solar-cell prototypes. Additionally, they are low-density, soft, and easily bendable, which is essential to fabricate flexible, lightweight and portable photovoltaics on inexpensive plastic substrates. In order to further increase their performance, it is essential for us to understand how particles carrying opposite electrical charges, which are generated in extraordinary amounts by illuminating these materials, can be even more efficiently dissociated at the interface between organic semiconducting polymers and fullerenes, and therefore transformed into electrical currents. The process is known as profoundly different from its counterpart in "standard" inorganic and cystalline solar-cell materials, such as, for example, p-type and n-type silicon--the most popular commercial solar-cell material to date, which, however, is neither cheap, nor lightweight, nor flexible.
In this project, the student(s) will fabricate organic photovoltaics with active layers of polymer-fullerene and characterize them, both with standard techniques (a solar simulator and a photoconversion efficency estimator) and unique superresolution tools (scanning near-field optical microscopy available in Fanchini's lab) where polymer aggregates and fullerene clusters of few hundred nm's can be independently illuminated and probed. The objective is to shed light on the photodissociation mechanisms at the nanoscale, and optimize them towards more efficient organic photovoltaics.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: Prof Fanchini specializes in light-matter interaction and photovoltaic/optoelectronic properties of organic and carbon-based materials and nanomaterials. Materials based on the element carbon are fascinating because of the variety of forms they can assume: solids (diamond, graphite, graphene, nanotubes, polymers) and small molecules (fullerenes, polyaromatics, etc.) with optical properties that are profoundly different from their inorganic counterparts. Not only we are interested in the photophysics of these materials, but we are fabricating from them specific optoelectronic and photovoltaic devices of practical application, including organic solar cells. Our team includes graduate students and postdoctoral fellows and hosts undergraduate students every summer.
Student roles: The role of the student(s) in this project will be to assess the quality of plasmonic solar cells assembled on transparent graphene layers using state-of-the art nanoscale defect imaging tools existing in Fanchini's Lab. The project will span over 10-12 weeks, with the following timeline: Weeks 1-2 - Literature review on organic solar cells (with scientific papers provided by supervisor). Also depending on the student background, the supervisor and/or other team members will help the student with offering all of the necessary background information (s)he will not possess from her/his educational background Weeks 3 - Thin-film deposition skills. Growth of transparent and conducting solar-cell electrodes on plastics under the supervision of a Graduate Student or Post-Doc associate. Weeks 4-5 - Fabrication glovebox skills. Growth and Characterization of first set of polymer-fullerene organic solar cells Week 6 - Developing skills with standard solar-cell characterization tools: AM1.5, 1-Sun solar simulator, and external/internal quantum photoconversion efficency estimating set-ups Weeks 7-9 - Skills with advanced super-relosolution solar cell imaging tools: atomic-force microscope (AFM) and AFM-integfrated scanning near-field optical microscope for "mapping" the active layer of organic solar cells, and investigating their photophysical properties at the nanoscale Weeks 10-12 - Writing a scientific report and developing it into an article to be submitted to a scientific journal.
Skills required: The student(s) expected for this project will have a solid background in Physics, and/or Electrical Engineering and/or Engineering Physics or Materials Science and/or Chemistry. The student will also possess lab experience (for example in physics, chemistry and/or engineering courses with laboratory components) and some computer programming skills in any language for technical programming. Courses in Materials Science, Electrical Circuits and/or Optics are desirable. Additional courses in Quantum mechanics, Solid State Physics, Solid State Chemistry and/or Condensed Matter Physics are a "plus" but are not essential.
105. Wave propagation in active materials
Supervisor: Behrooz Yousefzadeh
University: Concordia University (Montréal campus)
Materials that have one of their effective properties dependent on time cannot easily maintain their static equilibrium. This loss of static or dynamic equilibrium is known as parametric instability. A familiar example is a child on a swing who stands and sits at the right rhythm: no one is pushing the swing, yet the motion grows. In engineering systems, similar effects can appear when the effective stiffness or mass of a mechanical system varies periodically in time. This instability can amplify motion, create large oscillations, or trigger unexpected vibrations. Understanding when and why this happens is important for predicting failure, avoiding unwanted noise and for deliberately amplifying waves when that is useful.
