91

Fall 2025 - Winter 2026 Cohort

Fellows | Research ProjectsImpact Initiative


Fellows

abellard_ronardy

Ronardy Abellard

Area of Study: Major in Material Engineering
Faculty: Faculty of Engineering
Year: Third Year
Expected Year of Graduation: 2027

Oliver Abrams

Oliver Abrams

Area of Study: Double Major in Business Analytics and Finance, Minor in Environment
Faculty: Desautels Faculty of Management
Year: Fourth Year
Expected Year of Graduation: 2026

Natalia Absar

Natalia Absar

Area of Study: Major in Global Contexts, Double Minor in Management and International Development Studies
Faculty: Faculty of Education
Year: Second Year
Expected Year of Graduation: 2027

Sophie Alzona

Sophie Alzona

Area of Study: Major in Political Science, Minor in Entrepreneurship
Faculty: Faculty of Arts
Year: Second Year
Expected Year of Graduation: 2028

Alaa Arafah

Alaa Arafah

Area of Study: Double Concentration in Economics and Global Strategy
Faculty: Desautels Faculty of Management
Year: Second Year
Expected Year of Graduation: 2027

Ryan Barhoum

Ryan Barhoum

Area of Study: Major in Finance
Faculty: Desautels Faculty of Management
Year: Second Year
Expected Year of Graduation: 2027

Bruna Battaglia

Bruna Battaglia

Area of Study: Major in Economics, Concentration in Marketing
Faculty: Desautels Faculty of Management
Year: Second Year
Expected Year of Graduation: 2027

Andrew Baumann

Andrew Baumann

Area of Study: Honours in International Development Studies, Minor in Latin American and Caribbean Studies
Faculty: Faculty of Arts
Year: Third Year
Expected Year of Graduation: 2026

Sofia Belayachi

Sofia Belayachi

Area of Study: Major in English Cultural Studies, Minor in Management
Faculty: Faculty of Arts
Year: Third Year
Expected Year of Graduation: 2026

Simone Bellengier

Simone Bellengier

Area of Study: Double Major in Strategic Management and International Business
Faculty: Desautels Faculty of Management
Year: Fourth Year
Expected Year of Graduation: 2026

Delice Betukumesu

Delice Betukumesu

Area of Study: BCL/JD Candidate
Faculty: Faculty of Law
Year: Second Year
Expected Year of Graduation: 2028

Lucca Boutin

Lucca Boutin

Area of Study: Major in Biochemistry, Minor in Management
Faculty: Faculty of Science
Year: Fourth Year
Expected Year of Graduation: 2026

Hannah Byrne

Hannah Byrne

Area of Study: Honours in International Development Studies, Major in Economics, Minor in Management
Faculty: Faculty of Arts
Year: Fourth Year
Expected Year of Graduation: 2026

Delaney Cahill

Delaney Cahill

Area of Study: Major in Economics
Faculty: Faculty of Arts
Year: Fourth Year
Expected Year of Graduation: 2026

Kinson Chiu

Kinson Chiu

Area of Study: Major in Computer Science
Faculty: Faculty of Science
Year: Third Year
Expected Year of Graduation: 2027

Roberto Concepcion

Roberto Concepcion

Area of Study: Honours in International Development Studies, Minor in Sociology
Faculty: Faculty of Arts
Year: Fourth Year
Expected Year of Graduation: 2026

Camille Condé

Camille Condé

Area of Study: Double Concentration in Business Analytics and Marketing, Minor in Mathematics
Faculty: Desautels Faculty of Management
Year: Second Year
Expected Year of Graduation: 2027

Emma Coonfer

Emma Coonfer

Area of Study: Major in Finance, Concentration in Marketing
Faculty: Desautels Faculty of Management
Year: Second Year
Expected Year of Graduation: 2028

Julia Corriveau

Julia Corriveau

Area of Study: Double Major in Economics and International Development Studies
Faculty: Faculty of Arts
Year: Second Year
Expected Year of Graduation: 2027

Roman Corsetti

Roman Corsetti

Area of Study: Major in Accounting, Minor in French Language
Faculty: Desautels Faculty of Management
Year: Fourth Year
Expected Year of Graduation: 2026

Orlane Donkpêgan Dopinos

Orlane Donkpêgan Dopinos

Area of Study: Honours in International Development Studies, Minor in Political Science
Faculty: Faculty of Arts
Year: Fourth Year
Expected Year of Graduation: 2026

Noa Druker

Noa Druker

Area of Study: Major in Mathematics, Minor in Philosophy
Faculty: Desautels Faculty of Management
Year: Second Year
Expected Year of Graduation: 2028

Ella Durno

Ella Durno

Area of Study: Double Concentration in Strategic Management and Entrepreneurship, Minor in Psychology
Faculty: Desautels Faculty of Management
Year: Third Year
Expected Year of Graduation: 2028

Felicia D'Urso

Felicia D'Urso

Area of Study: Major in International Management, Concentration in Business Analytics, Minor in Political Science
Faculty: Desautels Faculty of Management
Year: Second Year
Expected Year of Graduation: 2028

Ekin Eldener

Ekin Eldener

Area of Study: Major in Psychology, Double Minor in Management and Behavioral Science
Faculty: Faculty of Arts
Year: Fourth Year
Expected Year of Graduation: 2026

Nina Engel

Nina Engel

Area of Study: Major in Economics, Minor in Management
Faculty: Faculty of Arts
Year: Third Year
Expected Year of Graduation: 2027

Lucas Paixao Franco

Lucas Paixao Franco

Area of Study: Major in International Management, Minor in Global Government, Conflict & Human Rights
Faculty: Desautels Faculty of Management
Year: Second Year
Expected Year of Graduation: 2028

Eleanor Galvez

Eleanor Galvez

Area of Study: Major in Political Science, Double Minor in Management and Communications
Faculty: Faculty of Arts
Year: Third Year
Expected Year of Graduation: 2027

Tehana Gaultier

Tehana Gaultier

Area of Study: Major in Strategic Management, Minor in Psychology
Faculty: Desautels Faculty of Management
Year: Fourth Year
Expected Year of Graduation: 2026

Omar Glaoui

Omar Glaoui

Area of Study: Double Major in Economics and Political Science
Faculty: Faculty of Arts
Year: Third Year
Expected Year of Graduation: 2027

Riley Havaj

Riley Havaj

Area of Study: Major in Finance, Minor in Urban Studies
Faculty: Desautels Faculty of Management
Year: Fourth Year
Expected Year of Graduation: 2026

Bella Hulbert

Bella Hulbert

Area of Study: Major in Economics, Double Minor in International Development Studies and Communications
Faculty: Faculty of Arts
Year: Second Year
Expected Year of Graduation: 2028

Favour Ehinome Inegbedion

Favour Ehinome Inegbedion

Area of Study: Major in Business Analytics, Concentration in Managing for Sustainability
Faculty: Desautels Faculty of Management
Year: Third Year
Expected Year of Graduation: 2027

Shoshana Iny

Shoshana Iny

Area of Study: Honours in International Development Studies, Double Minor in Religious Studies and Education
Faculty: Faculty of Arts
Year: Third Year
Expected Year of Graduation: 2027

Yutong Kang

Yutong Kang

Area of Study: Double Major in Economics and Managing for Sustainability, Minor in Russian Language
Faculty: Desautels Faculty of Management
Year: Third Year
Expected Year of Graduation: 2026

Zachary Karpiejuk

Zachary Karpiejuk

Area of Study: Major in Finance, Concentration in Accounting
Faculty: Desautels Faculty of Management
Year: Fourth Year
Expected Year of Graduation: 2026

Daria Khodabandehloo

Daria Khodabandehloo

Area of Study: Major in International Development Studies, Double Minor in Management and Hispanic Studies
Faculty: Faculty of Arts
Year: Fourth Year
Expected Year of Graduation: 2026

Selin Koksal

Selin Koksal

Area of Study: Major in Business Analytics, Concentration in Retail Management
Faculty: Desautels Faculty of Management
Year: Second Year
Expected Year of Graduation: 2028

