As mankind continues to build and expand, engineering student Tarik Menkad recognizes the limitations of existing technologies.

"The current market is all about performance," Tarik explains. "Research is telling us we've gone as far as we can with current materials in terms of keeping up with demands." He stresses the need for faster, stronger, more effective devices if industries hope to remain competitive.

To address this predicament, he is currently working closely with his supervisor, who is proposing a novel series of semiconductor devices which are smaller, speedier, and more energy efficient.

Prior to coming to Lakehead, Tarik worked as a design engineer for seven years in Algeria, throughout which he became well-acquainted with the tools of his trade. Upon undertaking his graduate program, Tarik expressed a desire to "go deeper" and examine the physics responsible for the function of electronic devices. He comments that it's rather unique for engineering students to be working on the technology itself: "Usually we just apply the tools, we don't delve into the actual physics." However, Tarik found the interdisciplinary focus of his research to be highly attractive and now has a heightened understanding of semiconductors devices and their potential.

Recently, Tarik had his paper accepted by the Canadian Conference on Electrical and Computer Engineering and will soon be travelling to Montreal to present on his research. He's also had opportunities to participate in research aside from his major project, including on MOSFET modeling and circuit design.

Following graduation, Tarik aims to continue his interdisciplinary advances in semiconductor technology through Lakehead's PhD program in chemistry and material science. He eventually hopes for a full-time position in an academic setting. But regardless of where he lands a job, Tarik is confident that his graduate studies have enhanced his marketability in a field which, like many others, is becoming increasingly competitive.

"Unlike 10 years ago, a bachelor's is no longer sufficient. Especially if hoping for high positions in high profile companies, you need more education, more qualifications. My program has offered me this and much more."

It's easier to ask what Dr. Antony Puddephatt's students don't study.

His first student explored the subcultural meanings of 'tool parties,' in which 'female-friendly' tools are marketed and sold to women. Now completing her PhD, she is continuing to work with Dr. Puddephatt to revise a paper on her findings for a leading qualitative sociology journal.

His current graduate students are examining recent challenges to national prostitution laws, the life and work of Marie Curie, and the media narration of Canada's latest 'honour killing'. One student is conducting his research through the Ontario Training Centre for Health Services and Policy Research. Analyzing the impact of a recent nutritional policy shift in Ontario public schools, he's taken specialized courses at other universities and gained hands-on-training in health policy.

Dr. Puddephatt has also served as second reader on topics such as human trafficking, female tree planters, locating personhood in dementia patients, and reproductive tourism. "My experiences have taught me that students have a wide-range of interests about the social world, all of which can be made meaningful and important with a disciplined sociological analysis."

Dr. Puddephatt himself pursues several diverse lines of research. He is an expert on the social pragmatism of George Herbert Mead, covering his ideas on knowledge, science, language, and social action. Working with colleagues from Sweden, he drew on this pragmatism to help develop a problem-solving model for people coping with troublesome social environments. He examined marketing tactics in higher education, as well as how to maximize authenticity in graduate student culture. He also studied the organizational factors that fuel devotion among amateur chess players. Currently, he is researching various competitive strategies of academics in the social sciences and humanities, and is coauthoring a book about the challenges and prospects facing Canadian sociology.

Dr. Puddephatt explains that his colleagues in sociology have very strong publication records and large research grants to hire bright graduate students. He adds that close mentoring and hands-on training complements students' academic pursuits. "I have studied at Western, McMaster, Waterloo, and Cornell, but I have never seen a master's program that is so productive in terms of providing students with serious, professional training."

Lakehead's master's in computer science is preparing students for the future...and their heavy role in its advancement.

"Computer science is a dynamic area that has and will continue to drive innovation," explains Dr. Maurice Benson, Chair of the department. He stresses that key to Lakehead's graduate program is the provision of the knowledge and skill set students will require "to capture the new technologies of the future".

Much of Dr. Benson's work concerns numerical analysis, specifically multi-scale methods for large sparse systems. Recently, he's applied ideas from this area to visualize graphs using a variant of force-directed graph drawing.

He's also worked with various neural network models. Through a partnership with faculty at St. Cloud State University in Minnesota, he's examined an asynchronous approach to self-organizing maps, the results from which he presented in Cancun.

