IBEST’S WOMEN IN STEM SUMMER INTERNSHIP PROGRAM ANNOUNCES INAUGURAL COHORT
Published by iBEST on Friday, May 13, 2022
Through a generous donation from the Leacross Foundation, which aims to amplify opportunities for female-identifying individuals to succeed in STEM fields, four Toronto Metropolitan University students from the Faculty of Science and the Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Science have received placements at iBEST-based research labs from May to August. The donation of $100,000 will cover a stipend for each intern and allow hosting researchers to purchase lab equipment and supplies for training and mentorship.
Hala Abou Nahya, a third-year biomedical sciences student, received a placement at the Tsai Lab to work with Scott Tsai (Toronto Metropolitan University) and Warren Lee (Unity Health Toronto) on the project, “Microbubble-enabled gene delivery for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) treatment”.
Lianna Marraffino, a fourth-year biomedical engineering student, received a placement at the IAMLAB to work with April Khademi (Toronto Metropolitan University) and Kiran Jakata (University Health Network) on the project, “AI-based lymph node metastasis segmentation for breast cancer pathology images”.
Nika Momeni, a third-year biomedical engineering student, received a placement at the SAR Lab to work with Sri Krishnan (Toronto Metropolitan University) and Venkat Bhat (Unity Health Toronto) on the project, “Visual analytics of multimedia content for mental health applications”.
Megan Yiu, a second-year biomedical engineering student, received a placement at the WiS Lab to work with Virgilio Valente (Toronto Metropolitan University) and Steve Lin (Unity Health Toronto) on the project, “Flexible heart patch for real-time monitoring of cardiac function”.
“We are happy to be able to offer, in partnership with the Leacross Foundation, four Women in STEM Summer Internship positions to a diverse group of students from science and engineering backgrounds,” said iBEST co-director Michael Kolios. “Along with opportunities to observe and take part in research at an institutional level, these students will have access to collaborative networks, interdisciplinary research leaders, state-of-the-art technology and clinical experts. With mentors from both academic and clinical backgrounds, these students will be exposed to a breadth of experience and knowledge unparalleled in the field, paired with practical applied skills training using advanced medical technology.”
Toronto Metropolitan University
Women in STEM Summer Internship Program at iBEST
Leacross Foundation Bursary: Awarded to female-identifying undergraduate students from the Toronto Metropolitan University Faculty of Science and the Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Science as a means of support in community and education, and encouraging the endeavours for women in science. The four Research Assistants will be trained and mentored in complex, state-of-the-art, exciting and dynamic environments, providing them with invaluable trainee experience, including opportunities to explore, practice and hone their disciplinary skills.
Leacross Foundation Women in STEM competition page
iBEST Opportunities
Online Application