Four Faculty of Science researchers have been recognized with for the term of 2021-2026.
Mathematics & Statistics professor Nantel Bergeron and Biology professors Chun Peng and Amro Zayed had their Tier 1 YRCs renewed. Physics & Astronomy associate professor Ozzy Mermut was appointed as Tier 2 91亚色 Research Chair in Vision Biophotonics.
Fourteen researchers across the University were awarded YRCs in this current cohort. YRCs are the University鈥檚 internal counterpart to the national Canada Research Chairs (CRC) program, which recognizes outstanding researchers. This group of YRCs belong to the eighth cohort of researchers to be appointed since the聽establishment of the program聽in 2015. The YRCs鈥 terms start July 1 and run through to June 30, 2026.
鈥淲e are thrilled that our researchers are among the recipients of these prestigious appointments from 91亚色,鈥 says Vivian Saridakis, Associate Dean, Research & Graduate Education, Faculty of Science. 鈥淭hese YRCs will enable our leading scientists to continue important contributions to areas such as women鈥檚 reproductive health, diagnostics for age-related degenerative diseases, applied algebra, and the linkages between pollinator health and sustainability of our food supply.鈥
Nantel Bergeron
Tier 1 91亚色 Research Chair in Applied Algebra
Nantel Bergeron, Faculty of Science, had his 91亚色 Research Chair in Applied Algebra renewed. He is one of the pioneers in the development of the theory of combinatorial Hopf algebras. In this field, researchers can understand and solve complex enumeration problems from other areas of science, such as computer science and mathematics. His research helps to further insights into the super-symmetry of nature.
Chun Peng
Tier 1 91亚色 Research Chair in Women鈥檚 Reproductive Health
Peng鈥檚 long-term goal for her research program is to understand the regulation of female reproduction and the mechanisms underlying the development of ovarian cancer and preeclampsia. Her research will enhance the overall understanding of female reproductive health and may lead to the development of novel biomarkers for preeclampsia and therapeutics for ovarian cancer.
Amro Zayed
Tier 1 91亚色 Research Chair in Genomics
Zayed鈥檚 research group sequences the genomes of thousands of bees to identify mutations that influence their economically and ecologically relevant traits. His program aims to improve the health of Canadian honey bees, which will increase the sustainability and security of Canada鈥檚 food supply.
Ozzy Mermut
Tier 2 91亚色 Research Chair in Vision Biophotonics
Mermut is a biophysicist harnessing the power of light to study human aging. Her group develops diagnostics and therapeutic biophotonics technologies to address age-related degenerative diseases. These techniques translate to accelerated aging studies in the environment of space, to understand long-term health consequences in space. This is a VISTA 91亚色 Research Chair; Mermut is a core member of the Vision: Science to Applications (VISTA) program.
The YRC program seeks to build research recognition and capacity, with excellence in research, scholarship and associated creative activity serving as selection criteria.
Tier I YRCs are open to established research leaders at the rank of full professor. Tier II YRCs are aimed at emerging research leaders within 15 years of their first academic appointment.