Undergraduate research

Are you an undergraduate student eager to explore how technology and data science can unlock new insights into human emotion? The Affective Data Science Lab (ADSL) at Ontario Tech University offers exciting opportunities for motivated students to participate in innovative research at the intersection of computer science, psychology, and data science.

We are currently recruiting students for summer research projects, but we also offer opportunities to conduct research during the academic year (fall/winter). While summer projects are preferred for their dedicated time and flexibility, students with a strong interest in fall or winter research are welcome to apply.

Why Join the ADSL?

By joining the ADSL, you’ll gain valuable experience working on real-world research projects. Here’s what you can expect:

• Work on Real-World Projects: Whether you’re developing cutting-edge software tools, analyzing large datasets, or designing experiments, you’ll engage in research that makes meaningful contributions to academic knowledge and industry applications.
• Develop Your Skills: You’ll enhance your technical skills in programming, machine learning, and statistical analysis while building a portfolio that sets you apart in the job market or for graduate studies. Our lab emphasizes the use of industry-standard tools and practices such as Git, PyPI, and automated testing.
• Collaborate with Experts: You’ll work closely with experienced faculty, graduate students, and fellow undergraduates, benefiting from mentorship and guidance throughout your research journey.
• Prepare for Graduate Studies or Industry: Whether you’re considering graduate studies or aiming for a career in industry, participating in ADSL research will give you a competitive edge. You’ll gain hands-on experience, sharpen your problem-solving and critical thinking skills, and develop project management abilities that will serve you in any career path.

Success stories

Two undergraduate summer research students from the Affective Data Science Lab (ADSL) successfully transitioned into MSc programs, showcasing the lab’s impact on early research careers. Over the summer, these students worked on developing research tools for psychological studies; emgflow and PyFAME. Their hands-on experience with cutting-edge research, combined with strong mentorship from ADSL faculty, gave them the skills and confidence to pursue graduate studies. Their transition into MSc programs reflects both their individual dedication and the supportive environment provided by ADSL, which helps undergraduate students advance in academia and industry.

Research Themes

At ADSL, you’ll have the chance to dive into a variety of exciting research areas:

• Software Development: Develop innovative tools that aid psychologists, clinicians, and researchers in studying emotional expression and its real-world applications.
• Data Science and Machine Learning: Analyze large-scale datasets to explore how emotions are expressed through facial expressions, voice, and body language. Your work may involve creating new machine learning models or improving existing ones to gain deeper insights into emotional patterns.
• Emotion Theory and Disorders: Investigate how emotions function in healthy individuals and those with emotional or neurodegenerative disorders. Projects may involve experimental design, statistical modeling, or complex data analysis.

Eligibility

We welcome applications from undergraduate students in Computer Science, Data Science, Psychology, or related fields who are:

• Enthusiastic about learning and conducting research.
• Interested in topics such as emotion recognition, data science, machine learning, and software development.
• Committed to dedicating time and effort to a research project, especially over the summer.

How to Apply

1. Contact Us: If you’re interested in joining ADSL, send an email with your resume, unofficial transcripts, and a brief statement about your research interests.
2. Explore Your Interests: Review our research themes to find areas that align with your skills and goals.
3. Meet with Us: After reviewing your application, we’ll schedule a meeting to discuss potential research projects and how you can contribute to the lab.

What to Expect

• Guidance and Mentorship: Throughout your research journey, you’ll receive support from faculty and experienced graduate students.
• Flexible Commitment: You can engage in part-time research during the academic year (fall/winter) or commit to a full-time summer project. While summer projects offer more dedicated time, we also accommodate students interested in research during the academic semester.
• Thesis Option: If you’re a senior student, your research could contribute to your honours thesis in Computer Science or a related field.

Join us at the Affective Data Science Lab and be part of exciting research that makes a difference! We look forward to welcoming enthusiastic and curious undergraduates ready to shape the future of emotion research.