Boards of Experts
Dr. Esteve Hassan
Dr. Darcy Benoit
Dr. Elhadi Shakshuki
Dr. Andrew McIntyre
Dr. Daniel Silver
Dr. Amir Eaman
Dr. Martin Tango
Dr. Angelo Posteraro
Dr. Scott Bishop
Dr. Jennie Rand
Research Assistants
Roshan Adhikari
I am a Research Associate and Technical Support member at the Acadia AIoT Research Hub and an Honours Computer Science student at Acadia University. My work focuses on embedded systems, the Internet of Things (IoT), wireless sensor networks, and edge AI. I enjoy designing and developing firmware, building IoT solutions, and working on research that applies to AI to solve real-world problems. I am particularly interested in embedded software development, firmware engineering, computer architecture, and AI-powered development tools. I enjoy learning new technologies, tackling challenging engineering problems, and building systems that bridge the gap between hardware and software. My goal is to develop innovative technologies that make embedded systems more accessible, efficient, and intelligent.
Dhriti Dhriti
I'm Dhriti, an undergraduate at Acadia University. Dr. Esteve Hassan's courses got me interested in research, which led me to join the AARH Lab, where I work on literature reviews, data analysis, and testing emerging technologies. I'm especially interested in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data analytics and how these fields can come together to solve different kinds of problems. Through research, I want to keep learning how to turn ideas and data into something genuinely useful.
Nathan Fredericks
Nathan is a fifth-year computer science student with work experience in software engineering. He is interested in hardware, and in how it can be used to learn more about the environment around us and support further research. Sensors are a direct way to do that, since they turn something physical into data you can work with. At AARH, he works with the team on industrial soil moisture sensors and their applications for compost monitoring.
Layla Astorquiza
Born in Peru, a recent graduate of Acadia's Bachelor of Applied Science program, and soon to enter Dalhousies Electrical Engineering program. I joined the AARH Lab after being inspired by Professor Esteve Hassan's courses. This experience has been instrumental in my professional growth, providing hands-on access to advanced equipment I wouldn't otherwise encounter. I am deeply grateful to Acadia and the AARH Lab for this transformative opportunity.
Nitish Sahni
I'm Nitish. I build things — monitoring systems, data pipelines, full-stack apps. Some of it holds up in production, some of it teaches me why it didn't.
Rubbaldeep Sandhu
I am a Computer Science student at Acadia University and a Research Assistant at the AARH Lab, with a strong interest in software development, embedded systems, artificial intelligence, and robotics. I enjoy building projects that combine hardware and software to solve practical problems. Through my studies and hands-on experience, I continue to explore new technologies and strengthen my technical skills. I look forward to continuing to learn, experiment, and build systems that address real world challenges.
Master's Students
Kayla Moorcroft
I am passionate about creating technological solutions that have impact. Having recently completed a Bachelor of Applied Science (Engineering) and Bachelor of Computer Science at Acadia University, I knew that I wanted to continue with research and practical application of my studies at a master's level. I was introduced to robotics in the 8th grade and have been fascinated with the integration of hardware and software technology ever since.
Tashal Gunatillake Mestiyage Don
I am a Master of Computer Science student at the AARH specializing in AI-enabled gastrointestinal (GI) diagnostics. My research focuses on applying artificial intelligence and computer vision to develop innovative solutions for GI disease detection and monitoring.
Research Associates
Claire Dinn
Claire Dinn is a Bachelor of Computer Science Honours graduate (‘26) and is a research associate with the AARH lab. She has been a part of the lab since January 2025. Claire has a special interest in the application of technology to agriculture and environmental systems, particularly through the optimization of organic systems and the use of data analytics, artificial intelligence, and interdisciplinary approaches to address complex challenges. Her work now primarily focuses on research, paper writing, and grant applications. Claire is an incoming JD candidate at Dalhousie University Schulich School of Law and is interested in exploring the intersection of law, technology, and environmental innovation.