Maria Konovalov

Maria Konovalov

Area of Study: Honors in Economics, Minor in Computer Science
Faculty: Faculty of Arts
Year: Fourth Year
Expected Year of Graduation: 2026

Louis L'ahelec

Louis L'ahelec

Area of Study: Major in Finance, Minor in Computer Science
Faculty: Desautels Faculty of Management
Year: Second Year
Expected Year of Graduation: 2028

Mikaël Lam-Lussier

Mikaël Lam-Lussier

Area of Study: Double Major in Political Science and International Development Studies
Faculty: Faculty of Arts
Year: Third Year
Expected Year of Graduation: 2026

Samantha Laskaris

Samantha Laskaris

Area of Study: Major in General Management, Concentration in Managing for Sustainability
Faculty: Desautels Faculty of Management
Year: Third Year
Expected Year of Graduation: 2026

Ryan Le

Ryan Le

Area of Study: Major in Finance, Double Minor in Computer Science and Statistics
Faculty: Desautels Faculty of Management
Year: Third Year
Expected Year of Graduation: 2027

Ahreum Lee

Ahreum Lee

Area of Study: Major in Computer Science and AI, Minor in Biotech
Faculty: Faculty of Science
Year: Fourth Year
Expected Year of Graduation: 2026

Rui Ying Liu

Rui Ying Liu

Area of Study: Major in Cognitive Science, Minor in Economics
Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Science
Year: Third Year
Expected Year of Graduation: 2026

Maya Madhvani

Maya Madhvani

Area of Study: Major in Psychology, Minor in Management
Faculty: Faculty of Arts
Year: Fourth Year
Expected Year of Graduation: 2026

Janine Mao

Janine Mao

Area of Study: Major in Finance, Minor in English
Faculty: Desautels Faculty of Management
Year: Second Year
Expected Year of Graduation: 2028

Ben Marks de Chabris

Ben Marks de Chabris

Area of Study: Major in Finance
Faculty: Desautels Faculty of Management
Year: Second Year
Expected Year of Graduation: 2028

Josef Maxant

Josef Maxant

Area of Study: Major in Finance, Minor in Computer Science
Faculty: Desautels Faculty of Management
Year: Third Year
Expected Year of Graduation: 2026

Mica Mellicovsky

Mica Mellicovsky

Area of Study: Major in Computer Science, Minor in Management
Faculty: Faculty of Science
Year: Fourth Year
Expected Year of Graduation: 2026

Idan Miller

Idan Miller

Area of Study: Double Major in Political Science and Economics
Faculty: Faculty of Arts
Year: Fourth Year
Expected Year of Graduation: 2026

Sidney Mountfort

Sidney Mountfort

Area of Study: Major in Finance
Faculty: Desautels Faculty of Management
Year: Second Year
Expected Year of Graduation: 2028

Allan Rooney Nounke

Allan Rooney Nounke

Area of Study: Major in Information Technology, Minor in Computer Science
Faculty: Desautels Faculty of Management
Year: Third Year
Expected Year of Graduation: 2026

Jane Orr

Jane Orr

Area of Study: Major in International Management
Faculty: Desautels Faculty of Management
Year: Second Year
Expected Year of Graduation: 2028

Krupa Patel

Krupa Patel

Area of Study: Major in Accounting, Concentration in Finance
Faculty: Desautels Faculty of Management
Year: Second Year
Expected Year of Graduation: 2027

Paul Prendergast

Paul Prendergast

Area of Study: Major in Finance, Minor in Political Science
Faculty: Desautels Faculty of Management
Year: Second Year
Expected Year of Graduation: 2027

Isabel Qin

Isabel Qin

Area of Study: Major in International Development Studies, Double Minor in Political Science and Communications
Faculty: Faculty of Arts
Year: Second Year
Expected Year of Graduation: 2028

Jovan Rohac

Jovan Rohac

Area of Study: Major in Economics, Minor in Management
Faculty: Faculty of Arts
Year: Third Year
Expected Year of Graduation: 2027

Isabelle Sas

Isabelle Sas

Area of Study: Major in Finance
Faculty: Desautels Faculty of Management
Year: Second Year
Expected Year of Graduation: 2027

Yukimi Sasaki

Yukimi Sasaki

Area of Study: Major in Accounting
Faculty: Desautels Faculty of Management
Year: Fourth Year
Expected Year of Graduation: 2026

Vidhi Sawlani

Vidhi Sawlani

Area of Study: Major in Economics, Minor in Mathematics
Faculty: Faculty of Arts
Year: Third Year
Expected Year of Graduation: 2026

Keana Scarfo

Keana Scarfo

Area of Study: Major in General Management, Concentration in Entrepreneurship
Faculty: Desautels Faculty of Management
Year: Second Year
Expected Year of Graduation: 2027

Abby Sconyers

Abby Sconyers

Area of Study: Major in Political Science, Double Minor in Communications and German
Faculty: Faculty of Arts
Year: Second Year
Expected Year of Graduation: 2028

Roman Sejnoha

Roman Sejnoha

Area of Study: Major in Computer Science, Minor in History
Faculty: Faculty of Arts
Year: Third Year
Expected Year of Graduation: 2028

Lily Shan

Lily Shan

Area of Study: Double Concentration in Finance and Business Analytics
Faculty: Desautels Faculty of Management
Year: Third Year
Expected Year of Graduation: 2026

Yuexiu Shen

Yuexiu Shen

Area of Study: Major in Economics, Double Minor in Statistics and Management
Faculty: Faculty of Arts
Year: Fourth Year
Expected Year of Graduation: 2026

Dorsa Shirani

Dorsa Shirani

Area of Study: Major in Computer Science, Minor in Management
Faculty: Faculty of Science
Year: Fourth Year
Expected Year of Graduation: 2027

Eva Sivilla

Eva Sivilla

Area of Study: Major in Finance, Minor in Philosophy
Faculty: Desautels Faculty of Management
Year: Second Year
Expected Year of Graduation: 2028

Ari Steinberg

Ari Steinberg

Area of Study: Double Concentration in Marketing and Entrepreneurship
Faculty: Faculty of Management
Year: Second Year
Expected Year of Graduation: 2028

Achyutha Surukanti

Achyutha Surukanti

Area of Study: Double Major in Psychology and Economics
Faculty: Faculty of Arts
Year: Third Year
Expected Year of Graduation: 2027

Nizar Taam

Nizar Taam

Area of Study: Major in Finance
Faculty: Desautels Faculty of Management
Year: Second Year
Expected Year of Graduation: 2027

Victor Thiffault

Victor Thiffault

Area of Study: Major in Economics, Minor in Management
Faculty: Faculty of Arts
Year: Third Year
Expected Year of Graduation: 2026

Édouard Thivierge

Édouard Thivierge

Area of Study: Major in Finance
Faculty: Desautels Faculty of Management
Year: Third Year
Expected Year of Graduation: 2026

Devona Lok Wa Trinh

Devona Lok Wa Trinh

Area of Study: Major in Finance, Minor in Psychology
Faculty: Desautels Faculty of Management
Year: Second Year
Expected Year of Graduation: 2027

Adelina Tsai

Adelina Tsai

Area of Study: Honours in Political Science, Minor in Social Entrepreneurship
Faculty: Faculty of Arts
Year: Third Year
Expected Year of Graduation: 2027

Meva Vigliotti

Meva Vigliotti

Area of Study: Major in Political Science, Double Minor in Economics and International Development Studies
Faculty: Faculty of Arts
Year: Fourth Year
Expected Year of Graduation: 2026

Antonia Vogt

Antonia Vogt

Area of Study: Major in Finance
Faculty: Desautels Faculty of Management
Year: Second Year
Expected Year of Graduation: 2028

Jennifer Wang

Jennifer Wang

Area of Study: Major in Marketing, Concentration in IT Management, Minor in Statistics
Faculty: Desautels Faculty of Management
Year: Third Year
Expected Year of Graduation: 2027

Danyang Wang

Danyang Wang

Area of Study: Major in Business Analytics, Minor in Statistics
Faculty: Desautels Faculty of Management
Year: Third Year
Expected Year of Graduation: 2027