Under supervisors like Dr. Benson, Lakehead students have the freedom to explore a wide range of research interests. Graduates are also offered a high caliber of training tailored to their industrial or advanced study aspirations, practical experience and an understanding of design methods, and the opportunity to plan and accomplish a substantial project largely of their choosing. Students are also provided "the ability and confidence to learn, unaided, new subjects and the skills".

Dr. Benson cites particularly attractive features of the program as the new Game Programming Specialization and the co-op option, through which students are placed with some of the nation's largest employers, including IBM, RIM, CIBC, Cargill, Bowater, Syncrude Oil, Imperial Oil, Canadian Grain Commission, Industry Canada, Environment Canada, Statistics Canada, Atomic Energy of Canada, and HydroOne.

Offering handsome payment, this option provides an optimal way to gain valuable experience while earning income. Dr. Benson adds that many graduates later find permanent work with their co-op employer or use this experience as a competitive edge to obtain various prominent positions. "Our graduates continue to be in high demand and find work in industries ranging from biotechnology to telecommunication."

Dr. Mohammed Nasir Uddin is using his expertise in electrical engineering to generate sustainable energy.

Nicknamed "motor master", he is particularly interested in intelligent controller applications for motor drives and other technologies that automatically adjust to meet demands. He explains that intelligent controller-based motors pose many benefits compared to standard models: they tend to be more efficient, more robust, and more green.

Dr. Uddin has worked extensively with IPMSM motors, a prime example of intelligent controller applications in action used by both Honda and Toyota hybrid electrical vehicles. As well, these motors are employed by a range of other industries from robotics to paper mills.

Dr. Uddin's also made great headway in increasing the efficiency of induction motors. With the help of a graduate student, he designed a technique that minimizes the energy these motors consume, an achievement which earned the First Prize Paper Award at the 45th IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) conference in Texas.

Having received numerous awards and published over 125 papers, Dr. Uddin has been quite successful in his field while continuing to be a passionate advocate for education. He recently saw the opening of Arshed-Sajeda Primary School in Bangladesh, which he founded and funded through his own charity.

Dr. Uddin is also a dedicated graduate supervisor who truly wants to see his students succeed. He underlines that engineering graduate students at Lakehead can look forward to excellent training and direct participation in cutting-edge research while immersed in a supportive environment. "We treat our students very well and help them to cross over academic hurdles."

The electrical engineer adds that opportunities for new engineers in his field abound, especially those in relation to green energy production. He therefore encourages his students to consider their prospects in this line of engineering research. "We are now seeing a real push for sustainable, efficient electrical energy."

It's no secret that the Western world is littered with high-sugar and high-fat foods...and that these don't make for a healthy diet. However, less known are the severity and frequency of diseases caused by their regular consumption: metabolic syndrome, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes are all consequences of an excessive intake in sugar and fat and can lead to a decreased quality of life, painful symptoms, and death.

Dr. Lily Wu is a world leader in these food-instigated diseases and disorders and highly devoted to their prevention and treatment. Studying the mechanisms of insulin resistance, Dr. Wu has made numerous discoveries including the role of methylglyoxal in producing hypertension and diabetes, the regulation of hypertension and diabetes by hydrogen sulfide, and the modulation in channels by endogenous substances. She is currently working at the TBRRI on methods to aid in the early detection and prevention of metabolic syndrome and their application to benefit the cardiac health of Thunder Bay patients.

Her extensive and award-winning research comes none too late; the World health Organization suggests that roughly 1 billion people have hypertension and 250 million have type 2 diabetes, numbers that are expected to increase by over 50% come 2025.

Actively training her students to address the health crises of tomorrow, Dr. Wu is particularly proud of the directions they take after graduation. Some of her trainees are working as health professionals in universities and pharmaceutical companies; a former student is currently the clinical data coordinator of Sanofi R&D Centre and another is a professor at Harbian University in China. Meanwhile, a few are completing their PDF training at various institutions such as Harvard University, one went on to pursue therapeutics at McGill, and another is attending the prestigious Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland.

