Undergraduate student research

Abstract: This summer as an ISRG recipient, I have built on the independent study I completed last year, and I am using that work to prepare for my honours thesis. My research focuses on the experiences of student athletic trainers, and in particular, some of the challenges they face within university athletics. Earlier in the summer, I looked at student athletic training programs across Canada to better understand how these programs are structured, and how Mount Allison compares. 

The next phase of my research will focus more directly on student athletic trainers in Atlantic Canada. For my honours thesis, I will be surveying student athletic trainers about negative workplace experiences, including sexual harassment, gender-based mistreatment, boundary violations, and other inappropriate behaviours. I will also look at how these experiences relate to their psychological well-being and influence their commitment to their role and team, as well as whether feeling more or less powerful in these situations mediates those relationships. I am also interested in whether these experiences differ by gender, as previous research shows that female student athletic trainers experience a higher percentage of harassment compared to male student athletic trainers.

The goal of my research is to hopefully be able to provide further recommendations for creating safer and more supportive environments for student athletic trainers so that everyone can have a positive experience within athletics across the country.

Advisor: Lisa Dawn Hamilton

Abstract: Within their native habitats, armoured catfish go through cycles of normoxia and hypoxia due to fluctuations in aquatic plant photosynthesis and respiration. In oxygenated conditions, armoured catfish obtain oxygen through their gills. As oxygen levels decrease, armoured catfish facultatively air breathe, taking up oxygen via a vascularized stomach. Although catfish can breathe air, both Haché (2022) and Pelster et al. (2025) discovered that catfish prefer to metabolically depress to survive hypoxic conditions, but it is not clear why or how they do this. Respirometry will be used to quantify the contribution of aquatic and aerial oxygen uptake. The custom-built respirometer contains water and air within a closed system, with water circulating from an oxygen-controlled source tank. Water inflow was balanced with outflow to maintain a constant water/air volume ratio, allowing for the quantification of oxygen consumption in both media. A second respirometer is used to correct for background water aeration that occurs under severely hypoxic conditions. Preliminary observations demonstrate air breathing at 10% air saturation (AS) but not 20% AS. Furthermore, oxygen consumption from water was reduced 3-fold at 10% AS compared to 20% AS. Next, catfish under hypoxia with oxygenated air will be compared with three treatment groups: normoxic water and air, hypoxic water and air, and hypoxic water with no available air space. Ultimately, we aim to determine which biochemical processes are modulated to adapt to hypoxia, providing a deeper understanding of catfish metabolic depression.

Advisor: Tyson MacCormack

Abstract: This project investigates architectural configuration and material culture in the Greek city of Herakleia’s Vallo sanctuary to assess possible interaction between the religious traditions of Greek arrivals and the indigenous Lucanians. These findings contribute to wider efforts to reassess earlier academic interpretations of Greek cultural dominance over Italic forms.

Founded in 433/2 BCE by the Spartan colony of Taras in the region ancient sources call Lucania, Herakleia is divided into three sectors, of which the middle valley seems reserved for the sacred. Of the valley’s three sanctuaries, only that of Dionysus includes a Greek-style temple. The Vallo and the sanctuary of Demeter conversely center around rectangular structures known as oikoi, the central unit seen in Lucanian sanctuaries. Furthermore, the typology and context of the Vallo’s votive material is also consistent with that of Lucanian cult sites.

Research of existing literature concerning Herakleia and Lucanian cult places was complemented by excavation in, and analysis of archive material from the Vallo during the inaugural season of the Sacred Herakleia Project. These methods highlighted architectural and material similarities between the Vallo and neighbouring cult sites, distinguishing Herakleia’s sanctuary of Demeter and the sanctuaries at Armento and Poseidonia-Paestum as the most direct comparanda. The cohesion across Lucanian and Greek contexts seen through this comparison meshes with evidence arising throughout southern Italy to suggest a complex degree of cultural interaction and influence.

Advisor: Ilaria Battiloro

Abstract: Developing more sustainable catalytic systems requires both improved control over reactivity and reduced reliance on scarce metals. Photoswitchable ligands offer a potential strategy for controlling catalysis with light because irradiation can reversibly alter ligand structure and the steric and electronic environment at a metal centre. This project explored DTE-based ligands for potential use in light controlled catalysis with earth abundant metals. The photoresponsive DTE diketone, 1,2-bis(2,5-dimethylthiophen-3-yl)ethane-1,2-dione, was synthesized and used as a precursor for several nitrogen containing ligand derivatives. UV irradiation of the DTE produced a visible colour change from pale yellow to orange, showing that the compound responded to light, although NMR characterization was inconclusive. Condensation reactions were done to introduce additional coordination sites, including imine- and imidazole-based compounds. A zinc coordination reaction was also attempted, but successful complex formation was limited by the hygroscopic nature of ZnCl2. Overall, this work explored new ways to modify DTE ligands and highlighted key challenges that will be addressed as this project continues toward light-controlled catalysis with earth abundant metals.

Advisor: Samuel Griffin

Abstract: Rising global water temperatures pose significant challenges to both native and farmed fish species, threatening the sustainability of aquaculture systems. Triploid fish offer an environmentally responsible alternative to diploid stocks, as their three sets of chromosomes render them sterile, reducing the risk of reproduction after escape. However, triploids are more susceptible to thermal stress, and the physiological mechanisms underlying this vulnerability remain poorly understood. Mitochondria are central to thermal tolerance by generating ATP through oxidative phosphorylation. At higher temperatures, metabolic rates increase, elevating ATP demand and requiring mitochondria to produce ATP efficiently. Previous work in our laboratory found that at 14 °C, triploid brook trout mitochondria exhibit higher oxygen flux but lower respiratory control ratios than those of diploids, suggesting reduced ATP production efficiency. This project examines differences in respiratory efficiency within the cardiac cells of diploid and triploid brook trout acclimated to 14 and 19 °C. Electron transport chain function and mitochondrial thermal stress thresholds were assessed through respiration assays using an Oroboros Oxygraph. Cardiac tissue samples were also sent to UdeM for confocal microscopy to further examine mitochondrial orientation. By studying these physiological differences, this research aims to improve our understanding of thermal tolerance in triploid brook trout, ultimately supporting sustainable, environmentally responsible aquaculture practices.

Advisor: Andrea Morash

Abstract: The present study examines the predictors of men’s interested in trying testosterone lowering medication that reduces sexual desire or sexual urges in men. The sample includes men between the ages of 19 and 40 living in Canada, recruited through the online survey platform Prolific. Without prior knowledge about testosterone-lowering medication, participants completed a survey consisting of questionnaires that aim to assess sexual desire, sexual shame, religiosity, aggressive and impulsive behaviours, and self-reported history of sexually coercive or non-consensual behaviours. Participants would then read a brief description of testosterone-lowering medication and report their level of interest in trying this medication under medical supervision. Regression analyses were conducted using SPSS to examine which variables predicted interest in testosterone-lowering medication. This study contributes to research on men’s attitudes towards hormonal interventions and aims to provide more information on how individual differences, shame, desire, and behaviours can relate to one’s willingness to consider this type of medication. The results will help inform future research on how men perceive testosterone lowering medication, and the individual factors that have influence.

