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UWindsor students are solving real-world problems for Ontario industries and agencies through a program that funds short-term applied research projects.
The program, known as MITACS (Mathematics of Information Technology and Complex Systems) ACCELERATE Ontario, connects graduate students and post-doctoral fellows with companies and agencies for four-, eight- and 12-month internships. Interns' time is divided between on-site assessment at the participating company and the University, where students help to develop approaches to resolving the company's or agency's challenges.
The partner company contributes $7,500, which is matched by the program through a $16.89 million funding arrangement from the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities and support from the federal government. Grant money is administered by a supervising professor, with interns receiving at least $10,000. The remainder of the funding may be used for lab and computer equipment or travel expenses.
UWindsor participants include:
Rukundo Ntaganda, who is helping develop a faster, cost-effective process to create chemical compounds used to make agrochemicals, pharmaceuticals and industrial process chemicals for Kanata Chemical Technologies of Toronto;
Sarah Humphrey, who is testing the effects of currents on walleye eggs to understand how storms in Lake Erie influence the survival of this recreationally important fishery for the Ministry of Natural Resources;
Tennille Harrison, who examined how posture contributes to work-related injuries in highly efficient automotive assembly plants, for Pinnacle Rehabilitation of Tecumseh.
Sarina Turner, who optimized warehouse space for Dainty Foods in Windsor.
Lynn Campbell, who worked with the Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board and the Greater Essex County District School Board to evaluate the success of an outdoor education program designed to motivate students to stay in high school.
MITACS is one of Canada's Networks of Centres of Excellence, a funding body supporting research ideas and new technology to further Canada's competitive edge.
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