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Lassonde Undergraduate Summer Research Conference 2024 Researchers
Get to know your researchers!
Project Presentations
This year’s research conference includes project presentations of undergraduate students and their research experiences. Read firsthand as these students share their experiences and discuss the various research opportunities available to undergraduates. Explore a variety of topics and subject matter at this year’s conference. Learn about recent discoveries, cutting-edge research, and emerging technologies in fields such as Indigenous settlements and fire safety, Sensitivity analysis of orbit accuracy relative to the attitude pointing/knowledge accuracy, Development of wearable microfluidic patches Integrated with Organic Electrochemical Transistor (OECT) sensors for the detection of inflammatory biomarkers in sweat, Development of an autonomous mobile 3D bioprinting system for regenerative medicine and more.
Researchers
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Civil Engineering 2024
Pouya Moradjounamin
Program: LURA
Supervisor: Shooka Karimpour
Profile: Pouya, a final-year Civil Engineering student is set to graduate next year. Currently serving as a Research Assistant at the Lassonde School of Engineering, he has chosen to participate in this research to gain practical experience and contribute to innovative engineering solutions. His passion for civil engineering drives his commitment to both studies and research endeavors.Rahil Aggarwal
Program: LURA
Supervisor: Satinder Kaur Brar
Profile: Rahil is a first-year engineering student who is pursuing civil engineering. He is enthusiastic and passionate about his work and enjoys being busy. He likes to help others and learn something new every day. He chose to participate in the research because he wanted to expand his knowledge in the field of environmental civil engineering and get hands-on experience since this is his first-time doing research.Samreen Sran
Program: USRA
Supervisor: Satinder Kaur Brar
Profile: Samreen is a biotechnology student in her final year and has a keen interest in bioremediation. When the opportunity arose, she eagerly applied to work in Dr. Brar’s Lab. This decision was driven by the lab’s focus on developing novel strategies to treat contaminants in water and wastewater, especially via bioremediation, an environmentally safe and sustainable solution. Additionally, she sought hands-on research experience and the chance to work in an inter-disciplinary lab environment to enhance her practical skills as well as knowledge in the field.Sebastian Ceron
Program: LURA
Supervisor: Magdalena Krol, Usman Khan
Profile: Sebastian is a 2nd year Civil Engineering student who chose to be a part of a research project because he wanted to explore his interests in research and see if he wanted to continue this in graduate studies. It is impactful as well, as Sebastian can increase his knowledge of new topics that will help him in his future. He sees research as being a skill development project, where he can improve his critical thinking, problem solving, and technical skills. Sebastian is excited to participate in the LURA program and make a contribution to the future of the research project.Shannon Fernando
Program: USRA
Supervisor: Matthew Perras
Profile: Shannon is a graduating Atmospheric Science student interested in the
effects of climate change on Egyptian Sites. She hopes to return in Fall 2024 for her master's to continue her summer research. Shannon works part-time at The Weather Network and has a keen interest in both climate and weather, specifically in how they affect people.Yisroel Rosenberg
Program: LURA
Read More About the Conference
Supervisor: Magdalena Krol
Profile: Yisroel is currently in his 4th year of civil engineering. He is a motivated individual who is set on making impactful differences in our world. He chose to participate in research this summer in order to facilitate future environmental endeavors to make our world a better place for generations to come. -
Earth & Space Science and Engineering 2024
Brock Koch Nichol
Program: Mary & Hubert Lynch Undergraduate Research Internship
Supervisor: John Moores
Profile: Brock is entering his 3rd year of Space Engineering. He is a curious learner and is passionate about technology, astronomy, and much more. Brock chose to participate in research to experience where the worlds of engineering and science merge together into innovation.Christofer Cherpillod
Program: LURA
Supervisor: Michael Bazzocchi
Profile: Christofer is a 2nd Year Engineering Science Student at the University of Toronto. He was interested in this position since it provides an opportunity to work in the summer while learning about a new topic he loves. Christofer aims to research the use of shape memory alloys, a novel material to create a fully mechanical, passive system to orient solar panels to the Sun aboard a satellite.Connor Humphries