Madeline Williams

Madeline Williams

Area of Study: Major in History, Double Minor in Management and Psychology
Faculty: Faculty of Arts
Year: Third Year
Expected Year of Graduation: 2027

Christine Wu

Christine Wu

Area of Study: Triple Concentration in Finance, Entrepreneurship, and Strategic Management
Faculty: Desautels Faculty of Management
Year: Third Year
Expected Year of Graduation: 2027

Justin Zabudsky

Justin Zabudsky

Area of Study: Major in Psychology, Minor in International Development Studies
Faculty: Faculty of Arts
Year: Fourth Year
Expected Year of Graduation: 2026

Avianna Zampardi

Avianna Zampardi

Yawen Zhang

Yawen Zhang

Area of Study: Double Concentration in Business Analytics and Finance
Faculty: Desautels Faculty of Management
Year: Third Year
Expected Year of Graduation: 2026


Research Projects

Lesson in Leadership from Indigenous Leaders - Based on 101 Interviews of Indigenous Leaders

This is a research project to help the world understand Indigenous Leadership and how it can teach the world some important lessons on how to lead in today's world of climate change, considerable uncertainty and turbulence, troubled communities and too narrow of a focus on self-interest. Karl along with Jennifer and earlier Wáhiakatste Diome-Deer did a regular column for Canada's national Newspaper, The Globe and Mail, entitled Indigenous Leaders. It was a full page devoted to one Indigenous Leader. The column was published from 2000-2023. Using this base of interviews, we will conduct an additional 42 interviews to make a total of 101.

Faculty Supervisor(s): Prof. Karl Moore (Strategy & Organization Area), Dr. Jennifer Robinson (Faculty of Medicine)

Fellow(s): Krupa Patel (BCom, Major in Accounting), Eleanor Galvez (BA, Major in Political Science)

Analysis in the Relationship Between Exams, Grades and Course Evaluations

This project aims to identify the relationship(s) between midterm or final grade exams and course evaluations in the Faculty of Management. There is a perception that "easier" exams result in higher end-of-term course evaluations for instructors, and we would like to see if this is actually the case. Other studies have looked at course grades in relation to course evaluations, but by focusing specifically on exam grades we hope to identify a more nuanced relationship. This research will both be turned into an academic paper for a journal of pedagogy in higher education and help inform pedagogical support and policies for the Faculty.

Faculty Supervisor(s): Prof. Genevieve Bassellier (Information Systems Area)

Fellow(s): Danyang Wang (BCom, Major in Business Analytics)

Food Waste in Grocery Supply Chains

This project aims to explore how grocery retailers in Montreal and Quebec are working to prevent and manage food waste. This project offers hands-on experience in understanding industry practices, analyzing innovative solutions, and contributing to a growing area of research with real-world impact.

Faculty Supervisor(s): Prof. Javad Nasiry (Operations Management Area)

Fellow(s): Julia Corriveau (BA, Double Major in Economics and International Development Studies)

Building Grit: An Unconventional Path Towards Entrepreneurship

This project will explore the role of resilience and perseverance towards the entrepreneurial journey, particularly through unconventional paths. Focusing on individuals who have faced significant setbacks or obstacles, the research will analyze how grit influences their ability to innovate, adapt, and succeed. By conducting interviews with entrepreneurs from different backgrounds and industries, the project aims to uncover insights on how overcoming adversity shapes business decisions and long-term success. The findings will contribute to a broader understanding of entrepreneurship, challenging traditional narratives and emphasizing the value of persistence, mindset and adaptability in the business world.

Faculty Supervisor(s): Prof. Aviva Aronovitch (Strategy & Organization Area)

Fellow(s): Shoshana Iny (BA, Honours in International Development Studies), Adelina Tsai (BA, Honours in Political Science)

Food Bank Operations in Quebec

The goal of this research is to study food insecurity and explore how food banks operate to alleviate this pressing issue. Students will gain hands-on experience by engaging directly with food bank organizations and investigating their operational challenges. By the end of the project, students will develop: i) A detailed understanding of the role food banks play in addressing food insecurity. ii) A report highlighting the operational pain points of food banks and recommendations for improvement. iii) Experience in field research, stakeholder engagement, and problem-solving within the context of social impact.

Faculty Supervisor(s): Prof. Javad Nasiry (Operations Management Area)

Fellow(s): Sophie Alzona (BA, Major in Political Science)

Transforming Local Food and Health Systems with Digital and Data-Driven Solutions

This research project seeks to empower local food and health systems by leveraging data streams and data platforms (e.g. SynthEco, curbcut.ca) to scale affordable, sustainable, and healthy diets. Collaborating with Canadian health institutions and food startups, the project addresses key barriers such as healthy food nudging, access to healthful retailers, etc. Through machine learning models, user behavior analysis, and evidence-based marketing interventions, this initiative aims to reduce food waste, enhance access to local and healthy foods, and promote sustainable consumption practices. The findings will contribute to academic publications, community workshops, and open-source tools to support broader agri-food system transformation in Canada.

Faculty Supervisor(s): Prof. Laurette Dubé (Marketing Area), Dr. Catherine Paquet (Faculty of Medicine), Dr. Raja Sengupta (Department of Geography)

Fellow(s): Lily Shan (BCom, Double Concentration in Finance and Business Analytics), Dorsa Shirani (BSc, Major in Computer Science)

Are V-Shaped Patterns in Stock Price Following Short-Selling Attacks Ipso Facto Evidence of Market Manipulation?

Activist short sellers have gained prominence for exposing overvalued or fraudulent companies, often leading to significant stock price declines after their reports are published. While their transparency and diligence enhance market integrity, critics accuse them of engaging in “short and distort” schemes, manipulating stock prices for profit. Central to this controversy is the phenomenon of “V-shaped recoveries,” where stock prices drop sharply following a short seller's report but rebound quickly thereafter. This project aims to provide empirical insights into the prevalence and drivers of “V-shaped recoveries.” Initial findings suggest that a substantial portion of attacks experience “V-shaped recoveries” measured in various windows.

The study will explore potential explanations for these recoveries. The Short and Distort Explanation suggests recoveries occur after misinformation is corrected, implicating manipulative tactics by short sellers. The Remediation Explanation attributes recoveries to target companies addressing issues highlighted in short sellers’ reports, such as management restructuring or operational improvements. For example, Luckin Coffee rebounded significantly after addressing fraud allegations with corrective actions. Other potential explanations include broader market trends or short sellers’ covering positions driving upward price pressure. The findings will contribute to understanding activist short sellers’ market impact, offering empirical evidence to inform debates on their regulatory scrutiny and ethical implications.

Faculty Supervisor(s): Prof. Wuyang Zhao (Accounting Area)

Fellow(s): Yuexiu Shen (BA, Major in Economics)

Impact of SEC Rule Change on Insider Stock Gifting

In 2022, the United States Securities and Exchange Commission released a final rule (SEC 34-96492) requiring, among other items, that insider gifts of stock be disclosed within two trading days of gift. Previously, the disclosure window extended to 45 days after year end. This project will investigate the impact of this change in disclosure, including any impact (e.g., reduction) in insider stock gifting as well as capital market responses (i.e., abnormal trading at disclosure) before and after implementation of this rule change. This project is a follow-up to a published academic project (Brown, J., Huston, G.R., and Wenzel, B. 2024. The gift that keeps on giving: stock returns around CEO stock gifts to family members. Review of Accounting Studies 29(2): 1904–1947. ). This project will support an academic paper leading to publication in a management research journal.

Faculty Supervisor(s): Prof. Brian Wenzel (Accounting Area)

Fellow(s): Zachary Karpiejuk (BCom, Major in Finance), Josef Maxant (BCom, Major in Finance)

Exclusivity in the North American Financial System: Evidence from the Lack of Halal Lending

This research project aims to address one issue––whether the North American system of interest-based lending systematically discriminates against the Muslim population––and one problem––whether halal forms of mortgage lending are viable (i.e., profitable) products for financial institutions in Canada and the United States. The project will investigate this by analyzing macro (e.g, data from Statistics Canada; data from the U.S. Census Bureau) and micro (e.g., bank-level financial reports) data. The outcome of this project will support a position paper (i.e., a non-governmental white paper) and separately an academic research manuscript for publication in a management journal.

