Research Assistant

Bioprinting is a form of additive biomanufacturing, a field of manufacturing, that incorporates engineering techniques and biological compounds with material science and electronic knowledge to create 3D shapes and structures with biological properties. Bioprinting brings great manufacturing potential to the biomedical industry as it can facilitate the generation of living 3D structures through the printing of live cells. The use of biological compounds, like living cells, in bioprinting requires the use of certain production materials to protect and support these living components. Specifically, polymer materials with water-holding properties, hydrogels, are used to encapsulate living cells, and support them through the bioprinting process. There are many methods through which cell-laden hydrogels can be used in bioprinting. This project has the objective to review 3D bioprinting state of the art and the development of a vision to build a visible light-based SLA 3D bioprinter.

Children's Loose Parts Play Project (Phase 1)

The proposed pilot study aims to address this critical gap by exploring 30 3- to 5-year-old children’s indoor LPP behaviour through qualitative and quantitative data collection and quantitative analyses. Using a pre-experimental design (12), children will be observed while playing with (I) open-ended materials (loose parts Box A) or (II) open-ended materials (loose parts Box B) or (III) single-/limited-purpose toys (control group). Our study aims to document crucial relationships between Loose Parts Play and children’s cognitive development while considering key social determinants such as gender, socioeconomic status (SES), and maternal education.

Children's Loose Parts Play Project (Phase 2)

The proposed pilot study aims to address this critical gap by exploring 30 3- to 5-year-old children’s indoor LPP behaviour through qualitative and quantitative data collection and quantitative analyses. Using a pre-experimental design (12), children will be observed while playing with (I) open-ended materials (loose parts Box A) or (II) open-ended materials (loose parts Box B) or (III) single-/limited-purpose toys (control group). Our study aims to document crucial relationships between Loose Parts Play and children’s cognitive development while considering key social determinants such as gender, socioeconomic status (SES), and maternal education.

Children's Loose Parts Play Project (Phase 3)

The proposed pilot study aims to address this critical gap by exploring 30 3- to 5-year-old children’s indoor LPP behaviour through qualitative and quantitative data collection and quantitative analyses. Using a pre-experimental design (12), children will be observed while playing with (I) open-ended materials (loose parts Box A) or (II) open-ended materials (loose parts Box B) or (III) single-/limited-purpose toys (control group). Our study aims to document crucial relationships between Loose Parts Play and children’s cognitive development while considering key social determinants such as gender, socioeconomic status (SES), and maternal education.