Program: USRA
Supervisor: Regina Lee
Profile: Connor is a 3rd year Space Engineering student continuing research in the
Nanosatellite Research Laboratory as it has a focus on Space Situational Awareness. In layman's terms the detecting, tracking, simulating, avoiding and de-orbiting of space debris or junk. Connor is hoping to become one of the world's greatest trash men by assisting in future de-orbiting missions.Emilee Taylor Brown
Program: USRA
Supervisor: Regina Lee
Profile: Emilee is a 2nd year Chemical Engineering student at McMaster University. She joined Dr. Regina Lee’s Nanosatellite Research Lab in May of 2024 as an Undergraduate Research Assistant. She has chosen to participate in research over the summer to learn more about the field and gain experience for future opportunities.Eric Tu
Program: LURA
Supervisor: Jinjun Shan
Profile: Eric will be going into their fourth year of Space Engineering at York University. He chose to participate in research because of his desire to create new knowledge and contribute to developing new technologies. Additionally, going into research serves as an opportunity to develop complex problem-solving skills. As opposed to schoolwork in which there is always a specified answer, research allows for the individual to carve their own path, developing a unique solution to said problem.Ian Porto
Program: LURA
Supervisor: Regina Lee
Profile: Ian is a 4th year Space Engineering Student who has been researching under Professor Lee for the last year. Ian really enjoys discovering new methods of solving problems. Ian will be researching Initial Orbit Determination, which is the process of finding where an object in space is and how it is moving.Hao Zhang
Program: LURA
Supervisor: Jinjun Shan
Profile: Hao Zhang is a 4th year Computer Science student, interested in solving real world problems with technology, especially in self-driving. This is why his research focus will be on solving real-world problems with technology, and specifically on self-driving.Marissa Myhre
Program: USRA
Supervisor: Regina Lee
Profile: Marissa is a fourth-year Space Engineering student at Lassonde. This is her second summer participating in undergraduate research. She chose to participate in research because she plans to pursue a research-based graduate program after completing her degree in Space Engineering. Marissa will be researching and developing an algorithm to determine a spacecraft's angular rate from star field images.Mishal Vellani
Program: LURA
Supervisor: Gunho Sohn
Profile: Mishal, an upper-year Earth and Atmospheric Science student specializing in Space Science at Lassonde School of Engineering is driven by a profound curiosity about the world and a passion for understanding the Why and How. Her fascination with Science and outer space fuels her belief in the power of research to drive significant advancements. With a desire to apply her expertise to enhance space exploration and improve quality of life, Mishal embodies a relentless commitment to scientific inquiry and exploration.Ruella Ella Ordinaria
Program: USRA
Supervisor: John Moores
Profile: Ruella is an incoming third-year biochemistry student with a passion for understanding the molecular intricacies of life and its potential existence beyond Earth. Inspired by the work of Dr. Moores and his colleagues in the Planetary Volatiles Lab, she is exploring the impact of extraterrestrial environments on biological molecules. With the goal of pursuing graduate school, Ruella hopes to utilize her biochemistry knowledge to contribute to interdisciplinary research in the fields of astrobiology and planetary science. -
Electrical Engineering & Computer Science 2024
Adnan Ahmed
Program: USRA
Supervisor: Franck van Breugel
Profile: Adnan is a 2nd-year Computer Science student with a passion for research and a drive to pursue a master's degree. Seeking to broaden his knowledge and gain valuable experience, he chose to participate in research projects. Through this endeavor, Adnan aims to develop skills that will not only enhance his academic journey but also contribute to his future pursuits in advanced studies and professional endeavors.Aijaisarma Sabaratnasarma
Program: USRA
Supervisor: James Elder
Profile: Aijaisarma is a 4th year Computer Science student at York University. His expertise and field of interests include Computer Vision, Machine Learning and Deep Learning. He chose to participate in this research internship to gain valuable academic experience to pursue a Masters or PhD in the future. As well as to work with and network with fellow grad students and professors and learn more about Computer Vision Research and develop his engineering skills. Aijaisarma wants to make an impact in his community with his technical skills and believes pursuing research is the way he can change the world.Ailiya Jafri
Program: LURA
Supervisor: Meiying Qin
