During this 60 to 90 minute session, we will introduce you to a variety of research strategies and library tools, to help you succeed with graduate level research at Lakehead University. By the end of this session, you will be familiar with:

Selecting databases

• OMNI and Interlibrary loan options
• Zotero Citation Manager
• Free research tools (Connected Papers & others)
• Google Scholar - pros and cons
• Lakehead Knowledge Commons & finding theses and dissertations

Note: This session will be held online via Zoom. A confirmation with a link to the session will be emailed to you after registration.

Register at: https://libcal.lakeheadu.ca/event/3979418

Systematic reviews, unlike other types of literature reviews, follow a structured and predefined process. In this session, we will walk you through the steps of a systematic review, focusing on preparing for your systematic review, identifying key sources of research and developing detailed search strategies. Learn how librarians can support you in conducting a systematic review.

By the end of this workshop, you will be able to:

• distinguish a systematic review from other types of literature reviews
• identify the steps to conducting a systematic review
• recognize tools and resource to aid in your review

This session will be held online via Zoom. A confirmation with a link to the session will be emailed to your after registration.

Register at: https://libcal.lakeheadu.ca/event/3979749

Zotero is a free and convenient tool that can be used to help you manage information for your research, insert citations into your writing and easily create bibliographies. This session will provide an overview of how Zotero can support your work throughout the research process, with hands-on opportunities to practice using the tool.

After attending this workshop, you will have learned how to use Zotero to:

• save time with the research process
• create better citations and bibliographies
• organise all the books / articles you find during the research process
• use advanced features in Zotero

Note: This session will be held online via Zoom. A confirmation with a link to the session will be emailed to you after registration.

Register at: https://libcal.lakeheadu.ca/event/3979419

You are invited to attend the Chemistry and Materials Science PhD Program Dissertation Defence
by Hamzeh Nakhaei Niya

Title: Formation of One- and Two-Dimensional Molecular Networks on Metal Surfaces

The primary objective of this thesis is the formation of surface-confined, low-dimensional molecular structures through a bottom-up approach. Highly ordered molecular networks can be achieved via molecular self-assembly or on-surface synthesis. In this work, the on-surface synthesis of one- and two-dimensional (1D and 2D) organic nanostructures on metal single-crystal surfaces was investigated under ultra-high vacuum conditions. Two different organic molecules were studied on metal substrates using scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). This research demonstrates a promising strategy for the synthesis of 1D and 2D self-assembled molecular networks and subsequent covalent networks using aldehyde-functionalized molecules with D₂h symmetry

Committee Members: Drs. Maryam Ebrahimi and Mark Gallagher (co-supervisors), Dr. Baoqiang Liao, Dr. Craig MacKinnon and Dr. Greg Lopinski (external)

Everyone is welcome.

For more information contact Brenda Magajna at phd.ses@lakeheadu.ca

You are invited to attend the Biotechnology PhD Dissertation Defense of Mahsa Jahed.

Title: Experimental and Numerical Investigation of Multi-phase Multicomponent Drug Delivery through a Patient-specific Respiratory Airway using Pressurized Metered-dose Inhalers (pMDIs)

This research study advances the fundamental understanding of aerosol drug delivery in pressurized metered-dose inhalers (pMDIs)—commonly known as puffers—by examining how device design, inhalation airflow dynamics, and patient-specific airway morphology collectively influence particle transport and deposition. Using an integrated experimental–computational framework, anatomically realistic airway replicas were evaluated alongside high-fidelity CFD simulations to capture transient plume evolution, droplet breakup and coalescence, wall interaction behavior, and multiscale deposition mechanisms under clinically relevant inhalation conditions. The findings show that even subtle changes in device nozzle geometry, plume temperature, aerosol momentum, airway compliance, or non-ideal breathing patterns can lead to significant shifts in regional deposition throughout the respiratory tract. These insights are especially relevant for improving puffer performance for individuals with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), offering critical guidance for next-generation pMDI design and providing evidence-based recommendations for optimizing patient inhalation techniques. Ultimately, this work enhances the reproducibility, efficiency, and therapeutic effectiveness of pulmonary drug delivery.

Friday, January 16, 2026
10:00 am
FB 2023 and zoom

Committee Members: Drs. Leila Pakzad and Janusz Kozinski (co-supervisors), Dr. Francisco Ramos Pallares, Dr. Muhammad Khalid and Dr. Zahra Keshavarz-Motamed (external)

Everyone is welcome

Please contact Brenda Magajna at phd.ses@lakeheadu.ca for more information.

Have an innovative idea that could help the planet? Whether you're a student or a member of the community, this free event is your chance to pitch your bioeconomy business idea for a chance to win part of $1,500 in cash prizes!

Bioeconomy startups use renewable biological resources to create sustainable solutions in sectors like energy, agriculture, food, forestry, and waste reduction.

How to Win

• Apply by February 2, 2026
• Attend the Pitch Workshop on February 11
• Pitch your idea on February 18 (4:30 to 7:00pm)

Interested in launching a forest-based business? Join us on Thursday, Jan. 22 from 12 to 1 p.m. at the Ingenuity Atrium (CASES Building) for a free event (lunch included!) where you can explore how the Boreal Springboard Accelerator can help bring your business idea to life.

Whether you have a new idea, technical or business skills, or just want to learn about opportunities in the forestry sector — this session is for you! Learn how you can access up to $20,000 in funding, mentorship, industry connections, and technical supports to build an innovative startup.

Covidence is a web-based tool that streamlines the screening and data extraction steps of an evidence synthesis project, such as a systematic or scoping review. Lakehead now has an institutional subscription to Covidence.

Attend this session to learn:

• how to join Lakehead's institutional Covidence account.
• the steps to starting a review in Covidence.
• how Covidence helps with the screening and data extraction process.
• where to find learning resources for Covidence.

Note: This session will be held online via Zoom. A confirmation with a link to the session will be emailed to you after registration.

Register at: https://libcal.lakeheadu.ca/event/3979741

Open access (OA) is imperative for ensuring free and unrestricted access to scientific knowledge. It can help increase the visibility of research and improve the impact and citation of researchers. Funding agencies (e.g., Tri-Council) are now requiring that research funded by them should be published OA, either through OA journals or post-prints deposit in institutional repositories. This makes OA publishing a pivotal part of the research cycle for Lakehead University faculty, postdoctoral researchers, and graduate student researchers.

By the end of this workshop, you will be able to:

• understand OA publishing routes
• identify the pros and cons of OA publishing
• understand how to retain copyright while publishing in non-OA journals (if necessary)
• identify resources available for publishing OA, article processing charges waivers and discounts for Lakehead University faculty, researchers, and students
• locate quality OA journals in your discipline

Note: This session will be held online via Zoom. A confirmation with a link to the session will be emailed to you after registration.

Register at: https://libcal.lakeheadu.ca/event/3978449

For anyone doing internet-based research. How can we create reliable, permanent copies of social media, websites, and other documents only found online? This 1-hour workshop explores tools you can use yourself, and how you can make use of web archiving projects worldwide, to carry out research, or to preserve copies of ephemeral digital material to be studied or referenced. (Chrome browser recommended.)

By attending this workshop you will:

• understand the challenges of preserving digital material on the web;
• know how to use and contribute to Internet Archive collections;
• explore other free tools to preserve social media content for later reference.

Note: This session will be held online via Zoom. A confirmation with a link to the session will be emailed to you after registration.

Register at: https://libcal.lakeheadu.ca/event/3979624