NSERC

Milica Radisic, a professor in the Institute of Biomedical Engineering and the department of chemical engineering and applied chemistry in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering, has received the 2024 John C. Polanyi Award from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC).

The award is given to an individual or team whose research has led to a recent outstanding advance in any NSERC-supported field of the natural sciences or engineering. It is named in honour of John Charles Polanyi, University Professor Emeritus in the department of chemistry and recipient of the 1986 Nobel Prize.

Radisic was recognized for her groundbreaking advancements in organ-on-a-chip technology. Her research aims to revolutionize drug testing and tissue engineering by creating lifelike human tissues outside the body.

“This award will advance our goal of understanding the structure-function relationships that shape our native tissues, and continue developing ways to replicate them in the lab,” says Radisic, who holds a Canada Research Chair in Organ-on-a-Chip Engineering. “Polymer chemistry and microfabrication enable us to precisely tailor the mechanical properties and microstructure of our devices to get the cells to grow in a certain orientation or behave in certain ways. That’s what enables our devices to catalyze drug discovery and the study of complex diseases.”

“Through rich collaborations with experts in medicine, polymer science, cell biology and many other fields, Professor Radisic’s work is advancing new ways to diagnose and treat disease, improving the quality of life for people all over the world,” says Christopher Yip, dean of the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering.

“On behalf of the entire faculty, I warmly congratulate her on this well-deserved honour.”

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Chelsea Rochman receives Arthur B. McDonald Fellowship

rahul.kalvapalle — Mon, 20 Nov 2023 15:41:45 +0000

Chelsea Rochman receives Arthur B. McDonald Fellowship

Research & Innovation

rahul.kalvapalle Mon, 11/20/2023 - 10:41

Faculty

St. George

Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology

Faculty of Arts & Science

NSERC

landscape

Chelsea Rochman (photo by Sylvie Li/NSERC)

Chelsea Rochman, an assistant professor in the department of ecology & evolutionary biology in the Faculty of Arts & Science, is one of two University of Toronto researchers to be awarded an Arthur B. McDonald Fellowship by the Natural Sciences & Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC).

The fellowship recognizes early-stage academic researchers in the natural sciences and engineering with the goal of enhancing their research capacity, so that they can become leaders in their field and inspire others.

An expert on plastic pollution in aquatic habitats, Rochman explores the processes by which microplastics move through food webs, and their impact on populations, habitats and ecosystems.

“It is a tremendous honour to receive the McDonald Fellowship,” says Rochman. “I am so looking forward to the extra time and resources that will allow me to dig deeper into my research and spend more quality time with my trainees in the laboratory and field.

"I am so grateful for this recognition from my peers and for a greater opportunity to make a real impact.”

�鶹��Ƶ's other McDonald Fellowship recipient was Associate Professor Karen Maxwell of the department of biochemistry in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine.

Additionally, two �鶹��Ƶ researchers – Professor Frank Gu and Associate Professor David Wong – were recognized by NSERC with the Brockhouse Prize for Interdisciplinary Research in Science and Engineering.

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Karen Maxwell recognized with Arthur B. McDonald Fellowship

rahul.kalvapalle — Mon, 20 Nov 2023 15:28:41 +0000

Karen Maxwell recognized with Arthur B. McDonald Fellowship

Research & Innovation

rahul.kalvapalle Mon, 11/20/2023 - 10:28

Faculty

St. George

Department of Biochemistry

NSERC

Temerty Faculty of Medicine

landscape

Karen Maxwell (photo by Sylvie Li/NSERC)

Karen Maxwell, an associate professor in the department of biochemistry in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine, is one of two University of Toronto researchers to receive the Arthur B. McDonald Fellowship awarded by the Natural Sciences & Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC).

The fellowship is awarded to outstanding early-stage researchers in the natural sciences and engineering in order to boost their research capacity and accelerate their path towards becoming leaders in their fields.

