2026 Ward Summer Research Student - Tom Chau (ON, Toronto)

Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital; Toronto; On-site; CAD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading pediatric research hospital in Toronto seeks undergraduate students for a Summer Research position. This temporary full-time role involves assisting with innovative projects related to disability technologies. Students will receive mentorship and have opportunities for hands-on experience in research, including participant recruitment, data collection, and collaborating on technology solutions. Compensation is competitive at $17.60/hr for a 12-week program from May 4, 2026, to July 24, 2026.

Qualifications

• Currently enrolled in an undergraduate engineering degree program.
• Minimum cumulative GPA of 85% or over required.
• Working knowledge of at least one programming language.

Responsibilities

• Assist with participant recruitment and data collection.
• Conduct custom signal analysis and data visualization.
• Collaborate with graduate students and research staff.

Skills

Programming languages (e.g., Python)

Signal processing

Machine learning

Effective communication

Data management

Education

Undergraduate engineering degree program

Job description

Status: Temporary Full Time (1.00 FTE)

Compensation: $17.60/hr

Start Date: May 4, 2026

End Date: July 24, 2026

Lab: PRISM Lab

Supervisor: Dr. Tom Chau

Program: Bloorview Research Institute

Join us in building a world of possibility for children with neurodevelopmental differences and disabilities!

Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital is Canada’s largest pediatric rehabilitation hospital and is fully affiliated with the University of Toronto. It has ranked amongst Canada’s top 40 research hospitals for more than a decade. Holland Bloorview has won numerous awards including Greater Toronto's Top Employers, Canada's Top Employers for Young People and Canada's Most Admired Corporate Cultures. We offer an inspiring, inclusive, innovative, and collaborative work environment with competitive compensation and benefit packages and programs that support ongoing learning and professional growth.

The Bloorview Research Institute (BRI), embedded within the hospital, is the only university-affiliated research institute in Canada dedicated to pediatric disability, and one of very few around the world. BRI’s vision is to be a global leader in transformative, equity-driven research dedicated to enabling personalized versions of a good life across the lifespan, for all individuals with childhood onset disabilities, acquired injuries and developmental differences, their families and communities.

Description

The Ward Summer Student Research program provides an opportunity to experience a unique interdisciplinary mentorship experience. Successful incumbents will have opportunities to work with their mentor on a research project, attend our Lunch 'n' Learns and participate in the annual Ward Summer Student Research Day where they will have an opportunity to present their findings to the organization and its visitors.

The student will be a member of the PRISM lab - a multidisciplinary team of research staff, graduate and undergraduate students and post-doctoral fellows, focused on the development and evaluation of innovative access technologies for children and youth with disabilities and special needs.

Qualified undergraduate summer students will contribute to one of the following research projects:

• Transformers for inclusive communication: deep learning approaches to sign language generation
• Interbrain synchronization during shared recreational robotic control via an electroencephalographic-based multiuser brain-computer interface
• CLEAN-EEG: Benchmarking and validation of deep learning architectures for artifact removal in EEG signals
• Exploratory research on AI-Based communication tools and user-interface design
• Neurophysiological biomarkers and effects of robotic assisted mobility training in children with motor impairments

Depending on the project, the student will have the opportunity to:

• Develop and evaluate technology solutions (e.g., brain-computer interfaces, deep learning pipelines, powered exoskeletons)
• Assist with technology prototyping (e.g., adapting algorithms, circuit layouts, 3D printing)
• Help with participant recruitment, data collection, and data analysis
• Interact with research participants
• Gain experience with empirical data acquisition
• Apply signal processing and machine learning techniques
• Contribute to journal articles as a co-author

Compensation Details

The program runs for 12 weeks from May 4, 2026– July 24, 2026. Students will be paid $17.60 per hour based on a 37.5 hour week (full-time), less statutory deductions, including 4% in lieu of vacation and relevant statutory holiday pay. Students will be paid biweekly through payroll.

Key Responsibilities

• Assist with participant recruitment and data collection and data management, where appropriate
• Conduct custom signal analysis (e.g., connectivity analyses), statical testing (e.g., permutation testing), data visualization
• Develop code for data/signal/image analysis, adapt deep learning pipelines
• Apply standard signal processing and machine learning techniques to analyze empirical data
• Collaborate with graduate students, research staff and other undergraduate students
• Develop a poster presentation and contribute to manuscript writing, where appropriate
• Additional duties assigned as required

Qualifications

• Currently enrolled in an undergraduate engineering degree program (Preferred)
• Minimum cumulative GPA of 85% or over (Required)
• Working knowledge of at least one programming language (e.g., Python)
• Signal processing and/or machine learning experience would be an asset
• Effective communication skills
• Experience working with children and adolescents would be an asset
• Demonstrated understanding of family engagement in research
• Ability to collaborate as a member of a multidisciplinary team
• Adherence to deadlines
• Knowledge of data management skills and principles

Application

Please submit the following in one (1) pdf file in the order indicated below:

• A copy of your most recent curriculum vitae (CV)
• A copy of your most recent unofficial university transcript
• A list of three referees (recent professors, previous employers) who may be contacted to provide a letter of recommendation in the event you are shortlisted for the position. Please include the full name of referee, title/position, name of institution, institutional email address and phone number

Any applications missing this information will not be accepted.