Advisor: Lisa Dawn Hamilton

Abstract: Shorebird species are experiencing population declines. They undertake long migrations which require high-quality stopover sites in order to refuel, these can be found in the Tantramar region. Much is known about their habitat use in coastal sites such as the mudflats of the Bay of Fundy, but little research has focused on how inland wetland and salt marsh habitats. Shorebirds are often found in mixed flocks, where morphology drives niche partitioning, allowing species to co-exist. At coastal sites, tides regulate exposed sediment availability. I hypothesize that at high tide, shorebirds will use inland wetlands for continued activity, such as foraging. I will compare stable isotopes of carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) from blood plasma and fecal samples of birds caught in coastal sites to those of inland wetland and salt marshes. These will be compared to the isotope signatures from prey items collected at each site. Additionally, I will look for physical prey characteristics in fecal samples, complementing diet findings from stable isotope analysis. I am using behavioural observations to quantify habitat use and foraging rates at the study sites. I collected invertebrate samples to look at the density and composition of prey in the sediment and along the surface. To collect these, I used random transects and observed foraging locations. My project will broaden our understanding of shorebird diet and habitat use by determining what proportion of their diet is attributed to invertebrates from coastal mudflats, inland freshwater sites, and salt marshes.

Advisor: Diana Hamilton

Abstract: Norms are an essential part of human societies, allowing us to cooperate productively with others. This study will investigate whether preschoolers’ understanding of norms and previous experience within a game will impact their cooperative and competitive behaviours. Participants in this study will complete a cooperation/competition game which involves playing a plinko game against both a cooperative and competitive puppet (with order varied between subjects). They will also complete a norm story task which involves vignette stories of moral and social norm transgressions that they will evaluate. It is anticipated that children will carry over norms from the initial gameplay to the game with the second puppet with those in the cooperation first order displaying less competitive behaviour with the competitive puppet and those in the competition first order displaying more competitive behaviour with the cooperative puppet. It is also anticipated that older children (4- to 5-year-olds) will show more strategic competition with the competitive puppet and less competitive behaviour with the cooperative puppet. Finally, we expect that children who provide more rule-based reasons for norm transgressions will show the most competitive behaviour, children who provide more victim-based reasons for transgressions will show the most cooperative behaviour and children who provide few reasons for transgressions will show less strategic competitive behaviour compared to the other groups.

Advisor: Nancy Garon

Abstract: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease that causes progressive declines in cognition, memory, and motor function. A major challenge in AD research is successfully translating treatments from animal models to human patients; since 2003 only three drugs have been approved for AD. One potential reason for this lack of success is the use of early-onset Alzheimer’s disease (EOAD) rodent models in preclinical research. While most rodent models represent the development of EOAD, 95% of AD cases are late-onset Alzheimer’s disease (LOAD). To address this gap, the LOAD2 mouse model was developed in 2024 using three genetic risk variants associated with LOAD. Biochemical and neuropathological changes associated with AD have been identified in LOAD2 mice, but cognitive and behavioural changes are unclear. This study uses a series of behavioural tests to assess cognitive, motor, social, and anxiety-like behaviours in seven-month-old male and female LOAD2 mice. Mice will be re-tested at 12 and 18 months to investigate disease progression, and to further evaluate the validity of the LOAD2 model as a preclinical model of late-onset Alzheimer’s disease.

Advisor: Kyle Roddick

Abstract: Like many other shorebirds, the Lesser Yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes) population has declined by approximately 60% since 1970 and have been classified as threatened by COSEWIC. During migration, they use a variety of stopover habitats, including salt marshes and inland freshwater wetlands to refuel. Little is known about how their behaviour differs between these habitats. Understanding how they allocate time across sites is important for conservation efforts. I investigated spatial, temporal, and tidal variation in the behaviour of Lesser Yellowlegs at salt marsh and freshwater staging sites within the Tantramar region. I hypothesized that Lesser Yellowlegs would use inland freshwater habitats more at high tide due to higher accessibility, and use salt marshes more at night for better protection against predators. To quantify behaviour and develop activity budgets, I took focal observations and scan samples. I collected sediment samples from where Lesser Yellowlegs were observed to quantify prey availability and examine potential relationships between food resources and foraging behaviours.I then compared these to randomized transect samples of accessible habitat. Lastly, I assessed community composition of shorebirds using field observations to see the affect on the behaviour of Lesser Yellowlegs. With these methods, I aimed to improve understanding of Lesser Yellowlegs’ use of staging habitats by comparing behaviour, foraging rates, prey availability, and occurrence across salt marsh and freshwater habitats to inform conservation efforts for this migratory shorebird.

Advisor: Diana Hamilton

Abstract: Global warming continues to raise water temperatures and effect oxygen solubility causing dissolved oxygen concentrations to decrease in many freshwater systems. Diel cycling hypoxia (DCH) occurs in many freshwater environments due to eutrophication and climate change. Cold-water fish, particularly brook char (Salvelinus fontinalis), are especially vulnerable to DCH because of the physiological trade-offs between hypoxia and thermal tolerance. Fish previously exposed to hypoxia have demonstrated plasticity in their response to subsequent hypoxic stress and were better able to maintain function. Thus, the aim of this project is to determine the physiological trade-offs that occur to promote hypoxia tolerance, specifically on swim performance, temperature tolerance or thermal maximum of swimming in hypoxia sensitive brook char. Fish (n=10 per group) will be subjected to one of three treatments for 14 days 1) normoxic (100% dissolved O₂) control, 2) mean hypoxia (70% dissolved O₂), or 3) DCH condition that maintained 100% dissolved O₂ from 9 am to 9 pm switching to 40% dissolved O₂ overnight. The effects of this hypoxia preconditioning will be measured in using the latest swim respirometry tunnel techniques. Initial observations of the normoxic fish demonstrate a critical swimming speed and functional thermal maximum of 2.20 bl/s and 24.1 ºC. Ultimately, by determining the trade-offs of hypoxia preconditioning this study will provide insight on the ecological consequences of DCH acclimation.

Advisors: Tyson MacCormack and Andrea Morash

Abstract: Convective boundary mixing occurs at the boundaries between convection and radiation zones in stars, where the material in the convection zone has momentum that causes it to cross the convective boundary. This can change the location of the convective boundary and bring more hydrogen into the core of the star, which has many effects on its evolution, including an extended main sequence lifetime. The normal modes of pulsation of variable stars—stars that change in their brightness over time as the surface expands and contracts—can be used to learn about their interior structure. I use 1D stellar evolution code MESA (Modules for Experiments in Stellar Astrophysics) to make models of stars with various convective boundary mixing processes, then use the normal modes of the models to compare the effects of these different processes, and their implementations in MESA, on the star. My goal is to find some observable difference between the pulsations caused by the different convective boundary mixing processes that could potentially be observed in real stars.

