This research project, “Sensor-Free Machine Learning for Physiological Correction of Brain Functional Imaging: A Lifespan Pilot Study,” investigates how machine learning can be used to improve the reliability of functional MRI (fMRI) data without relying on external physiological sensors. The project uses open-access Human Connectome Project lifespan datasets (children, young adults, and older adults) to develop and evaluate models that estimate respiratory and heart-rate variation directly from brain imaging data. The work contributes to advances in neuroimaging methodology and supports the development of accessible, reproducible biomedical data science tools.
The Research Assistant will work under the supervision of Dr. Abdoljalil Addeh in the Department of Mathematics and Computing, Faculty of Science and Technology .
This is a flexible, part-time research position, requiring approximately 4–6 hours per week, with scheduling arranged to accommodate the student’s academic commitments. The position is grant-funded and will run from May 1, 2026 to December 30, 2026.
The role is well suited for one or two undergraduate students with an interest in data science, machine learning, biomedical imaging, or applied artificial intelligence in health research.
Responsibilities
- Assist with data preprocessing and analysis of large neuroimaging datasets
- Support development and evaluation of machine learning models in Python
- Help generate figures, summaries, and documentation of results
- Contribute to research dissemination activities (e.g., student research day, conference materials)
- Follow best practices in reproducible research and open science
Qualifications
- Enrollment in an undergraduate program at Mount Royal University (e.g., Data Science, Computer Science, Mathematics, Engineering, or related field)
- Experience with Python programming (NumPy, Pandas, or similar)
- Interest in machine learning and data analysis
- Ability to work independently and meet research deadlines
- Previous coursework or experience in data science or scientific computing is an asset (but not required)
Salary: $21.23 - $26.81 per hour (commensurate with experience and MRU RA pay guidelines)
Closing Date: March 15, 2026
A resume (and optional cover letter) should be submitted in one .pdf formatted document. Please title your .pdf document as follows: [Last Name], [Requisition Number], [RA-IRGF].pdf (ex. Coordinator, 9999, RA-IRGF.pdf).
For questions about the position, please contact Dr. Abdoljalil Addeh, Department of Mathematics and Computing, Faculty of Science and Technology via email: jaddeh@mtroyal.ca .