Profile: Ailiya is a first-year student in Computer Engineering at Lassonde School of Engineering. She has a keen interest in robotics and programming driven by a lifelong fascination with mechatronics. Ailiya pursued research this summer to share her passion with her peers by making this area of studies more intuitive for future students.Arian Haghparast
Program: LURA
Supervisor: Manos Papagelis
Profile: Arian is entering his third year of Computer Science at York University, where he is exploring his passion for machine learning under the guidance of Dr. Papagelis. Since high school, he has been intrigued by computers and their potential to mimic human learning capabilities. He is particularly interested in reinforcement learning and its applications to real-world problems. By participating in this research, he wants to deepen his understanding of AI, contribute to innovative solutions, and prepare for a career that advances the field of artificial intelligence.Baran Parsai
Program: LURA
Supervisor: Michael Jenkin
Profile: Baran is a first-year computer science student at Lassonde, who joined the LURA program this summer to explore advanced programming for enhancing human-robot interaction. She will be working with Professor Jenkin at the Fields Robotics Lab on the "Emotionally Aware Avatars" project. This opportunity allows Baran to engage with cutting-edge technology and contribute to innovative research in the field of programming, aligning with her academic and professional aspirations.Greatlove Bariboloka
Program: LURA
Supervisor: Kai Zhuang
Profile: Greatlove is a 4th year Software Engineering student. They are interested in software design and development that makes user experiences smoother. As a student, they have supported many peers as a mentor, organized competitions and have acted as a teaching assistant. They chose research at Lassonde because their desired project would make the learning experience more enjoyable and memorable for first year students.Hiva Karami
Program: LURA
Supervisor: Franck van Breugel
Profile: Hiva is a second-year computer science student with an interest in theoretical computer science. She has a background in competitive programming. She chose to participate in the research because she's eager about the chance to work with experienced professors like Professor Franck van Breugel. This opportunity will help her prepare for a master's degree in computer science. Her goal is to enhance her understanding of complex computer science ideas and improve her problem-solving skills.James Fletcher
Program: USRA
Supervisor: Aijun An
Profile: James is a 4th year Computer Science student with a research focus on data mining and large language models. Through this research project, he looks forward to gaining practical experience with state-of-the-art language models.Jaspreet Sekhon
Program: LURA
Supervisor: Peter Lian
Profile: Jaspreet is a 3rd year Electrical Engineering student interested in embedded systems for biomedical applications. They chose to partake in research because they want to innovate and contribute to advancements in medical devices. Jaspreet will be researching how to create a low power cuffless blood pressure device through measuring the heart's electrical activity and blood oxygen concentration.Julian Forsyth
Program: LURA
Supervisor: Konstantinos Derpanis
Profile: Julian just completed his 4th year in Computer Science at York. He is passionate about exploring the intersection of mathematics, computation, and the natural world. Working in the Computational Vision and Imaging Lab gives the opportunity to grapple with the most interesting problems at the edge of AI and vision.Karolina Tchilinguirova
Program: LURA
Supervisor: Alvine Boaye Belle
Profile: Karolina, a second-year Computer Science student, is interested in research as it will enhance her learning beyond the classroom. She is eager to gain hands-on experience to contribute to her professional development. She values the opportunity to collaborate with experts in the field, benefiting from their guidance and insights. This experience promises to provide her with a well-rounded perspective, enriching her academic journey and preparing her for future career opportunities.Katherine Ling
Program: USRA
Supervisor: Jarek Szlichta
Profile: Katherine is a fourth-year Computer Science student. She is engaging in research to deepen her understanding of artificial intelligence and contribute to developing more transparent AI systems. She will study methods to explain answers produced by large language models.Laily Ajellu
Program: LURA
Supervisor: Jeff Edmonds
