Meet Our Team
Dr. Claire Davies
Associate professor in mechanical engineering at Queen's University with an adjunct position department of surgery at the University of Auckland. Her primary research goal focuses on increasing independence of people with disabilities. Understanding the perceptual and physical responses of all the senses, primarily vision, haptics and sound, has given her insight into how design of devices should be undertaken to create human-machine interfaces that are easily navigated and accepted. You can find her personal research page here. Contact email: [email protected] |
PhD Candidates
Caryn Vowles - PhD in Mechanical and Materials Engineering
Caryn is completing her PhD in Biomedical Engineering the supervision of Dr.Davies. She completed her Bachelor of Engineering and a MASc, supervised by Dr. Bardelcik, at University of Guelph. Caryn’s research is focused on assessing emotion through physiological signals of children with SMCI (Severe Motor and Communication Impairments). She spends her free time exploring the outdoors with her dog Bond (who’s also the honorary member of BDAT lab). Contact email: [email protected] |
Birhanu Mulat Addis - PhD in Mechanical and Materials Engineering
Birhanu is a PhD student in Mechanical and Materials Engineering under the supervision of Dr. Claire Davies. He completed his MSc. degree from Addis Ababa University in Mechanical Engineering with a specialization in Thermal Engineering. Birhanu’s research is focused on the development of artificial muscles that can be used for prosthetic and robotic applications. He aims to fabricate, model and experimentally characterize twisted and coiled artificial muscles and use them in prosthetic and orthotic applications. Contact email:[email protected] |
Mackenzie Collins - PhD in Mechanical and Materials Engineering & MD in Medicine
Kenzie is an MD-PhD student under the supervision of Dr. Davies. She completed her Bachelor of Applied Science in Honours Biomedical Engineering from the University of Waterloo in 2021. Kenzie’s PhD research focuses on how eye-tracking technology might be used to identify emotion in children with cerebral palsy, and how it might assist in communicating their emotion to those unfamiliar with their personal forms of self-expression. Contact email: [email protected] |
Stephanie Lackey - PhD in Rehabilitation Sciences
(primary supervisor Beata Batorowicz) Steph Lackey is PhD candidate in the Rehabilitation Science program. She has a background in occupational therapy which inspired her interest in AAC. Her doctoral work will focus on AAC service provision and social participation of people who use AAC. She aims to explore the perspectives of AAC service providers across Canada and identify important factors and priorities for participation focused AAC services. Contact email: [email protected] |
Diane McEachern - PhD in Rehabilitation Sciences
(primary supervisor Beata Batorowicz) Diane is a PhD student in the department of Rehabilitation Science at Queens University, Kingston, ON, Canada. Her research interests are in augmentative and alternative communication and the implications for social inclusion of young adults, particularly around informal social networks, and their importance to successful employment opportunities. Prior to this, her 20 years of clinical experience was as a Speech-Language Pathologist working with preschool and school-aged children, as well as adult populations. Contact email: [email protected] |
Sonja Bonar - MA Sc. in Mechanical and Materials Engineering
Sonja Bonar is a PhD candidate at Queen’s University in the Biomedical Engineering Program. Her research interests focus on multisensory brain-computer interface device design and implementation as assistive technology. She is also working under the Canada’s Accessibility Standards Research Grant to investigate the perspectives of augmentative and alternative communication stakeholders on key aspect of device design and effective use. Contact email: [email protected] |
Master's Students
Emily Harmsen - MA in Cultural Studies
Em is completing an MA from the Cultural Studies program that is focused on inclusive and accessible design. She has a background in fashion, technology and accessibility. Her research has centred around design processes of Canadian designers as well as autoethnographic work on her own experiences as a designer. Contact email: [email protected] |
Sydney Van Engelen - MA Sc. in Mechanical and Materials Engineering
Sydney is a Master’s student of collaborative biomedical engineering. Her research focuses on how different physiological signals can be used to design and build accessible and end-user focused assistive devices. Sydney is also enrolled in the interdisciplinary Research and Education in Accessibility, Design, and Innovation (READi) training program at Carleton University to develop an accessibility mindset in innovation and design to ultimately support a more inclusive society. Contact email: [email protected] |
