Tuesday, January 7, 2025

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• Co-op students make a big impact at Shopify
• Participants needed for lazy eye study
• Sign up for the staff and faculty functional strength and fitness program

Co-op students make a big impact at Shopify

By Darren McAlmont. This is an excerpt of an article originally appearing on Waterloo News.

In the current age of technological disruption, Waterloo students are striving to understand the needs of the business world and tackle the biggest challenges they face. Leveraging the University’s world-class co-op program, students gain valuable experience working at one of more than 8,000 employers connected to Waterloo. 

At Shopify, the leading global commerce company, Waterloo students are solving problems behind the scenes to make the merchant experience stress-free for millions of retailers on the platform. From developing infrastructural efficiencies and designing new features to enhance the merchant experience, co-op students also create internal tools for data analysis and workflow enhancements.  

Simply put, Waterloo co-op students’ work covers a broad spectrum of possibilities and innovations.  

Recently, four Waterloo alumni shared their experience transitioning from co-op students to developers, engineers and mentors, and the role they now play in mentoring the next generation of talent.  

Moving projects forward 

“Waterloo co-op students significantly contribute to our teams at Shopify. Their enthusiasm for learning and applying new skills helps propel our projects forward, adding fresh perspectives and vitality,” says Graham Cooper (BCS ’18), staff production engineer. 

“A memorable project that comes to mind involved a significant overhaul of our Redis caching infrastructure, undertaken by a Waterloo co-op student. This student developed a sophisticated system to dynamically manage configuration and network settings, which greatly improved our infrastructure’s efficiency and flexibility. Projects like these demonstrate the critical role co-op students play in our continual push for better systems and solutions,” he adds.

Left to right: Graham Cooper (BCS ’18), staff production engineer, and Selena Latchman (BSC ’20), a senior developer at Shopify.

Selena Latchman (BSC ’20), a senior developer, appreciates the range of skills and expertise Waterloo students bring to their work at Shopify. “Students work on various platforms for web and mobile with various technologies like Ruby on Rails, GraphQL and React. They also work with various end users like merchants, buyers, and app developers.” 

"Having been on both sides (as a co-op student and now working at Shopify full-time for almost five years), I can truly testify to the value Waterloo’s co-op program offers for students and employers," she says.

Read the full article on Waterloo News

Participants needed for lazy eye study

A message from the Centre for Eye and Vision Research (CEVR).

The Centre for Eye and Vision Research (CEVR) is seeking individuals with lazy eye (amblyopia) aged 18 - 39 for research studies. CEVR researchers are working on a study to Investigate whether long-term wear of corrective glasses can improve visual function in adults with amblyopia (lazy eye).

Participants will have 8 visits at the School of Optometry & Vision Science, University of Waterloo (Approximately one visit per month), and will be compensated CAD 20/hr for participating in onsite visits.

Participant requirements are as follows:

• Individuals with lazy eye (amblyopia) age 18-39 (inclusive)
• Wear study glasses (>5 hours/day)
• Each visit typically last around 2-3 hours 
• Able to attend 8 Visits at the School of Optometry & Vision Science, University of Waterloo. (approx. One visit per month)

If you fit the requirements and are interested in participating, please register.

For more information, please contact us via email at research@cevr.hk. Please input “SPECTRA Waterloo” in the subject so we can better direct your query to the appropriate team.

This study is conducted at CEVR have been reviewed and received ethics clearance through the University of Waterloo Research Ethics Board.

Sign up for the staff and faculty functional strength and fitness program

Just in time for your new year's resolution, faculty and staff members are invited to sign up for the functional strength and fitness program offered by the Centre for Community, Clinical and Applied Research Excellence (CCARE).

"This program is an excellent choice for individuals of all fitness levels, whether you're new to exercise, looking to revitalize your routine, or aiming to build on your existing foundation," says a note from CCARE. "It offers a comprehensive introduction to functional resistance training exercises, with a focus on adapting them to your current fitness level and progressing safely. Led by experienced fitness professionals, this class is designed to support your journey toward improved physical health and well-being. No matter where you are on your fitness path, this program provides the knowledge and guidance you need to succeed."

Check out the program information on the CCARE website.