“I’m honoured to be named one of this year’s Arthur B. McDonald Fellowship recipients,” Maxwell said. “It’s wonderful to have the outstanding work done by the members of my research group recognized by NSERC and to be provided with generous support to continue our investigations of the microbial world.”

A world-renowned expert in phage biology, Maxwell’s research explores the interplay between bacteria and phages, the viruses that infect and eliminate them. Her lab uses a multi-disciplinary approach drawing on phage biology, structural biology and bioinformatics – along with in-vitro and in-vivo studies – to contribute to the design of engineered phages to treat bacterial infections in humans, animals and plants.

“We are thrilled that Karen Maxwell has been recognized by this prestigious award,” said Lea Harrington, chair of the department of biochemistry. “Karen is not only at the vanguard of research in this area, she is also a fantastic ambassador who actively participates in mentorship and outreach to increase the diversity of opportunities available to all aspiring and established scientists”.

�鶹��Ƶ's other McDonald Fellowship recipient was Assistant Professor Chelsea Rochman from the department of ecology & evolutionary biology in the Faculty of Arts & Science.

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Frank Gu and David Wong receive NSERC's Brockhouse Prize

rahul.kalvapalle — Mon, 20 Nov 2023 15:18:06 +0000

Frank Gu and David Wong receive NSERC's Brockhouse Prize

Research & Innovation

rahul.kalvapalle Mon, 11/20/2023 - 10:18

Faculty

St. George

Brockhouse Canada Prize for Interdisciplinary Research in Science and Engineering

Department of Chemical Engineering & Applied Chemistry

Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering

NSERC

St. Michael's Hospital

Temerty Faculty of Medicine

landscape

Frank Gu and David Wong (supplied images)

The University of Toronto's Frank Gu and David Wong are part of a research group that has been awarded the Brockhouse Prize for Interdisciplinary Research in Science and Engineering from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC).

The prize recognizes Canadian teams of researchers who combine their expertise to produce outstanding achievements in the natural sciences and engineering, and is accompanied by a team research grant of $250,000. The C20/20 Innovation Hub – led by scientific director Heather Sheardown, dean of the Faculty of Engineering at McMaster University – was recognized for leading the development of novel treatment methods for eye diseases like glaucoma, retinal neovascular disease and myopia.

“To say that we are honoured would be an understatement. We are electrified, inspired and immensely grateful for this recognition,” said Gu, a professor in the department of chemical engineering in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering whose research includes engineering nanomedicines to achieve long-lasting delivery of therapeutic agents used in eye drops to treat glaucoma.

Gu says the funding will enable his lab to deepen their understanding of nanostructured materials that can be customized for drug delivery applications. “The ultimate goal of my contribution to the team research is to lead to the development of novel therapeutics to delay or prevent irreversible blindness caused by glaucoma.”

Wong, ophthalmologist in chief at St. Michael’s Hospital at Unity Health Toronto and associate professor in the department of ophthalmology and vision sciences in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine, said it was “a true honour” for the C20/20 Innovation Hub to be recognized by NSERC.

“I am very proud of our team led by Dr. Heather Sheardown,” said Wong. “The interdisciplinary approach has been key to building useful ocular biomaterials. It is the art of the possible: a need defined by clinicians with engineers and scientists determining what is possible to make.

“The trans-pollination of information between our disciplines gives us solutions, but also raises new questions and destinies to discover. More collaboration and less silos will further benefit mankind – and the Brockhouse award will help foster this.”

NSERC also recognized two �鶹��Ƶ researchers with Arthur B. McDonald Fellowships – Associate Professor Karen Maxwell from Temerty's department of biochemistry, and Assistant Professor Chelsea Rochman from the department of ecology & evolutionary biology in the Faculty of Arts & Science.