Dr. Wu adds that for those looking to delve deeper into the sciences of health, Lakehead will be offering a new master's of health sciences this fall - the only of its kind between Winnipeg and Southern Ontario.

"The degree is designed largely to prepare students who will emerge as health researchers and will provide advanced methodological and health-related education."

Alex Jackson spent his summer and a large portion of the school year pouring over science fiction novels, movies, and video games. Why? To understand post-apocalyptic human nature: how humans behave "normally" and how this changes in light of catastrophic events. "I'm interested in morality...the choices human beings make after a catastrophe. In the event of an apocalypse, do we unite and rebuild what has been broken or do we become, violent, evil, do good men go bad?"

Trauma theory and resilience are central themes throughout his research: what drives a person to keep going when their world has been turned upside down and why this varies throughout the human race.

Jackson does not take the ongoing support and encouragement from his supervisor lightly: writing an 80-120 page thesis is no picnic, but having a constant source of back-up and inspiration can make it not only manageable, but fun. He has also received a lot of feedback and assistance from other faculties, which he attributes to the close, friendly relations between Lakehead departments.

Jackson feels fortunate to be employed as a GA, which he says is an opportunity "pretty much guaranteed" for every English master's student at Lakehead. On the side, he is highly involved as Editor-in-Chief for the Artery, Lakehead's popular literary magazine.

His education has presented a world of opportunities: Jackson could see himself pursuing employment as an editor, a columnist, or a professor. He emphasizes that the need for English majors is huge. "There's a dramatic need for people who can write, who can talk, who can communicate in way that is effective... an MA in English offers this and so much more."

Jonas Valiunas might just take his research to the sky.

A physics graduate who has spent the bulk of his studies developing laser technology, Valiunas is now thinking about applying his knowledge to create aircrafts.

"I'm really interested in the design of airplanes and spaceships." To make this dream a reality, he is currently looking into pursuing post-graduate studies in aerodynamics... but he's also applied to the University of Toronto for a PhD program in physics, which would further quench his passion for the field. Regardless of which route he opts to take, Valiunas intends to continue to use his physics background to design innovative, and highly useful, machinery.

His thesis proposed and developed a laser that uses a saturable absorber and all-fibre Fabry-Perot filter to limit "mode-hopping". When used as a pump source in two different Brillouin fiber lasers, it enables the production of both single - and multi - wavelength laser outputs and offers a cost-effective and efficient alternative to facilitate environmental sensing.

During his studies, Valiunas has had regular access to top-notch equipment and many opportunities to widen his horizons through seminars and conferences. He even had a chance to network with an agricultural company in Alberta; after his supervisor received a federal grant to create a nitrous oxide gas sensor, his lab collaborated extensively with soil ecologists in Manitoba to pursue its development.

Valiunas has also already enjoyed employment as a teacher, hired as an instructor by Thunder Bay's Confederation College to teach mathematics and pre-technology electronics. While Valiunas enjoys teaching and wouldn't mind instructing university students one day, the physics graduate admits he is chiefly motivated by the hands-on element in his research and would like to continue to "tinker around with technology" well into the future.

When he's not busy teaching or researching, Valiunas enjoys snowboarding, cribbage, and travelling abroad. Very content with the direction his life is heading, he reflects that the mentorship from his professors has been paramount to his progress.

"The supervisors here, they really care about you and your success. My mentorship is a big part of why I wanted to pursue my doctorate... even why I continued on in physics."

Dr. Alex Lawson believes any child can and should experience success in elementary-level math...provided they are delivered solid instruction.

An elementary mathematics teacher for 12 years in a variety of settings from regular and alternative schools to correctional facilities, Dr. Lawson had some understanding of what such instruction entails. For the last six years, she's had the opportunity to put these ideas into play through a pretty impressive project, tracking the mathematical development of 50 children from the beginning of grade 1 through to the end of grade 5 at an elementary school in Peel. Through this initiative, Dr. Lawson endeavored to explore whether instructional methods that began with children's thinking, delayed formal instruction of algorithms, and promoted children's mathematical conjecture and defense of ideas would enhance their understanding and enjoyment of mathematics.

Her graduate students have actively participated in this innovative project, which is the longest running of its kind in Canada and the United States. Working in the Multi-data Convergence Lab, the team collaborated to review over 8000 clips of students solving problems and track the progress of each student's learning.