Profile: Laily is passionate about crafting ChatGPT to give more specific answers. She is building Fine-Tuned models based on the latest versions of ChatGPT. This involves training the models on expert-picked bodies of text to create custom document flows. Cubatorin gives quality advice to startups. To do this, Laily has applied Natural Language Processing (NLP), a subfield of Artificial Intelligence which processes large texts. She has then fine-tuned the AI's responses so that it uses expert-fed data. Cubatorin is updated multiple times a day with this data. The data is provided by Venture Capitalists and Startup Advisors (rather than the average Joe on the internet), making it 5% more actionable.Lucas Woolner
Program: LURA
Supervisor: Yves Lesperance
Profile: Lucas is a 4th year Computer Science student who will enter the Master's in Computer Science program in the fall at York University. His research interests are AI and algorithmic theory. His long-term goal is to pursue a career in research, and participating in the LURA program is a step in this direction.Manpreet Sekhon
Program: Dr. James Wu Research Internships for Undergraduate Engineering Students
Supervisor: Peter Lian
Profile: Manpreet is a 3rd year Electrical Engineering student. He chose to participate in the research because of his interest in creating low power high speed devices, specifically in biomedical applications. By participating in the research, he will be able to gain experience in this field so he can use his knowledge and apply it in the industry.Michael David
Program: USRA
Supervisor: Eric Rupert
Profile: Michael is a 3rd year Computer Science student working with Dr. Eric Ruppert through the USRA program on lock-free data structures. He chose to participate in research given his passion for computer science and mathematics along with the drive to challenge himself to contribute meaningful progress to the field.Mohammad Hosseini
Program: LURA
Supervisor: James Elder
Profile: Mohammad is studying Machine Learning and Computer Vision at Lassonde. With a strong foundation in mathematics, software development, and AI/ML, he has gained experience as a Software Developer at EAIGLE. His passion for computer vision and research drives his enthusiasm to contribute to and further his learning in the LURA Research Program. Mohammad is eager to leverage his skills and knowledge to make meaningful contributions to innovative research projects.Mustafa Yildirim
Program: LURA
Supervisor: Hina Tabassum
Profile: Mustafa is a 4th-year Computer Engineering student at Lassonde. He is a hardworking student who excels under pressure and meets tight deadlines, as reflected in his academic performance. Mustafa has demonstrated strong teamwork and leadership by actively participating in and leading various group projects. These experiences have prepared him to contribute effectively to team efforts. He is very interested in machine learning and decided to join this research to learn more and understand new ideas. Mustafa believes this experience will greatly benefit him if he decides to pursue a master’s degree in the future.Oluwamayowa Isaac Ibidun
Program: LURA
Supervisor: Kiemute Oyibo
Profile: Isaac is a 3rd year Computer Science student with a passion for using technology to create innovative solutions that make a meaningful impact. He is excited to participate in this research project to explore how game-based learning can enhance student engagement and comprehension. In his free time, he enjoys watching movies, playing piano and working on personal projects.Pranav Gupta
Program: USRA
Supervisor: Manos Papagelis
Profile: Pranav is a senior student at York University, majoring in Physics with Honors and Computer Science, and a recipient of the Fulbright Scholarship. His journey is fueled by a relentless curiosity, a deep-seated passion for Artificial General Intelligence, and a commitment to establishing a significant presence in the research community. Pranav is drawn to research because it allows him to explore and solve complex, open-ended problems while enjoying the autonomy and ownership that this field offers.Rafael Dolores
Program: LURA
Supervisor: Jarek Szlichta
Profile: Rafael is a fourth-year Software Engineering student passionate about Data Science and Machine Learning. Having spent one year as a Data Science/Engineering intern at Sanofi Pasteur, he decided to further explore this field through research and combine his industry knowledge with academic insights that he seeks to gain from the Data & AI lab. He plans to leverage this experience to pursue a master’s degree in computer science.Saba Yazdani
Program: LURA
Supervisor: Shahin Kamali
Profile: Saba is a third-year computer science student with a keen interest in research methodologies. She views participation in research as a valuable opportunity to deepen her understanding of complex problems and enhance her skills in algorithmic analysis.Shaun Francis
Program: LURA
Supervisor: Ali Sadeghi-Naini
Profile: Shaun is a 4thyear computer science student at the University of Ottawa who wishes to continue pursuing Machine Learning in a master's program. Shaun will be researching how AI can be used to assist with the tracking of tumor cells in microscopy image series.Sumedha
Program: LURA