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CHIME radio telescope collaboration wins Brockhouse Canada Prize

lanthierj — Tue, 25 Oct 2022 17:03:43 +0000

CHIME radio telescope collaboration wins Brockhouse Canada Prize

Research & Innovation

lanthierj Tue, 10/25/2022 - 13:03

Faculty

St. George

NSERC

Brockhouse Canada Prize for Interdisciplinary Research in Science and Engineering

Faculty of Arts & Science

David A. Dunlap Department of Astronomy & Astrophysics

landscape

A cross-Canada collaboration including the University of Toronto has won the prestigious Brockhouse Canada Prize for Interdisciplinary Research in Science and Engineering from the National Science and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) for its groundbreaking insight into astrophysical mysteries.

The award recognizes outstanding Canadian teams of researchers from different disciplines engaged in research that draws on their combined knowledge and skills – and has produced a record of excellent achievements in the natural sciences and engineering.

The Canadian Hydrogen Intensity Mapping Experiment (CHIME) is a groundbreaking radio telescope – one of the most novel and extraordinarily powerful in the world – located at the Dominion Radio Astrophysical Observatory in B.C. It is described by NSERC as “one of the biggest success stories in Canadian astrophysics.”

“CHIME’s success arose from thinking outside the box and innovating without constraints of convention,” says Ue-Li Pen, a professor in the Faculty of Arts & Science’s Canadian Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics and a CHIME member. “The experiment leveraged leading Canadian expertise across the country to implement the novel cosmological intensity mapping concept pioneered in Toronto.”

“Building CHIME took a huge effort from the whole team, years of long nights for students, faculty and engineers across Canada,” says Keith Vanderlinde, a professor in the Faculty’s department of astronomy and astrophysics, Dunlap Institute for Astronomy & Astrophysics and a CHIME member. “It’s been amazing to watch the telescope come to life and start pouring out science.”

With files from NSERC

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Cynthia Goh, Darren Anderson recognized with Synergy Award for Innovation

lanthierj — Tue, 25 Oct 2022 16:57:33 +0000

Cynthia Goh, Darren Anderson recognized with Synergy Award for Innovation

Research & Innovation

lanthierj Tue, 10/25/2022 - 12:57

Synergy Award for Innovation

Department of Chemistry

Faculty of Arts & Science

landscape

Cynthia Goh and Darren Anderson (photo of Goh by Sylvie Li/Shoot Studio)

The University of Toronto’s Cynthia Goh, a professor of physical chemistry in the Faculty of Arts & Science’s department of chemistry, and department of chemistry alumnus Darren Anderson of VIVE Crop Protection are co-recipients of the distinguished Synergy Award for Innovation from the National Science and Engineering Research Council (NSERC).

The Synergy Award recognizes examples of collaboration that stand as models of effective partnership between partner organizations and colleges or universities.

“I’m thrilled to be a co-recipient of this honour and excited to share it with my former PhD student, Darren,” says Goh. “This has also been a great example of a partnership with industry that’s led to economic development and innovative ideas.”

The honour is bestowed in recognition of the thriving partnership between Goh and Vive, a developer of leading agricultural products. The collaboration has resulted in breakthrough science that has enabled the precision delivery of pesticides to enhance production while reducing environmental impact.

“There is a history of chemistry research leading to technological advances that provide practical benefits and commercial success,” says Robert Batey, chair of the department of chemistry. “The richly deserved award for Cynthia and Darren underscores the importance of research and training in the chemical sciences and how this enables innovation and entrepreneurship. Their research was able to translate fundamental observations into technology development and ultimately marketable products that are addressing an important need in the area of crop protection.”

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Angela Schoellig recognized with Arthur B. McDonald Fellowship

lanthierj — Tue, 25 Oct 2022 15:03:03 +0000

Angela Schoellig recognized with Arthur B. McDonald Fellowship

Research & Innovation

lanthierj Tue, 10/25/2022 - 11:03

Faculty

St. George

NSERC

Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering

UTIAS

landscape

(photo by Sylvie Li/Shoot Studio)

Professor Angela Schoellig of the University of Toronto Institute for Aerospace Studies (UTIAS) has earned an Arthur B. McDonald Fellowship from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC).