Aside from publishing academically on this research, Dr. Lawson is writing a book for elementary school math teachers. Currently negotiating a publishing deal with Pearson Publishing, she explains that the book will include videos to show the children's development throughout the project. "Teachers need to see and learn what kids are capable of doing." The videos show the students' initial math abilities, their progression in learning, and the kind of instruction teachers gave to promote it.

"My hope is to actually make a change, make a difference in how mathematics is taught."

Aside from including graduate students in her research, Dr. Lawson also strives to provide them with careful mentoring, thereby well-preparing the next generation of researchers and mathematical leaders. Several former graduate students are already actively contributing towards the advancement of mathematics teaching; three are currently the math specialists in their school boards.

"My goal is to support students to do a rigorous thesis through which they will genuinely offer a contribution to the field--discovering something different from what's already out there."

As a psychology graduate student, the now Dr. Meghan Richards had the best of both worlds. Studying the influence of endocrine systems on neurological and reproductive functioning, she had the opportunity to link elements of both clinical and biological psychology into one dynamic research project.

The focus of Richard's dissertation was the influence of estradiol, a sex hormone, on the visual functioning, vision-specific memory, and eye-movement circuitry in women. From her lab work, she was able to make inferences about different neurological circuits as they relate to these functions. To present her findings, Richards travelled to numerous conferences in Berlin, San Francisco, San Diego, Washington DC, and other international cities. At a few of these, she simultaneously volunteered as a representative of the Association for Psychological Science.

Following the completion of her dissertation, Richards accepted an internship with River Valley Health in Fredericton, New Brunswick. She currently works at two hospitals affiliated with this program where she carries out psychological assessment, intervention, and consultation. With her eyes on a career in academia, she's simultaneously trying to publish a few papers.

Looking back on her graduate experience, Richards is particularly grateful for the people and preparation that Lakehead had to offer. The faculty, she explains, proficiently prepares students for careers in their field and allows them to explore their own ideas through independent research projects. She adds that the university provided her with a considerable amount of financial support in the form of external scholarships, internal awards, and student bursaries.

Understandably, Richards encourages all considering PhD studies to take this next step in their education. "I believe the study of any discipline at the doctoral level is an opportunity to better understand how to critically evaluate information, formulate ideas, and appreciate how, despite superficial differences, all disciplines are interrelated."

Whether he's training developing or high-performance athletes, Dr. Derek Kivi's clients can expect the best... after all, he has worked with Olympians.

Before coming to Lakehead, Dr. Kivi offered scientific support to a wide range of athletes as a sport biomechanist and physiologist at Lake Placid's Olympic Training Centre. Here he assisted Olympians, Olympic medallists, and world champions and also provided his services at competitions around the globe.

Now a professor of kinesiology, Dr. Kivi remarks that it's a privilege to be able to incorporate his personal interests into his research: "I have always been involved in sport and fascinated about the functional capabilities of the human body." His research pursuits revolve around quantitative movement analysis and explore fitness assessment, the kinematics and kinetics of human movement, and the development of speed, power, agility, and strength.

His students are similarly motivated by a passion for fitness and exercise and several have gone on to work as kinesiologists in their area of interest. Dr. Kivi explains that Lakehead's graduate program not only prepares students for careers in research, but is "a popular route" for those interested in physiotherapy, occupational therapy, medicine, and other professions in the health sciences.

Throughout their studies, all of Dr. Kivi's students have the opportunity to pursue a topic they're truly keen on, as he encourages them to develop their own projects. Students have examined the relationship between neck strength in hockey players and wrestlers, a new test of agility in male soccer players, and the effect of warm-ups and elevated oxygen consumption on performance in trained collegiate distance runners.

Aside from exercise physiology, Lakehead's graduate program in kinesiology encompasses a girth of sub disciplines and interests. Students are currently pursuing studies in adapted physical activity, biomechanics, motor control and learning, psychology of physical activity, gerontology, and sociocultural issues, while under the supervision of a dedicated, cohesive faculty.

"Our faculty members work closely with their students to ensure that their graduate experience is positive and successful."