Carleton University
Farah Khaled El-Sawy, Masters in Industrial Design
Supervisor: Chantal Trudel
My research topic would include the design of critical human-centered places such as hospitals. I will be aiming to create the most efficient and aesthetic interior design for a hospital or healthcare space to best fit the needs of all population sizes. I think this industry is very precise and critical and should be focused on. Each design element added to any design should have an evidence-based design research conducted on it first. I hope through the READi program to help all population sizes and meet all their needs in such critical places (healthcare spaces) by providing the best suitable interior design.
Manya Kakkar, Masters in Human Computer Interaction
Supervisor: Audrey Girouard
The READi program empowers me to pursue the research of my choice. It brings me a step closer to making technology inclusive for everyone. The multidisciplinary paradigm of READi allows me flexibility in research and a more holistic approach to the problem at hand. My aim is to amalgamate an empathetic perspective in the current trend of advancing technology and extend its benefits by striving to make it more inclusive and accessible. I’m ecstatic to be a part of the READi program and look forward to working in a team to put my academic learnings into action.
Shaghayegh Kalantari, Masters of Human Computer Interaction
Supervisor: Chantal Trudel
I have always wanted to be a professional architect whose first priority is all people’s life quality. Now I am very excited to join Human-Computer Interaction and READi programs which are great interdisciplinary platforms, focus on health-care and inclusion. Through READi program I hope to gain knowledge to develop my skills in accessibility and inclusion to be a specialist in architectural designs.
Yi Luo, MDes
Supervisor: Chiara Del Gaudio (READi Supervisor: Lois Frankel)
My research interest lies in the intersection of design, social science and information technology. I’m interested in enhancing the system design, usability, and accessibility of decentralized services, which is rooted in the prospect that well-developed decentralized services can facilitate users’ awareness and grasp of collective governance, thus approaching the ideal of building resilience against misinformation through data integrity. Through the READi Program I’m hoping to have in-depth interactions and collaborations with peers from multidisciplinary backgrounds, as well as identifying and understanding decentralization practices in specified contexts.
Hossein Sadat Hosseini, PhD in Biomedical Engineering
Supervisor: Mojtaba Ahmadi
My research interests are control theory, rehabilitation robotics, biological signal processing, and assistive devices. During my Ph.D. I want to design an intelligent assistive and rehabilitation robots to help the stroke and disabled patients. The goal is to use machine learning algorithms to make the robots more intelligent and adaptable to humans.
Pallavi Sodhi,
Supervisor: Audrey Girouard
My research interests involve developing creative interactions that are meaningful to individuals with disabilities. I’m particularly interested in studying interface design of assistive technology devices for people who are blind or have low vision. As a student in the READi program, I plan to be a part of the interdisciplinary problem-solvers who design accessible solutions to real-world problems.
Justine Walker, MA in Music & Culture
Supervisor: Jesse Stewart
My musicological and cultural research interests revolve around West Coast gangsta rap, moral panic, hip-hop feminism, and the African diaspora. In addition to this, I am a drummer and an avid musical collaborator with a particular interest in how acoustic drums and electronic drum machines and controllers are in dialogue, both with each other and with the player in various performance settings. I am also interested in how this instrument/player connection manifests within intersectional accessibility contexts. The collaborative nature of the READi program is exciting because it fosters a rich environment for both musical and technological explorations. I look forward to all the exciting discussions and projects that will take shape through the program.
Amelia Zaiane
Supervisor: Chantal Trudel
University of Ottawa
Alexis McCreath Frangakis, Masters in Biomedical Engineering
Supervisor: Edward Lemaire and Natalie Baddour
My research aims to identify movement patterns of individuals in a format that can be used by clinicians during walking tests, to better understand the needs of their patients. The READi program will help me to identify the gaps that individuals with disabilities may experience in emerging technologies like this, and ensure that I am constantly thinking about accessibility and inclusivity in my designs moving forward.
Queen’s University
Hannah Cooke, Masters in Biomedical Engineering
Supervisor: Claire Davies and Qingguo Li
I am looking forward to joining the READi program and collaborating with others who are trying to increase community accessibility. I am interested in working with engineers and medical professionals to create solutions for problems that individuals with disabilities are experiencing. Inclusive practices learned throughout this program will remain with me for the rest of my career.
Glenda Watson, Masters of Mechanical and Materials Engineering
Supervisor: Claire Davies
As a member of Building and Designing Assistive Technology (BDAT) Lab at Queen’s University, my research centers around developing a universal design strategy to promote equity in employing people with communication disabilities, particularly of those who use Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC).