Highly Qualified Personnel (HQP) Scholarship Program Recipients and Projects Funded for 2021/22
The Ontario Agri-Food Innovation Alliance and Food from Thought fund the Highly Qualified Personnel (HQP) Scholarship Program to support the development of highly skilled graduates who can meet the changing demands of the agri-food and rural sector. HQP scholarships are awarded to master's and PhD students to support them while undertaking research that meets research priorities from the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA).
Funding for HQP scholarships is awarded through an annual, competitive program. Applications are reviewed based on the proposed research, student goals, experience, academic background and benefits of the scholarship to the student.
The University of Guelph administers the HQP Scholarship Program and makes recommendations on funding awards to OMAFRA.
This page includes projects that were approved in 2021 for the 2021/22 funding cycle.
Protection & Assurance
Survivability and Persistence of Salmonella Strains and Serovars in Low Moisture Foods and Their Control Mechanisms
Research Summary |
Investigate the growth kinetics of Salmonella in low moisture foods including Walnuts, Sunflower, and Wheat, by developing microbial survival data of the Salmonella in the three foods, followed by analysis of the data using artificial intelligence approaches to describe the behaviour of the bacteria via predictive mathematical growth models. |
Lead Applicant |
Dharamdeo Singh |
Control of Salmonella and Campylobacter in Poultry Production and Processing through the Application of Novel Technologies
Research Summary |
Developing and comparing the efficacy of three novel intervention technologies to inactivate salmonella and campylobacter while retaining the hatchability of eggs or the quality characteristics of raw meat. |
Lead Applicant |
Brenda Zai |
Evaluation of the Efficacy of Colostrum as a Treatment for Diarrhea in Neonatal Dairy Calves
Research Summary |
Evaluate the efficacy of colostrum as a therapy for diarrhoea in pre-weaned calves. |
Lead Applicant |
Havelah Carter |
Understanding the Genes and Metabolic Pathways Associated with the Resistance of Sheep to Gastrointestinal Nematodes and its Climate Change effects
Research Summary |
This project will use novel -OMICS technologies, such as transcriptomics, to understand the underlying biological mechanisms/systems that confer parasite resistance in sheep, to develop robust methods for genetic selection of resistant animals. |
Lead Applicant |
Olivia Willoughby |
A Spatio-Temporal Model for the Spread of Fire Blight in Ontario Apple Orchards, an Investigation into Profit-Maximizing Control Strategies.
Research Summary |
Provide an understanding of how the mechanisms that drive fire blight disease interplay by constructing a dynamic mathematical model. Upon completion of the model, control strategies will be investigated in order to provide apple growers with a profit-maximizing management practice. |
Lead Applicant |
Michael Pupulin |
Stewardship
Comparing Tractor Tires and Tracks for Their Effects on Compaction of Agricultural Soils using X-ray Computed Tomography
Research Summary |
Better understand structural changes under compaction in southwestern Ontario soils to propose, within the context of compaction processes, how to possibly mitigate soil compaction. |
Lead Applicant |
Olatunbosun Ayetan |
Assessing the Influence of Functional and Structural Complexity of Organic Matter on Phosphorus Mobility, Crop Production, and Soil Health
Research Summary |
Using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, this research will characterize the carbon structure and functional groups in the wide range of organic soil amendments. |
Lead Applicant |
Ibrahim Mohammed |
Low-cost and Scalable Water Disinfection Technology Development for Livestock Farm Stormwater Treatment and Irrigation Re-Use
Research Summary |
Develop and test a copper-based technology that overcomes limitations with comparable efficiency, consisting of a semi-continuously operated tubular filter unit containing internal copper structured elements with antimicrobial properties. |
Lead Applicant |
Leonardo Melo |
Impact of Seasonality on Nutrient Transport and Groundwater-Surface Water Interactions Under Temperate Climate Conditions in an Agriculturally-Intense Great Lakes Clay Plain Basin
Research Summary |
Study climate effects on nutrient and fluvial processes in rural southern Ontario to better inform land owners and policy makers of hydrologic vulnerabilities causing unsuccessful management efforts. |
Lead Applicant |
Sarah Rixon |
Home compostable Alternatives to Single-Use Packaging from Bacterial Bioplastics and Their Biocomposites
Research Summary |
Provide a cost-competitive biobased alternative to single-use packaging for food products. |
Lead Applicant |
Peter Zytner |
Economic Development
Effectiveness of Various Cover Crops to Access Phosphorus From Struvite Fertilizer and the Effect on Subsequent Crop's
Research Summary |
Test the ability of different cover crop species to access P from struvite and the impact on P availability for a subsequent corn crop. |
Lead Applicant |
Daniel Colcuc |
Production of Protein-Rich Snacks using Second Grade/Culled Peaches
Research Summary |
The project will focus on product development and optimization and also the development of a commercial plan. |
Lead Applicant |
Domenique Mastronardi |
Physiological Analysis of Lodging and Yield Response to Plant Growth Regulators in Winter Wheat
Research Summary |
Examine the use of four PGRs, including some newly approved products, across four winter wheat cultivars, two different nitrogen rates and three Ontario locations. |
Lead Applicant |
Kurtis Pilkington |
Identifying the Major On-Farm Factors Associated with Elevated Free fatty Acids (FFAs) in Dairy Cows' Milk
Research Summary |
Identify the major on-farm factors contributing to elevated amounts of free fatty acids (FFAs). |
Lead Applicant |
Hannah Woodhouse |