MSc in Health and Exercise Science

Your completed application will include:

• Application form and Fee
• Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• One Letter of Reference and assessment form
• Department of Health, Kinesiology, and Applied Physiology graduate entrance form
• Transcripts for all post-secondary institutions attended
• Proof of Canadian citizenship (if applicable)
• Applicants whose primary language is not English, are required to submit official language test scores, unless exempted.

Please apply online. Read the how-to guide for application procedures. 

Research in the department probes functional mechanisms from the molecular level to whole systems. Topics include:

• injury prevention through neuromuscular control, joint stabilization, bracing, and flexibility.
• physiological mechanisms of the control of blood flow and body temperature.
• movement and balance control in neuromuscular disorders.
• cellular and molecular adaptations to neuromuscular activity.
• neural control of movement.
• nutrition, hormones, and body composition.
• behavioral medicine and chronic illnesses.
• clinical and fundamental research on pain.
• sleep physiology, sleep and cognition, mechanisms and treatments of sleep disorders.

The PERFORM Centre offers research opportunities, teaching, and training for faculty and students, communitiy health programs, and a full service athletic therapy clinic.

The HKAPSA Learning Lab (Health, Kinesiology and Applied Physiology Student Association - HKAPSA)

The Metabolism, Obesity, and Nutrition lab

At MON Lab we combine unique biological, physiological and nutritional techniques to investigate and understand the underlying effects of obesity that contribute to weight gain and disease. We are looking for 3 masters students to work on research in our lab. The candidates chosen to work with these projects will work with study PI, Dr. Sylvia Santosa (https://monlab.ca/sylvia-santosa/) and the MON lab team. The student will be responsible for coordinating and delivering the project from recruitment and scheduling of participants, sample and data collection, acquisition and analyses, to writing manuscripts. The students selected will have the opportunity to work with several collaborators and acquire multidisciplinary skills in wet and dry lab analyses.

Required Qualifications

-       A bachelor’s degree in a related discipline (e.g., Nutrition, Physiology, Kinesiology/Exercise Science, Biology, Medicine)

-       Effective oral and written communication skills

-       Excellent interpersonal skills

-       Willingness to learn

-       Ability to work autonomously and take a lead role on projects under supervision of principal investigators

-       Wet lab experience is preferred but not required

We are currently accepting applicants for the following projects:

The effect of exercise on MRS-measured intramyocellular and extramyocellular lipids in early and late onset obesity

Those with childhood-onset obesity have lower resting rates of fat oxidation vs. those with adulthood onset obesity. The mechanisms that underlie these differences are unclear. The goal of the project is to determine whether exercise induced changes in the fat in muscle (ie. Intramyocellular lipid (IMCL) and extramyocellular lipid (EMCL)) are affected by age of obesity onset. Differences in intramyocellular (IMCL) and extramyocellular (EMCL) lipid metabolism could contribute to the decreased fat oxidation we previously observed in childhood-onset obesity. We will compare participants with childhood and adulthood onset obesity. We will measure use of muscle fat before and after exercise via magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). We will also measure energy expenditure and metabolism (indirect calorimetry), body composition (DXA), and lab outcomes. 

How does post-surgical protein intake/status affect changes in weight, body composition, energy metabolism, and muscle function in bariatric surgery patients?

Weight loss (bariatric) surgery is becoming increasingly popular in Canada. The restrictive and malabsorptive nature of the surgery makes bariatric surgery patients particularly vulnerable to nutritional deficiencies. However, current post-surgical nutrition guidelines for bariatric surgery are based on little to no scientific evidence. The goal of the project is to determine how changes in nutritional intake after surgery affect muscle function and mass, energy use, surgical outcomes, and indicators of overall health. In doing so, we hope to be able to provide better evidence-based nutrition guidelines for these patients. Participants will be recruited from the bariatric surgery clinic at the MUHC. We will measure nutritional intake (food records), muscle function (exercise testing), muscle mass and body composition (DXA), energy metabolism and fuel partitioning (indirect calorimetry), and blood health outcomes.

Low Protein-High Carbohydrate Diets: Does Protein Source Affect Lipid Metabolism and

Dietary Safety?