Faculty Supervisor(s): Prof. Brian Wenzel (Accounting Area)

Fellow(s): Alaa Arafah (BCom, Double Concentration in Economics and Global Strategy), Omar Glaoui (BA, Double Major in Economics and Political Science), Nizar Taam (BCom, Major in Finance)

Understanding How Race and Family Background Affect Job Search

This mixed-method research project investigates how networking strategies contribute to inequality in labor market outcomes among university students. By collecting and analyzing quantitative and qualitative data, the Faculty Supervisors and Fellows will explore inter-group differences in networking behaviors and their impact on job search success. The Fellows will help recruit students from various backgrounds, including racialized job seekers, first-generation graduates, and students from privileged backgrounds, to identify systematic barriers. This work aims to advance our understanding of labor market inequality. The project will contribute to an academic paper and inform the assistance career services provided to students.

Faculty Supervisor(s): Prof. Jeraul Mackey (Organizational Behaviour Area), Prof. Elena Obukhova (Strategy & Organization Area)

Fellow(s): Felicia D'Urso (BCom, Major in International Management), Delice Betukumesu (BCL/JD Candidate)

Mine to Market: Mapping Critical Mineral Supply Chains

This project aims to map the global supply chains of key critical minerals, from mines to market. Students will identify key mines, processing hubs, and end-use industries reliant on these minerals such as lithium, cobalt, and rare earth elements, which are essential for technologies such as renewable energy and electric vehicles. Using publicly available data and mapping tools, the project will visually and analytically explore the supply chains' geographical and logistical complexities. The study will also examine vulnerabilities, such as geopolitical risks and supply chain bottlenecks, to support informed discussions on resource security and sovereignty.

Faculty Supervisor(s): Prof. Sanjith Gopalakrishnan (Operations Management Area)

Fellow(s): Paul Prendergast (BCom, Major in Finance)

Strategic Market Entry for Innovative Cancer Detection Technology

The DOvEEgene project, led by Dr. Lucy Gilbert at the 91 Health Centre, aims to revolutionize the early detection of ovarian and endometrial cancers—the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths for women in North America. With over 10,000 Canadian women diagnosed annually, this innovative test presents a transformative opportunity for early diagnosis, offering the potential to cure patients and, ultimately, save thousands of lives. The project’s ultimate goal is to make this test available to all eligible women as part of the standard services provided by the healthcare system, much like cervical cancer screenings and mammograms. However, the process of securing reimbursement for such a test through public healthcare can be lengthy. As a result, we are initially focusing on exploring alternative pathways to market entry, including options like private clinics, private insurers, and other potential revenue streams.

Faculty Supervisor(s): Dr. Lucy Gilbert (Department of Oncology)

Fellow(s): Simone Bellengier (BCom, Double Major in Strategic Management and International Business), Christine Wu (BCom, Triple Concentration in Finance, Entrepreneurship, and Strategic Management)

Optimizing Operations and Logistics for the Market Launch of an Innovative Cancer Detection Technology

The DOvEEgene project, led by Dr. Lucy Gilbert at the 91 Health Centre, aims to revolutionize early detection of ovarian and endometrial cancers—the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths for women in North America. With over 10,000 Canadian women diagnosed annually, this innovative test presents a transformative opportunity for early diagnosis, giving us a chance to cure the patient, potentially saving thousands of lives. This research project focuses on designing an efficient operations and logistics framework for the large-scale deployment of the DOvEEgene test as a Laboratory Developed Test (LTD). The study will explore supply chain optimization, distribution strategies, and healthcare system integration to ensure timely and cost-effective access to the test. Through data-driven modeling, stakeholder engagement, and process mapping, this research aims to identify bottlenecks, assess scalability challenges, and develop evidence-based recommendations for an effective rollout. The findings will contribute to academic literature on healthcare logistics and provide actionable insights for healthcare administrators, policymakers, and industry partners.

Faculty Supervisor(s): Dr. Lucy Gilbert (Department of Oncology)

Fellow(s): Benjamin Marks de Chabris (BCom, Major in Finance)

The Diversity-Innovation Paradox in Academic Hiring

This mixed-method research project examines how innovation contributes to inequality in academic labor markets. Using quantitative data, the Faculty Supervisor and Fellows will investigate racialized differences in the novel contributions made by PhD recipients in their dissertations and the impact of these contributions on hiring. Fellows will assist in analyzing academic texts (i.e., dissertation abstracts) and hiring records to identify systematic barriers. This work aims to advance our understanding of why racialized individuals are underrepresented in academic positions. The project will contribute to the development of an academic paper.

Faculty Supervisor(s): Prof. Jeraul Mackey (Organizational Behaviour Area)

Fellow(s): Janine Mao (BCom, Major in Finance)

Governance Models for Value Transformation Offices

This project focuses on defining and establishing governance models for Value Transformation Offices (VTOs) that support Value-Based Healthcare organizations. The VTO serves as the backbone infrastructure to drive value transformation, that is, care that aligns with patient goals while reducing healthcare costs. The goal is to design a governance model tailored to the unique needs of the organization, ensuring it can effectively support the implementation of value-based care strategies. Fellows will contribute to key activities such as conducting literature reviews, performing an environmental scan, and conducting key stakeholder interviews, as needed. The work may result in the development of a proposal that builds a case for a comprehensive governance model within the context of the organization’s existing structures.

Faculty Supervisor(s): Ms. Jennifer Gutberg (Embedded Scientist), Justin Gagnon (Embedded Scientist), Dr. Sabine Dhir (Strategy and Organization Area), Ani Galstyan (Assistant Director of CIUSSS West-Central Montreal), Erin Cook (Associate CEO of CIUSSS West-Central Montreal)

Fellow(s): Avianna Zampardi (BA, Major in Political Science)

Activity-Based Costing for a Cardiac Integrated Practice Unit

This project focuses on the development of an Integrated Practice Unit (IPU) for patients with coronary artery disease. An IPU refers to a healthcare structure which organizes care around specific medical conditions or patient populations. The primary goal is to improve care coordination across the entire care trajectory, including hospital care, rehabilitation, discharge, long-term care, and primary care. By utilizing activity-based costing, the project will assess the value of care provided to this patient population, with a focus on optimizing care integration and trajectories to reduce costs and improve patient outcomes. The Fellow(s) will assist in analyzing data and conducting economic assessments to identify process inefficiencies and calculate the return on investment for improvements in care. Ultimately, the project aims to establish a more efficient, patient-centered care model that delivers better outcomes at a lower cost.

Faculty Supervisor(s): Ms. Jennifer Gutberg (Embedded Scientist), Justin Gagnon (Embedded Scientist), Dr. Maxime Cohen (Operations Management Area), Ani Galstyan (Assistant Director of CIUSSS West-Central Montreal), Erin Cook (Associate CEO of CIUSSS West-Central Montreal)

Fellow(s): Maria Konovalov (BA, Honours in Economics)

Implementing a Geriatric Emergency Department

This project focuses on the establishment of a novel Geriatric Emergency Department (GED) as part of the CIUSSS Centre Ouest integrated care network. The GED aims to alleviate pressures on the existing hospital emergency department, while providing specialized care tailored to the unique needs of older adults. The GED will focus on optimizing the environment, services, and staffing skills necessary to deliver high-quality care to this vulnerable patient population. Initial work will focus on reviewing existing literature and benchmarking key performance indicators to guide the successful implementation of the GED. Fellows will support this process by analyzing best practices, identifying gaps in the current system, and proposing strategies for the integration of geriatric-specific care in the emergency department setting.

