Find Academic Supervisors

Liz LapidowView profile

Researcher

• Cognitive Development
• Causal Reasoning
• Exploration and Learning
• +2 more

Liz Lapidow is a Postdoctoral Fellow and Researcher at the University of Waterloo, investigating how children and adults learn causal systems through exploration and decision-making. Her interdisciplinary work bridges cognitive development, philosophy, and computational modeling to understand spontaneous learner behaviors. Her research centers on cognitive development and causal reasoning, specifically examining preschoolers' uncertainty handling, exploration-exploitation trade-offs, and question-asking strategies. Key interests include how learners recognize inconsistent evidence, transfer causal knowledge across domains, and use causality to guide information-seeking during self-directed learning. Analysis of her 2020-2025 publications reveals methodological innovation (in-person, Zoom, and online platforms) and thematic focus on confidence judgments, directed questioning in classrooms, and inconsistent causal relationship processing. Her work demonstrates how children function as intuitive scientists, with implications for educational practices and developmental theory.

Daniela O'NeillView profile

Professor

• Child Development
• Language Acquisition
• Pragmatics
• +3 more

Daniela O'Neill is a Professor at the University of Waterloo, specializing in child language development and pragmatic communication. Her work focuses on assessing early pragmatic development in young children, particularly through the Language Use Inventory (LUI), a parent-reported tool she has validated across multiple languages including Italian, Polish, and Chinese. She directs the Children's Communication Lab, which investigates how children's communication skills develop in diverse contexts. Her research emphasizes the importance of pragmatic language—such as social interaction and contextual understanding—in clinical and educational settings. Key contributions include demonstrating how toy design impacts parent-child communication, and how narrative and non-narrative books equally foster generic language skills in toddlers. O'Neill's studies often bridge developmental psychology with applied clinical practice, aiming to improve early identification and intervention strategies for communication delays. Her articles highlight trends in cross-cultural validation of assessment tools, the role of play in multidomain learning, and the cognitive foundations of spatial understanding through narratives. While no awards are listed, her work consistently addresses practical applications of developmental research in pediatric and educational contexts. As part of her lab activities, she explores how children's enactment of story characters' movements reflects comprehension, and how visual toy complexity affects maternal references during play. These studies underscore her commitment to linking theoretical insights with real-world interventions for young children.

Chris EliasmithView profile

Professor

• Theoretical Neuroscience
• Computational Neuroscience
• Neuromorphics
• +6 more

Chris Eliasmith is a Professor jointly appointed in the Systems Design Engineering and Philosophy departments at the University of Waterloo, with a cross-appointment to Computer Science. He is the Founding Director of the Centre for Theoretical Neuroscience and holds the Canada Research Chair in Theoretical Neuroscience. His research focuses on mathematical modeling of neural systems, including the Neural Engineering Framework (NEF) and Semantic Pointer Architecture (SPA), which underpin the world’s largest functional brain simulation, Spaun. He leads the Computational Neuroscience Research Group (CNRG), advancing neuromorphic computing, spiking neural networks, and cognitive modeling. Education: PhD in Neuroscience & Psychology (2000), Washington University in St. Louis MA in Philosophy (1995), University of Waterloo BASc in Systems Design Engineering (1994), University of Waterloo Research: His work integrates theoretical neuroscience with practical applications in robotics, AI, and neuromorphic hardware. Key contributions include the NEF, Spaun, and innovations like the Legendre Memory Unit (LMU) and Spatial Semantic Pointers (SSPs). His lab explores adaptive neural systems, decision-making models, and biologically plausible machine learning algorithms. Teaching: Recent courses include SYDE 556 (Simulating Neurobiological Systems), SYDE 750 (Topics in Systems Modelling), and PHIL 356 (Intelligence in Machines, Humans, and Other Animals). Awards: 2015 NSERC Polanyi Prize Labs & Projects: The CNRG develops tools like Nengo for simulating large-scale neural systems and collaborates on neuromorphic hardware platforms such as Loihi. Current projects span neural robotics, cognitive architectures, and biologically inspired AI systems.