Popular low carbohydrate - high protein diets were recently associated with adverse long-term cardiovascular health outcomes depending on the source of protein supplementation (animal versus plant-based). The underlying causes of this effect remain unknown in both animal and human nutrition. The objective of this study is to compare how a low carbohydrate-high protein weight loss diet, supplemented with either animal- or plant-based protein affects blood and fat tissue lipid profiles, immune cell profiles, and blood markers of inflammation. Healthy participants with obesity will be recruited and randomized into a plant-based and animal-based protein 12 week weight loss groups. Before and after the weight loss interventions, we will measure body composition (DXA and CT scan), energy expenditure and fuel metabolism (indirect calorimetry), and collect fat tissue and blood samples. Fat tissue samples will be analyzed for immune cell profile (flow cytometry), and cellular characteristics. Blood samples will be analyzed for inflammatory markers.

Health effects of the built and social environment

Supervisor: L Kakinami, Associate Professor

Half of all Canadian adults will experience a major chronic illness such as cardiovascular disease or cancer. Throughout the life course those of lower socioeconomic position are disproportionately affected by these major illnesses. Differences in the built environment features (such as green space, safety, walkability, etc), are hypothesized to contribute to the underlying mechanisms linking neighbourhood socioeconomic position and health.

This project is aimed at investigating the environmental influence on physical and mental health over time. The PhD student will use a combination of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) data and linked administrative datasets within the Concordia Longitudinal Risk Project (CLRP) – an ongoing, multi-generational longitudinal study (over 10,000 persons across 3 generations since 1976).

This project is opened to a PhD applicant with prior experience and interest in population health and/or the built environment. Other requirements include a Master’s degree in a related discipline (e.g., Epidemiology, Statistics, Psychology, Medicine), with demonstrated experience conducting research in at least one of the following areas: the built environment, cardiovascular or other chronic diseases, longitudinal study analyses, or multigenerational study designs. Applicants are also expected to have excellent organizational and communication skills and teamwork capabilities. Preference will be given to candidates with experience with statistical methods and ability to work with analytic software (such as R, SAS, SPSS, Mplus), and an openness to learning new methods and techniques

Further information can be found here: https://mbmc-cmcm.ca/phd-offer-health-effects-built-social-envir/

MSc Research Projects for HKAP students

We are looking to recruit up to three (3) MSc students to join our research team in 2021

Description of our Research Clinic

The Cancer Rehabilitation and Cachexia Clinic at the MUHC, part of the Supportive and Palliative Care Division, offers assessments for patients dealing with poor appetite, malnutrition, weight loss, fatigue, loss of function and psychological distress.  The clinic is made up of a multidisciplinary team that comprises a physician, a nurse, a nutritionist, a physiotherapist and an occupational therapist.  The clinic is comprised of supportive, restorative and cachexia streams.  The supportive stream are patients still undergoing cancer treatment, restorative stream are patients are in remission and not on treatment, and cachexia patients are those with loss of muscle mass not fully reversable through conventional nutritional support (due to decreased food intake and abnormal metabolism). 

Supervisors:

Robert D. Kilgour, PhD, FACSM

Professor, Department of Health, Kinesiology, and Applied Physiology

Associate Director, McGill Nutrition and Performance Laboratory

Associate Research Scientist, MUHC Cancer Mission, Department of Oncology, McGill University Health Centre

Antonio Vigano, MD, MSc

Affiliate Professor, Department of Health, Kinesiology, and Applied Physiology

Associate Professor, Department of Oncology

Director, McGill Nutrition and Performance Laboratory

Director, Cancer Rehabilitation and Medical Cannabis Program in Oncology, McGill University Health Centre

Project 1:

The Effects on Function After a 4-Week Home-Based Exercise Intervention in Pre-Cachectic and Cachectic Cancer Patients: A Randomized, Prospective, Single-Blinded Feasibility Study

Minimal research has been done concerning exercise in patients with cancer cachexia. With growing numbers of cancer diagnosis and approximately 50% of those diagnoses will also have cachexia, feasible interventions are necessary to allow a longer and better quality of life.

