Grants and Contributions

This project will develop a compact biosensing system, optimized and validated for space mission conditions, to deliver non-invasive, real-time, and high-fidelity health monitoring while providing students with hands-on experience in payload development, microfluidics, and optical sensing. The envisioned system integrates three state-of-the-art hardware innovations into a compact, reliable, and modular platform: an automated microfluidic unit for hands-free saliva collection, processing, and culture-free preconcentration in microgravity; a consumable Molecularly Imprinted Polymer (MIP) module for stable, selective biomarker capture; and an ultra-sensitive photothermal transducer for amplifying biomarker signals to detect ultra-low concentrations. The system’s software enables Internet-of-Things connectivity, enhanced with AI-driven predictive analytics, delivering results within minutes for intelligent, real-time health monitoring and decision support in space. The project will target three biomarkers relevant to proactive health management in space: cortisol, a stress hormone; IL-6, an inflammatory cytokine linked to immune dysregulation; and 8-OHdG, a marker of DNA oxidative damage associated with radiation exposure. Beyond astronaut health, the technology enables point-of-care diagnostics in remote and Arctic communities, strengthening healthcare resilience and reinforcing Canada’s leadership in space and terrestrial medical innovation.

The primary objective of this project is to develop and validate laser-thermal propulsion for spacecraft, leveraging affordable fibre optic lasers and a phased-array system to achieve faster and safe travel to Mars and deep space. Key deliverables include designing and testing a fully integrated thruster system—enhanced by recent breakthroughs in propellant absorption—within a space simulation chamber, engineering a novel inflatable optical concentrator for precise laser energy focusing, and employing high-performance computing to model energy transfer and thrust generation. The project also aims to demonstrate readiness for in-space deployment, with immediate applications in orbit transfer, station-keeping, and debris remediation, while providing hands-on training to students in collaboration with aerospace experts to ensure graduates are proficient in modern spaceflight engineering practices.

The objective of this AO is to support Canadian students to participate in national and international space conferences and training events that will offer them the opportunity to learn about and be involved in the latest developments in space science and technology, to develop their professional network, and in some cases, present their research results at the national and international level.

The objective of this AO is to support Canadian students to participate in national and international space conferences and training events that will offer them the opportunity to learn about and be involved in the latest developments in space science and technology, to develop their professional network, and in some cases, present their research results at the national and international level.

The objective of this AO is to support Canadian students to participate in national and international space conferences and training events that will offer them the opportunity to learn about and be involved in the latest developments in space science and technology, to develop their professional network, and in some cases, present their research results at the national and international level.

The objective of this AO is to support Canadian students to participate in national and international space conferences and training events that will offer them the opportunity to learn about and be involved in the latest developments in space science and technology, to develop their professional network, and in some cases, present their research results at the national and international level.

This project will use JWST/MIRI and NIRSpec to capture the first-ever spectrum of purely neutral PAHs (Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons) in space by observing nebulae surrounding cool stars that produce no ionizing radiation. This provides the missing piece to separate neutral from charged PAHs in all cosmic environments.

This project will use JWST/MIRI and NIRSpec to investigate mysterious infrared signals called Aromatic Infrared Bands by observing a dying star (NGC6644) and studying how their molecular structure evolves when exposed to ultraviolet light. By understanding this molecular evolution around dying stars, we can predict their behaviour in planet-forming disks, advancing our knowledge of how life’s organic building blocks are processed during star and planet formation.

This project will use JWST/MIRI phase curves of five lava worlds to map their thermal emission and constrain interior states. By comparing dayside and nightside temperatures and detecting outgassed atmospheric species, the study will link atmospheric composition to interior melting and volcanic activity, offering new insight into the formation and evolution of rocky planets.

This project will use JWST/MIRI to characterize the infrared spectral features of C60 (buckminsterfullerene) and its cations in the Iris Nebula (NGC 7023). These measurements will provide the critical spectroscopic constraints needed for ionozation balance studies and theoretical model validation for the IR emission of large aromatic molecules in space.