Supervisor: Shahin Kamali
Profile: Sumedha is a 3rd year Computer Science student who has found a love for computer science through the theories and analyses that lie behind it. LURA is a great opportunity for Sumedha to further explore her love for CS, especially theoretical CS through her research project, which will hopefully help shape the decisions about her future.Hossein KassiriTakhmina Iliiasova
Program: LURA
Supervisor: Andrew Eckford
Profile: Takhmina is a 3rd year Computer Science student at York. She chose to participate in the research to gain experience and skills that would further help her pursue graduate studies.Uktu Egemen Umut
Program: LURA
Supervisor: Konstantinos Derpanis
Profile: Utku is a second-year Computer Science student at the University of Toronto, collaborating with Professor Derpanis on a Computer Vision project. As an aspiring research scientist passionate about making significant contributions to Computer Science, Utku applied for the LURA award. This award has provided him with the unique opportunity to work alongside top researchers in Computer Vision at the Lassonde School of Engineering.Vansh Bhasin
Program: LURA
Supervisor: Hina Tabassum
Profile: Vansh Bhasin is a first-year Computer Science student driven by a passion for exploring new domains in the industry and creating positive change through research. His primary motivation stems from the desire to understand AI and machine learning's impact on future generations and to contribute meaningfully to these fields.Vaughn Chan
Program: LURA
Supervisor: Suprakash Datta
Profile: Vaughn transferred from the Pure Mathematics program (Bsc) to Engineering (Beng) in order to pursue a career in Software Engineering. He believes AI will profoundly impact the world and thus is interested in getting involved with AI. First, Vaughn will learn Reinforcement Learning (RL) by going through textbooks and tutorials to gain a sense of what RL is. Then, he will apply the concepts to improve wireless communications.Xu Nan Shen
Program: USRA
Supervisor: Zhen Ming (Jack) Jiang
Profile: Xu Nan (James) is a 3rd year Computer Science student. He chose to participate in research to learn more about the direction of AI studies and strengthen his resume for future job applications and post-secondary studies. James will be researching the operationalization of RAG-based LLM applications.Yat Long Hui
Program: LURA
Supervisor: Peter Lian
Profile: Cyrus is a 2nd-year Computer Science student passionate about applying machine learning to solve real-world problems. Cyrus’s research interest lies in biomedical signal analysis and market simulations related to game theory. He believes real-time monitoring of COVID-19 can lead to quicker responses and more effective containment measures to prevent a pandemic outbreak. Therefore, he hopes to bring a positive impact through this research opportunity.
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Mechanical Engineering 2024
Amanullah Asim
Program: LURA
Supervisor: Alidad Amirfazli
Profile: Amanullah, a dedicated Computer Engineering student, has a keen passion for AI and machine learning. Driven by a desire to innovate, he joined the ARIA research project to apply his technical expertise and creativity. With skills in cloud engineering, MERN stack development, and deployment architecture utilizing Docker and Kubernetes, Amanullah is committed to making a unique impact. Through ARIA, he aims to revolutionize research efficiency and accuracy, using AI to develop groundbreaking solutions that align with his professional abilities.Basit Ilyas
Program: Mary & Hubert Lynch Undergraduate Research Internship
Supervisor: Pouya Rezai
Profile: Basit Ilyas is an incoming fourth-year student studying Mechanical Engineering at York University. Basit is in the research which is based on lab-on-a-chip electrochemical detection by fabrication and integration of microfluidic channels and electrodes. Basit chose to participate in this research due to a strong background in electrochemistry and microfluidics. Building upon her academic background in fluid mechanics, he aspires to explore the exciting realm of microfluidic devices and contribute to the development of innovative solutions that can revolutionize electrochemical detection, biotechnology, and other related industries.Bin Xu
Program: LURA
Supervisor: Alidad Amirfazli
Profile: Bin Xu is a 2nd year Computer Science student who has a keen interest in the impact of insects onto Aluminum and Glass Substrates which is his research focus.Chrislord Antiaye
Program: USRA
Supervisor: Solomon Boakye-Yiadom
Profile: Chris is a second year Mechanical Engineering student with a keen interest in Additive Manufacturing at U of T. Chris will be researching High Entropy Alloys produced through Powder Bed Fusion, a type of Additive Manufacturing. High Entropy Alloys are materials with desirable properties such as high resistance to corrosion, high strength, etc.