Specific Aims:

1) To determine if a 4-week home-based exercise intervention in patients with cancer cachexia and pre-cachexia will improve results in the 6 Minute Walk Test (6-MWT) and other functional assessments.

2) to determine if a 4-week home-based exercise intervention in patients with cancer cachexia and pre-cachexia is feasible.

Hypothesis:

1) A 4-week home-based exercise intervention program will show significant improvement at baselines and over time in patients with cancer cachexia and pre-cachexia with respect to the individual scores on the 6-MWT.

2) A 4-week home-based exercise intervention program will show significant improvement over time in comparison to a control group in respect to the individual scores on the 6-MWT.

Project 2:

Impact of a 4-Week Combined Exercise and Nutrition Program on the Functional Capacity of Non-Cachectic Advanced Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy

The purpose of this study is to assess if a 4-week combined exercise and nutrition program administered to non-cachectic advanced cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy can lead to improvements in functional walking capacity.

Specific aims:

1) To evaluate whether a 4-week combined exercise and nutrition program is superior to standard care in improving functional capacity in non-cachectic advanced cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.

2) To evaluate whether a 4-week combined exercise and nutrition program is superior to the same exercise program, delivered without nutrition intervention, in improving functional capacity in non-cachectic advanced cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.

3) To evaluate whether a 4-week combined exercise and nutrition program is superior to standard care in improving common oncology symptoms, nutritional status, quality of life and fatigue in non-cachectic advanced cancer patients still undergoing cancer treatment.

Hypothesis:

In this study, we hypothesize that a combined exercise and nutrition program is superior to standard care in non-cachectic advanced cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.  We also hypothesize that a combined exercise and nutrition program is superior to the same exercise program delivered without the nutrition intervention.

Project 3:

Nutrition and exercise for wellbeing in pancreatic cancer: the NEW-PaC study

While it is evident that malnutrition, muscle loss and cachexia are prevalent in pancreatic cancer (PaC) and are directly related to worse health-related quality of life (HRQoL), it is unclear if interventions that may help counteract these adverse phenomena. The results of a scoping review of the literature revealed that at present, no multimodal interventions in advanced PaC patients have been examined. It is reasonable to question whether a diet and exercise intervention, applied to ambulatory patients with PaC patients prior to beginning chemotherapy, may have a greater positive effect on HRQoL, than standard care alone.

Specific Aims:

1) To assess HRQoL at baseline and determine changes over time, compared to standard care.

2) To assess nutritional status in patients at baseline, determine changes over time and examine associations with HRQoL, compared to standard care.

3) To assess functional performance at baseline, determine changes over time and examine associations with HRQoL, compared to standard care.

Hypothesis:

We hypothesize that an early nutrition and exercise program applied to patients with PaC undergoing palliative chemotherapy will improve HRQoL to a greater extent than those receiving standard care alone.

For more information on the clinic and the three projects mentioned above, please contact Dr. Kilgour at robert.kilgour@concordia.ca

MSc Offer: Enhancing the personalisation of an eHealth behaviour change program (ACCELERATION): using deep learning models of emotional expression

Supervisor: Simon Bacon, Full Professor, and Kim Lavoie, Affiliate Professor

The ACCELERATION program aims to improve behavioural risk factors associated with the development of non-communicable chronic diseases (NCDs: cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes). It is a structured 12-week ehealth program that was developed using an integrated knowledge translation process. It primarily targets increasing physical activity, as well as increasing fruit and vegetable consummation, and reducing tobacco smoking. It uses well established behavioural and motivation techniques to enhance intrinsic motivation in participants.

The current funded study will leverage laboratory based tasks and ecological momentary assessment techniques to be able to capture facial and voice-based emotional data. This data will then be used to personalise certain aspects of the ACCELERATION program to enhance individual behavior change. The position will be based at the Montreal Behavioural Medicine Centre (http://mbmc-cmcm.ca), which is a collaborative centre between the CIUSSS-NIM Hôpital du Sacré-Coeur de Montreal, Concordia University, and UQAM.