The award will further accelerate Schoellig’s leading-edge research into autonomous robotics for a variety of applications, from environmental monitoring to visual inspection of construction sites.

“I’m very honoured to be named in this year’s cohort of Arthur B. McDonald Fellowship recipients,” says Schoellig. “It will of course enhance the important research we are doing in Canada, but I also hope it will help inspire the next generation, especially young women, to see what they can achieve with a career in STEM.”

Previously known as the E.W.R. Steacie Memorial Fellowships, the Arthur B. McDonald Fellowships recognize early-stage academic researchers in the natural sciences and engineering and enhance their research capacity so that they can become leaders in their field.

Schoellig, who recently took up an Alexander von Humboldt Professorship at the Technical University of Munich, holds the Canada Research Chair in Machine Learning for Robotics and Control at �鶹��Ƶ Engineering, as well as a Canada CIFAR Chair in Artificial Intelligence.

“Professor Schoellig’s innovative work is at the leading edge of two fields – AI and robotics – that have tremendous potential to generate new technologies, solutions and businesses over the next couple of decades,” says Christopher Yip, dean of �鶹��Ƶ’s Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering.

“It’s wonderful to see her recognized on the national stage, as she engages and advances this research internationally. On behalf of the Faculty, I extend her enormous congratulations.”

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�鶹��Ƶ researchers receive NSERC’s Brockhouse Prize

lanthierj — Wed, 17 Nov 2021 18:07:08 +0000

�鶹��Ƶ researchers receive NSERC’s Brockhouse Prize

Research & Innovation

lanthierj Wed, 11/17/2021 - 13:07

Faculty

St. George

NSERC

Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering

Dalla Lana School of Public Health

Temerty Faculty of Medicine

Faculty of Arts & Science

Brockhouse Canada Prize for Interdisciplinary Research in Science and Engineering

landscape

Top row from left: Miriam Diamond; Arthur Chan; Jim Wallace; Cheol-Heon Jeong; Jeff Brook. Bottom from left: Robert Healy of the Ontario Ministry of the Environment; Greg Evans; Marianne Hatzopoulou; Scott Weichenthal of McGill University; Chung-Wai Chow

A multidisciplinary team of researchers at the University of Toronto has been awarded the Brockhouse Prize for Interdisciplinary Research in Science and Engineering from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) for developing innovative tools and strategies for studying air pollution and its effects.

The prize recognizes outstanding Canadian teams of researchers from different disciplines who combine their knowledge and skills to produce excellent achievements in natural sciences and engineering.

“It is very gratifying to see how research ideas that were seeded almost two decades ago have grown into such a supportive and energising collaborative community,” said Professor Greg Evans of the department of chemical engineering and applied chemistry in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering. “The research we have done together has led to real benefits. There’s a lot to be proud of.”

Working out of the Southern Ontario Centre for Atmospheric Aerosol Research (SOCAAR), the team includes researchers from �鶹��Ƶ’s Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, Temerty Faculty of Medicine and Faculty of Arts & Science, as well as from McGill University and the Ontario government. The �鶹��Ƶ members working with Evans are:

Jeff Brook, Dalla Lana School of Public Health
Arthur Chan, department of chemical engineering and applied chemistry, Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering
Chung-Wai Chow, department of medicine, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, UHN
Miriam Diamond, department of earth sciences, Faculty of Arts & Science
Marianne Hatzopoulou, department of civil and mineral engineering, Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering
Jim Wallace, department of mechanical and industrial engineering, Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering
Cheol-Heon Jeong, senior research associate, department of chemical engineering and applied chemistry, Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering
Jim Wallace, department of mechanical and industrial engineering, Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering

“Those named on the award are just the tip of the iceberg,” says Evans. “There are many others at �鶹��Ƶ, in government, in industry and in NGOs or communities across Canada, not to mention more than 100 graduate and undergraduate students. I feel very fortunate to have been able to work with such great people.”