Advisor: Catherine Lovekin

Abstract: This research project explores what young adults are considering when making decisions about their current and future families, along with if and how social conditions are influencing these decision-making processes. The project will explore how feminist and queer movements are/may be influencing how young adults are practicing family relationships, and how social problems such as the climate, housing, and affordability crisis are influencing who young adults are living with, and whether they are choosing to have children. Previous research indicates young adults are choosing to live childfree due to climate change, economic uncertainty, and desire for autonomy. Research also suggests that young adults are living with family and friends to save money and pool resources due to the affordability crisis. There is, however, a gap in research on how these areas of decision-making interact with one another. Therefore, this research explores the nature of the decision-making processes that young adults undertake as they consider their intimate and other relationships, economic situations, and reproduction. The findings of this project will be based on focus groups with Mount Allison students where they will be asked questions about these topics. This research is crucial in an ever-changing world, where young adults face new and different challenges each day. Ultimately, this research will help explore how the institution of the family is maintained and challenged in crises and will be helpful in highlighting how care is practiced within and beyond the nuclear family.

Advisor: Christiana MacDougall

Abstract: Phytoplankton are photosynthetic microbes that play a crucial role in marine ecosystems and biogeochemical cycles. This study examines the growth and physiology of one type of phytoplankton, diatoms, under sinusoidal and square light regimes. Most laboratory studies grow diatoms under square light patterns (on-off), but sinusoidal patterns (sunrise-sunset) more closely reflect natural light conditions and may change our interpretations of diatom physiology. Here, P. tricornutum diatoms were grown in Multi-Cultivators under square and sinusoidal light conditions. Growth was assessed using cell concentrations, fluorescence, and optical density. Subsamples were also collected for cellular carbon, nitrogen, and chlorophyll-a to evaluate photosynthetic efficiency. Preliminary results show that cells grown under sinusoidal light exhibit slower growth rates than cells grown under square light. This difference is likely attributable to lower total daily light energy received under sinusoidal light relative to square light of the same photoperiod and intensity. Ongoing experiments where daily light integral is equivalent between square and sinusoidal light will allow us to further isolate the effects of light regime on diatom growth. Growth rate is a key metric for assessing diatom responses to environmental change, and a critical input in biogeochemical models. Accurately measuring growth under environmentally relevant light regimes is therefore essential for interpreting laboratory experiments and improving predictions of phytoplankton responses to climate change.

Advisor: Loay Jabre

Abstract: This project is an exploration of contemporary textile art practices and trends in relation to consumption of materials. Through examination of the content posted by the four top viewed textile creators on YouTube in 2025, I analyzed their relationships with materials and making within their practice. I noted their creative output, type of materials used, purchase of materials as well as reoccurring concerns regarding an abundance of materials purchased. These concerns alongside a noted discrepancy between input of material and output of work led me to examine other creators whose content has a focus on more sustainable practices and mindsets. I incorporated these methods and philosophies from these creators into my own practice which resulted in a small body of textile weavings.

The second part of this project was a material exploration of goods available to myself at a local scale in Sackville NB. By limiting myself to locally available materials I was confronted by how globalized the consumption of the materials used in my practice is. This exploration of local resources resulted in a weaving of hand dyed Canadian wool using low impact botanical dyeing methods with local dyestuff. 

Advisor: Leah Garnett

Abstract: The proposed project aims to measure seasonal variations in elemental concentrations using toenail samples collected from a single individual over the course of a year. Two different X-ray fluorescence (XRF) systems will be used to make measurements. In recent years, the use of XRF has been a new and innovative method in biomarker analysis with respect to taking measurements of human toenails. Adding on, the results from the two XRF systems will be compared: the Z-SPEC JP500 Monochromatic XRF and the HD Mobile XRF system. The JP500 system provides a higher intensity X-ray beam and will deliver a higher count rate, potentially leading to improved accuracy and precision. The toenail samples are gathered approximately every three weeks. In the long term, research into seasonal variations has implications for the medical field, as nail samples provide insights into time variations in exposure and uptake. While it is recognized that results from a single individual are not generalizable to the general population, the detailed analysis of the samples obtained will lay out the groundwork for larger future applications. Additionally, it is key to note that samples from the big toe will be analyzed separately from the other toes due to their differences in growth time.

Advisor: David Fleming

Abstract: Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are a class of porous materials that have been extensively studied over the last few decades. A MOF is formed by metal clusters or ions, called nodes, connected by organic linker molecules. This network structure often results in pores that extend throughout the framework, which are useful as reaction vessels that are finely tunable. Most MOFs utilize carboxylate or 1,3-O,O-chelating linkers. However, the very similar 1,3-N,O linkers like amides or pyridones have remained largely unexplored in the production of MOF materials. Previous work on 1,3-N,O-chelated paddlewheel compounds suggests that incorporating these motifs as MOF nodes may form MOFs that are more stable under basic conditions. Copper(II) paddlewheels with 1,3-N,O-chelating linkers were utilized as precursors for MOFs to determine whether the stability of MOFs was increased compared to analogous 1,3-O,O-chelating linkers. To start, two different dipyridone linkers, each with a different length, were synthesized. The first linker, two six-membered rings in length, was synthesized in multiple steps from 4,4′-bipyridine. The second linker, three six-membered rings in length, was synthesized via a palladium-catalyzed Suzuki coupling reaction. These two linkers were reacted with various copper(II) precursors, including copper(II) paddlewheels and simple copper(II) salts. Many of the products precipitated as solids, which will be characterized by X-ray crystallography.

Advisor: Samuel Griffin

Abstract: Overwintering behaviour is an important part of a northern ectotherm’s life history, as they will spend ~half of each year brumating. Brumation is a process in which herpetofauna protect their body from winter climates by selecting habitats that mitigate environmental threats to their survival. Two freshwater turtles that rely on brumation to survive are the Eastern Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta picta) and the Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina). The overwintering behaviour of these species in the Maritime provinces is currently unrepresented in the literature, impacting their conservation. Our study aims to fill this knowledge gap by examining a population of these turtle species in the Jemseg Grand Lake watershed. To observe this behaviour, we captured 13 Eastern Painted Turtles and 11 Snapping Turtles in May 2025, using baited hoop traps then adhered iButtons and radio-transmitters to the carapace of each individual. Turtles were monitored during the active season until they entered brumation. We measured hibernacula characteristics, including temperature, snow depth, and dissolved oxygen, monthly until each turtle emerged in spring, when we increased tracking to document the timing of their exit. I will present preliminary data on both species’ overwintering behaviour observed from fall 2025 until spring 2026, and present an update on on-going work aimed at increasing our sample size over winter 2026/27. These findings will help inform conservation measures, allowing for better protection of hibernacula that sustain these turtles’ lives throughout the winter season.