Glenda Watson Hyatt - MA Sc. in Mechanical and Materials Engineering
Glenda's thesis research centers around developing a universal design strategy to promote equity in employing people with communication disabilities. She is also contributing to the project Developing recommendations and guidelines for augmentative and alternative communication to enable persons with motor and communication, and speech impairment to participate in employment, which is funded by Advancing Accessibility Standards Research, Government of Canada. Contact email: [email protected] |
Levi Huyer - MA Sc. in Mechanical and Materials Engineering
Levi is a continuing graduate from the department of mechanical and materials engineering with a specialization in biomechanical engineering. Levi is currently working towards a masters in applied science with a focus on designing a physical controls for urban air mobility vehicles that adheres to human factors engineering. Contact email: [email protected] |
Jillian Henderson - MA Sc. in Mechanical and Materials Engineering
Jillian Henderson graduated from the Biomechanical Engineering program at Queen’s University, where she is now completing a Master’s in Mechanical and Materials Engineering, with a specialization in Collaborative Biomedical Engineering. The aim of her research is to make assistive technology more accessible through the development of a database containing which augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices are available in Canada, as well as a guide on how and where you can gain access to the AAC technology. Contact email: [email protected] |
Seamus Burmham - MA Sc. in Mechanical and Materials Engineering
Seamus Burnham’s research is focused on augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices that require an eye tracking input method. He is investigating a link between the design of the AAC icons and the eye tracking performance of young children who are not yet literate. Seamus hopes that his findings improve this technology and increase the social inclusion of this population. Contact email: [email protected] |
Summer Students
Maya Meraw
Maya will be entering her fourth year of a dual degree in Biomechanical Engineering & Environmental Studies at Queen's University in the fall of 2022. She entered her engineering education with the hope of working in assistive technology design, and has loved working with the BDAT lab team. She is fascinated by the natural world and incorporates this into her design through biomimicry. Contact email: [email protected] |
Jesse Manzin
Jesse will be entering his fourth year of Biomechanical Engineering at Queen's University in the fall of 2022. He is interested in a variety of the diverse opportunities that mechanical engineering holds, and has enjoyed gaining exposure to the world of accessible and universal design through the BDAT lab. Jesse is an avid rock climber, ultimate frisbee player, and home depot fanatic. Contact email: [email protected] |
Previous Students
Doctoral Students
Stephan Dobri - Mechanical and Materials Engineering (2016-2021)
Samantha Noyek - Rehabilitation Sciences (2017-2021) co-supervised
Amir Moslehi - Mechanical and Materials Engineering (2017-2021)
Elizabeth Delarosa - Mechanical and Materials Engineering (2016- 2021, pursued OT career instead)
University of Auckland
Sarvnaz Taherian - Pscyhology (awarded 2018)
Alexander Payne - Mechanical Engineering (awarded 2017)
Ryan McCardle - Mechanical Engineering (awarded 2016)
Mingming Zhang - Mechanical Engineering (awarded 2016)
Amur Almanji - Mechanical Engineering (awarded 2015)
Samantha Noyek - Rehabilitation Sciences (2017-2021) co-supervised
Amir Moslehi - Mechanical and Materials Engineering (2017-2021)
Elizabeth Delarosa - Mechanical and Materials Engineering (2016- 2021, pursued OT career instead)
University of Auckland
Sarvnaz Taherian - Pscyhology (awarded 2018)
Alexander Payne - Mechanical Engineering (awarded 2017)
Ryan McCardle - Mechanical Engineering (awarded 2016)
Mingming Zhang - Mechanical Engineering (awarded 2016)
Amur Almanji - Mechanical Engineering (awarded 2015)
Master Students |
|
Daren Dzumhur - MDes in Industrial Design (2019-2021)
Roderick Spender - MA Sc. in Mechanical and Materials Engineering (2018-2021)
Elizabeth Hoskin - MA Sc. Mechanical and Materials Engineering (2017-2019)
Erika Johannessen - MA Sc. Mechanical and Materials Engineering (2017-2019)
Katie VanTil - MA Sc. Mechanical and Materials Engineering (2018-2019)
Erin Perfect - MA Sc. Mechanical and Materials Engineering (2016-2018)
Alannah Lax-Vanek - MA Sc. Mechanical and Materials Engineering (2015-2018)
Rhianne Lopez - MA Sc. Mechanical and Materials Engineering (2015-2018)
University of Auckland
Jamie Branch, MEng. (May 2015 – funded by both Fulbright scholarship and Whitaker Foundation scholarship, USA).