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Martin Krkošek receives NSERC's E.W.R. Steacie Memorial Fellowship

lanthierj — Wed, 17 Nov 2021 17:59:21 +0000

Martin Krkošek receives NSERC's E.W.R. Steacie Memorial Fellowship

Research & Innovation

lanthierj Wed, 11/17/2021 - 12:59

Faculty

St. George

Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology

E.W.R. Steacie Memorial Fellowship

Faculty of Arts & Science

NSERC

landscape

(Photo by Brian Summers)

Martin Krkošek, an associate professor in the department of ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Arts & Science, has been awarded an E.W.R. Steacie Memorial Fellowship by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC).

Presented annually to up to six researchers, the award recognizes early-stage academic researchers in the natural sciences and engineering, enhancing their research capacity so that they can inspire and lead others.

A Canada Research Chair in population ecology, Krkošek sheds light on disease dynamics between wild and farmed salmon on Canada’s west coast. He collaborates with Indigenous communities, particularly with the Dzawada'enuxw and ‘Namgis First Nation, involving community members in his work.

"This award recognizes a collective effort of a community of students, collaborators, mentors and local peoples in the remote and unceded Kwakwakaʼwakw territory," says Krkošek. "I am exceptionally fortunate for this village that raised me as a mathematical and field biologist."

Krkošek’s “career and his vital research in this field are richly deserving of this support," says Melanie Woodin, dean of the Faculty of Arts & Science – a sentiment echoed by Professor Stephen Wright, who won the Steacie Fellowship in 2015 and who is now EEB chair: "This stellar achievement reflects the importance of his work for both broad ecological understanding and for fisheries management."

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Theoretical physicist Sajeev John wins prestigious Gerhard Herzberg Canada Gold Medal

lanthierj — Wed, 17 Nov 2021 14:52:13 +0000

Theoretical physicist Sajeev John wins prestigious Gerhard Herzberg Canada Gold Medal

Research & Innovation

lanthierj Wed, 11/17/2021 - 09:52

Faculty

St. George

Faculty of Arts & Science

Gerhard Herzberg Canada Gold Medal

NSERC

landscape

(Photo by Sylvie Li/Shoot Studio)

Sajeev John, a University Professor in the department of physics in the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Arts & Science, has won the prestigious Gerhard Herzberg Canada Gold Medal for Science and Engineering awarded by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC).

"The University of Toronto congratulates Sajeev John on this important recognition,” says Professor Leah Cowen, �鶹��Ƶ’s associate vice-president of research. “From his ground-breaking work on confining and harnessing the flow of photons to his leadership in exploring applications for his research in optical micro-chips, optical communications and information processing, laser technologies, solar energy-harvesting and clinical medicine – his impact has been remarkable.”

Considered Canada’s highest science and engineering honour, the award recognizes the “sustained excellence and overall influence of research work conducted in Canada in the natural sciences or engineering,” according to NSERC and is accompanied by a $1 million grant.

"The Herzberg Gold Medal offers a unique opportunity for creativity and unfettered pursuit of essential applications,” John says, citing examples such as “the world’s most efficient, lightweight silicon solar cells; light-trapping to enhance artificial photosynthesis for solar fuel production; development of the most compact lab-in-a-photonic-crystal sensors for early-stage disease detection and diagnosis; and much more."

John, who holds a Canada Research Chair in optical sciences and was named an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2017, is “truly deserving” of the honour, says Melanie Woodin, dean of the Faculty of Arts & Science.

"Not only has his work been foundational, it has also had an impact in physics, chemistry, engineering and medicine, and is leading to advancements that are benefiting people’s lives."

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