Valerie Kuehne Undergraduate Research Awards (VKURA)

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This UVic award provides an opportunity for first year students to gain research-enriched and applied experiences in their discipline or field of study. Students gain first-hand experience in planning and undertaking research or creative works.

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Celebratory Theatre: A student of colours experience with community based theatre for refugees and immigrants
(University of Victoria, 2024) Kang, Simran
“The Salty Scent of Home” was a devised celebratory theater production created by faculty and students of the University of Victoria’s theater department. The project followed seven weeks of workshops with a diverse group of refugees and immigrants from across greater Victoria where they were given space to share their experiences of assimilation to Canadian society as well as the journey that led them here. Following the workshops, was a six week devising process to create a movement based theatrical show to respectfully and accurately share the participants stories on stage. The rehearsal process involved reflections on participants' stories, trial and error of potential forms of physical storytelling as well as approval and guidance from participants to ensure that they were happy with the ways in which their stories were being told. This project would not have been made possible if it were not for the team of diverse students and staff behind it.
New palladium catalyst: A mechanistic study
(University of Victoria, 2024) Kropp, Antonia
My research revolved around a mechanistic study of a newly developed palladium catalyst precursor. Palladium cross-coupling reactions are largely used in pharmaceutical and agrochemical industries and new precursors are developed to be stable in storage, have high TONs, low catalyst loading and, ideally, yield monoligated species (which are highly reactive due to their coordinatively unsaturated nature). The better the catalyst, the more affordable the products (such as medicine). Utilizing mass spectrometry, I investigated the catalyst activation and the first step in the catalytic cycle (oxidative addition) of the new palladium precursor. This involved studying the reaction mechanisms by which it activates, how it behaves, what intermediates form and whether it forms the desirable monoligated species. Due to the catalyst’s air-sensitive nature, I employed special techniques to keep everything as oxygen-free as possible. This includes the use of a glovebox (nitrogen-filled chamber), Schlenk lines and oxygen purging techniques. Results show that the precursor activates rapidly under mild reaction conditions with very low catalyst loading, yielding the desirable monoligated species via associative ligand exchange. The oxidative addition complex is also monoligated and separable from solution.
COFs for photothermal membrane distillation
(University of Victoria, 2024) Gnaedinger, Alex
My research project involved assisting PhD candidate Kirsten Aasen in developing a sustainable membrane from a covalent organic framework (COF) to purify water using sunlight. I focused on synthesizing model compounds as intermediaries in the creation of a COF with tunable hydrophilicity and efficient photothermal conversion, using green building blocks. We primarily used a mechanochemical method, which involves placing reactants and zirconium grinding balls in a ball mill, and applying kinetic energy to drive the reaction forward. This method was preferred over solvothermal synthesis due to its lower energy requirements and minimal use of toxic solvents. Given the challenges, I frequently reviewed scientific literature to troubleshoot issues and explore new research directions. Additionally, I used computational modeling with RASPA software to identify COFs with the desired properties from databases of existing structures. This involved simulating the interactions between adsorbate molecules and various COF structures, helping predict characteristics like void space and water adsorption capacity under different conditions.
Evolution of Rwanda's environmental laws and policies (2004-2024)
(University of Victoria, 2024) Charnia, Ayan
This research examines the evolution of Rwanda’s environmental policies from 2004 to 2024, focusing on how the country balances economic growth with sustainability and climate resilience. Rwanda’s dense population and small size increase pressure on natural resources. Key initiatives include the National Forest Policy (2004), Environmental Organic Law (2005), and the National Reforestation Program (2006), which rehabilitated deforested areas and promoted tree planting. Rwanda also emphasized community engagement through policies like Umuganda, encouraging public participation in environmental protection. Additionally, Rwanda has developed progressive policies such as the National Environment and Climate Change Policy (2019), which promotes a low-carbon economy and sustainable resource use. The country has become a leader in electronic waste management, establishing Africa’s first e-waste recycling plant in 2017. This research highlights Rwanda’s success in integrating civic involvement and policy innovation to foster environmental stewardship, improve sustainability, and address the challenges posed by economic growth.
