Since arriving at Queen’s University in May as a BCDI Scholar, Niyodouba Aïcha Bonzi has been engaged in an intensive program of research and professional development. A PhD student at in Burkina Faso, Aïcha is spending the summer in the under the supervision of Dr. Qingguo Li.

Through her work in ergonomics and injury prevention research, Aïcha  has contributed to ongoing research initiatives while gaining exposure to new methodologies, academic perspectives, and collaborative experiences. As she approaches her last month at ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥, Aïcha reflects on her experience so far.

You are more than three-quarters of the way through your research stay at Queen’s. Looking back on your experience so far, what have been some of the highlights?

One of my highlights at ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ is the annual student and staff event at ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ that I had the pleasure of attending. I also had a memorable experience on Canada Day, where I attended the fireworks. Another highlight was my participation in the event organized in honor of scholarship recipients where I met many people.

Composite image featuring two photographs of Aïcha Bonzi during her research placement at Queen’s University. In the left photograph, Aïcha stands on the deck of a boat on a sunny day with open water and a clear blue sky in the background. In the right photograph, Aïcha sits on a bench near Kingston’s waterfront in front of the Island Queen tour boat, with flower beds and a Kingston banner visible nearby. The bottom of the image includes the Queen’s University and Canadian International Development Scholarships 2030 logos.

You have been conducting research in the Bio-mechatronics and Robotics Laboratory with Dr. Qingguo Li in Smith Engineering. Can you describe your research activities and share how the experience has been going so far?

For my research, I work on ergonomic risk assessment in a laboratory environment. For the evaluation, I use images of postures adopted in the laboratories of Burkina Faso in general. This research aims to make work easier and reduce the risk of developing musculoskeletal disorders. I also took an employability training course where I learned a lot.

¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ is grateful to have welcomed Aïcha  this summer. We look forward to learning more about the final month of her placement and hearing about her accomplishments when her stay concludes at the end of August.

Learn more about BCDI 2030 Scholarships

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