In recent years, engineers have begun designing materials and devices whose properties vary not only in space but also in time. These spatiotemporally modulated materials can guide waves in unusual ways, such as favoring one direction of travel or blocking certain frequencies. This opens new possibilities in wave engineering, including vibration control, signal routing, and energy focusing. However, parametric instabilities can severely limit the operation of these mechanical systems.
The goal of this project is to understand the basic mechanisms of parametric instability in spatiotemporally modulated materials. The project involves understanding and merging the results from two papers, both leading to stability analysis based on Floquet theory. The first paper involves a numerical approach for computing the stability of waves propagating through a long spatiotemporally modulated material. The focus here is on using suitable numerical solvers and on making suitable reduction on the governing equations. The focus of the second paper is on understanding the role of modulation wavenumber on parametric instability.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: I specialize in understanding the dynamic behavior of nonlinear structures and systems. Nonlinear phenomena can be difficult to predict and analyze, but they often bring fascinating surprises with them. Examples include formation of waves that do not change their shape as they propagate, localization of energy within a structure, and pattern formation in mechanical systems. This specific project falls under the area of wave propagation and stability analysis. I use a combination of experimental, numerical and analytical approaches in my research projects.
Student roles: The student will implement numerical simulations of coupled Mathieu equations, explore parameter ranges where instability occurs, and visualize the results. They will learn how to run computational experiments, interpret stability diagrams, and summarize their findings in a short written report and presentation. If time permits, asymptotic methods for obtaining the stability boundaries will be explored.
Skills required: The project is mathematical in nature and will involve the numerical investigation of dynamical systems. Students with a strong mathematical background and an interest in computational work are strongly encouraged to apply. An element of asymptotic analysis can readily be incorporated into the project. The work is linked to an ongoing research effort in the area of mechanical metamaterials.
106. ion-trap for stored-ion laser spectroscopy
Supervisor: Jens Lassen
University: Simon Fraser University (Burnaby campus)
Location: Vancouver, British Columbia
Start date: 2027-06-14 (flexible)
Disciplines: Physics, Engineering, Science and Technology
ion-trap for stored-ion laser spectroscopy - install & test: this project aims to train the student in the principles of ion trapping, which is a basic building stone for a good number of quantum logic devices, as it allows to store individual ions that can be addressed by lasers to store and process quantum information. (1.) the electrode structure of a segmented, linear radiofrequency ion trap will be assembled, wired and installed in a vacuum system - while observing ultra-high vacuum protocols. (2.) an RF - tank circuit will be assembled, mounted to the ion trap flange and the resonance frequency determined and tuned to provide the trapping voltage. (3) optics will be installed to allow optical detection of stored ions and laser assisted loading of the trap. (4) The student will then learn to operate the UHV vacuum system, prepare an atom oven for trap loading - load ions into the trap and eventually observe stored ions via laser fluorescence.
This is a multi stage project where studentss will learn hands on laboatory skills around ion optics, manipulation and trapping techniques - backed with an introduction to the underlying physics.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: The "laser applications group" at TRIUMF's accelerator division is tasked with providing radioactive isotopes through element selective laser ionization. This provides a majority of the radioactive ion beams for the ISAC facility - where researchers from Canada and abroad conduct nuclear physics, material sciences and life sciences experiments that require access to radioactive isotopes. "laser applications" group specializes in (i) laser ionization, (ii) laser development, (iii) mass & laser spectroscopy, (iv) ultra-trace detection, (iv) ion optics, (v) optics, and (vi) ultra-high vacuum techiques and electronics - among others.