MATHUSLA (MAssive Timing Hodoscope for Ultra-Stable neutraL pArticles)
(University of Victoria, 2024) Samra, Ash
MATHUSLA (MAssive Timing Hodoscope for Ultra-Stable neutraL pArticles) is a proposed particle detector to be installed at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN. It aims to detect Long-Lived Particles (LLPs), a theoretical particle predicted by Beyond the Standard Model theories that could explain current unsolved physics mysteries. This project focused on the characterization of components that would make up the final detector, such a wavelength shifting optical fibres (WLSFs) and silicone photomultipliers (SiPMs). Studies included measuring the timing resolution of the WLSFs and the temperature dependence of the SiPMs. Such characterization is necessary to ensure the final detector meets theoretical specifications.
Designing and manufacturing equipment for mock temporary pacing wire surgery
(University of Victoria, 2024) Marriette, Cole
During my time at Dr. Giles’ lab, I mostly contributed to an ongoing project that aims to simplify the installation of temporary pacing wires by using an electromagnetic field generator and tracking software. By doing so, the surgical installation process would no longer require a trained MRI specialist to assist in the surgery, assistance which is seldom available in remote and indigenous communities. My role in this project was to design equipment that will be used by surgeons from Royal Jubilee Hospital during a mock surgery to test the project’s efficacy. This included a specialized clamp to stabilize the field generator, a wire holder designed to interface with a luer lock, a palpation probe, and a pacing box to induce the artificial heartbeat. This series of design projects taught me important lessons in mechanical engineering, such as tolerancing, making drawing, and efficient design. I also learned to use engineering software such as SolidWorks and Materialise Mimics, as well as FDM (Fused deposit modeling) and PLA (polylactic acid) 3D printing. Overall, this research internship has struck a good balance between producing meaningful results for the Biomechanics Lab and further developing my engineering competencies.
Presenting lab reports
(University of Victoria, 2024) Schmit, Amelia
Patients are increasingly monitoring their own health, thus accessing health information such as laboratory (lab) results. However, current lab results are suited to health care providers. Therefore, the research I conducted while a part of the Valerie Kuehne Undergraduate Research Awards aims to explore the impact of different forms of presenting lab results to patients. Generally, the research concerns how lab results could be improved to guide interpretation and add value for patients. This research includes a specific focus on how graphical visualizations of lab results could be implemented to improve accuracy and overall understanding. Advantages and disadvantages were identified within existing graphical visualizations. The areas for improvement observed are graph attributes (i.e., scale, axes, and spacing), the use of colour and severity ratings, and visual cues (i.e., symbols). The study offers preliminary recommendations to health information system developers and designers to enhance the interpretability and value of visualizations displayed in lab result portals.
Feminization & globalization
(University of Victoria, 2024) Gavrilenko, Alena
The present study investigated the effect of socialized, community-based services on the liberation of women by revisiting the revolutionary feminist ideas of the 1970s, and conducting an analysis of the contemporary implications of those policies. Socialist feminists have conceptualized a continuum of sites of exploitation within the home and the care economy, including sites of industrial production system associated with capitalism. Under these social conditions, some argue that women’s liberation must take the form of a step-by-step process, beginning from the recognition of the struggle itself, through the demand of “Wages for Housework”, and ending with the establishment of institutions to “socialize” gendered private domestic labor (Forrester 2022, 1278). These institutions would bring women’s labor into the public domain through, for example, publicly funded child-care, laundering, and cleaning services controlled by the community (Federici 2012, 49). However, these practices of socializing housework have been counteracted by the “globalization of care”, and domestic workers have also been on a rapid decline since the late 20th century (Klots 2024, 273). To aid globalization, structural adjustment policies of the IMF and WTO have also led to a restructuring of the world economy by recentering reproductive labor in the home and destroying local markets of developing countries through mass land and industry privatization, fueling the global hegemony of capitalist relations (Federici 2012, 85-90). Therefore, given the short vitality of the socialist vision and inequalities present within both socialist and capitalist implementations, more research is needed to discover alternative solutions.
Governing oil or governed by oil? Discourses of oil in Newfoundland & Labrador politics
(University of Victoria, 2024) Molina, Mirai
As an energy-producing province, the oil industry is a significant part of Newfoundland and Labrador's politics, development, and identity. This research investigates the role oil has played in discourses of Newfoundland and Labrador politics. Drawing on existing literature, I reviewed and coded findings using NVivo from 528 provincial transcripts. Through this inductive coding strategy, various themes emerged in the discourses of oil in Newfoundland politics. Themes included; a contention between resources, resource nationalism, and emotional sentiment towards the oil industry. These findings create opportunities for future comparative analysis between energy-producing provinces and fit into the existing literature of petropolitics and discourse related to oil in Canada and regional politics.