Faculty Supervisor(s): Ms. Jennifer Gutberg (Embedded Scientist), Justin Gagnon (Embedded Scientist), Dr. Lawrence Rosenberg (Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences), Ani Galstyan (Assistant Director of CIUSSS West-Central Montreal), Erin Cook (Associate CEO of CIUSSS West-Central Montreal)

Fellow(s): Achyutha Surukanti (BA, Double Major in Economics and Psychology)

Funded to Last? The Durability of Governance Intervention’s Social Impact. Evidence from a Randomized Program in Healthcare in the Democratic Republic of Congo

What are the organizational-level factors that drive the durability of the impact of externally funded interventions to improve the well-being of the local communities in low- and middle-income countries? Our research project uses a mixed-method approach, utilizing fine-grained quantitative data related to health facilities in the program and interviews with health workers to understand the role and durability of the effects of managerial practices like prosocial incentives, audit and feedback in increasing the performance of health centers. We use detailed microdata from a randomized governance program in the DRC's healthcare sector. This project will provide an opportunity to develop a wide range of students' skills at different levels. Students will be immersed in the study of Africa, taught new empirical techniques, and directed in the rigorous process of theoretical development.

Faculty Supervisor(s): Prof. Anicet Arsene Fangwa Nantcho (Strategy & Organization Area)

Fellow(s): Hannah Byrne (BA, Honours in International Development Studies)

Baby Box - Improving Maternal and Infant Care One Box at a Time

The research project aims at designing a baby box that will contain all the first necessities for a mother and a newborn child from its first four months in rural Canada and Sub-Saharan Africa. These regions are affected by a scarcity of healthcare services and inhabitants usually do not go to healthcare providers unless they are in dire need. We want the care to go to them via the box and occasionally via home visits. We want to design a product, a business model and a value chain integrating several stakeholders to help improve maternal and infant care in these regions to foster the attainment of the SDG#3.

Faculty Supervisor(s): Prof. Anicet Arsene Fangwa Nantcho (Strategy & Organization Area)

Fellow(s): Delaney Cahill (BA, Major in Economics)

Founders' Diversity and Start-up Fund Raising Performance

Founder diversity has been a core theme in the tech ecosystem, it is a complex and challenging issue that highlights the inequality that many face. McKinsey Consulting stated that: "more access to funding for underrepresented start-up founders can unlock massive investment and innovation opportunities. These founders are not just underrepresented—they are underestimated". This leads us to investigate the performance effects of founders’ diversity on the start-up ability to secure funds from venture capitalists. We take advantage of the CrunchBase dataset () and founders' LinkedIn profiles to investigate how ethnically, educationally and gender diverse founding teams do compare to less diverse ones in their ability to raise capital.

Faculty Supervisor(s): Prof. Anicet Arsene Fangwa Nantcho (Strategy & Organization Area)

Fellow(s): Allan Rooney Nounke (BCom, Major in Information Technology)

Gen AI and the Future of Work: Understanding Moral and Emotional Ambivalence towards Gen AI Use at Work

To understand how people whose work is particularly affected by Gen AI express moral and emotional ambivalence and how these expressions change over time, we will collect discussions from public online communities whose participants are AI developers, architects, professors, and therapists (on reddit: r/MachineLearning, r/Architects, r/Professors, r/Therapists). We will analyze content from these four online communities with qualitative analyses and computational techniques (topic labelling, process modeling) to identify the topics associated with moral and emotional ambivalence and to trace how these topics evolve over time. Findings from this module will enable us to identify patterns indicating moral and emotional ambivalence in content produced by people whose work is affected by Gen AI and to contrast these patterns across occupations and over time. This will help us conceptualize how people articulate their moral and emotional ambivalence regarding Gen AI as the technology appears and evolves.

Faculty Supervisor(s): Prof. Emma Vaast (Information Systems Area)

Fellow(s): Idan Miller (BA, Double Major in Political Science and Economics), Mikaël Lam-Lussier (BA, Double Major in Political Science and International Development Studies)

Introverts/Ambiverts/Extroverts in the C Suite

Our book, We Are Ambiverts Now: Introverts/Ambiverts/Extroverts in the C Suite will be published in April or May 2025 by Taylor & Francis. A considerable effort will be made in the Fall and Winter 2026 to obtain media coverage of the ideas in the book. In previous years the research has been discussed in The Economist (twice), The Financial Times, the Globe and Mail, Scientific American, The Atlantic, etc..

Faculty Supervisor(s): Prof. Karl Moore (Strategy & Organization Area)

Fellow(s): Ekin Eldener (BA, Major in Psychology), Ari Steinberg (BCom, Double Concentration in Entrepreneurship and Marketing)

Data Analysis of International Entrepreneurship Rankings

This research project has two components: 1) Analyzing the methodology behind international rankings and awards to understand the global ecosystem, current positioning of 91's Dobson Centre for Entrepreneurship, and derive key insights into competitive advantages and opportunity areas for 91. 2) Diagnosing 91's Dobson Centre database of start-ups to summarize trends, diversity, growth and inform future international submissions. The Faculty Supervisor and the Fellows will work to landscape the international entrepreneurship scene, identify current trends, inform best practices, and critically assess the current position of the Dobson Centre. The students will work together to produce a final report for future international submissions of the centre. Students will work with the interdisciplinary Dobson team and have the opportunity to learn about our programs and shadow start-ups when appropriate.

Faculty Supervisor(s): Prof. Marie-Josée Lamothe (Marketing Area)

Fellow(s): Natalia Absar (BA, Major in Global Contexts)

Data Analysis of New Sustainability and Life Sciences Programs at the Dobson

This research project has two components: 1) Analyzing the methodology behind international rankings and awards to understand the global ecosystem in both sustainability and life sciences, current positioning of 91's Dobson Centre for Entrepreneurship in those two fields and derive key insights into competitive advantages and opportunity areas for 91. 2) Diagnosing 91's Dobson Centre new offerings in sustainability and life sciences while summarizing trends, diversity, and growth regarding current and past start-ups in database. The Faculty Supervisor and the Fellows will work to critically assess the new offerings of the Dobson in sustainability (Fall) and life sciences (Winter) at the dawn of renewal from funding partners. Together, they will landscape the international entrepreneurship scene, identify current trends, inform best practices, and future improvements for the programs based on key performance indicators. The students will work together to produce a final report for future international submissions of the centre. Students will work with the interdisciplinary Dobson team and have the opportunity to learn about our programs and shadow start-ups when appropriate.

Faculty Supervisor(s): Prof. Marie-Josée Lamothe (Marketing Area)

Fellow(s): Orlane Thérèse Mahugnon Donkpegan (BA, Honours in International Development Studies)

Impact Investing: Models and Strategies from Plural Sector Organizations

Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) from developing countries pursue increased sustainability as suppliers in global value chains. However, they encounter major financing barriers to implement sustainable strategies. Impact investors with social and environmental investment goals target investing in firms engaging in sustainable production in developing countries. This project explores the strategies of impact investors from the plural sector. We will examine the impact investing models and strategies that not-for-profit organizations use to support the sustainability strategies of SMEs in value chains.

Faculty Supervisor(s): Prof. Paola Perez-Aleman (Strategy & Organization Area)

Fellow(s): Tehana Gaultier (BCom, Major in Strategic Management)

Innovative Approaches to Entrepreneurship Pedagogy

This project will research current practices and approaches to entrepreneurship pedagogy at the graduate and undergraduate level. This will involve benchmarking against leading programs, identifying particularly innovative courses, and brainstorming new entrepreneurship and innovation offerings. The ultimate goal will be additions and revisions to 91's entrepreneurship and innovation course offerings.

Faculty Supervisor(s): Prof. Niels Billou (Strategy & Organization Area), Prof. Robert Nason (Strategy & Organization Area)

Fellow(s): Justin Zabudsky (BA, Major in Psychology), Sofia Belayachi (BA, Major in English Cultural Studies)

The DataSphereLab - Helping Advance Data, Analytics and AI in the Industry and Academia

Picking up from the first phase in the IMSF 2022-23 cohort, in this exploratory project, we will look at researching, measuring, and defining how to develop an Analytics community for Desautels, 91, Montreal and Canada. This project will have 3 parts: The 1st being a strategic measurement in developing an ‘Analytics Community CRM’ for those who want to develop their technical acumen over their careers. The 2nd is to quantify community members' progression in their careers, and the 3rd is developing Life-Long-Learning strategies for learning & growth streams. Students will work on elements of the project that complement their strengths and interests and should think about this as Phase 1-2 of a multi-staged project.