Jean-Laurent DomingueView profile

Associate Professor

• Forensic Psychiatric Nursing
• Critical Theory in Healthcare
• Mental Health Nursing
• +5 more

Jean-Laurent Domingue is an Associate Professor in the Department of Nursing at the University of Ottawa's Faculty of Health Sciences. His work bridges nursing practice with critical theory, focusing on forensic psychiatry, systemic inequities, and the intersection of law and healthcare. He holds a Ph.D., M.Sc., and B.Sc. in Nursing from the University of Ottawa. Education: 2021: Ph.D. in Nursing, University of Ottawa 2017: M.Sc. in Nursing, University of Ottawa 2014: B.Sc. in Nursing, University of Ottawa Research Interests: Professor Domingue examines the political dimensions of nursing, particularly how systemic injustices manifest in care for marginalized populations. His work employs critical theory and qualitative methods to analyze stigma, power dynamics, and institutional structures in forensic psychiatry and public health. Key themes include associative stigma in healthcare access, procedural justice in legal-medical systems, and the ethical implications of nursing practice in high-risk environments. Publications Trends: His recent work emphasizes critical discourse analysis and ethnography to explore topics like associative stigma, virtual care during the pandemic, and family experiences in forensic systems. Collaborations with clinical partners and individuals with lived experience underscore his commitment to participatory research. Awards: No scientific awards explicitly mentioned in the text. Advising & Grants: He currently supervises Master's and Ph.D. students (in French/English) and has secured grants for collaborative research. His work often involves multi-professional teams to design equitable service models and address systemic challenges in mental health care. Labs/Teams: Engages with clinical partners in forensic psychiatry and mental health systems, though specific lab affiliations are not detailed in the text.

Arya RahgozarView profile

Adjunct Professor

• Natural Language Processing (NLP)
• Data Science
• Machine Understanding
• +3 more

Arya Rahgozar is an Adjunct Professor at the School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science , University of Ottawa, and a scientist at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute. He holds a PhD in Digital Transformation and Innovation from the University of Ottawa, specializing in NLP for multilingual semantic tasks, alongside M.Eng. (University of Waterloo, Management Sciences) and B.A.Sc. (Tehran Polytechnic, Engineering Design). His research focuses on Natural Language Processing (NLP) applications in healthcare, medicine, epidemiology, and digital humanities. Notable projects include AI-driven systematic reviews in the Brain-Heart Interconnectome, NLP-based osteoporosis detection via eConsult, and dementia identification systems using Explainable AI (XAI). He has pioneered work on poetry chronology (e.g., Hafez’s works) and led initiatives in primary care recommender systems. Rahgozar has over 20 years of industrial experience in decision science and analytics, with expertise in banking, healthcare, and supply chain optimization. As a Mitacs Principal Investigator and startup partner, he co-developed chatbot-based recommendation systems and advanced AI tools for e-health applications. His current work emphasizes improving syncope management and frailty prediction in geriatrics using NLP and LLMs. He collaborates across disciplines, bridging computational methods with clinical and literary domains, and actively contributes to healthcare innovation through partnerships with hospitals and academic institutions.

Robert MathieuView profile

Professor

• Accounting
• Capital Markets
• Behavioural Decision Making
• +3 more

Robert Mathieu is a Professor at the Lazaridis School of Business and Economics, Wilfrid Laurier University. He holds the Linamar Fellow in Accounting title and serves as Director of the CPA Ontario Centre for Capital Markets and Behavioural Decision Making. Academic Rank: Professor Fellowship: Linamar Fellow in Accounting Leadership Role: Director, CPA Ontario Centre His research focuses on accounting, capital markets, and behavioural decision-making, integrating interdisciplinary insights into financial decision processes. Contact: rmathieu@wlu.ca | Office: LH4113L | Hours: By Appointment Languages: French, English Scientific Awards Linamar Fellow in Accounting

Hamid ElahiView profile

Assistant Professor

• Supply chain management
• Information economics
• Competitive strategy
• +2 more

Hamid Elahi is Assistant Professor of Operations and Decision Sciences at Wilfrid Laurier University's Lazaridis School of Business and Economics. His research focuses on information sharing dynamics in competitive business environments, particularly within supply chain management contexts. Research expertise integrates game theory, NLP applications, and behavioral economics to examine strategic information flows between market participants. Recent work investigates how information asymmetries affect supplier relationships and fundraising effectiveness. Publications demonstrate methodological diversity, employing econometric modeling and experimental approaches to study competitive interactions. Research consistently addresses practical challenges in operations management and strategic decision-making. Professional recognition includes the Strategic Research Foundation Scholarship and Best Conference Paper award from Strategic Management Society.

