Associate Professor, School of Speech-Language Pathology, Faculty of Education and Health
Director of the School of Speech-Language Pathology, Dr. Roxanne Bélanger researches the impact of risk factors on child development, language development disorders, early screening of children with speech delays and the active offer of healthcare in minority francophone communities. She has presented on these topics both nationally and internationally.
In 2024, Dr. Bélanger received a research grant from the Centre national de formation en santé at Laurentian University for her project titled “Les caractéristiques de l’enseignement robuste du vocabulaire qui facilitent l'apprentissage de nouveaux mots chez les enfants francophones d'âge préscolaire” (Characteristics of robust vocabulary teaching that facilitate new word learning by preschool francophone children). With her coinvestigator, Dr. Chantal Mayer-Crittenden, she aims to measure the efficacy of various reading strategies on new word learning.
During this two-year research project, they will assess the use of different types of strategies with a goal to determine which conditions lead to optimal word learning. Their conclusions will allow the generation of knowledge on vocabulary development in general, and more specifically for francophones in minority settings. The project will fill an empirical gap by informing professionals working with preschool children on reading strategies that produce the best results. Further, best practices will be created for educators to structure and shape oral language development in children.
Full Professor, School of Natural Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, Engineering, and Architecture
Dr. Yang’s research has extensively studied the regulation and functions of hydrogen sulfide in cellular metabolism and cardiovascular diseases. He has dedicated himself to establishing a research program that has garnered both national and international recognition. Collaborative research initiatives have been a hallmark of his work, fostering fruitful partnerships both locally and globally, leading to many important joint publications and the exchange of knowledge across disciplines.
Research projects in Dr. Yang’s laboratory have been continuously supported by the discovery grant from NSERC and the grant-in-aid from the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada. In 2022, Dr. Yang’s NSERC discovery grant was renewed for another 5 years. This research project has made considerable contributions in identifying and explaining the biological importance of a new signal molecule, hydrogen sulfide in the body.
Full Professor, School of Education, Faculty of Education and Health
Dr. Taktek’s research interests include educational psychology, cognitive psychology, and training future teachers. Dr. Taktek was previously selected as Fulbright Scholar (2014-2015) at the United States Military Academy West Point, in New York for his research project, “Mental Imagery Training for Peak Performance: An Efficient Strategy for Motor Skills and Performance Enhancement as Well as Cognitive Functioning Development".
Dr. Taktek has been selected as a 2024 Fulbright Scholar at The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina, USA. Through this opportunity, he is teaching at The Citadel and carrying out a large-scale research project titled, “Transactional Analysis as an Efficient and Interactive Strategy for Communications and Peacekeeping: Practices, Trends and Challenges for International Geopolitical Conflict Resolution and Reconciliation within the Field of Peace and War Studies”.