Faculty Supervisor(s): Prof. Shoeb Hosain (Operations Management Area)

Fellow(s): Rui Ying Liu (BA/Sc, Major in Cognitive Science), Mica Mellicovsky (BSc, Major in Computer Science)

Inclusive Curriculum & Pedagogy Assessment at Desautels

This project will conduct research into inclusive curriculum and pedagogical practices within courses at Desautels. This project will focus on the evaluation and assessment of current practices within the Desautels Faculty of Management and will put forward a proposal for improvement. The fellow will analyze data coming both from instructors and from students, aiming to get a clearer picture of the state of equity, diversity, and inclusion in pedagogy and curriculum at Desautels. This project will contribute to our larger Desautels EDI Strategy and Action Plan.

Faculty Supervisor(s): Prof. Tatiana Lamoureux-Gauvin (Organizational Behaviour Area), Karrie-Noelle Plohman (Associate Director EDI)

Fellow(s): Louis L'ahelec (BCom, Major in Finance)

Why Do Firms Go Public? An Analysis of US Private Firms

One of the most important decisions a firm faces is if and when it should go public. From a broader macroeconomic perspective, IPOs enable the flow of capital to productive firms. However, given the lack of data on private firms, we know little how this works in North America. In this project we will use regulatory data to analyze the determinants and implications of firms' IPO decisions.

Faculty Supervisor(s): Prof. Gregory Weitzner (Finance Area)

Fellow(s): Oliver Abrams (BCom, Double Major in Business Analytics and Finance)

Intra-firm Politics in Corporate Acquisitions

Corporate investment has been recognized to be a political process in which divisional managers compete for higher allocations. While acknowledging acquisitions as one of the major corporate investment decisions, extant work has, surprisingly, neglected the effect of divisional managers’ interests on firms’ acquisition decisions. I try to develop a divisional lens through which to look at and explain corporate acquisitions.

Faculty Supervisor(s): Prof. Ghahhar Zavosh (Strategy & Organization Area)

Fellow(s): Camille Condé (BCom, Double Concentration in Business Analytics and Marketing), Isabelle Sas (BCom, Major in Finance), Yawen Zhang (BCom, Double Concentration in Business Analytics and Finance), Riley Havaj (BCom, Major in Finance)

Understanding Employment in Startups

This project explores various aspects of employment in startups. This may include understanding why people come to work in startups, why they leave, how these processes create, maintain or reduce inequality, and how work itself evolves within these fledgling organizations. The primary work would involve analyzing and coding data from over 200 interviews with employees, employers and startup experts. This work will contribute to academic papers that will increase knowledge about working in startups.

Faculty Supervisor(s): Prof. Lisa Cohen (Organizational Behaviour Area)

Fellow(s): Selin Koksal (BCom, Major in Business Analytics)

How to Slow Down Game of Business for Higher Performance

A colleague at the Darden Business School and I are writing a book. How to slow down game of business for higher performance. We have learned from great athletes and senior executives a fascinating paradox that you have to slow things down in order to handle a sped-up world. We use a sporting analogy to help us understand business. We have developed a model called the “GATES Model to High Performance” that gives practical steps for slowing your game down, whether you are a professional athlete, a young leader or a senior executive facing a new role in your organization. In the description of each step, we will include a sports example, a business scenario and then some key questions to consider. As a leader or manager, if you are able to follow each of the steps below, you should be able to speed up the slowing-down-the-game process for higher performance.

Faculty Supervisor(s): Karl Moore (Strategy & Organization Area)

Fellow(s): Keana Scarfo (BCom, Major in General Management), Ryan Barhoum (BCom, Major in Finance), Édouard Thivierge (BCom, Major in Finance), Eva Sivilla (BCom, Major in Finance), Maya Madhvani (BA, Major in Psychology)

Contract Completeness of Company Bylaws and Entrepreneurial Success

There are two firms of legal status available to newly created firms in France: SARL (a "rigid" status that entrepreneurs cannot change) and SAS (a "flexible" status that entrepreneurs can customize). We study a 2009 reform that made it easier for entrepreneurs to use the flexible status. Our question is: is it a good thing to offer flexibility to entrepreneurs? Do entrepreneurs take advantage of this flexibility to make their firms grow more, or do they make mistakes when defining their legal status? This project will contribute to an academic paper that will shed light on the real effects of firm legal status, and on the financial literacy of entrepreneurs.

Faculty Supervisor(s): Prof. Paul Beaumont (Finance Area)

Fellow(s): Jovan Rohac (BA, Major in Economics)

Global Retail Trends

The fellow student will work closely with Professor Marie-Josée Lamothe to research the latest trends and data available regarding the State of Retail on a global stage. This research will be shared in BCom and MMR courses and used by startups at the Dobson Center to help them build their business plan and go-to-market strategies.

Faculty Supervisor(s): Prof. Marie Josée Lamothe (Marketing Area)

Fellow(s): Bruna Battaglia (BCom, Major in Economics), Antonia Vogt (BCom, Major in Finance)

Tokenization of Real Assets

Digital ledger technologies, including blockchain, offer significant value in enhancing record-keeping and commitment through “smart contracts”. These contracts facilitate innovative designs for financing and the tokenization of real assets. This research project is an applied theory project. It will endeavor to answer the following set of questions: what are the optimal financial contracts in this technological environment (especially when it comes to preserving privacy and facilitating financial inclusion)? What are the associated technological standards and possibilities? Should the regulation focus more on claims on technological features rather than regulation of the financial contracting aspects only?

Faculty Supervisor(s): Prof. Katrin Tinn (Finance Area)

Fellow(s): Ryan Le (BCom, Major in Finance)

Sustainability Academic Network (SusanHub.com): Building a Sustainability Social Network

In this project, we want students with an interest in sustainability and AI/Analytics to help us build a Sustainability Analytics Hub: The Data Mangrove (data-mangrove.com). Through this project, the students will collaborate with professionals and master-level students in software engineering, sustainability and AI/Analytics, in the creation of a world-leading analytics hub that will be nested at 91. The goal of the hub is to bring together sustainability organizations and NGOs and researchers in data analytics.

Faculty Supervisor(s): Prof. Juan Serpa (Operations Management Area)

Fellow(s): Meva Vigliotti (BA, Major in Political Science)

Coordinating Healthcare and Access in Quebec

This fellowship is part of an ongoing multi-year research project ( research) that uses diverse qualitative and quantitative approaches to exploring and explicating key coordination challenges in the Quebec healthcare system, and translating these challenges into policies for system-wide change. Ongoing studies include but are not limited to how hospitals digitalize data and practices, how technologies like AI are developed and used by hospitals, how such organizations navigate disruption, and how official Quebec ministry of health public data serves to inform (or inadvertently obscure) key challenges in the system.

Faculty Supervisor(s): Prof. Samer Faraj (Strategy & Organization Area)

Fellow(s): Yutong Kang (BA, Major in Economics), Samantha Laskaris (BCom, Major in General Management), Ahreum Lee (BSc, Major in Computer Science and AI)

Resilience and Impact of Social Enterprises

Social enterprises aspire to achieve financial sustainability while creating positive social impact. Despite the growing interest in the phenomenon of social entrepreneurship, many social enterprises struggle to survive in the competitive marketplace and have been exposed to various shocks and disturbances (e.g., economic recession, COVID-19 pandemic). The Fellows will participate in an ongoing field study of social enterprises that have been facing significant financial and other forms of challenges. Through an in-depth study of organizations that have ceased to exist, as well as those that continue to operate and thrive, the project aims to offer insights into building resilient and impactful social enterprises.