Advisor: Julia Riley

Abstract: Borrelia burgdorferi is a tick-vectored spirochete bacterium that causes Lyme disease (PHAC, 2025) which can lead to chronic/post-treatment Lyme disease, an infection-associated chronic illness (IACI) (CDC, 2025). IACIs are post-infectious syndromes that greatly affect quality of life and have significant health impacts for effected patients (Aucott et al., 2022; CDC, 2025). Post-treatment Lyme disease (PTLD) has numerous symptoms including fatigue, muscle and joint pain, difficulty sleeping and focusing, as well as neurological symptoms such as migraines, cardiac symptoms including heart disease, and depression among other symptoms (Aucott et al., 2022; CDC, 2025). Despite the impact of PTLD, and as is the case with many chronic illnesses, there has been little investigation of PTLD, including in Canada and especially from an epigenetic perspective (Choutka et al., 2022). Epigenetic processes alter gene expression by manipulating DNA-associated proteins, rather than the DNA sequence (Gibney & Nolan, 2010). These proteins include histones which package DNA into nucleosomes that make chromatin either accessible or inaccessible for transcription (Ross et al., 2015; Xu et al., 2009). If B. burgdorferi is competing with human DNA for histones, it may alter gene expression of the host individual which could cause chronic illness. This research aims to investigate the epigenetic effects of B. burgdorferi in patients with CLD and fully recovered or acutely infected individuals.

Advisor: Vett Lloyd

Abstract: Vindolanda was a Roman fort built along the Empire’s British frontier in the late first century CE at which non-citizen Roman forces were stationed. From 260 to 274 CE, Britain became a part of the breakaway Gallic Empire, initiated by the general Postumus. The Fourth Cohort of Gauls, who were stationed at Vindolanda in this period, were removed following the reabsorption of Britian into the Roman Empire. The site remained unoccupied until the beginning of the fourth century CE. Many questions remain about life on the frontier during this period.  

Coins can provide insight as they are dateable and have traceable origins. During the reign of Postumus, the Roman Empire was governed by Gallienus, and both produced coinage. Based on the numismatic evidence, Vindolanda appears to have had significant access to Gallienus’s coins during the Gallic Empire. Single Gallienus coin finds are found in high numbers in archaeological contexts dated to this period. However, Postumus’ coins were treated differently than Gallienus’s. While both groups of coins have the same face value, Postumus’s coins had a higher silver content, making them more intrinsically valuable. As a result, Postumus’ coins were hoarded more but are found less frequently as single finds, suggesting that there were fewer chance losses because people were more careful with them.  

The whole story of coin circulation at the site cannot be known, as the only coins that reach modernity are the ones that were abandoned or lost. However, it is possible to see how politics impacted coinage, thus impacting daily life.

Advisors: Fae Amiro and Ilaria Battiloro

Abstract: Insulin regulates important physiological functions in the body such as energy metabolism, blood glucose, and tissue development. Many of these functions overlap with neural pathways connecting with the dorsomedial hypothalamus (DMH), but before this study, we did not know if insulin interacts with DMH neurons.

To see if insulin affects DMH neurons, we used whole-cell patch clamp electrophysiology to record living neurons responding to insulin. We next bilaterally microinjected insulin into the DMH and observed changes in behaviour and food intake after the injections. We used young male and female Sprague-Dawley rats for all our work.

We found that insulin decreases the transmission of glutamate (an excitatory neurotransmitter) onto DMH neurons through both insulin receptors and insulin-like growth factor receptors. Surprisingly, the rats did not change their behaviour following insulin microinjections, and insulin did not affect their body weight or food consumption compared to control animals. This suggests that insulin may affect other physiological processes instead (such as thermoregulation).

This work contributes to our understanding of insulin and its interactions with important brain regions, with exciting implications for obesity and diabetes research.

Advisor: Karen Crosby

Abstract: Climate change continues to raise global temperatures, allowing for less oxygen to dissolve in water which increases the risk of hypoxic conditions for aquatic species. This threatens fish species as they cannot reach their aerobic metabolism demands and must increasingly rely on anaerobic metabolism, causing rapid production of end-products. Accumulation of anaerobic end-products in the cardiomyocytes causes an influx of water that increases the osmotic pressure and causes cell swelling. This swelling stiffens the heart, reducing stroke volume and cardiac output which limits oxygen circulation in the animal and even further lowers tolerance to stressors including low oxygen or high temperatures. To counteract the swelling, osmolytes leave the cell and cause water to efflux out with them. Our past research shows how taurine is an essential osmolyte to fish hearts, as taurine deficient brook char (Salvelinus fontinalis) had lowered stroke volumes and cardiac output while under hypoxia. It is hypothesized that taurine will efflux through the taurine transporter (TauT). However, this movement hasn’t been directly measured while under hypoxia. To collect data, a dialysis probe is used to sample saline from the tissue of a perfused brook char heart, allowing for the data collection of total heart function at a consistent heart rate with simultaneous measurements of ion movement. These tests are being performed for both hypoxic and normoxic hearts to reveal the osmotic mechanisms underlying the cell volume recovery seen in brook trout hearts under hypoxia.

Advisor: Tyson MacCormack

Abstract: Since its legalization in Canada in 2018, cannabis has become much easier to obtain. It is common among university students to experiment with substances — cannabis being one — as they experience a new found freedom, but how much do we know about how it will affect students academic success? The study I have spent my summer organizing aims to discover how much cannabis usage affects academic success by looking at its impacts on memory and attention. The study also aims to see if impacts differ based on levels and patterns of usage to allow students to make educated choices about their substance usage or lack there of. The study will commence in the fall semester.

Advisor: Mitchell LaPointe

Abstract: Exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) has been shown to have negative health effects and with climate change, wildfires are becoming a more prominent source of PM2.5 in Canada. A fifteen-year dataset from an Edmonton, AB, monitoring site was used to explore aerosol metal chemistry in relation to wildfire influence. Two chemical tracers for biomass burning were used: levoglucosan and potassium ions (K+). Levoglucosan has an estimated half-life of less than two days, so may poorly capture long-range influence. Alternatively, K+ are more conserved, however have a broader source context, so may capture other additional influences. Both tracers compared with some aerosol metal concentrations showed positive trends, supporting that the PM2.5 composition shifts with biomass burning influence. To decouple residential and industrial biomass burning from wildfire influence, a physical interception method that combines satellite hotspots with air parcel back trajectories using data from 2023 was employed. This physical tracer approach also supported the elevation of some aerosol metals during wildfire influence. While all methods delivered similar interpretations at extremes, the physical one deviated in the intermediate. Preliminary work shows that this deviation could be due to differing limitations of tracers, while it may also be due to directionality of fires. Different directions would have unique contexts leading to a variety of metal deposition and aerosolization mechanisms. Future work will explore other years and sites, while refining the sensitivity of tracer methods.