Video games and intergroup relations: The scoping review
(University of Victoria, 2024) Manj, Diljot
During my time as a research assistant, I have been involved in conducting a scoping review, an experience that has been both challenging and insightful. My primary responsibility was to meticulously sift through a vast number of academic articles daily, ensuring each one was relevant to our research objectives. This process involved examining various aspects of each study, including the types of games used, the demographics and characteristics of participants, the group assignments, and whether any artificial participants were utilized. In addition to these key factors, I was also tasked with identifying numerous other exclusion criteria to maintain the integrity of our review. Over approximately 12 weeks, our team was able to thoroughly evaluate and classify all 322 articles.
The problem of low fertility in South Korea
(University of Victoria, 2024) Kim, Joey
Since 2005, the South Korean government worked to address the declining total fertility rate by enacting pronatalist policies. Despite these efforts, the country continues to experience one of the lowest total fertility rates in the world. This study draws on data from Statistics Korea, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), and several articles on low fertility rates and childcare in South Korea to assess whether the pronatalist policy introduced in 2021 could yield the desired outcomes for the government. The findings indicate that the government overlooked the interplay between culture and economic decisions. With the cultural norms of placing children in private education and expectations of women to drop out of the labour market after childbirth, the policy from 2021 does not address the rising costs of private education and opportunity costs for women, contributing to lower fertility. The South Korean government understands the impact of a prolonged low total fertility rate due to problems in areas like the public pension system. While multiple factors exist that influence the total fertility rate in South Korea, the research highlights the importance of policymakers acknowledging the interplay between culture and economic decisions.
SecureBid: Sealed-Bid auctions on the blockchain
(University of Victoria, 2024) van de Vegte, Zoë
Over the summer term, I conducted a hands-on exploration of blockchain technology. I surveyed the infrastructure of blockchain, its current and potential applications, as well as its benefits and drawbacks. I implemented a smart contract for secure online auctions using hash functions, to preserve bidder honesty and to prevent auctioneer corruption. I began my research by following an online course on blockchain technology, as well as attending ECE 406: Applied Cryptography, a UVic course taught by my supervisor, Dr. Riham AlTawy. Both these courses developed my understanding of the concepts and techniques necessary to build and understand a blockchain application. I also began studying existing decentralised apps (DApps), specifically an auction DApp similar to what I aimed to build. Whereas the auction DApp I studied used more advanced techniques including elliptic curve cryptography, I was able to implement the necessary cryptographic properties for my DApp using hash functions, one of the most fundamental cryptographic primitives.
Barriers to access in Sḵwx̱wú7mesh territory and beyond
(University of Victoria, 2024) McCleary, Liz
This research project centers on visualizing barriers to accessing culturally significant plant species for the Squamish Nation. By utilizing an interactive map, community members can toggle layers on and off, making it easier to locate and access traditional harvesting sites within their territory. A key feature of this project is the "Community Harvesting Form," which allows Nation members to share information about specific harvesting sites and plant species. This project is designed to protect data ownership and sovereignty, ensuring that information remains within the community.
The right of return and citizenship applied to Canadian "ISIS brides"
(2024) Vos, Sarah
Developed a foundation by defining Canadian citizenship concepts, such as jus sangius, jus soli, and birthright lottery. Used online databases to research the Right of Return, an international human right that allows individuals to leave and return to their country of citizenship. Applied this and research on Canadian citizenship to a case study on ‘ISIS Brides’. ‘ISIS Brides’ are Canadian women who have been denied the right to return to Canada due to their involvement with ISIS, usually through marriage, and many are now requesting repatriation. After extensive research, discussions, and analysis, the project asserts that ‘ISIS brides’ must be subject to repatriation and rehabilitation on Canadian soil under the Right of Return.
