His winning submission, \u201cShedding Light on Viral Dark Matter: Using AI to Predict Relationships Between Viruses,\u201d explores how artificial intelligence (AI) can predict relationships between unknown viruses.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m honestly shocked. I didn\u2019t think people would find my research all that interesting, it\u2019s mostly math and models,\u201d said Sulman. \u201cBut I\u2019m really happy to see people connecting with it, even if they don\u2019t have a science background.\u201d<\/p>\n
As a Research Associate with Agriculture Canada, the research-based graduate student has a rare opportunity to apply his work in a federal lab.<\/p>\n
![\"Master](\"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/M.-Sulman-higher-res-copy-787x1050.jpg\")
Master of Science in Biotechnology student Muhammad Sulman<\/p><\/div>\n
His research focuses on developing computational tools to study microbiology, specifically using AI to better understand the vast, often-undetected world of viruses.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I started working at Agriculture Canada, I was introduced to bioinformatics and everything clicked,\u201d said Sulman. \u201cI realized I could apply machine learning to solve real-world biological problems. That mix of computer science and biology is where I found my passion.\u201d<\/p>\n
Some of Sulman\u2019s day-to-day work includes tackling fire blight, a rapidly evolving antibiotic-resistant disease threatening crops, using natural treatments. His goal is to develop the next gold-standard tool for viral classification.<\/p>\n
Communicating this research and his\u00a0vision in under 60 seconds wasn\u2019t easy. Sulman had to\u00a0distill highly technical concepts into visuals that were digestible and engaging, all without losing meaning.<\/p>\n
\u201cI learned that what fascinates me might not click with everyone else,\u201d he said. \u201cBut once I started showing friends and listening to what piqued their interest, it helped me reshape how I told the story.\u201d<\/p>\n
He also leaned on skills he picked up during Brock\u2019s Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition and brought the visuals to life using Adobe Animate.<\/p>\n
GRADflix is an annual video competition hosted by Brock\u2019s Faculty of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs. Open to master\u2019s and doctoral students, the challenge invites participants to communicate their research creatively to a non-specialist audience.<\/p>\n
\u201cSulman\u2019s video is a\u00a0great example of\u00a0research communication done right,\u201d says Suzanne Curtin, Vice-Provost and Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs. \u201cHe not only explains a deeply complex topic, but he also brings it to life in a way that invites curiosity and makes the viewer want to learn more. That\u2019s what GRADflix is all about.\u201d<\/p>\n
For Sulman, making research accessible goes beyond winning competitions. He believes public understanding is essential to enhancing the field of science.<\/p>\n
\u201cA lot of research doesn\u2019t get noticed or funded because it\u2019s not communicated clearly,\u201d he said. \u201cWhether it\u2019s funding committees, the public or even other scientists, if they can\u2019t understand the work, they won\u2019t know it\u2019s importance.\u201d<\/p>\n
As for future GRADflix participants or research communicators, Sulman\u2019s advice is to keep it simple, know your audience and keep it visual.<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t try to cram everything in. Think about what really matters and what is palatable with a general audience,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd pay attention to key words that spark curiosity. Something like \u2018shedding a light on dark matter\u2019 resonates better than \u201cI\u2019m going to classify unknown viruses.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
Brock\u2019s 2025 GRADflix competition\u00a0committee judged nine quality graduate student videos<\/a>, showcasing a wide array of research and disciplines. Winners include:<\/p>\n\n