CROSH graduate student members are enrolled in a variety of programs, like Human Kinetics, Interdisciplinary Health, Nursing, Indigenous Relations, Engineering Science, Rural and Northern Health, Human Studies and Interdisciplinarity, Biomolecular Science, Materials Science, and more! You can learn how you can become a CROSH graduate student member here and about all of Laurentian University’s graduate programs here.


Thesis: A Multiphase Retrospective Investigation of Early Life Outdoor Experiences on the Life Course of Outdoor Practitioners: Using a Life Course and Significant Life Experience Framework
Supervisor: Dr. Stephen Ritchie
Thesis Description: The focus of my research aims to strengthen the connections between human factors and HCI design of medical device interfaces and how their relationship possesses the power to influence how safely and comfortably a medical device can be interacted with. Exploring the current mental models nurse users refer to when interacting with familiar and novel medical devices can give important insight into how future, optimally designed user interfaces should be delineated and specifically what design factors should be taken into account. It is the aim of my research to further explore how the human factors ergonomics aspects of medical device user interface design, advances to user safety, efficiency, and general enjoyment of interacting with these devices are affected. An additional layer of complexity exists when considering healthcare workers situated in Northern Ontario areas who experience additional barriers and burdens in healthcare environments that permeate into the medical device design space.

Thesis: “Could Sector-Related Shortages and Closures During COVID-19 Have Been Avoided? A Regional Scoping Review of COVID-19 in Ontario.”
Supervisor: Dr. Nancy Lightfoot
Description: I am examining digital news stories covering elite hockey athletes who are also mothers to examine what narratives are present in the mediation surrounding them, how these narratives influence their identity formation, and the psychosocial and cultural implications of such narratives. The sport media is a powerful tool in influencing our own and others perception of elite athletes, which has implications for their psychological wellbeing, as well as influences the cultural landscape of sports. Understanding how certain media narratives can be positive or negative to the psychological wellbeing of athlete mothers and the culture of sports can assist us in fostering a more supportive and inclusive hockey culture, which is a highly popular sport not only in Northern Ontario, but throughout North America.

Thesis: The prominence of Canadian miners suffering from lung disease. My focus will be to study the elevated exposure to respirable dust, inadequate ventilation systems and inefficient use of personal protective respirators, in order to be able to mitigate lung diseases in Canadian miners.
Supervisor: Dr. Alison Godwin

Thesis Description: For my doctoral thesis, I am examining mental and physical health-related factors that could influence a return-to-work. The results of this research could be used to help inform the creation of an assessment that can predict a workers readiness for a successful return-to-work. Results from this study will also be used to assist with informing future health and wellness intervention strategies in the Northern Ontario mining industry.
Supervisor: Dr.Sandra Dorman
Thesis Description: The northern region is more reliant on public sector employment (including health care and public services (police, fire)), with other important economic bases coming from forestry and mining. Obesity and mental health are relevant problems in these workplaces, which include context-specific examination of contributors to health or safety issues. Compared with those of average body weight, persons with obesity are hired less frequently, get lower salaries and promotions, and are less satisfied with their employment, which can affect their mental health.
The aim of my project is to examine the effect of a prolonged educational weight loss program focusing on forming new nutritional and physical activity habits on physical and mental health and quality of life at the workplace.