Alexandra GottardoView profile

Professor

• Reading in Second Language Learners
• Word Reading
• Reading Comprehension
• +3 more

Alexandra Gottardo is a Professor in the Department of Psychology at Wilfrid Laurier University. Her research focuses on reading development in second language learners, with particular expertise in word reading, reading comprehension, and vocabulary acquisition. She investigates language processing across diverse populations including English language learners and refugee children. Her primary research examines cognitive and linguistic factors influencing reading skills in bilingual populations. Current projects explore cross-linguistic transfer of literacy skills, the impact of socioemotional factors on language acquisition in refugee populations, and effectiveness of teacher training programs for literacy instruction in multilingual contexts. Research publications demonstrate strong emphasis on applied educational interventions, particularly in teacher professional development programs in Kenya. Recent work examines blended learning approaches for literacy instruction and the impact of technology on teacher training. Dr. Gottardo's research employs longitudinal and cross-cultural methodologies to examine language development across different writing systems and cultural contexts, with significant work on Arabic-speaking populations. She maintains active collaborations with international researchers and institutions, particularly in literacy program development and evaluation. Her work contributes significantly to understanding literacy acquisition in multilingual and marginalized populations.

Vincent WongView profile

Professor

• Wireless Networking
• Smart Grid
• Machine Learning
• +5 more

Professor Vincent Wong is a distinguished academic in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of British Columbia (UBC). He holds a BSc from the University of Manitoba, MASc from the University of Waterloo, and a PhD from UBC, all in Electrical Engineering. His expertise spans wireless networking, smart grid systems, machine learning, and communication protocols. Currently, he serves as Editor-in-Chief of the IEEE Transactions on Wireless Communications and General Chair of IEEE INFOCOM 2024. Research Interests: Wireless communication systems and protocols Smart grid and energy systems optimization Machine learning applications in networks and IoT Intelligent reflecting surfaces (IRS) and 6G technologies Non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) Scientific Awards: 2024 Fellow of the Engineering Institute of Canada Fellow of the IEEE and Canadian Academy of Engineering 2022 IEEE Transactions on Mobile Computing Best Paper Award Best Paper Awards at IEEE ICC 2022 and GLOBECOM 2020 Labs/Teams: His research group focuses on cutting-edge projects in wireless networks, smart grid, and federated learning. Collaborates with industry partners like IEEE and the Engineering Institute of Canada.

Doina PrecupView profile

Professor

• Artificial Intelligence
• Machine Learning
• Reinforcement Learning
• +3 more

Doina Precup is a Canada-CIFAR AI Chair and Professor at the School of Computer Science, McGill University, and holds a Research Director role at DeepMind. She co-founded the AI4Good Lab and Eastern European Machine Learning Summer School, focusing on improving diversity and access in AI. Her research emphasizes reinforcement learning, temporal abstraction, and applications in medicine and automated control. Her work includes foundational contributions like the 'options framework' for temporal abstraction in reinforcement learning (Classic Paper Award, 2019) and the option-critic architecture (AAAI Outstanding Student Paper). She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada (2022), CIFAR Senior Fellow (2017), and recipient of the Creative Destruction Lab's Ideas Award (2017). She has served as Associate Dean of Research in McGill's Faculty of Science (2015–2017), Associate Scientific Director of Healthy Brains for Healthy Lives, and leader of UNIQUE's Learning Research Axis. Her leadership roles include chairing the NSERC Discovery Grant committee and serving on CSCan-InfoCan's executive committee.

• Cognitive Neuroscience
• Psycholinguistics
• Gender Studies in STEM
• +3 more

Randy Newman is a Professor at Acadia University, serving as Head of Department. His research focuses on cognitive neuroscience and gender disparities in STEM fields. He holds a B.Sc. from Mount Allison University and M.Sc./Ph.D. from Dalhousie University. Research interests include brain mechanisms underlying reading/speech processes using ERP and eye tracking, and interventions addressing the gender gap in computer science/engineering. Current work examines spelling's impact on spoken word recognition and the effect of girls-only science activities on career aspirations. Publications span neuroimaging studies of dyslexia, phonological processing in reading, and spoken word recognition mechanisms. Advised five honours students between 2015-2017 focusing on neuroimaging techniques and developmental studies. No scientific awards explicitly mentioned.