Advisor: Jenny Wong

Abstract: Road salts are heavily applied in the Maritimes with Nova Scotia applying the most per km of any province. This salt will then run off and impact surrounding bodies of water like lakes. The corresponding increase in chloride concentrations impacts lake health and the organisms which can inhabit them. The ecological impacts of road salts in lake ecosystems are relatively understudied, meaning the full extent of our extensive road salt use remains unknown. Lakes collect and deposit materials and debris to form the sediments at the bottom of the lake. This debris can originate from within the lake, the land surrounding it, or the atmosphere and can include the remains of zooplankton which lived in the lake. This accumulation overtime makes lake sediments an excellent environmental archive which can be used to indirectly study environmental change. Using lake sediments, this study aims to understand the impact of road salt use on urban lake ecology through changes in cladoceran remains with and across a gradient of lakes found in the Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM). Cladocerans where chosen for this study as they preserve well, are highly diverse, and have varying sensitivity and tolerances to different water quality measures like chloride concentrations. A total of 32 lakes were chosen to represent a gradient of chloride concentrations based on water quality trends in a 4 decade synoptic survey found in Doucet et al. (2019). The tops and bottoms of each lakes sediment cores where used to understand how each lakes ecology has changed from pre-impact compared to modern day.

Advisor: Joshua Kurek

Abstract: Dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP) is a cryo- and osmoprotectant commonly utilized by marine species. The enzyme initiating DMSP synthesis has previously been shown to be a branched chain aminotransferase (BCAT) in the model Ulva macroalgae species. However, bioinformatic analysis has suggested against the typical BCAT classification in the Tetraselmis microalgae species. Rather, it is speculated that Tetraselmis uses a bifunctional aspartate aminotransferase. The experiment described herein aims to purify this aminotransferase using recombinant protein expression, followed by Nickel affinity chromatography. E. coli will be transformed via electroporation. Following bacterial transformation, protein expression will be induced with isopropyl β-D-1-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG). Subsequent cellular lysis will facilitate protein extraction. A standard curve will be developed to convert between the change in relative fluorescent units over time (RFU/s) and enzymatic activity (nmol/min) for later protein characterization. Beyond DMSP synthesis, alternative osmoprotectants will be analyzed in the Ulva species to determine if they have much physiological significance. Specifically, two assays were optimized to detect sucrose and proline levels in Ulva tissue. Using a nonquantitative Bradford assay, protein was shown to be extracted from the Nickel affinity chromatography treated samples. A linear regression was developed relating RFU/s to nmol/min. Lastly, there were no detectable levels of sucrose or proline found in Ulva, suggesting non-significant osmolyte behavior.

Advisor: Jeffrey Waller

Abstract: The general impact of the climate crisis has been addressed as regional, global or as specific disaster occurrences in diverse aesthetic styles by major artists. The contemporary art practice of ”The Everyday” focuses on bringing art and life together by making seemingly unremarkable everyday life occurrences more visible. Science displays climate data in the form of numbers, charts, and graphs which can be difficult to understand and relate to. This ISRG research art project as a translation of data brings together the issues of long term climate change and local daily weather in order to visualize climate change in Sackville NB. It is a snapshot of hourly weather data for the week of June 21-27 collected once every ten years from 2026 to 1966.
Weather indicators of temperature, precipitation, wind speed and wind direction were collected from the near by weather stations of Nappan and Moncton. On the hand painted Masonite panels temperature is converted into colour, each mm of rain indicated by one dot, the geographic wind direction from which the wind blows is expressed as a line, wind speed is shown as a “V” for every 5km/hr pointing in the wind direction. Standing on edge against the wall the panels are threaded together by wooden dowels displaying both sides. Data from each day and year can be compared to the next encouraging the viewer to contemplate a shared regular daily occurrence not only in the act of looking but also in the experience of time. Through cultural means this research art project hopes to contribute to the inter-societal climate crisis conversation.

Advisor: Leah Garnett

Abstract: The Barrel Imaging Calorimeter (BIC) will be part of a detector within the Electron Ion Collider, a new facility scheduled to begin operation in the early 2030s. It will contain components called Silicon Photomultipliers (SiPM). SiPMs were used in several experiments for development of the BIC, and they deteriorate over time. Consequently, calibration constants must be determined to account for this deterioration when comparing experiments to simulations. In this project, the calibration constants were determined for a SiPM being used in other research and development experiments. This improved the accuracy of the data in these experiments. Additionally, calibration constants from the Barrel Calorimeter (BCAL), part of a detector at Jefferson Lab, were analyzed from January 2019 to August 2022. Results showed that the components inside the BCAL remain stable.

Advisors: David Hornidge and Zisis Papandreou

Abstract: Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) is an analytical technique that can be used to identify and quantify trace amounts of molecules. Enhancement of the molecule’s Raman scattering is achieved by the introduction of nanoscopic metal surfaces, often of gold, silver or copper. While there are many examples of SERS by various nanoparticle platforms, quantitation typically requires expensive substrates prepared using photolithography for their high reproducibility. This study seeks to determine a scalable, inexpensive platform for SERS using gold nanoparticle synthesis that addresses the issues inhibiting the reproducibility as well as increase detection sensitivity. A number of configurations involving nanoparticles and thin metallic substrates were explored and compared. The best substrate design enhanced Raman signal by over 24000% with a relative standard deviation of 3.8%. Monitoring of the ligand exchange on the surface of gold nanospheres was tracked in order to demonstrate the improvements made by this configuration in developing SERS as a method to quickly assess nanoparticle surface chemistry. 

Advisor: M.-Vicki Meli

Abstract: This project summarizes my investigation into the nature of documentation in the postmodern context. Using the work of Baudelaire, Benjamin, and Damaška as a base, I argue for a view of physical and digital ephemera as a record of modern behaviour, and consider this record within the context of criminal justice - specifically Anglo-American evidence law - and contemporary art. Special attention is paid to photographic truth within archival and popular culture, with regard to John Tagg.

Combining this research with trends in contemporary performance and installation art, I wrote a series of rituals, or instructions, to be followed by the artist-performer. These performance rituals take the form of judge's notes and instructions: a synthesized review of the evidence for the jury. The work reflects on the ways our lives are documented, and asks the viewer-participant to consider how that documentation can be archived, interpreted, or weaponized, by the institution and the individual.

Advisor: Jerry Ropson

Abstract: School readiness is not only developed in a school setting.  Working with 15 students in Grades 4–6, my ISRG project, Bridging the Gap, began with pre-camp sessions at Birchmount School, followed by 5-8 weeks of participation at RLYNN KIDS Camp. The camp experience provided ongoing, authentic opportunities for students to practice skills such as planning, organization, flexibility, problem-solving, emotional regulation, independence, and navigating social relationships.

