Grad Chat - Queen's School Of Graduate Studies

Triphenyl phosphate is used as a flame retardant and plasticizer in a wide variety of consumer and industrial products in Canada. TPhP is also an environmental pollutant found in air, water and soil. TPhP has been shown to act as an Endocrine Disrupting Chemical, meaning it interferes with normal hormonal signalling. I’m investigating how epigenetic modifications may lead to changes in hormonal and metabolic pathways during embryonic development. For upcoming interviews check out the Grad Chat webpage on Queen’s University School of Graduate Studies & Postdoctoral Affairs website – https://www.queensu.ca/grad-postdoc/research/share/grad-chat

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is an immune disorder leading to chronic inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract. It affects 0.8% of the Canadian population with a recent increased prevalence in the pediatric population. For upcoming interviews check out the Grad Chat webpage on Queen’s University School of Graduate Studies & Postdoctoral Affairs website – https://www.queensu.ca/grad-postdoc/research/share/grad-cha

Hemophilia A (HA) is an X-linked bleeding disorder caused by a mutation in the factor 8 (F8) gene that codes for FVIII coagulation protein. FVIII is naturally synthesized in the liver and the mutation results in the loss of function of FVIII protein which is critical in the blood clotting cascades. HA occurs is 1 to 5000 male births and it is estimated that there are a total of 3000 patients with HA in Canada. Currently, HA patients are treated with replacement therapy of the deficient factor. However, this approach is transient because of the short half-life of recombinant or plasma derived FVIII and is insufficient due to the formation of anti-drug antibodies. The alternative approach which is curative and promises a long-lasting expression of FVIII protein is gene therapy. For upcoming interviews check out the Grad Chat webpage on Queen’s University School of Graduate Studies & Postdoctoral Affairs website .

Although tech platform companies often claim in their advertisements and public relations efforts that they represent the public interest, as private companies, their primary goal is to maximize their own profits. Equating private interests with public interests not only overlooks the issues arising from the increasingly blurred lines between the two but also worsens the damage that conflicts of interest can cause to sustainable public systems. For upcoming interviews check out the Grad Chat webpage on Queen’s University School of Graduate Studies & Postdoctoral Affairs website.

The Queen’s chapter and why be part of the American Chemical Society will be hosting the “Celebrating the Late Dr. Alfred R. Bader: A 100th Birthday Symposium” on Monday, November 18th, 2024. This interviews highlights the work of Dr Bader and how Queen’s will showcase his love for chemistry and the arts.  To round it off we delve a little bit into Max’s own research- Combining Quantum Chemistry Concepts and Machine Learning for Drug Discovery. For upcoming interviews check out the Grad Chat webpage on Queen’s University School of Graduate Studies & Postdoctoral Affairs website.  

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 waves and shoreline erosion evolve during storm events. Her main area of focus is the sandy beaches of the Outer Banks, North Carolina, USA. Here, the rate of erosion is so high that local infrastructure is critically threatened and her research informs better approaches to mitigate local-scale coastal risk. For upcoming interviews check out the Grad Chat webpage on Queen’s University School of Graduate Studies & Postdoctoral Affairs website

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 the parameters controlling the interactions between cannabis and cancer have remained poorly defined. For upcoming interviews check out the Grad Chat webpage on Queen’s University School of Graduate Studies & Postdoctoral Affairs website.

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 releasing greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. As such, enzymatic degradation of plastic has emerged as a promising alternative to traditional plastic recycling approaches since enzymes operate under significantly milder and less energetically demanding conditions. For upcoming interviews check out the Grad Chat webpage on Queen’s University School of Graduate Studies & Postdoctoral Affairs website.

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 Queen’s University School of Graduate Studies & Postdoctoral Affairs website.

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 Queen’s University School of Graduate Studies & Postdoctoral Affairs website.

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 upcoming interviews check out the Grad Chat webpage on Queen’s University School of Graduate Studies & Postdoctoral Affairs website.

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 and explore the feasibility of maintaining them within these ranges using clinically available blood pressure infusions. For upcoming interviews check out the Grad Chat webpage on Queen’s University School of Graduate Studies & Postdoctoral Affairs website

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,” herwork respects these belief systems as real and valuable, rather than dismissing them as mere cultural artifacts. For upcoming interviews check out the Grad Chat webpage on Queen’s University School of Graduate Studies & Postdoctoral Affairs website.

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 likely to have stable populations than birds that avoid cities, illustrating that urban tolerance does not protect against population declines. For upcoming interviews check out the Grad Chat webpage on Queen’s University School of Graduate Studies & Postdoctoral Affairs website.

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 the Grad Chat webpage on Queen’s University School of Graduate Studies & Postdoctoral Affairs website.

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 elicited to ensure concordant care. Nephrology nurses have a vital role in the delivery of KSC, particularly to people receiving dialysis, but they do not routinely engage in conversations with patients about their goals regarding critical matters such as end-of-life concerns. The purpose of my constructivist grounded theory method (GTM) study was to construct a substantive theory about the process of engagement in KSC by nurses in Canadian dialysis settings. For upcoming interviews check out the Grad Chat webpage on Queen’s University School of Graduate Studies & Postdoctoral Affairs website.

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 cornerstone for attaining a comprehensive understanding of galaxy formation and evolution in our cosmos and the role dark matter plays in their formation. For upcoming interviews check out the Grad Chat webpage on Queen’s University School of Graduate Studies & Postdoctoral Affairs website.  

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 on Queen’s University School of Graduate Studies & Postdoctoral Affairs website.