• Intergroup Relations
• Prejudice and Discrimination
• Social Psychology
• +3 more

Cara MacInnis is a Professor in the Department of Psychology at Acadia University. Her research focuses on intergroup relations, prejudice reduction, and socio-political orientations. She holds a B.Sc. from Cape Breton University, an M.Sc. and Ph.D. from Brock University, and a Postdoctoral Fellowship (P.D.F.) from the University of Toronto. Her research interests center on understanding barriers to positive intergroup interactions, including dehumanization, meta-stereotypes, and emotions like disgust. She examines factors such as authoritarianism and social dominance orientation, exploring their impact on intergroup relations and potential solutions like cross-group contact. MacInnis has published widely in journals like the Canadian Journal of Behavioural Science and Psychology of Women Quarterly . Her work addresses topics ranging from dietary biases (e.g., toward vegetarians) to healthcare compassion measurement and policy implications of intergroup contact. Notable contributions include the development of the Sinclair Compassion Questionnaire (SCQ) for healthcare settings and studies on weight bias among physicians. She has mentored students including E. Buliga and S. Nutter, focusing on applied and theoretical social psychology.

• Music Composition
• Indigenous Language Preservation in Arts
• Reconciliation through Performing Arts
• +2 more

Neil Weisensel is an Adjunct Professor of Music at Canadian Mennonite University (CMU), known for co-creating the Indigenous opera Li Keur, Riel's Heart of the North with Métis poet and scholar Dr. Suzanne Steele. The opera reimagines the life of Louis Riel and emphasizes Indigenous languages and reconciliation. Received $50,000 SSHRCC grant for Indigenous language translation and database development Collaborated with CMU students on technical and cultural aspects of the production Focus on integrating Métis and Indigenous cultural consultants into the creative process The opera's development involved creating a pronunciation database with Indigenous speakers to enhance authenticity, aiming for 70% Indigenous language content (Michif, Saulteaux, Anishinaabemowin) in its final staged version.

Andrea PhillipsonView profile

Associate Professor

• Inclusive Education
• Scholarship of Educational Development (SoED)
• Academic Writing Development
• +3 more

Andrea Phillipson, PhD is an Associate Professor and Faculty Development Consultant at Mount Royal University's Academic Development Centre. She holds a PhD in Kinesiology & Health Studies from Queen’s University, along with MA and BA degrees in English Language & Literature from Queen’s University. Currently on sabbatical until July 2025, her work focuses on inclusive education, academic writing development, and the Scholarship of Educational Development (SoED). She is deeply committed to decolonizing and Indigenizing educational practices, particularly in sport history curricula and campus-wide initiatives. Her professional interests include genealogical history of sport, community engagement in decolonization, and innovative curriculum design. Notable contributions include co-founding the Canadian Higher Education UDL Collective and leading the Indigenous Knowledges Action Group. Her research emphasizes active learning strategies, anti-racist pedagogy, and faculty development through communities of practice. Recent scholarly efforts highlight collaborative projects such as the Decolonial Changemaker Project and the MRU Writers’ Guild initiative funded by the Marshall Family Foundation (2022-2023). Her publications explore topics ranging from curriculum audits to active learning classroom dynamics, emphasizing practical applications of educational theory.

Miguel Vargas MartinView profile

Professor

• Computer Security
• Cybersecurity
• Artificial Intelligence
• +4 more

Dr. Miguel Vargas Martin is a Professor of Computer Science at Ontario Tech University's Faculty of Business and Information Technology. He holds a PhD from Carleton University, a Master's from CINVESTAV del IPN, and a Bachelor's from Universidad Autónoma de Aguascalientes. His research focuses on cybersecurity, authentication systems, machine learning, and human factors in security. Dr. Martin teaches graduate courses such as Cryptography and Secure Communications, and undergraduate courses including Machine Learning and Cryptography, Malware, and Network Security. Education: PhD in Computer Science, Carleton University (2003) Master of Applied Science in Electrical Engineering, CINVESTAV del IPN (1998) Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, Universidad Autónoma de Aguascalientes (1996) Research Interests: Dr. Martin's work addresses cutting-edge topics in computer security and artificial intelligence. His recent studies include improving password security through honeyword generation using machine learning, developing differential privacy visualizations for public understanding, and creating emotion recognition models for companion robots. His cybersecurity frameworks target edge computing and IoT environments, emphasizing practical defenses against modern threats. Key Contributions: Over 25 peer-reviewed articles since 2012 span topics from brain-computer interfaces for password memorability analysis to fusion-based optimization algorithms. His work bridges theoretical advancements with real-world applications in healthcare, transportation systems, and industrial IoT security.