Showcasing talent, innovation, and industry readiness at the Research Analyst forum

By Saran Davaajargal

At Humber Polytechnic, research is a vital component of the Building Brilliance vision and one of the key drivers behind the pillars of reimagining learning, building deeper partnerships and driving impact. The Research Analyst graduate certificate program at Humber focuses on the theoretical, practical and ethical underpinnings of research while equipping students with the technical and professional skills necessary to do applied research in a variety of settings. 

On March 28, 2025, the Research Analyst program hosted its research forum featuring speakers from industry partners and poster presentations from students in the program. Hosted at the Barrett Centre for Technology Innovation, it was a gathering that buzzed with the excitement of new insights, thoughtful dialogue and meaningful connections. Felicia Colasanto, Director of Research at BrandSpark International, shared her insights on how AI-moderated research is being incorporated into survey methodologies, while Kevin Hare, Executive Vice President at Dig Insights, elaborated on the technological trends in research. The research forum offered an opportunity to network with industry partners while celebrating students’ work in the program.

Program coordinator’s perspective

Mary Takacs has been a professor and the program coordinator of the Research Analyst program since its beginning. Mary notes that the research analyst program’s advisory committee comprised of industry, corporate and community representatives helps ensure the curriculum always meets the industry demands. 

“The committee members review our curriculum, give us feedback on it, and we take their timely advice and modify the curriculum accordingly," she says. 

The Research Analyst program recently launched a fully online asynchronous program for domestic students across Canada to widen the program’s reach and impact. The program has been holistically designed to give students a competitive advantage in the current job market. 

“Because our program is housed in the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Sciences, we emphasize developing not only professional or technical skills but also critical thinking, communication skills, and values like respect for diversity and inclusivity. This gives our students a competitive edge because they’re bringing a wide range of skills to the workplace that make them global citizens who are also researchers,” says Takacs. 

Let’s hear from the students

For students in the research analyst program, the curriculum helps them become career-ready citizens ready to meet the demands of the industry. 

Ankit Bahl, who is a second-semester student in the program, says, “The Research Analyst program is structured in a very holistic manner, touching bases on all kinds of different methodologies, be it qualitative or quantitative. It provides us with hands-on experience that gets us ready to go into the industry.” 

Vedant Trivedi, a student in the program, noted that enrolling in the program was a way to upgrade his skillset and make his employment profile more competitive. 

“I am in this program to upgrade my skillset and better meet the demands of the Canadian job market,” says Trivedi.

For Palgun Raj Kollipara, a student in the program, research is his life’s passion. “I previously did a master’s degree in human genetics, and I used to dream of becoming a stem cells researcher. Now, the way I do research is changing, but I’m still in research. Research is trying to understand the nature of things, trying to understand the data and extrapolating what the data is saying.” 

Carla Barrantes, a graduate of the Research Analyst program, recalls, “The program helped me gain more experience in SPSS, PowerBI, and Excel and sharpen my skills in qualitative research.” 

Asked about advice for new students enrolling in the program, Barrantes says, “Always be curious, keep networking, keep learning, and don’t be afraid to share your ideas with others.” 

Humber’s commitment to student success

The Research Analyst Forum exemplifies Humber Polytechnic’s commitment to helping students become career-ready citizens in the workforce. From networking with industry partners to receiving hands-on experience through work placements, students gain the skills to transform their knowledge into meaningful work and tangible impact. At Humber, students build brilliance, sparking innovation and shaping the future.