Faculty Supervisor(s): Prof. Anna Kim (Strategy & Organization Area)

Fellow(s): Daria Khodabandehloo (BA, Major in International Development Studies)

Building Sustainable Indigenous Enterprises

Indigenous enterprises, often deeply rooted in community values and distinct ways of relating to nature, have the potential to contribute to the sustainable development of Indigenous communities and the broader societies in which they are embedded. At the same time, Indigenous entrepreneurs face the intense challenge of navigating between different worldviews and practices with limited resources and inadequate support. The Fellows will participate in a field study of Indigenous enterprises in the Kanien’kéha:ka (Mohawk) territories of Kahnawake and Kanesatake (close to Montreal), as well as their collaborations with Indigenous and non-Indigenous stakeholders across local and global scales (e.g., inter-American Indigenous partnerships). By investigating how Indigenous enterprises survive and thrive under adversity while producing outcomes for sustainable development, the project aims to offer insights into building sustainable Indigenous enterprises.

Faculty Supervisor(s): Prof. Anna Kim (Strategy & Organization Area)

Fellow(s): Andrew Baumann (BA, Honours in International Development Studies), Lucas Paixao Franco (BCom, Major in International Management)

Climate Change Impacts on Health and Health Systems

Climate change has adverse effects not only on the planet, but on human health and well being as well. Increased floods, droughts, heat waves and disruptions in agriculture, water and sanitation have far reaching implications on quality of life, longevity and long-term mental health. Communities in precarious or vulnerable environments are especially at risk. The Fellows will contribute to better understanding the human health implications of the changing climate by investigating better, more climate resilient and environmentally sustainable health systems, and assessing health vulnerabilities and developing health plans.

Faculty Supervisor(s): Prof. Sabine Dhir (Strategy & Organization Area)

Fellow(s): Madeline Williams (BA, Major in History), Abby Sconyers (BA, Major in Political Science), Lucca Boutin (BSc, Major in Biochemistry), Ronardy Abellard (BEng, Major in Material Engineering)

When and How Does Researchers’ Open-Access Innovation Influence Authority?

Extant research has demonstrated mixed findings between open science and authority, including a positive relationship (Safadi et al., 2021), a negative relationship (Safadi et al., 2021), and no significant relationship (O’Mahony & Karp, 2022). Open-access innovation refers to a collaborative approach to sharing innovation where ideas, research, technologies, and data are made accessible to the public freely (Zhan et al., 2014; Boundreau & Lakhani, 2009). Such results are insufficient in explaining how and when the relationship changes from negative to positive in the long term. From a social embeddedness perspective, I will utilize a mixed-method study in the Faculty of Medicine in Montreal. In my pilot study, I collected coauthors’ network data from 8693 published papers and interviewed 14 dental researchers. My study could expand research on social embeddedness by explaining the dynamic processes of the double-edged sword of open-access innovation on authority. In my future network study, I plan to collect more data from coauthors’ network data in about 20 in-progress papers and more interviews.

Faculty Supervisor(s): Prof. Roman Galperin (Organizational Behaviour Area)

Fellow(s): Bella Hulbert (BA, Major in Economics)

Which researchers benefit from open access? A mixed-method study

Open-access refers to a collaborative approach to sharing innovation where ideas, research, technologies, and data are made accessible to the public freely. Existing research offers mixed predictions on which researchers benefit from a shift to open access. This study will examine how open access shapes the between researchers’ productivity and their prominence. To answer these questions, we will collect and analyze interview and publication data from researchers in the Faculty of Medicine at 91. This work with contribute to an academic paper that helps to better understand the effect of open access on researchers’ productivity.

Faculty Supervisor(s): Prof. Elena Obukhova (Strategy & Organization Area)

Fellow(s): Emma Coonfer (BCom, Major in Finance)

Investigating Sustainability Opportunities for the Retail Innovation Lab

This project will investigate potential avenues to make the Retail Innovation Lab (i.e., RIL; Couche-Tard in Bronfman Building ground floor) sustainable. The IMSF fellow will accomplish this by researching other retailer sustainability initiatives (both successful and unsuccessful) as well as working alongside management at the RIL itself. Output will include a document highlighting sustainability opportunities in the RIL alongside details on how to implement sustainability, as well as hands-on transformation of the RIL itself.

Faculty Supervisor(s): Prof. Brian Wenzel (Accounting Area)

Fellow(s): Favour Ehinome Inegbedion (BCom, Major in Business Analytics)

Workarounds as Strategy: Unlocking Innovation from the Ground Up

This research project will examine the role of workarounds in shaping emergent strategy within a hospital-based research institute undergoing a multi-year strategic plan. Specifically, it will investigate when workarounds function as effective forms of innovation and bottom-up strategy, contributing to organizational adaptability. Fellows will conduct interviews and surveys with research staff to identify common workarounds, analyze their impact on institutional goals, and assess whether they align with or challenge the formal strategic plan. They will also review relevant literature on emergent strategy and innovation in healthcare research settings. As part of their analysis, students will develop a strategy map to visualize how workarounds influence organizational priorities and decision-making processes. Throughout the year, they will synthesize findings into case studies, culminating in a report with recommendations on how organizations can harness workarounds as strategic assets. The project will provide hands-on experience in qualitative research methods, strategic mapping, and institutional analysis within a real-world setting.

Faculty Supervisor(s): Prof. Sabine Dhir (Strategy & Organization Area)

Fellow(s): Ella Durno (BCom, Double Concentration in Strategic Management and Entrepreneurship), Vidhi Sawlani (BA, Major in Economics)


Impact Initiatives

Student Partnership for Immigrant Entrepreneurs (SPIE)

Gender EqualitySDG iconTeam Members: Louis L’ahelec, Mikaël Lam-Lussier, Lucas Paixao Franco, Yukimi Sasaki, Ari Steinberg
Impact Initiative Goal: Breaking down barriers that immigrant entrepreneurs face.

Immigrant entrepreneurs face more challenges than their Canadian-born counterparts, from language barriers to cultural differences, and more. Team Student Partnership for Immigrant Entrepreneurs (SPIE) tackles this issue by partnering with immigrant-owned small-businesses to pinpoint their most pressing challenges and then matches them with CEGEP students who have the corresponding expertise. By doing this, SPIE’s goal is to reduce the productivity gap among immigrant entrepreneurs while giving CEGEP students real-world work experience.

MonTran

Gender EqualityIndustry, Innovation, and InfrastructureTeam Members: Kinson Chiu, Zachary Karpiejuk, Devona Lok Wa Trinh, Paul Prendergast, Victor Thiffault
Impact Initiative Goal: Advocating for reliable transportation in underserved areas.

Team MonTran has observed the long commute times that residents of Saint-Léonard, Montreal Nord, and Anjou face, and how they are consistently challenged with frequency and reliability issues. To address this, the team has done analysis on the variability of buses, surveyed residents that rely on public transportation, and conducted research on feasible solutions to support the reliability of public transportation for residents in the area. Their work is building towards a policy paper to advocate for potential solutions, including an express bus lane.

HeyDoc

Good Health and Well-being Team Members: Ronardy Abellard, Ella Durno, Shoshana Iny, Idan Miller, Jovan Rohac
Impact Initiative Goal: Helping individuals’ navigate the Quebec healthcare system.

Team HeyDoc observed that individuals often turn to the ER for non-emergency health concerns simply because they lack clear information surrounding care options best suited to their needs. To help residents receive quality and timely care, HeyDoc has developed an online navigational tool that allows users to filter for providers based on their insurance coverage, geographical location, and health care concerns. Through this, the team hopes to build residents’ confidence in navigating Quebec’s healthcare system while relieving some burden from ERs.

DzԲԱ𳦳é

Good Health and Well-being Team Members: Achyutha Surukanti, Adelina Tsai, Orlane Donkpêgan Dopinos, Rui Ying Liu, Sofia Belayachi
Impact Initiative Goal: Fighting senior loneliness and social isolation by forming deep connections.

Team DzԲԱ𳦳é found that seniors are a particularly vulnerable group when it comes to loneliness and social isolation. To reduce the rates of this issue on Montreal’s senior population, DzԲԱ𳦳é has partnered with organizations that provide events for seniors and is developing a volunteer program to facilitate deep connections between seniors and university-aged students.

Project Purple Brick Road

SDG iconTeam Members: Delaney Cahill, Roberto Concepcion, Sidney Mountfort, Krupa Patel, Isabel Qin
Impact Initiative Goal: Increasing students’ knowledge and navigation of sexual violence resources.

