From exploring music and machine learning to investigating new methods for diagnosing mild traumatic brain injury, the 2024/2025 UBCO Killam winners are conducting ground breaking research.
Killam Doctoral Scholarships are prestigious awards available to graduate students at UBC who are likely to advance learning or win distinction in a profession. For the 2024/25 year, UBCO has five deserving winners including Christopher Anderson, Alexis Guidi, Olivia Margoto, Mahtab Matin, and Victoria Violo. Learn more about their important research below.
Christopher Anderson
Doctor of Philosophy in Interdisciplinary Graduate Studies – Digital Arts & Humanities Theme
Explorations of temporal aesthetics and affects of music recording technology through machine learning
Christopher’s research investigates the insights that AI can provide on the temporal aesthetics of music recordings and production practices; how AI models can be used in the creation of a generative music system designed to output compositions with aesthetic and affective qualities of an imagined time; and what interdisciplinary, participatory, and narrative strategies may be deployed to activate the temporality of generative music in immersive media environments and performance events. Artistically, this research will explore how affective components of musical style (such as the historic timbral aesthetics of music technology) may be represented by AI machine learning and then used to generate music within immersive media artworks.
Alexis Guidi
Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical Engineering
Advancements in Terahertz Spectroscopy Systems for Biomolecular Characterization on the Cellular Scale
Alexis’ research includes developing a high-intensity integrated system for THz spectroscopy on the cellular scale, integrating her THz spectroscopy system with THz imaging in the form of a THz spectroscopic imaging system, and characterizing biomolecular samples of increasing compositional and spatial complexity via Raman and THz spectroscopic imaging. Alexis’ proposed system will advance engineering, generate a deeper understanding of biomolecules, and contribute to the medical field through rapid, objective, and accurate cancer diagnostics and treatment.
Olivia Margoto
Doctor of Philosophy in Mechanical Engineering
A data-driven approach to mitigation of complex fibre distortion defects during forming process of natural fibre composite reinforcements
Olivia’s work addresses gaps and industrial challenges faced in understanding complex fibre distortion defects through an enhanced understanding of factors affecting forming-induced defects in natural fabrics, a comprehensive mechanical characterization of select biobased woven fabrics, and predicting natural fibres forming distortions via data-driven models. Olivia’s doctoral work will optimize the formability of biobased composite reinforcements into complex doubly-curved shapes relevant to industrial applications. Olivia will develop and validate machine learning algorithms capable of predicting and classifying forming induced defects for flax woven fabric reinforcements. The development of such fast and cost-effective prediction tools can mitigate defects right at the factory level, and holds the potential to save both time and resources when embracing a first-time design approach in the automotive and aerospace industries.
Mahtab Matin
Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing
Effects of donor human milk versus formula supplementation on sleep habits and gut bacteria of babies whose mothers received antibiotics during giving birth
Mahtab’s research investigates whether feeding a baby Donor Human Milk (DHM) supplementation, compared to formula, can improve sleep habits in babies whose mothers received antibiotics during pregnancy. The primary aim is to examine the effect of DHM compared to formula supplementation on ’ sleep habits (nocturnal sleep duration, night waking, method of falling asleep) and the secondary aim is to assess if babies’ sleep is mediated by the gut bacteria or babies’ feeding type. Mahtab’s research will provide new ideas and approaches to address health and health system challenges in Canada, and extend and complement existing research activities at the B.C. Children’s Hospital, such as the Sleep Lab at Home. It will also complement national sleep health promotion research activities.
Victoria Violo
Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology – Clinical
Eye-tracking in mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) diagnosis: A comparative study on cognitive and oculomotor metrics considering factors before, during, and after injury
Victoria’s research proposes using eye-tracking technology as an innovative approach to diagnose and predict prognosis of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (mTBI), commonly known as concussion, more accurately. Eye-tracking involves observing and recording eye movements, offering an objective insight into potential brain dysfunction. The study’s objectives are twofold. First, the study aims to compare the cognitive functions (e.g., memory, concentration) of mTBI-affected individuals with a non-mTBI control group using both neuropsychological assessments and eye-tracking metrics. Secondly, the study aims to investigate how factors before (e.g., prior mental health diagnoses), during (e.g., injury-related trauma), and after (e.g., compensation-seeking) the injury influence mTBI outcomes. The goal is to shed light on mTBI mechanisms, enhance diagnostic accuracy, and pave the way for tailored treatment plans addressing persistent symptoms.