March 17, 2025 - Student success was on full-display throughout Research Week 2025 (February 24–28) with standout events including the Voyageurs’ Innovation Challenge, the 15th Graduate Research Symposium and the 3-Minute Thesis (3MT), and GRADflix competitions. Congratulations to all student winners on their achievements in research and innovation, as highlighted below.
Voyageurs’ Innovation Challenge
The Voyageurs’ Innovation Challenge showcased student-driven entrepreneurship and research under faculty mentorship. Six teams competed, presenting high-impact innovations.
First Place ($8,000 – Sponsored by Desjardins)
Project: “In-Situ Robotic Construction: A Technological Approach to Housing Supply and Affordability”
Team: Professor Steven Beites (McEwen School of Architecture), Ethan McDonald (PhD candidate, Engineering Science), Dr. Marc Arsenault (Bharti School of
Engineering)
Innovation: Semi-automated assembly of prefabrication panels to enhance construction efficiency and sustainability.
Second Place ($2,500 – Sponsored by Desjardins)
Project: “eDNA Enhanced Bee Hotels”
Team: Dr. Mateus Pepinelli (School of Natural Sciences), Cooperative Freshwater Ecology Unit members, Adam Lepage, Anastacia Chartrand, Emma Meadows, Dr. John Gunn (Professor Emeritus), and students, Hannah Gombar, Jenna McDonald, Avery Morin, and Grey Reich
Innovation: Using environmental DNA to assess pollinator biodiversity.
Third Place ($1,500 – Sponsored by the Office of the Vice-President Research)
Project: “CARES – Calcium Ash Recycling for Ecosystem Sustainability”
Team: Dr. Liv Favot (School of Natural Sciences) Dr. Janice Kenney (School of Natural Sciences), and students, Kate Pappin, Ellis Albrecht, and Mackenzie Hobbs
Innovation: Advancing freshwater ecosystem sustainability.
People’s Choice Award ($1,000 – Sponsored by Desjardins)
Project: “Gininaatigoons (We Are Learning)”
Team: Dr. Joey-Lynn Wabie (School of Kinesiology and Health Sciences) and students, Connor Lafortune, Isabelle Innes, and Ophelia O’Donnell
Innovation: Developing an outdoor land-based learning space on campus.
3-Minute Thesis (3MT)
3MT is an internationally recognized, academic competition that challenges graduate students to present an overview of their research and its significance to a non-specialist audience in only three minutes. The 3MT winner will represent Laurentian University at the provincial competition on May 14, 2025 at the University of Toronto. The winners received prizes sponsored by the Faculty of Graduate Studies.
1st place: Hayden Reaume, Biology (MSc.)
“Investigating the Role of Natural Background Radiation in Hydrated Yeast.”
2nd place: Erin Postenka, Biology (MSc.)
“Wintertime wetland drainage: How turtle populations respond to a potential catastrophe.”
3rd place: Chanelle Larocque, Indigenous Relations (MIR)
“Drug Toxicity & Urban Indigenous Women.”
People’s Choice Award: Mary Yu, Biology (MSc.)
“Wood Turtle Habitat Selection: Temperature and Food Resource Availability.”
GRADflix
The GRADflix competition provides the opportunity for graduate students to present their research to non-specialist audiences by crafting a 60 second video. Participants record an explainer video, slide show, or animation describing their research topic in one minute or less. The winners were awarded prizes sponsored by the Faculty of Graduate Studies.
1st place: Ronan Derbowka, Biology (MSc.)
“Identification of miRNA Biomarkers for Radiation Exposure.”
2nd place: Gabrielle Faucher, Biology (MSc.)
“Diversity in food webs of acid-recovering Lake Trout lakes in Northeastern Ontario.”
3rd place: Fatemeh Rahbarpour, Boreal Ecology (PhD)
“Seasonal Cycling of Nitrogen in Plants”
Graduate Symposium
The 15th Graduate Research Symposium celebrates the hard work and dedication of our graduate students. Over the course of two days, students presented their research and scholarship to an audience of peers, supervisors, and the broader Laurentian community. Participants were judged on the quality of their presentations, content analysis, and ability to communicate effectively to non-specialist audiences. Winners were awarded prizes sponsored by the Graduate Students’ Association.
Best Presentation - Overall
Hayden Reaume, Biology (MSc.)
“REPAIR Project at SNOLAB: Understand the Role of Natural Background Radiation Using Yeast.”
Best Presentation - Faculty of Science, Engineering and Architecture:
Amanda Keursten, Biology (MSc.)
“Bioremediation and Sequestration of Gallium from Mining Tailings using Pseudomonas fluorescens.”
Best Presentation - Faculty of Education and Health
Melanie Cloutier, Human Kinetics (MHK)
“Evaluating Seat Adjustment Training for Heavy Equipment Operators Based on Knowledge, Behaviours, and Self-Efficacy.”
Best Presentation - Faculty of Arts
Britney Hammell, Psychology (MA)
“Savouring Ability in Relation to Friendship Quality in Older Adults.”
Best Presentation - Indigenous Content
Sheri Cecchetto, Indigenous Relations (MIR)
“The 7-Direction Pitchenese Model: Integrating Anishinaabe Worldviews into Indigenous Social Work Education.”
Best Presentation - French Language
Kouame Toussaint Boko, Kinésie humaine (MHK)
“La question de l’utilité du développement de la pensée critique des futur.e.s enseignant.e.s francophones lors des stages en Éducation Physique et Santé: points de vues des enseignant.e.s associé.e.s. francophones de l'Ontario.”