Ibrahim Rfifi
Program: LURA
Supervisor: Roger Kempers
Profile: Ibrahim is a third-year mechanical engineering student at York University. Three words that summarize his personality are curious, passionate and dedicated. He is involved with organizations such as Lassonde Motorsports, the Lassonde Academic Honesty Panel and the Lassonde Student Workload Working Group. Some of Ibrahim’s ongoing personal projects include a ball-balancing control system, an electromechanical actuator and a diagnostic toothbrush for Cushing's syndrome, Parkinson's disease and breast cancer. His research interests span thermo-fluid sciences, molecular biology as well as mechatronics and control.Joaquin Ramirez-Medina
Program: USRA
Supervisor: Alidad Amirfazli
Profile: Joaquin is a graduating Mechanical Engineering student. With a keen interest in thermofluids sciences and artificial intelligence, Joaquin is passionate about leveraging these fields to drive innovation and solve complex engineering challenges. His participation in research is driven by a desire to deepen his understanding and contribute to advancements in these areas.Julia Rodriguez
Program: USRA
Supervisor: Roger Kempers
Profile: Julia is a second year Mechanical Engineering student with an interest in thermal systems and a strong enthusiasm toward environmental stewardship. By participating in research, she hopes to grow her knowledge in her field of interest while contributing to the advancement of sustainable technology. Through this opportunity, Julia plans to gain the necessary experience to pursue further work in automotive innovation.Lexiang Wang
Program: LURA
Supervisor: Alidad Amirfazli
Profile: Lexiang is a third year MECH Eng student who decided to conduct their second coop term to exam their ability and capability after 3 years of study, with an interest in the research topic provided by the supervisor.
Luna Marouf
Program: LURA
Supervisor: Marina Freire-Gormaly
Profile: Luna decided to apply to Dr. Marina's research due to her excitement in exploring her program and her interest in the topics that are being researched. Since Luna just finished her first year, she really wanted to get a bit of hands-on experience in the Lab, and work with people of more knowledge and experience to learn and experiment more about one of the fields that she is interested in which is air and water purification. She also thinks that she can really help bring new ideas and findings or just affect the research project that she is currently working on in the best way possible.Sasha Brucker
Program: LURA
Supervisor: Roger Kempers
Profile: Sasha is a 2nd year Mechanical Engineering student. She is passionate about sustainable energy and energy storage systems. She is participating in research to broaden her understanding of key concepts within her degree and to explore subjects within the industry.Wilyam Semere Hayelom
Program: USRA
Supervisor: Marina.Freire-Gormaly
Profile: Wilyam is a third-year Mechanical Engineering student, passionate about sustainability and environmental conservation. Participating in Professor Marina's research on clean water and air fascinated him, especially considering the urgent need for such resources in his home country Eritrea as well as Uganda where he grew up in.
Wolfgang Becker
Program: LURA
Supervisor: Marina Freire-Gormaly
Profile: Wolfgang is a 2nd year Mechanical Engineering student at Lassonde. He chose to participate in this program (LURA) because it is an excellent opportunity to gain experience in research and design work. Wolfgang's proposed research is a continuation of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) research into the airflow in an airliner's cabin. Specifically, he is looking at aerosol dispersal due to the airflow caused by the cabin ventilation system. His work will entail an experimental validation of the CFD study--verifying that the CFD and reality align and evaluating how closely.Yosuf Mohamed
Program: USRA
Supervisor: Pouya Rezai
Profile: Born in Egypt, Yosuf is a Muslim 18-year-old premed in his last year of studying biology. He is interested in his research because he believes it will be something very impactful on people's lives. Part of the reason he wants to go to medical school is so that he can have a positive impact on society and his community. He also works as an Environmental service associate at his local hospital. In his free time, Yosuf loves to play sports and spend time with friends and family.Yuxin Su
Program: LURA
Supervisor: Solomon Boakye-Yiadom
Profile: Yuxin is a Computer Science student at Lassonde with an interest in computational modeling and data analysis. Yuxin will utilize advanced CALPHAD-based software for computational modeling and phase diagram analysis to test the compositions and thermodynamic properties of High Entropy Alloys designed by Professor Boakye-Yiadom’s team.