UNB Research

Around the world, researchers across all fields and disciplines continue to work on addressing the challenges, issues and implications of the 2019 novel coronavirus pandemic. Here at UNB, our own research community is part of that global movement.

Last year, we introduced you to 13 new, funded COVID-19 research projects and their teams; now, with a full year of pandemic life behind us, we’re checking in to see what they’re working on and what they’ve accomplished.

1. Dr. Anna Ignaszak (Chemistry, Fredericton), researching the creation of a portable sensor for coronavirus detection;
2. Dr. Shawn MacLellan (Biology, Fredericton), Dr. Michael Duffy (Biology, Fredericton) and Dr. Aurora Nedelcu (Biology, Fredericton), developing large scale, low-cost COVID-19 antigen production methods for wide-scale community testing initiatives;
3. Dr. Hadi Eslami (Business, Saint John) and Dr. Mercy Oyet (Business, Saint John), researching public health communications strategy during pandemics, using NB’s COVID-19 response as a case study;
4. Dr. Erik Scheme (Electrical and Computer Engineering, Fredericton), Dr. Scott Bateman (Computer Science, Fredericton) and PhD candidate Aaron Tabor, researching the use of consumer technology to support breathing exercise games in remote post-respiratory infection recovery;
5. Dr. David Busolo (Nursing, Moncton), Dr. Jason Hickey (Nursing, Fredericton), Dr. Petrea Taylor (Nursing, Moncton), Renee Gordon (Nursing, Moncton) and Alisha Keough (Nursing, Fredericton), in partnership with Under One Sky Friendship Centre, researching the innovative use of video conferencing tools for clinical nursing education;
6. Dr. Gobinda Saha (Mechanical Engineering & Nanocomposites and Mechanics Laboratory, Fredericton), researching the use of nanocomposite materials to protect against viruses like the 2019 novel coronavirus;
7. Dr. Sandra Magalhaes (Sociology and NB Institute for Research, Data and Training, Fredericton), researching COVID-19 risk indicators to support community planning and recovery efforts and better inform possible responses in NB;
8. Dr. Matt Rogers (Education, Fredericton) and Dr. Casey Burkholder (Education, Fredericton), researching the response to changes in New Brunswick’s education system during and after the pandemic;
9. Dr. Shelley Doucet (Nursing and Health Sciences, Saint John) and Dr. Kerrie Luck (Centre for Research in Integrated Care postdoctoral fellow, Saint John), exploring the experiences of disruption and adaptations to routines, roles, habits, and occupations of Individuals with chronic disease during the pandemic;
10. Dr. Felipe Chibante (Chemical Engineering, Fredericton), researching the use of nano-coatings to kill airborne pathogens;
11. Dr. Rob Moir (Business, Saint John), researching the use, challenges, and benefits of computers to facilitate remote learning in marginalized communities, building on a device access project by Mr. Dan Doiron (Business, Saint John);
12. Dr. Herb Emery (Economics, Fredericton and NB-IRDT), Dr. Philip Leonard (NB-IRDT and Economics, Fredericton), Dr. Ted McDonald (NB-IRDT and Economics, Fredericton) and Dr. Sandra Magalhaes (NB-IRDT and Sociology, Fredericton), researching the economics of post-COVID-19 New Brunswick;
13. Dr. Lloyd Waugh (Civil Engineering, Fredericton) with Cody Bradley (Bradley Engineering), researching the use of virtual reality and 3D modelling to minimize the spread of viruses on construction sites.

Want to know more, or get in touch with a researcher? Contact the Office of Research Services’ Marketing and Communications Officer today.