From research to real-world skills: Students gain valuable research experience at DeGroote

Bottom row (L-R): Saakshi Goel, Gurdial Gill, Ariane Persad, Sujana Saha. Top row (L-R): Rithvik Bhogadi, Saruggan Thiruchelvan, Saad Aslam, Waseem Ahmed Shaik, Mehmet Kiraz, Joshua Zadik.

On July 30, DeGroote undergraduate and graduate student research associates gathered to discuss their research projects and share their observations with peers and faculty. Student researchers are working on a wide range of topics from sustainability to marginalized communities, allowing them to explore their research interests. In addition to conducting research, students receive invaluable experience in transferable skills and guidance from supervisors.

Student Research Associate Projects

Maria Alkouni, BCom ‘24

Supervisor: Trevor Chamberlain
Project: “Corporate Scandals and their Consequences”
Research focus: Maria’s research explores the financial, legal and governance ramifications of corporate scandals. Specifically, this research focuses on corporate response to scandal, namely harassment and discrimination, and the subsequent possible change in firm profitability and value.
Skills gained: Data analysis, data management, communication and attention to detail.

Gurdial Gill, BASc ‘24

Supervisor: Catherine Connelly
Project: “The Effects of Disability on Employee Feedback”
Research focus: Gurdial’s research focuses on the differing feedback responses provided to employees with disabilities in comparison to their non-disabled peers. This research may inform the impact of disabilities on workplace feedback.
Skills gained: Learned new software and critical thinking skills.

Joshua Zadik, IBH Level III

Supervisors: Catherine Connelly, Anne St. Amand
Project: “Leadership Textbook Review” and “Impact of Disabilities on Workplace Feedback”
Research focus: Joshua’s research examines how problematic portrayals of Hitler in review of leadership textbooks may contribute to antisemitic sentiments. Furthermore, Joshua’s research on workplace disabilities explores the intersection between individuals with physical disabilities and employer provided feedback.
Skills gained: How to navigate the research process and work with uncertainty, problem solving, project management and goal setting.

Saakshi Goel, BCom Level III

Supervisor: Sash Vaid
Project: “Systematic Review on Asymmetric Effects of Sports Betting Legalization”
Research focus: Saakshi’s research studies the unequal impacts of sports betting legalization on diverse consumer groups. Specially, this research focuses on the differing impacts on a regional and stakeholder basis.
Skills gained: How to use academic databases, interpreting data and data analysis.

Ariane Persad, IBH Level IV

Supervisor: Milena Head
Project: “Digital Divide and Aging”
Research focus: Ariane’s research, a part of the MIRA EMPOWrD project, investigates the social, digital, cognitive and demographic factors that may inform elderly populations heightened susceptibility to online misinformation. Additionally, Ariane’s research explores how artificial intelligence (AI), and related applications, may be helpful and harmful to the aging population and their care.
Skills gained: Effective searching and organization, plus developing and writing a literature review.

Waseem Ahmed Shaik, MBA candidate

Supervisor: Susan McCracken
Project: “GR0’ing at DeGroote: Investigating the Impact of the 1GR0 Course on Students”
Research focus: Waseem’s research studies the impact of first-year commerce experiential learning course, 1GR0, to further enhance critical thinking, collaboration, communication, self-management and digital literacy skills for future students. This research specifically examines course deliverables, grades and attendance of past students.
Skills gained: Communication, managing large datasets, maintenance of data in Excel, coding qualitative data and automation through coding.

Saad Aslam, BCom Level II

Supervisor: Office of Experiential Learning
Project: “Research and Development – Academic Experiential Learning”
Research focus: Saad’s research explores student engagement in experiential learning projects, with a focus on entrepreneurship and course development. Saad’s research involves curriculum development and faculty collaboration for future projects.
Skills gained: Curriculum development, planning and collaboration.

Mehmet Kiraz, Master of Computational Science and Engineering student

Supervisor: Elkafi Hassini
Project: “Crowdfeeding – Efficient Last-Mile Solutions in Food Rescue”
Research focus: Mehmet’s research focuses on the optimization of last-mile food rescue distribution using supply chain logistics. Specifically, Mehmet’s research involves developing improved delivery routes to increase efficiency and decrease operational costs.
Skills gained: Optimization modeling, data analysis and Python programming.

Rithvik Bhogadi, Michael Baskaran, Saruggan Thiruchelvan and Chonghua Liu, Software engineering students

Supervisor: Elkafi Hassini
Project: “Crowdfeeding Donated Grocery Mobile Application”
Research focus: Rithvik, Michael, Saruggan and Chonghua developed a pilot study and digital application to facilitate the delivery of donated goods to families experiencing food-insecurity through the collaboration of retailers and volunteer drivers. The research group utilized optimization modeling to develop real-time user-facing updates, scheduling and daily limits.
Skills gained: Collaboration, project management, software testing and debugging.