Student roles: Drive the project during the internship while learning new techniques, physics and engineering principles. Work independently after task assignments. Assemble the system, test and trouble shoot. Document laboratory work in laboratory notes, report in group meetings, present and write a project summary/report at end of project. Present assigned reading in "5 minute" presentations with follow up group discussions. Dailiy interaction with project supervisor and fellow students. Depending on project progress, student may be required to undergo laser safety training in additon to the standard laboratory and site safety training. The student is expected to parttake in the TRIUMF undergraduate student seminar series and soft skills traing activities, as well as regular group meetings and the scientific seminar series. The student will also have opportunities to learn about working at a large scale (nuclear physics / accelerator) laboratory and the inner workings of "laser applications" group's operational responsibilities and challenges, by shaddowing our research scientists Dr. Lassen and Dr. Li, and by interacting with our PhD and MSc students, who will also be mentoring and support the MITACS students on their project.
Skills required: interest in atomic physics, engineering principles and optics is required. 3rd or 4th year undergraduate, or master's students are preferred as they have a better background of the basic principles of E&M and optics. Interest into hands on work with laboratory instrumentation, electronics, optics and lasers, as well as assembly and manipulation of delicate components. The overarching theme is "building scientific apparatus". Careful handling of sensitive components and patience is imperative. The student should be self motivated, work independently and be prepared to do substantial literature work that accompanies the project.
107. Étude de l'effet de l'épaisseur des couches minces de MoO3 sur les propriétés électriques
This research project aims to examine the influence of the thickness of MoO3 thin films on their electrical properties. MoO3 is a molybdenum oxide used in various fields, including electronics and optoelectronic devices. Understanding how the thickness of MoO3 thin films affects their electrical characteristics is essential to optimize their use in these applications. The objectives of this project are: To evaluate the impact of the thickness of the thin layers of MoO3 on the electrical properties such as the electrical conductivity and the mobility of the charge carriers. Understand the underlying mechanisms that influence electrical properties as a function of thickness of MoO3 thin films. Optimize the deposition conditions to obtain thin layers of MoO3 of controlled thickness with optimal electrical performance.
Methodology: Preparation of suitable substrates, such as glass or silicon, for the deposition of thin layers of MoO3. Deposition of thin layers of MoO3 at different thicknesses using suitable deposition techniques, for example sputtering or the vapor phase deposition method. Characterization of MoO3 thin films deposited using techniques such as impedance spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, electrical conductivity measurement and morphological analysis. Analysis of experimental data to establish relationships between the thickness of MoO3 thin films and their electrical properties.
Expected results: This study is expected to provide essential information on the effect of the thickness of MoO3 thin films on their electrical properties. The results obtained will allow a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms that govern these properties and will guide the optimization of the deposition conditions to obtain optimal electrical performance of MoO3 thin films.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: In the field of thin films and nanotechnology, I am engaged in the research of transparent photovoltaic cells. These cells exploit the photovoltaic effect in semiconductor materials, allowing the passage of light while simultaneously generating electrical energy. At the same time, I explore the field of chromogenic materials for smart windows, which have the ability to dynamically adjust their optical properties in response to external stimuli. Embracing advanced thin film technologies and remarkable characteristics of materials including nanomaterials, I strive to unleash the potential of these advanced technologies.
Student roles: The objective of this project is to train students in the work environment in a laboratory, to use thin film manufacturing machines, to use morphological and structural electrical optical characterization systems, know-how to write a report, work in groups or individually. In short, to prepare the student for the industrial market. This project gives students the opportunity to fabricate thin layers and perform the necessary characterizations. On the other hand, the results will be used to manufacture a transparent solar cell of high performance, at the electrical level as well as the level of transparency.
Skills required: An undergraduate student (second year or above) who has a good knowledge of physics, and physical phenomena. The optics, electrics and vacuum system will be better. Having an idea about thin films and nanotechnology will be better. Knowledge of Word, Excel and PowerPoint software is an asset.