| Contact Information: | lhamwi@yorku.ca |
| Degrees in Progress: | M.A. (Clinical-Developmental Psychology) |
| Degrees Completed: | B.Sc. (Honours Psychology, Carleton University) B.Sc. (Honours Biomedical Science, University of Ottawa) |
Research Interests:
Lojain’s master’s thesis is at the intersection of machine learning and neonatal care, focusing on revolutionizing pain assessment for preterm infants in the NICU. While conventional practices for infant pain assessment are predominantly observer-based, relying on trained clinicians and nurses (Stevens et al., 1996), these methods capture only a snapshot of the infant’s pain at a given moment. Recognizing the need for continuous monitoring, especially in settings like postoperative care, Lojain is working with a multidisciplinary team to develop an AI-powered pain assessment algorithm. Drawing on recent findings that clinically invasive procedures result in unique neurophysiological responses (Bucsea et al., 2022; Jones, 2017), the project aims to discern between invasive pain-related distress, non-invasive distress, and states of no distress. A primary focus is on the analysis of distinct EEG signals indicative of acute pain reactions during various procedures. By employing real-time continuous EEG monitoring, Lojain endeavors to enhance pain assessment accuracy, offering more nuanced and timely support for hospitalized infants.
Honours and Awards:
2023: Meighen Wright Foundation Maternal-Child Health Graduate Scholarship, York University
2022-2023: Canada Graduate Scholarship – Master’s Scholarship, Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC)
2022-2023: Ontario Graduate Scholarship (declined)
2020: Mitacs Research Training Award
2017, 2019 & 2020: Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) Undergraduate Student Research Award, University of Ottawa
2020: Naomi Rayner Scholarship, Carleton University
2018 & 2019: Merit Scholarship, University of Ottawa2016: Admission Scholarship, University of Ottawa
2016: Taylor Negm Award, Marianopolis College
Publications:
Racine, N., Chow, C., Hamwi, L., et al. (Submitted). Healthcare Professionals and Parent Perspectives on the Use of Artificial Intelligence for Pain Monitoring in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: A Multi-Site Qualitative Study.
Pillai Riddel, R., Jasim, S., & Hamwi, L. (2022). Out of the Mouth of Babes: A Lot about Pain has Nothing to Do with Pain. Pain.
Kopp, L., Hamwi, L., & Atance, C. M. (2021). Self-projection in early development: Preschoolers’ reasoning about changes in their future and past preferences. Journal of Cognition and Development. https://doi.org/10.1080/15248372.2021.1874954
Rogers, M., Hamwi, L., & McBrearty, N. (2020, August). Supporting families and children during the pandemic. Psynopsis, 42(3), 24.