Understanding weight stigma among diverse people in Canada
(University of Victoria, 2024) Chen, Cici
Weight stigma refers to the negative attitudes, beliefs, and stereotypes directed at individuals with higher body weight. In Canada, weight stigma is prevalent across various social contexts, including healthcare, education, and interpersonal relationships. To better understand how Canadians experience weight stigma alongside different marginalized identities, we invited participants who have experienced weight-based prejudice to complete a brief qualitative online survey. Individuals were asked to share their lived experiences and provide one specific example of when they faced weight-based prejudice. The data collected will be analyzed using thematic analysis to identify overarching patterns and themes across the experiences of many individuals.
Developing a printability characterization protocol for 3D bioprinting
(University of Victoria, 2024) Darby, Alexander
3D bioprinting is a novel field of research that leverages additive manufacturing techniques to create constructs of live biological tissues. These tissues are formed out of bioink, specialised materials designed to both nurture living cells and be printable by 3D bioprinters. This characteristic of printability is poorly defined in existing literature, but broadly refers to a bioink’s ability to be extruded from a 3D printer and maintain its intended form. This internship allowed for the Willerth Lab to more precisely and efficiently image and analyse bioprinted constructs produced on the lab’s bioprinters in order to quantify the printability of any given bioinks.
“Hors d’état de jouer”: Illness at the Comédie-Française in the 17th and 18th centuries
(University of Victoria, 2024) Jones, Graeme
Letters at the archival library of the Comédie-Française up to the 19th century pertaining to illness, accidents and poor health are transcribed and analysed for statistical trends and anecdotal insight into the effect of these absences on the theatre institution and the performance of theatre. Criteria assessed include gender, time frame, frequency of conditions and remedies (if applicable) and the purpose and content of letters. The results of the analyses suggest that women employed at the Comédie-Française during the studied time period were more likely to request time off due to indispositions than their male counterparts. Other trends are likewise revealed, including differences in rates of mention of common ailments between women and men and the demographic of actors who most often wrote time-off requests to the theatre. The actors' original manuscripts provide unique anecdotal insight into the work culture and approach towards illness during the time period. The information found in these results is an asset to future analyses of daily theatre programming and to further research on the challenges that performance artists face in their profession, a key issue to better understanding the cultural history of the performance arts.
Investigating the perspectives of professionals and volunteers on preventing involuntary loneliness and increasing social support among older 2SLGBTQIA+ adults
(University of Victoria, 2024) Nuraney, Jaedyn
This research project explores the perspectives of professionals and volunteers on addressing involuntary loneliness and enhancing social support among older 2SLGBTQIA+ adults. The study focuses on understanding the unique challenges this population faces, particularly with regard to social isolation and access to supportive networks. My role involved conducting interviews with participants and gathering data on their experiences and insights related to social connection strategies. The findings highlight both the barriers and facilitators to preventing loneliness. The insights gained from this study will contribute to a better understanding of the complex social issue of loneliness among older 2SLGBTQIA+ adults.
My experience on a climate distress research project
(University of Victoria, 2024) Richards, Kaia
My research was conducted working on a research project aiming to learn more about climate distress, specifically on a day to day basis. The project consisted of a daily survey, in which participants would answer questions about their emotions and behaviours relating to climate change. I learned about all of the important steps taken in order to initiate a new research project. I was able to experience the many major, and minor, details that one must pay close attention to. I went through a trial run of the survey and shared my ideas and learned from others about pointers that often bring a survey to higher quality. Along with observing and talking to the team, my main role was to create a website for the survey. The website includes information on the study, eligibility, and how to join. With this I learned more about building a website in general, but more specifically one for a research project, with the audience being potential participants. I also was a part of the weekly meetings, in which I was also able to learn more about the different roles that each person of the team has, and how they work separately, but even more importantly, how they work together.
Counting convex shapes
(University of Victoria, 2024) Wise, Elitza
This research project aimed to examine C(n), the number of convex connected subsets of lattice containing n points. The primary objective was to derive and analyse an upper bound for C(n) to determine whether it grows sub-exponentially. This was done by programming a recursive code that took n as input and constructed every convex connected shape row-by-row. To ensure the results of C(n) were correct, the shapes were visually printed as output and further studied. This included focusing on pairs of adjacent C(n) and C(n+1) values, and confirming that the number of ways to add a point to the n-shapes was equal to the number of ways to take away a point from the (n+1)-shapes. Using a log-log regression transformation it was confirmed that C(n) is, in fact, sub-exponential. This plays a role in problems in statistical mechanics.

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