Opportunities for Students and Postdoctoral Fellows

 

Masters and doctoral thesis projects are available in environmental and occupational epidemiology as well as in clinical medicine.  Many of these may be supportable through fellowships.  Masters-level thesis projects usually entail a statistical analysis of an existing database whereas doctoral-level projects require the development of an original research question, the identification of a study population, development of methods, possibly a data collection component, and the statistical analysis. Students are provided with appropriate computer, statistical, and other support to complete the projects in a timely fashion.

Click to see the PDF file on this page describing responsibilities and expectations of myself and students.

Current potential projects include:

 

Masters-level projects:

1)                  The short-term effects of changes in weather on mortality and hospitalization.

2)                  The identification of subgroups susceptible to the short-term effects of urban air pollution. This study has been funded by the Health Effects Institute, Boston, Health Canada, and CIHR.

3)                  Longitudinal study of the health effects associated with exposure to urban air pollution. This is a database study and there are both epidemiologic and biostatistical projects available.  This is a CIHR-funded study.

4)                  The determination as to whether ambient air pollution and social decrements increase the risk of developing childhood leukemia and adult cancers.  The study is based on existing case-control studies in Montreal and a new environmental survey of traffic-related pollutants.  This is a new study that was submitted for funding in March 2003.

5)                  Analysis of two case-control studies of breast cancer (one conducted in Montreal and the other in Buffalo, NY) to determine whether certain aspects of lifestyle, reproductive, and occupational factors are associated with increased risk of postmenopausal and premenopausal breast cancer.  These studies have been funded by the National Cancer Institute of Canada and the U.S. National Institutes of Health.

6)                  Determination of waiting time in Quebec for treatment for certain types of cancers.  The original study on breast cancer was funded by the National Cancer Institute of Canada and we are extending the analysis to other cancers.

7)                  A cohort study of arm dysfunction and lymphedema after treatment for stage I or II breast cancer.   This is a new study that was submitted for funding in March 2003. 

8)                  Evaluation of the development of a clinical informatics system at the MUHC.  This study has been funded by Canadian Foundation for Innovation and the Valorisation de recherche de Quebec.

 

Doctoral-level projects:

1)                  Longitudinal study of the health effects associated with exposure to urban air pollution.  This is a database study and there are both epidemiologic and biostatistical projects available.   This is a CIHR-funded study.

2)                  Panel studies of the effects of urban air pollution on i) in congestive heart failure (daily diary study), ii) reduced heart rate variability among persons with chronic ischemic heart disease and dysrhythmias, and iii) ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation among individuals with implanted cardioverter defibrillators.  These studies have both environmental, clinical, and biostatistical components and all require data collection.

3)                  A large case-control study of prostate cancer and environmental determinants.  This collaborative study was funded by the National Cancer Institute of Canada (principal investigator: Marie-Élise Parent, INRS-Institut Armand-Frappier).  Data collection is starting and there are numerous sub-projects available.

4)                  The determination as to whether ambient air pollution and social decrements increase the risk of developing childhood leukemia and adult cancers.  The study is based on existing case-control studies and a new environmental survey in Montreal of traffic-related pollutants.  This is a new study that was submitted for funding in March 2003. 

5)                  A study of gene-environment interactions in breast cancer.  This is a new study that was submitted for funding in March 2003. 

6)                  A cohort study of arm dysfunction and lymphedema after treatment for stage I or II breast cancer.   This is a new study that was submitted for funding in March 2003.

7)                  Evaluation of the development of a clinical informatics system at the MUHC. This study has been funded by Canadian Foundation for Innovation and the Valorisation de recherche de Quebec.

 

 

Postdoctoral-level projects

1)                  Various analyses and development of protocols in breast cancer and in air pollution research, including:

a.       A large case-control study of prostate cancer and environmental determinants.  This collaborative study was funded by the National Cancer Institute of Canada (principal investigator: Marie-Élise Parent, INRS-Institut Armand-Frappier).  Data collection is starting and there are numerous sub-projects available.  A postdoctoral fellowship is available.

b.      A study of gene-environment interactions in breast cancer.  This is a new study that was submitted for funding in March 2003. 

c.       The determination as to whether ambient air pollution and social decrements increase the risk of developing childhood leukemia and adult cancers. 

d.      Longitudinal study of the health effects associated with exposure to urban air pollution.

e.       Panel studies of the effects of urban air pollution on i) in congestive heart failure (daily diary study), ii) reduced heart rate variability among persons with chronic ischemic heart disease and dysrhythmias, and iii) ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation among individuals with implanted cardioverter defibrillators.