Project Purple Brick Road (PPBR) is on a mission to support sexual violence survivors by educating the student body about sexual violence resources. To do this, the team is collaborating with 91’s sexual violence offices and student groups to deliver trainings. In doing so, PPBR aims to increase awareness and visibility of support services so survivors can access appropriate offices and feel safe, affirmed, and supported.

ConnectMTL

Sustainable Cities and Communities Team Members: Roman Corsetti, Nina Engel, Mica Mellicovsky, Jane Orr, Édouard Thivierge
Impact Initiative Goal: Advocating for transit-oriented developments in Montreal.

Team ConnectMTL seeks to capitalize on the untapped potential of civic engagement to push for more effective and inclusive transit-oriented development (TOD) in Montreal. To do so, the team has designed an accessible toolkit that educates Montreal residents, particularly youth, on TOD and how they can participate in shaping the developments being built around the city’s expanding transit network.

91 Plastic Reduction Initiative (MPRI)

Sustainable Consumption and Production    Team Members: Ryan Barhoum, Omar Glaoui, Josef Maxant, Danyang Wang, Justin Zabudsky
Impact Initiative Goal: Supporting 91 in their transition to zero-waste.

The 91 Plastic Reduction Initiative (MPRI) seeks to support 91's zero-waste transition by reducing single-use plastic consumption across 91's campus. The team is doing this by targeting everyday consumption behaviors. MPRI has conducted multiple surveys about on-campus consumption behaviors and is seeking to raise awareness on reusable cups and the discounts many vendors on campus already offer for bringing your own cup.

Structured Opportunities for Advancing Reading Success (SOARS)

SDG iconTeam Members: Oliver Abrams, Simone Bellengier, Riley Havaj, Selin Koksal, Avianna Zampardi
Impact Initiative Goal: Increasing elementary school aged students’ literacy and joy of reading.

Team Structured Opportunities for Advancing Reading Success (SOARS) aims to improve literacy among Grade 1-4 students across North America by building their motivation and joy of reading. To do this, SOARS has created videos of role models, such as firefighters, that show students the real-world utility of reading. These videos, accompanied by worksheets, provide a flexible, non-prescriptive tool that complements rather than replaces existing literacy curriculum. SOARS is also developing an implementation and video creation guide to invite more teachers and schools to generate their own videos to add to a common library, thereby increasing the pool of available resources for all.

Bâtir L’Avenir

SDG iconTeam Members: Andrew Baumann, Lucca Boutin, Hannah Byrne, Daria Khodabandehloo, Abby Sconyers
Impact Initiative Goal: Providing home-based daycare providers with early childhood education activities.

Home-based daycare providers play a vital role in Quebec's Early Childhood Education (ECE) ecosystem, but they often navigate heavy workloads and fragmented support with limited infrastructure behind them. To help bridge this gap, Bâtir l'Avenir created developmentally appropriate and engaging activity kits for home-based daycares, thereby reducing planning workload for providers while improving equitable ECE access in Quebec. Seeing the success of these kits in two different home-based daycares, the team aims to build more kits and spread this method among providers.

Projet AURORE

Sustainable Cities and Communities Affordable and Clean Energy Team Members: Sophie Alzona, Camille Condé, Julia Corriveau, Yutong Kang, Ahreum Lee
Impact Initiative Goal: Supporting green technology adoption and implementation in Quebec.

Projet AURORE recognized that community organizations were often left behind in the green energy transition due to a lack of resources. This has been leaving the vital services provided by community organizations particularly vulnerable to challenges associated with Quebec's energy grid, such as power outages. In an effort to remediate that gap and to contribute to the broader goal of alleviating pressure on Quebec's energy grid, Project AURORE devised a three-point solution. Their solution combines advocacy, personalized optimization strategies for community organizations and finding grants and other funding opportunities so that community organizations can implement retrofit technologies.

FoundHER Quebec

Gender EqualityTeam Members: Emma Coonfer, Janine Mao, Roman Sejnoha, Antonia Vogt
Impact Initiative Goal: Supporting women entrepreneurs in Montreal.

Team FoundHER Quebec seeks to support women entrepreneurs in Montreal who already have an established venture and are looking to accelerate or further develop their product, business model, or strategic direction. To do this, the team is creating a centralized website that directs users to an interactive map of Montreal’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. By consolidating this information into one accessible platform, FoundHER Quebec wants to make it easier for women entrepreneurs to discover opportunities that can help them grow their ventures.

CtrlAltThink

SDG iconTeam Members: Samantha Laskaris, Isabelle Sas, Vidhi Sawlani, Tehana Tapare-Gaultier, Madeline Williams
Impact Initiative Goal: Equipping high school students to engage critically with generative artificial intelligence.

Generative artificial intelligence (AI) use is on the rise, and without proper guidance, the use of this tool can negatively impact critical thinking. In this context, high school students are especially vulnerable, yet teachers do not have clear guidelines, time, or resources to address this challenge. Team CtrlAltThink created an AI literacy tool to bridge this gap and help guide students to use generative AI while targeting critical thinking.

Agora

SDG iconSDG iconTeam Members: Alaa Arafah, Ekin Eldener, Nizar Taam, Meva Vigliotti, Yawen Zhang
Impact Initiative Goal: Helping 91 students navigate academic resources.

Team Agora aims to improve the accessibility of institutional support systems in universities to facilitate undergraduates' first year adaptation and academic success. The team created agorahub.ca, a centralized online platform grouping the different services and resources available to undergraduate students at 91, making it easy to find support. The platform organizes resources across faculties and university units using filters based on student needs, cohorts, and type of service, and provides key information about each service.

CRUNch

SDG Climate Action 13SDG iconTeam Members: Ben Marks de Chabris, Ryan Le, Allan Rooney Nounke, Jennifer Wang, Chrstine Wu
Impact Initiative Goal: Improving the environmental sustainability of marathons.

Marathons are a great way to promote physical health, mental health, and community. However, they have an overlooked impact on the health of our planet through the waste they generate. Team cRUNch wants to improve the environmental sustainability of marathons, by targeting the waste generated by medals that end up in landfills. Their solution lies in the creation of edible medals with customized lanyards, providing the commemorative element and self-accomplishment feeling runners want without generating the waste of a traditional medal.

Apertura

Gender EqualitySDG iconTeam Members: Delice Betukumesu, Noa Druker, Felicia D’Urso, Eleanor Galvez, and Eva Sivilla
Impact Initiative Goal: Creating pathways for underrepresented filmmakers to reach audiences.

Representation in films and television has real-world consequences. Stereotypes of marginalized communities can increase bias and diverse stories are often overshadowed due to complex mechanisms in the film distribution and production industry. Team Apertura is working on increasing visibility for film and TV media that represent marginalized communities by helping creators form strategic partnerships to increase audience reach and media distribution.

FinLi

SDG iconSDG No Poverty 1Team Members: Lily Shan, Yuexiu Shen, Dorsa Shirani, Favour Ehinome Inegbedion, Maria Konovalov
Impact Initiative Goal: Destigmatizing personal finance struggles.

Financial stress is associated with serious health consequences and carries significant stigma, making it challenging to seek help. Within this context, team FinLi strives to increase undergraduate students' financial literacy skills. Their solution consists of peer-based discussion sessions that include exchanges, activities, and challenges, all around the topic of personal finance in a safe and private environment.

ElevateHER

Gender EqualityTeam Members: Natalia Absar, Keana Scarfo, Maya Madhvani, Bella Hulbert, Bruna Battaglia
Impact Initiative Goal: Keeping girls in sports.

Due to the many benefits of engaging in team sports, Team ElevateHER is working to keep girls in sports by strengthening the environments that support their participation. Their approach includes arranging guest speaker sessions in high schools so that young women in sports can share their experiences with students. In addition, ElevateHER is organizing a community day to bring together stakeholders in Montreal who are working to keep girls in sports. ElevateHER aims to increase the visibility of role models and reinforce sport as a space where girls feel they belong and want to stay.

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