TMU 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 TMU 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®) Competition.
Dr. Simard’s groundbreaking research uses machine learning to leverage the “cross-talk” 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.
“Representing TMU 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!” 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 TMU Image Analysis in Medicine Lab (IAMLAB) that encourages innovation while maintaining rigorous methodology.
“There is a very specific energy at TMU in that it’s agile, urban and deeply connected, making it the perfect 'living lab' for biomedical engineering,” said Dr. Simard, who is collaborating with the Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Science (FEAS) to provide mentorship for the TMU 3MT® 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.
“It 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,” said Dr. Simard. “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.”
Dr. Lindsay Santacroce, a former TMU postdoc in the Department of Psychology, won the McCall MacBain 10min Research Talks competition in 2024.
“It has been a privilege to experience first-hand the tremendous diversity of topics represented by postdoctoral researchers across Canada,” 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 TMU 3MT® since 2023.
“Beyond research excellence, Nicholas’s and Lindsay’s wins speak to our postdocs’ ability to communicate their notable research achievements in a compelling manner to a lay audience and inspire them to learn more."