I collected data in several ways: conversations with campers about their experiences, my own observations, conversations with camp staff, and feedback from families. I found that the camp experience gave students opportunities to continue developing their executive functioning skills, while also building confidence, independence, and a sense of belonging. Both parents and campers talked about feeling more confident and connected to the camp community. The personal connection that campers made were a critical part of their experience. It demonstrated how relationships, belonging, and feeling supported can contribute to a child’s overall development.

This research shows the potential of community-based summer programs to provide meaningful learning experiences beyond the classroom and suggests that support for students’ readiness for school can continue throughout the summer in environments where children feel connected, capable, and supported.

Advisor: Leslie Shumka

Abstract: This study examines how South China Sea regional states align in relation to the United States and China and what factors help explain variation in their alignment behaviour. Rather than relying on binary “pro-U.S.” or “pro-China” labels, it uses a broader framework of balancing, bandwagoning, buck-passing, rent-seeking, and hedging. Using a qualitative comparative design, the study assesses security, economic, and diplomatic behaviour across nine states: the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, Taiwan, Japan, Indonesia, Australia, and Singapore. It then examines six explanatory factors across the five claimant states: perceived security threat, economic incentives and constraints, domestic politics, strategic autonomy, geography, and international norms. The study finds that the Philippines, Vietnam, Taiwan, Japan, and Australia are best classified as balancing cases, while Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia, and Singapore are better understood as hedging. Among the claimant states, perceived security threat most clearly distinguishes balancing from hedging, while autonomy, domestic politics, economic interdependence, and geography shape the form and limits of those responses. International norms influence legal and diplomatic methods more consistently than alignment direction. Overall, the findings show that similar exposure to U.S.-China rivalry produces different outcomes because states interpret and manage strategic pressure differently.

Advisor: James Devine

Abstract: Hypermobility Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (hEDS) is a heritable connective tissue disorder diagnosed through clinical criteria rather than genetic testing. In Nova Scotia, there is only one clinic that serves the entire Maritime region, creating significant access barriers for patients across three provinces. These barriers disproportionately affect young women, who face documented patterns of medical dismissal. This thesis examines how individuals navigate diagnostic pathways for hEDS within Nova Scotia’s public healthcare system and how these experiences are shaped by institutional structures. Positioned as both researcher and participant, the study explores how ruling relations, institutional capture and gendered labour affect access to diagnosis for chronic conditions. Using an analytical autoethnography informed by an institutional ethnography, the study draws on personal medical records, reflective journaling and social media engagement with hEDS related content as primary data. Analysis follows a reflexive thematic analysis approach across three rounds of coding, moving from descriptive to analytical themes. This research aims to highlight how institutional practices such as diagnostic charts, referral processes and clinical language shape whose suffering is recognized as legitimate within a resource limited system. Centering a single patient standpoint, this study seeks to find institutional patterns contributing to conversations on equitable access to care for complex chronic conditions in underserved regions.

Advisor: Christiana MacDougall

Abstract: From campy 1970s vampire films to contemporary coming of age novels, violence is a symbolic shorthand for queer desire. As an omnipresent artistic vehicle for queer expression, I investigate why violence is so pertinent, powerful, and prevailing in queer storytelling today. Examining a wide breadth of texts including transgender splatterpunk novel Manhunt by Gretchen Felker-Martin, surreal psychological horror Jawbone by Mónica Ojeda, Two-Spirit bildungsroman Jonny Appleseed by Joshua Whitehead, and Irish lesbian romance Sunburn by Chloe Michelle Howarth, as well as an accompanying selection of relevant film, TV, and music, I analyze the potential of violence, both in imagery and explicit action, within queer texts. Beginning with the subtext of early gothic novels like Bram Stoker's Dracula alongside the influences of Christianity’s suppression of sexuality, I explore the magnitude of history between queer sexuality, queer experience, and violence, which culminates today in the complex artistic viscera of queer desire. Furthermore, I expand my research from academic works such as Julia Kristeva’s Powers of Horror, Michel Foucault's The History of Sexuality, and Robyn Ollett's The New Queer Gothic. Researching beyond traditional horror texts, I depict the pervasive threat of queer identity as a means of queer self-understanding and a positive expression of sexuality. Violence wanted or enacted upon the self or upon a lover is a central theme in queer literature that showcases how societal expectations of correct attraction influence and pervert every facet of queer desire.

Advisor: Bryn Jones Square

Abstract: Many syntheses of sub-10 nm gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) exist, but each typically covers a narrow size window, and core size and surface chemistry are rarely tunable independently. Studying how particle characteristics govern film deposition therefore requires a route in which size can be varied over a broad range while polydispersity and ligand shell are held constant. Here, a low-cost adaptation of the Yang protocol is presented in which the molar ratios of gold precursor: reducing agent are optimised for monodispersity, and a lab-friendly temperature-controlled bath was engineered from a plastic container. This gives amine-stabilized AuNPs that can be purified by centrifugation, and their size distribution narrowed by size-selective precipitation. Three batches targeting core diameters of 2.5, 5, and 7.5 nm have been synthesized and purified; characterization by transmission electron microscopy is in progress. These batches will supply a film-deposition study structured by a D-optimal design of experiments, in which an exchange algorithm chooses the run settings that minimize the joint uncertainty of the coefficients of a polynomial response model, giving the most precise estimates of factor effects and interactions from fewer runs than a comparable full factorial or central composite design. This design allows for the model to adapt to the real core sizes and dispersity—which may differ from targets—providing a documented, reproducible protocol for isolating the influence of particle characteristics on film formation.

Advisor: Vicki Meli

Abstract: Rising temperatures due to anthropogenic change continue to intensify heat waves, manifesting as increased river temperatures. For example, in the summer, the Miramichi River has reached temperatures of 25–33°C. Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) are native to the Miramichi River. They are ectothermic and are therefore vulnerable to temperature fluctuations outside of their thermal tolerance range. Their metabolic rate increases with temperature, which can deplete available energy. The energy that is normally intended for growth, locomotion, and reproduction must then be allocated to metabolic processes and their recovery. Swimming long distances at temperatures beyond the optimal range further depletes energy allocated for growth. For juvenile fish, growing to an adequate size determines their ability to reach cold pools for thermal relief and avoid predators. Recovery time from thermal stress and the biochemical mechanisms underlying swimming capacity are not well established for ecologically relevant temperatures and swimming conditions. Thus, my research aims to investigate the influence of thermal spikes on metabolism, recovery time, and swimming capacity in Atlantic salmon. In doing so, fish will be swum in a chamber as the water temperature increases by 1°C/hour until approaching loss of equilibrium. Fish will be sampled immediately, or recovered at 16°C or 19°C before being sampled for glucose assays on various tissues. Effective conservation practices based on ecologically relevant recovery times and up-to-date methods are crucial for wildlife conservation.