This project is open to a MSc applicant with a Bachelor’s degree in a related discipline (e.g., Kinesiology, Computer Science, Psychology, Engineering), and with demonstrated research experience. Applicants are also expected to have excellent interpersonal and communication skills. Preference will be given to candidates with prior experience conducting research in at least one of the following areas: Stress testing; Ecological momentary assessment; Cardiovascular, respiratory, or inflammatory marker assessment; Applied psychological assessments; Multimodal data capture; or Deep learning models; and with openness to learn new methods and techniques in an applied clinical setting. The closing date for receipt of applications is Friday December 11, 2020, 5 pm EST.

Further information can be found here: https://mbmc-cmcm.ca/phd-offer-acceleration-ee/

MSc Offer: Enhancing the personalisation of an eHealth behaviour change program (ACCELERATION): developing and optimising of the intervention

Supervisor: Simon Bacon, Full Professor, and Kim Lavoie, Affiliate Professor

The ACCELERATION program aims to improve behavioural risk factors associated with the development of non-communicable chronic diseases (NCDs: cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes). It is a structured 12-week ehealth program that was developed using an integrated knowledge translation process. It primarily targets increasing physical activity, as well as increasing fruit and vegetable consummation, and reducing tobacco smoking. It uses well established behavioural and motivation techniques to enhance intrinsic motivation in participants.

The current funded study will be recruiting individuals at high risk of developing NCDs across three Canadian provinces to further develop and optimise the efficacy of the intervention. Though the project is national in scope, the position will be based at the Montreal Behavioural Medicine Centre (http://mbmc-cmcm.ca), which is a collaborative centre between the CIUSSS-NIM Hôpital du Sacré-Coeur de Montreal, Concordia University, and UQAM.

This project is open to a MSc applicant with a Bachelor’s degree in a related discipline (e.g., Kinesiology, Psychology, Nursing, Nutrition, Medicine), and with demonstrated research experience. Applicants are also expected to have excellent interpersonal and communication skills. Preference will be given to candidates with prior experience conducting research in at least one of the following areas: Behaviour change interventions; eHealth interventions; Integrated knowledge translation; Implementation science; Physical activity or dietary interventions; or Secondary chronic disease prevention; and with openness to learn new methods and techniques in an applied clinical setting. The closing date for receipt of applications is Friday December 11, 2020, 5 pm EST.

Further information can be found here: https://mbmc-cmcm.ca/msc-offer-acceleration-int/

MSc Offer: Health Impact of Electronic Cigarettes (e-cigarettes)

Supervisor: Simon Bacon, Full Professor, and Kim Lavoie, Affiliate Professor

This Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, and Canadian Cancer Society funded psychophysiology study will look at how smoking affects the body responses to acute episodes of mental (such as a math task under time pressure, or an argument with a spouse) and physical (exercise) stress. We will be comparing e-cigarettes with traditional (combustible) cigarettes and not smoking (abstinence). We will also be testing non-smokers to see if there is a difference between non-smokers. We will measure a variety of cardiovascular, respiratory, and inflammatory variables, pre, during, and post stress. The position will be based at the Montreal Behavioural Medicine Centre (http://mbmc-cmcm.ca), which is a collaborative centre between the CIUSSS-NIM, Concordia University, and UQAM.

This project is open to a MSc applicant with a Bachelor’s degree in a related discipline (e.g., Psychology, Physiology, Kinesiology/Exercise Science, Medicine), and with demonstrated research experience. Applicants are also expected to have excellent interpersonal and communication skills. Preference will be given to candidates with prior experience conducting research in at least one of the following areas: Stress testing; Cardiovascular, respiratory, or inflammatory marker assessment; or Applied psychological assessments; with experience using integrated stakeholder engagement strategies, and with openness to learn new methods and techniques in an applied clinical setting. The closing date for receipt of applications is Friday December 11, 2020, 5 pm EST.

Further information can be found here: https://mbmc-cmcm.ca/msc-offer-e-cigarettes/

All the information about applying to Msc program in the HKAP department can be found here:  

https://www.concordia.ca/artsci/health-kinesiology-physiology/programs/msc-exercise-science.html

For more opportunities please click on the link below:

https://www.concordia.ca/artsci/research/graduate-student-opportunities/sciences.html

Review an inspiring list of thesis topics and learn about projects by current graduate students.