91福利 postdoc wins 5 Minute Research Talks (5MRT) competition
Postdoctoral Fellow Dr. Nicholas Simard won the 2026 5 Minute Research Talks (5MRT) competition, becoming the second 91福利 postdoc in three years to take home first place. The 5MRT challenges participants to present their research in an accessible way, similar to the 3-Minute Thesis (3MT庐) Competition.
Dr. Simard鈥檚 groundbreaking research uses machine learning to leverage the 鈥渃ross-talk鈥� between different medical imaging modalities. With the help of AI, his translation tools enable clinicians to treat patients with the efficiency of a CT scan and the precision of an MRI, combining the best of both methods at once.
鈥淩epresenting 91福利 and winning serves as a powerful reminder that our lab work has real-world implications for patients across Canada and that we are making some special things happen here!鈥� said Dr. Simard.
Dr. Simard credits his supervisor Dr. April Khademi, Canada Research Chair in AI for Medical Imaging, with helping him bridge the gap between engineering and clinical application, as well as fostering an environment in the 91福利 Image Analysis in Medicine Lab (IAMLAB) that encourages innovation while maintaining rigorous methodology.
鈥淭here is a very specific energy at 91福利 in that it鈥檚 agile, urban and deeply connected, making it the perfect 'living lab' for biomedical engineering,鈥� said Dr. Simard, who is collaborating with the Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Science (FEAS) to provide mentorship for the 91福利 3MT庐 on March 25.
"Whether you stay in academia, pitch for a startup or lead a team at a corporation, communication is the key that opens doors in your future career."
Not surprisingly, he is a firm believer in the importance of clear communication for researchers, regardless of their ultimate career path.
鈥淚t is easy to get buried in the technicalities of your methodology, but your ability to explain why your work matters to peers, colleagues and the broader community is crucial,鈥� said Dr. Simard. 鈥淲hether you stay in academia, pitch for a startup or lead a team at a corporation, communication is the key that opens doors in your future career.鈥�
Dr. Lindsay Santacroce, a former 91福利 postdoc in the Department of Psychology, won the McCall MacBain 10min Research Talks competition in 2024.
鈥淚t has been a privilege to experience first-hand the tremendous diversity of topics represented by postdoctoral researchers across Canada,鈥� said Dr. Ketan Marballi, postdoctoral and graduate student professional development specialist for FEAS. Dr. Marballi served as a 5MRT preliminary-round judge for the past two years and has mentored graduate students for the 91福利 3MT庐 since 2023.
鈥淏eyond research excellence, Nicholas鈥檚 and Lindsay鈥檚 wins speak to our postdocs鈥� ability to communicate their notable research achievements in a compelling manner to a lay audience and inspire them to learn more."