John-Paul Cooper

I am currently pursuing a thesis-based MSc at the University of Alberta, located in Edmonton AB. In my first year of graduate studies, I seek to gain a broader understanding of both academia and industry. Additionally, I keep myself busy in the entrepreneurship world, participating in the Winter 2025 Lab2Market Discover cohort and various pitch competitions and hackathons, winning the Sustainable Cities Challenge and the 2025 Devcon Hackathon in February 2025.

Currently researching machine learning (ML) applications towards predictive toxicology. I am focused on explainable artificial intelligence (AI), high-dimension & temporal datasets, and integrating clinical context.

My initial exposure to research immersed me in the dynamic and interdisciplinary world of pharmaceutical sciences, where I learned standard research practices alongside participating fully in research group activities. I gained hands on experience with the scientific process. This experience was key in confirming my passion for research and directly influenced my decision to pursue graduate studies. Working in a collaborative research environment taught me the value of teamwork and prepared me for the work of graduate-level research.

As an undergraduate majoring in Chemistry and minoring in Biology, I learned the foundations which allowed me to think scientifically for eventual research. During my undergraduate studies, I participated in class research projects, winning an undergraduate research award for sustainability. The project was titled "Assessment of LRT Subway Air Quality", and used low-cost arduino based air quality sensors. From that, the data was collected and analyzed in R to draw insights pertaining to CO2 and PM2.5/10 across the Edmonton subway ssytem. This research taught me the importance of considering sustainability in scientific research and demonstrated my ability to apply theoretical knowledge to real-world challenges. Additionally, I took part in pitch competitions, winning the Sustainable Cities Challenge 2024 proposing the idea of a real-time traffic optimization software.

During my time in the A2Z Capital Summer Student Program, I had the experience of learning alongside among eight selected students. The program featured weekly sessions led by a diverse roster of industry professionals, each bringing their distinct expertise and perspectives. Our final project challenged us to analyze both residential and commercial properties, providing a comprehensive view of real estate investment strategies. As the only student from a non-finance/economics background, this experience exposed me to new analytical frameworks and approaches to problem-solving, complementing my technical background with valuable insights from the financial sector.

As Alberta's leading neurotechnology network, I played a leadership role in running Canada's Neurotech Hackathon: natHACKS. Additionally, I gained experience in fundraising, grant-writing (>$200,000), and non-profit organization operations. Our mission statement was simple: accessible neurotechnologies. This led me to participate in a funded neurotechnology project for two semesters under a local physician-scientist which was submitted as a conference abstract to CSPS 2024.