Grad Chat - Queen's School of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs

The coastal zone is shaped by sea level change, wave action, geological characteristics, and human decisions. These processes are spatially continuous, therefore techniques that monitor larger regions, such as remote sensing and numerical modeling, allow for a more detailed understanding of the drivers of coastal change. In Laura’s research, she applies these techniques to understand how wav...

The plant Cannabis sativa L. has historically served as a herbal remedy, garnering a considerable surge in both recreational and medicinal domains in contemporary times. However, this increased application has not aligned with our clinical awareness regarding the disturbances associated with cannabis. This assumes heightened significance in the context of palliative care for cancer patients, as th...

Over 2,000 garbage trucks worth of plastic waste enter our oceans, lakes, rivers, and estuaries every day. Of the 300 million tons of plastic produced annually, only 10% is recycled. Due to the inertness and durability of plastic materials, current industrial recycling processes employ energetically demanding processes such as combustion and melting which further the global climate crisis by relea...

Jessica discusses the characteristics of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic (fat build up) liver disease (MASLD) in the Canadian context. For upcoming interviews check out the Grad Chat webpage on Queen’s University School of Graduate Studies & Postdoctoral Affairs website.

Taylor is a structural geologist, which means I study the architecture and processes behind the development of mountain systems. As a structural geologist, I need to factor in all the different aspects of a mountain system to effectively study it and create a comprehensive tectonic model to explain the evolution of the mountain system. For upcoming interviews check out the Grad Chat webpage on Que...

Mapping out and understanding the rise , power and resiliency of modern Christian prophecy among American evangelical voters that relate to Donald Trump’s presidency. For upcoming interviews check out the Grad Chat webpage on Queen’s University School of Graduate Studies & Postdoctoral Affairs website.

David’s research-creation project draws on his experiences as a musician and visual artist, to employ sonic data gathering techniques such as biodata sonification and field recordings, alongside embodied and Indigenous-informed research methodologies in order to undertake a co-created artistic acoustic ecology with the Great Lakes. For upcoming interviews check out the Grad Chat webpage on Q...

Jenelle’s Ph. D. dissertation research examines the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on community-based food security responses in Toronto and entails broader examinations of food system governance in practice. Her work interrogates the equitable distribution of resources among the non-profit sector and examines EDI practices within philanthropic and government granting mechanisms. For upcom...

Each year, approximately 230,000 Canadians, or 1 in 100, receive ICU care. While over 90% survive, up to 55% of survivors develop long-lasting cognitive impairment within two years of ICU discharge. Recent research suggests that inadequate blood flow to the brain may play a role. The purpose of Jiale’s research is to identify patients’ optimal blood pressure ranges in real-time in the ICU an...

Debbie Hernandez, a PhD student from Wilfrid Laurier University,  explores the importance of cultural teachings in Filipino communities, focusing on how these teachings are remembered, experienced, used, and passed on, despite being marginalized within dominant cultures. Guided by feminist theory and postcolonial studies, particularly M. Jacqui Alexander’s concept of “pedagogies of the Sacred,” he...

Julianna talks about how we are losing biodiversity at an alarming rate, largely because of human-caused habitat degradation and loss. Yet, some species are persisting or even increasing for reasons that are often unclear. Some species might persist because of their ability to tolerate life in cities – one of the most dramatically human-modified habitats.  Surprisingly, city birds were no more lik...

Infertility – involuntary childlessness – affects millions of people, especially women, globally. In Ethiopia, it causes significant distress and burden on women, but there is limited research on rehabilitation services available to them. Understanding the psychological, social, and financial challenges for women living with infertility in Ethiopia is important. For upcoming interviews check out t...

Kidney supportive care (KSC) is palliative care for people with advanced kidney disease. It provides relief of suffering and improves quality of life through early identification, assessment, and management of the symptom burden associated with kidney disease. KSC encompasses advance care planning (ACP)—a key element—in which patients’ goals, values, and preferences for present and future care are...

Dr Arora’s aim has been to uncover the intricate dynamics and evolutionary pathways of galaxies within our Universe. Through his research, he offers a distinct perspective on these cosmic entities, equipped with the expertise to navigate both theoretical frameworks and observational data. The careful comparison of telescopic observations with theoretical models is pivotal, forming the corner...

Obstetric fistula is a birth-related injury that results when women go through prolonged and obstructed labor. As a result, some women experience stigma and exclusion from their families and the community.  This study focuses on understanding how these women are included in their families and communities after receiving surgical correction. For upcoming interviews check out the Grad Chat webpage o...

Depressive disorders effect over 310 million people worldwide, reduce quality of life, co-occur with other physical disorders, and increase risks of premature death. Recent studies have suggested a link between the microbes residing in the human gut and the central nervous system, suggesting a bidirectional interaction called the microbiota-gut-brain axis. For upcoming interviews check out the Gra...

The diasporic (Jewish) experience is characterized by the dynamics of acculturation and enculturation; a twofold process entailing a degree of integration into the majority culture and at the same time a strong retention of the Jewish identity. The primary purpose of Dakota’s thesis is to demonstrate how diasporic Jewish communities in the Graeco-Roman world adapted to different contexts in...

How to improve the autonomy of a robotic boat. For upcoming interviews check out the Grad Chat webpage on Queen’s University School of Graduate Studies & Postdoctoral Affairs website

Isaac is investigating the role of CHIP mutations and inflammation in pulmonary arterial hypertension, while Sofia is examining the impact of BMPR-II loss on blood vessel growth in pulmonary arterial hypertension.  Two different angles, but it is still in relation to pulmonary arterial hypertension. For upcoming interviews check out the Grad Chat webpage on Queen’s University School of Gradu...

Mary is interested in exploring intersections of girlhood and wild spaces in “Golden Age” (1865-1926) children’s literature. In particular, I want to consider how relationships with wild spaces (re)configure awareness of the body, especially when contextualized with the ED (disordered eating) rhetoric that continues to be quietly pervasive across children’s literature. Mary also discusses her firs...

During star formation, gas and dust that goes into forming a new star also go to forming an equatorial disk of material known as protostellar disks, these are where planets form. Young disks (<1Myr), as opposed to their older cousins, have only recently been able to be studied in detail thanks to recent advancements in ground based observing facilities. My research focuses on two young protoste...

Development and Application of Autonomous Multi-Agent Underwater Robot Swarms for Environmental Monitoring and Response in Canadian Freshwater Lakes. For upcoming interviews check out the Grad Chat webpage on Queen’s University School of Graduate Studies & Postdoctoral Affairs website.

Sofia Guest (MSc student) talks about precipitation sources and summer snowfall in the Canadian Arctic, while Maddie Myers (PhD candidate) talks about how glacier surface mass change is affected by climate change. Both are part of the ICElab at Queen’s under the supervision of Dr Laura Thompson. For upcoming interviews check out the Grad Chat webpage on Queen’s University School of Gra...

Kharoll-Ann’s research examines the “#MoiAussi movement (#Metoo)” in the province of Quebec from the perspective of Black feminist activists and black women survivors.  Angela Stanley’s research looks at “Queer and Disabled Afterlives of Racial Eugenics” . For upcoming interviews check out the Grad Chat webpage on Queen’s University School of Graduate Stud...

Heather has two primary objectives. The first is to demonstrate Public Pedagogy’s role as a foundational tenet of liberal democracy in that it promotes responsible citizenship and fuels social change through knowledge acquisition. The second is to build an evidence-based case for establishing a national museum of women’s history, amplifying the little-known and untold stories of the contribu...