Research

Hamid Tizhoosh was looking for a new idea, a fresh start, when he began talking to doctors about how they do their jobs and how they might do them better.

Hamid Tizhoosh
Professor, Faculty of Engineering
> KIMIA Lab
> Waterloo.ai

David Jao
Professor, Faculty of Mathematics
> Chief Cryptographer, EvolutionQ Inc.
> Waterloo Cybersecurity and Privacy Institute

The COVID-19 pandemic hobbled economies around the world, but Waterloo spinoff companies such as evolutionQ are working to secure Canada’s recovery.

Amelia Holcomb was working at one of the biggest tech firms in the United States after graduating from Yale University when she started to grow restless. “I found myself asking why I was doing what I was doing. If I succeed … how does that change the world?” 

Never before have our lives been so fraught with life-and-death questions. The COVID-19 pandemic has left leaders and citizens asking: Will lockdowns work? Can schools be opened? When can we visit our loved ones? 

Chris Bauch 
Professor, Faculty of Mathematics 
> Waterloo.AI

While distanced self-reflection is an ancient technique, the new study provides evidence-based insight into how this method fosters wisdom in daily life. 

A group of researchers from the University of Waterloo have determined that providing meaningful work and outlining it in a job posting can help employers develop a competitive advantage because students and young people in general tend to become more interested in the role.

Detailed postings are especially beneficial for organizations that are still developing brand recognition or working with a smaller budget.

In a study of seven long-term care facilities in New Brunswick, clinical information systems that tracked changes in residents’ status through the lockdowns were found to be crucial in helping homes make decisions over resource deployment.

In a new study of six viral disinfection treatments on two commonly used types of disposable gloves worn for personal protection throughout the pandemic, researchers at the University of Waterloo found that alcohol, UV and heat treatment could be acceptable disinfection methods that allow the reuse of gloves up to 20 cycles.

Researchers at Waterloo Engineering have taken another step forward in their open-source COVID-19 project with the release of new datasets and artificial intelligence (AI) models that were built using them.

Launched in March, the initiative involves the use of deep-learning AI software to screen chest x-rays and CT scans for evidence of infection and degree of disease progression.