" We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children " - Native American Proverb
Academic & Professional Background[edit | edit source]
Currently at the University of Western Ontario (Canada) pursuing a dual degree in chemical engineering (BESc) and honors business administration (HBA) at Ivey Business School. Academic involvements have been instrumental in developing a strong understanding of sustainable technologies.This was further enriched by enrollement in the 'Convert or Conserve Energy Engineering' at the Technical University of Crete, emphasizing global energy technologies and sustainable policies.
Professionally, working as a Sustainability & Impact Coordinator at Goparity Canada, the role involves supporting operations, marketing, and technological development, with a keen focus on impact measurement and reporting on projects aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This included building relationships within the energy and environmental sectors, and assisting with risk and financial analysis.
In 2018, founded Champions of Change Canada, which marked a significant step in advocating for gender equality and reinforcing a commitment to sustainability and social justice. The non-profit organization, centered around youth empowerment, managed and successfully executed over 50 projects spanning areas such as STEM, sustainability, intersectionality, and fundraising. This endeavor demonstrated robust leadership and governance skills, notably in the orchestration of diverse project teams. The organization's growth was marked by the establishment of global partnerships and the recruitment of a dedicated volunteer team exceeding 150 members. A key component of the initiative involved mentoring and coaching young individuals, enabling them to spearhead and lead various projects, thereby fostering a new generation of leaders committed to these vital societal issues.
Furthermore at Pillar Nonprofit Network, as the Social Six Program Lead, responsibilities encompassed coaching youth in developing UN-SDG-focused project frameworks, particularly in environmental sustainability, clean transportation, and energy production. This role required program design, facilitation, partnership coordination, and strategic leadership, impacting over 500 youths and securing significant program funding.
Research Interest[edit | edit source]
- Additive Manufacturing
- Sustainability & Recycled Textile Development
- Innovations in Solar Energy Storage Systems
- Sustainability in Corporate Financial Reporting
- Impact Elasticity in Investing
- Youth Involvement in Sustainable Policy Development
- Blockchain Applications in the Circular Economy
- AI and Smart Contracts for Impact Measurement
Projects[edit | edit source]
Optimizing HVAC efficiency with IOT application[edit | edit source]
This project represents a significant step forward in residential HVAC system efficiency, leveraging the power of IoT technology to address the prevalent issue of uneven temperature distribution in homes. Traditional HVAC systems often struggle to maintain a uniform temperature across different rooms, leading to overuse and energy inefficiency. By integrating a network of IoT sensors, this initiative aims to gather precise temperature data from various parts of a house. The data is then used to intelligently adjust the HVAC system, ensuring that each room maintains the desired temperature. This not only improves the overall comfort of the home but also contributes to substantial energy savings and environmental sustainability.
The Next EcoNode; Making impact journeys transparent and verifiable[edit | edit source]
A blockchain-based impact tracking tool that hosts self-reported impact data which has been submitted by social purpose organizations, to facilitate more transparency and verifiability in the social finance ecosystem.
Won the ETHToronto hackathon for developing a blockchain-based impact tracking tool that facilitates more transparency and verifiability in the social finance ecosystem.
Commercializing DNA aptamer biosensors for lactate detection in emergency sepsis diagnosis[edit | edit source]
These single-stranded oligonucleotide probes can twist into tertiary structures and non-covalently bind in high affinity with their target molecule (proteins, peptides, carbohydrates etc…). With that, different fluorophores can be attached to facilitate the detection of multiple targets within one sample. These are synthesized through a process known as the systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX). During SELEX, an initial pool of random oligonucleotide fragments is exposed to the target molecule. Those that remain unbound are washed away, while sequences with high affinity for the target are amplified and later screened. Unlike prior detection technologies, such as enzymes, DNA aptamers require no prosthetic groups to bind their substrates. Though DNA aptamers are highly versatile, our application of interest prioritizes the detection of lactate–specifically in emergency rooms for sepsis diagnosis. Lactate is a conjugate base of lactic acid and is the byproduct of fermentation during carbohydrate breakdown in a deoxygenated environment (like in the muscle cells during intense exercise). Lactate can also be catalyzed by lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) into pyruvate and NAD+ after fermentation. However, under abnormal conditions–such as during sepsis–lactate is present at unnaturally high levels. Sepsis is the body’s extreme response to infection and as part of its inflammatory response, endogenous epinephrine stimulates beta-2-receptors in muscle cells. We examine the use of DNA aptamers under time-critical emergency visits to identify sepsis as quickly as possible–which could potentially make the difference between life and death.
- Commercializing DNA Aptamer Biosensors for Lactate Detection in Emergency Sepsis Diagnosis
- https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/anie.202212879