Advisor: Andrea Morash

Abstract: NSHealth has begun implementing Databricks, an analytical software that uses artificial intelligence (AI), as a tool for both patients and healthcare professionals.  This includes a system that predicts factors that aid in decision making by healthcare professionals. Databricks helps creates a more accessible display of data, as well as the possibility of data-driven predictions, powered by AI.  As AI is being implemented in orthopaedics worldwide, the purpose of this summer research project was to evaluate the use of the AI software Halifax orthopaedics department.
Using synthetic hip and knee arthroplasty data, based on real patient data, a dashboard was created within Databricks to learn possible applications.  The analytical software was used to examine and display data through graphs that was easily understood by anyone, including those without a research background.  The AI was effective during this process, helping to write code while working with the data.  A forecasting graph was created as well, predicting surgical durations one year into the future.  This was then recreated with real data, which gave a bigger scope of the software.
It was determined that analytical software with AI has many important benefits to orthopaedics.  The forecasting tool has the possibility to help surgeons and other operating room staff monitor and reduce surgical durations, and the integrated AI makes displaying and understanding the data more accessible.  Despite the learning curve, AI software was able to analyze administrative data sets at NSHealth to support orthopaedic research.

Advisors: Jo Anne Douglas and Michael Dunbar

Abstract: In 2025, a Consumer Reports (CR) study found potentially concerning levels of heavy metals in many common protein powders via Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). Our study looked at the elemental makeup of 27 protein powders, including 6 from the CR study, using portable X-ray fluorescence (XRF) with the HD Mobile system from XOS and the JP500 system from Z-Spec. Both machines work by sending an X-ray beam into the sample and reading the resulting emitted X-rays to determine the elements present. XRF offers a potential advantage over ICP-MS as it is nondestructive and can be portable.

In this study, each protein powder was placed into 2 individual sample cups which were each analyzed 3 times in both XRF machines. A TAR, or total area ratio of counts of an element per total counts in a sample, was calculated and the average TAR for each element for each protein powder could then be compared to other TARs.

Our study found that the XOS machine and the Z-Spec machine did not reliably agree on a significant presence of lead, arsenic, or mercury. We did find notable differences between protein powder bases (whey, plant, cricket) and flavors (chocolate, vanilla, unflavored, and other). Chocolate powders have more rubidium, plant-based powders have more strontium, and cricket-based powders have more copper.

Advisor: David Fleming

Abstract: Dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP) is a major marine sulfur compound involved in osmotic regulation, oxidative stress protection, and global sulfur cycling. Accurate DMSP quantification is essential for studying its biological functions and metabolism, yet existing methods can be time-consuming and require specialized instrumentation. This study aimed to adapt the sodium nitroprusside (SNP) colorimetric assay of Grigsby and Palamand (1977) into a 96-well microplate format for rapid, high-throughput DMSP quantification. DMSP standards were used to optimize assay conditions and establish a working concentration range, while S-methylmethionine was evaluated as an alternative standard. The assay was applied to hydrochloric acid extracts of Ulva lactuca, Ulva intestinalis, and Polysiphonia subulata, as well as U. lactuca samples collected across a salinity series. Assay specificity and compatibility were evaluated using sulfur-containing metabolites, common buffers, protein purification reagents, metal ions, and recombinant enzyme assay components. Finally, the assay was applied to recombinant DMSHB oxidase reactions to assess its ability to detect DMSP production. This work establishes a microplate-based approach for DMSP quantification and identifies experimental conditions and potential sources of interference relevant to its application. The method provides a foundation for accessible, high-throughput analysis of DMSP and future investigation of DMSP biosynthesis.

Advisor: Jeffrey Waller

Abstract: The American Toad (Anaxyrus americanus) was introduced to Newfoundland in the 1960s, yet little is known about their invasive ecology. Given that novel predators often cause negative ecological impacts, and toad invasions elsewhere often attribute dietary flexibility as a driver of invasion success, my proposed research aims to address this knowledge gap by investigating the diet composition and foraging behaviour of this highly successful invasive species in Newfoundland. We propose two competing hypotheses for American Toads within their invasive range: (1) toads maintain a highly generalist diet consistent with non-invasive populations in mainland Canada or (2) they have shifted to a more specialist diet through preferential selection of abundant or familiar prey items. We collected 400 American Toads from 4 sites along the west coast of Newfoundland to determine diversity of prey items and deployed 200 pitfall traps to identify diversity of available prey at toad collection sites. We identified prey items to the lowest possible taxonomic level from the stomach contents of the collected toads and the contents of the pitfall traps. We will compare diversity measures between toad stomachs and the environment to determine if they are consuming prey in proportion to their availability or favouring specific prey. Diet composition data can be used to identify vulnerable prey taxa, increase our understanding of both drivers of invasion success and their indirect effects on food webs, as well as inform management efforts for this species in Newfoundland.

Advisor: James Baxter-Gilbert

Abstract: Photosynthetic microorganisms, like diatoms, transform sunlight into chemical energy. They fix 40% of the ocean’s organic carbon and play an essential role in the biological carbon pump, transporting carbon from surface waters to the deep ocean, where it can remain for centuries. Despite their significance, our knowledge of their metabolic architecture remains limited. Subcellular proteomics identifies proteins within specific cellular compartments to characterize their roles in cellular metabolism. However, applying subcellular proteomics to diatoms is challenging because their tough silica cell walls (frustules) complicate targeted cell wall disruption while increasing risk of damaging organelles. Currently, no standardized cell lysis methods exist that consistently preserve organelle integrity in diatoms. This study aims to optimize methods for breaking outer diatom cell walls while preserving functional organelles. Four species, P. tricornutum, D. brightwellii, T. weissflogii, and F. cylindrus were used to compare Balch and Dounce homogenization, sonication, alcalase treatment, and nitrogen cavitation methods. For each method, experimental parameters were fine tuned to maximize cell disruption and minimize damage to intracellular organelles. Microscopy quantified cell breakage efficiency and organelle integrity. Results indicate that method performance is species-specific, based on diatom size, shape, and silicification. Establishing a diatom cell lysis workflow is foundational for subcellular proteomics, enabling deeper investigations into their metabolism.

Advisor: Loay Jabre

Abstract: Acute stress induces physiological changes that help us cope with immediate threats by shifting energy away from processes such as feeding and digestion toward systems necessary for survival. The dorsomedial hypothalamus (DMH) is an important brain region involved in both stress and appetite regulation, yet the effects of acute stress on DMH neuronal function and synaptic communication remain poorly understood. This project aims to determine how acute stress alters neuronal excitability and synaptic communication in the mouse DMH. Male and female C57BL/6 mice will undergo acute restraint stress or control conditions before whole-cell patch-clamp electrophysiology is used to assess neuronal excitability and synaptic currents in DMH neurons. Approximately 8-10 cells from 4-6 animals per experimental group will be analyzed. Preliminary results show that high-frequency stimulation produces a long-lasting decrease in excitatory communication between DMH neurons, known as long-term depression. This suggests that synaptic communication in the DMH can be persistently altered following stimulation and provides insight into the mechanisms that regulate neuronal communication in this brain region. These findings may contribute to our understanding of the neural mechanisms linking stress and appetite regulation.