Arthi Sunkari, MEngSt., completed 2015.
Sophia Johnson, MEngSt., completed 2015.
David Monroy, MEngSt., completed 2015.
Anton Petrochenko, MEngSt. completed 2015.
Mark Deacon, MEng. June 2014.
Andrew Partington, MEngSt. Dec 2014.
Kirstin Middlekoop, MEngSt., Dec 2014.
Parthiban Kesavan, MEngSt., Sept 2013.
Alan Deacon, MEng., May 2013.
Thomas Vinumon, MEngSt., Dec 2012.
Vignesh Kumar, MEngSt., May 2012
Leon Evans, MEngSt., Nov 2011.
David Kemps, MEngSt., Nov 2011.
Jiva Muthu, MEngSt., Nov 2011.
Jeffrey Vidanes, MEngSt., Nov 2011.
Derek Hadfield (with Grant Searchfield), MSc. (Audiology thesis), May 2011.
Roderick Spender - MA Sc. in Mechanical and Materials Engineering (2018-2021)
Elizabeth Hoskin - MA Sc. Mechanical and Materials Engineering (2017-2019)
Erika Johannessen - MA Sc. Mechanical and Materials Engineering (2017-2019)
Katie VanTil - MA Sc. Mechanical and Materials Engineering (2018-2019)
Erin Perfect - MA Sc. Mechanical and Materials Engineering (2016-2018)
Alannah Lax-Vanek - MA Sc. Mechanical and Materials Engineering (2015-2018)
Rhianne Lopez - MA Sc. Mechanical and Materials Engineering (2015-2018)
University of Auckland
Jamie Branch, MEng. (May 2015 – funded by both Fulbright scholarship and Whitaker Foundation scholarship, USA).
Arthi Sunkari, MEngSt., completed 2015.
Sophia Johnson, MEngSt., completed 2015.
David Monroy, MEngSt., completed 2015.
Anton Petrochenko, MEngSt. completed 2015.
Mark Deacon, MEng. June 2014.
Andrew Partington, MEngSt. Dec 2014.
Kirstin Middlekoop, MEngSt., Dec 2014.
Parthiban Kesavan, MEngSt., Sept 2013.
Alan Deacon, MEng., May 2013.
Thomas Vinumon, MEngSt., Dec 2012.
Vignesh Kumar, MEngSt., May 2012
Leon Evans, MEngSt., Nov 2011.
David Kemps, MEngSt., Nov 2011.
Jiva Muthu, MEngSt., Nov 2011.
Jeffrey Vidanes, MEngSt., Nov 2011.
Derek Hadfield (with Grant Searchfield), MSc. (Audiology thesis), May 2011.
Summer Students and Research Assistants
2021 - Marita Cafazzo, Mallika Goodman, Lauren Thomas
2020 - Jillian Henderson, Sydney Van Engelen, Madeleine Liblong
2019 - Evan Neff, Jackson Empey
2018 - Leigh Janssen, Olivia Roud, Eryn Young
2017 - Andrew Gowthorpe, Louise Munro, Arielle Morgans
2016 - Natalie Smith, Shayla Klinger, Elizabeth Hoskin
2020 - Jillian Henderson, Sydney Van Engelen, Madeleine Liblong
2019 - Evan Neff, Jackson Empey
2018 - Leigh Janssen, Olivia Roud, Eryn Young
2017 - Andrew Gowthorpe, Louise Munro, Arielle Morgans
2016 - Natalie Smith, Shayla Klinger, Elizabeth Hoskin