Advisor: Karen Crosby

Abstract: Many flowering plants are clonal, meaning they can reproduce both sexually (by producing an embryo, with a unique genotype) and clonally (by reproducing vegetatively). For clonal organisms, each individual is called a ramet, and all ramets that have originated from one unique genotype make up the genet. Normally, members of a clone are identified through genetic analysis, but this is costly and time-consuming. It would be far more convenient if clones could be recognized in the field. Over time, members of the Austen lab have come to believe that different genets may exhibit different floral traits. I extracted DNA from previously collected leaf tissue of the plant Lysimachia terrestris. I will be sequencing the samples to determine clonal ID by looking at single-nucleotide polymorphisms. In parallel, I am analyzing photos of flowers from the same individual plants to quantify similarity/difference in traits such as petal area, petal perimeter, and red spot size using ImageJ software. Finally, I am developing an online game called GenetQuest using Base44 AI, where users will sort flower photographs into what they perceive as the same clone, to see if the public can determine clonal ID and if knowledge of Lysimachia terrestris or even flowering plants is required.

Advisor: Emily Austen

Abstract: In light of the proposed Bill C-34, the Safe Social Media Act, the perspectives of 2SLGBTQIA+ youth have yet to be carefully considered regarding potential restrictions for youth under the age of 16. While social media use and youth development have been thoroughly researched, literature remains divided as to the true impacts of social media usage under the age of 16. When considering queer youth’s social media usage, literature has indicated that social media has been a resource for education, affirmation, and community, especially in rural areas with less resources and/or unaccepting communities. 8-12 queer youth between the ages of 19-23 are participating in feminist-informed semi-structured phone interviews and reflecting on how social media has impacted their queer identity and how this proposed social media ban could impact future queer youths' wellbeing. Drawing on youth studies theories of moral panic and deviance along with queer cyber-developmental frameworks, this study carefully considers why the proposed policy has come to be, and also why youth are drawn to social media to begin with. This study will centre queer youth’s opinions on Bill C-34 to better inform policymakers and guide equitable digital governance for queer youth in Canada.

Advisor: Ardath Whynacht

Abstract: We apply a neo-Marxist/neo-Gramscian class analysis to a newer form of governance that operates on interchangeable data profiles rather than individuals, thus eroding the participation of subjects. In particular, we examine how foundational political philosophy frameworks account for modern sociopolitical dynamics, finding that they tend to lag behind technology that advances more rapidly than society can adjust. Phenomena such as algorithmic profiling, mass datafication, and cognitive deskilling increasingly upend the assumptions of traditional academic critiques that subjects are at least partially capable of recognizing class exploitation, forming a shared consciousness, and mobilizing collective action. Marx's immanent conditions for political revolution are thus fundamentally degraded by the ongoing transformation of governance, warfare, and economics on every level, and Gramsci's original espousal of cultural transformation through civil society institutions is no longer an effective method of counter-hegemonic resistance. Instead, a more radical approach of bringing digital infrastructure under democratic control is required, relying heavily on the participation of organic intellectuals.

Advisor: Nathaniel Johnston

Abstract: This project investigates the synthesis of redox active ferrocenyl ligands for use in main group metal complexes, with a focus on developing catalysts that may be used as an alternative to traditional transition-metal-based catalysts. Ferrocenes are particularly attractive because of their reversible iron-centered charge that can be modified through the substitution of the cyclopentadienyl rings. This work began with the preparation of a mixture of ferrocene derivatives containing regular ferrocene, pentamethylferrocene, and decamethylferrocene. Pentamethylcyclopentadienyl lithium was generated by reacting pentamethylcyclopentadiene with n-butyllithium in tetrahydrofuran (THF), followed by reaction with iron(II) chloride and then sodium cyclopentadienide was subsequently introduced to form the desired mixture of ferrocene derivatives. The reaction mixture was quenched, concentrated, extracted into dichloromethane, and repeatedly washed with water before further purification with about 50-75% of the final product being pentamethylferrocene. An amine arm was then introduced to the ferrocenyl framework, and column chromatography was used to separate and isolate the desired product. The desired product will then be incorporated into an indium complex, and an investigation of its structural, spectroscopic and electrochemical properties will be completed. 

Advisor: Glen Briand

Abstract: This project examines the closure of USAID in what impacts it has had on human security, and how its termination may be a turning point for the foreign aid system to reevaluate current funding structures and consider more sustainable solutions to issues of human security. To address this subject, this project evaluates the integration of the human security concept in three different intergovernmental organizations’ security approaches and how or if these actors would approach such a threat to human security. To address the question of the sustainability of the foreign aid system, this project reviews literature on the unsustainability of the foreign aid system from a post-colonial perspective. Lastly, to look at the effects of abrupt cuts on human security, this project reviews a report from UN Women published in June of 2026, on the impacts of USAID’s closure on NGO operations and Women and girls’ health and wellbeing. The gravity of the closure of USAID for human security, and how it may signify a turning point for the world’s view of the foreign aid system is an emerging topic with new but limited literature on the subject. This project aims to position the closure of USAID in the context of literature centered on topics such as human security and the unsustainability of the foreign aid system to highlight that abrupt cuts in foreign aid could be considered threats to security given the severity of situations such as USAID’s closure, and the necessity of sustainable solutions for issues of human security.

Advisor: David Thomas

Abstract: G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are considerable membrane proteins that initiate signalling cascades in response to stimuli, such as sucralose. Sucralose is a common non-caloric sweetener, a food additive intended to provide sweet taste sensation at low caloric value. Sucralose is an engineered sucrose derivative that is understood to remain inert once consumed, avoiding internal interactions and metabolic processes. Recent studies have disproved understandings of sucralose metabolism, demonstrating involvement in dysregulating metabolic processes, contribution to cellular growth deficits, and connection to developing disease. Despite documented impacts of sucralose consumption, the sweetener’s cellular signalling mechanism is not elucidated. However, previous research has identified the PLC/IP3/Ca²⁺ and GPR52 signalling pathways as systems of interest. The role of both GPCR signalling pathways in sucralose’s induced cellular deficits was experimentally evaluated in HCT116 cells. Common inhibitors to pathway effectors were administered along early and chronic sucralose exposure, and resultant impacts to cellular viability were comparatively analyzed. Results highlight sucralose-induced decline in cellular viability as dose-dependent and exceeding that induced by sucrose. Comparison of cellular viability reduction with administered inhibitors presents minor changes; indicating the signalling mechanism of sucralose may differ from studied GPCR signalling pathways. Future studies considering alternate pathways will further understanding of the sweetener’s mechanism.

Advisor: Jill Rourke