Awards Archives - Faculty of Science /science/tag/awards/ 91亚色 Science is a hub of research and teaching excellence. Wed, 10 Jun 2026 14:20:51 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 Summer Undergraduate Research Conference 2026 /science/research/undergraduate-research/summer-undergraduate-research-conference-2026/ Tue, 09 Jun 2026 20:42:13 +0000 /science/?page_id=43828 NSERC USRA Program Website 2025 Summer Undergraduate Research Conference Booklet - 2026 Booklet COMING SOON 2026 Conference Schedule The Summer Undergraduate Research Conference, hosted by the Faculty of Science (FSc) at 91亚色, is an annual showcase of research excellence where undergraduate students present their summer research projects and compete for awards recognizing outstanding achievement. […]

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2025 Summer Undergraduate Research Conference Booklet - 2026 Booklet COMING SOON

2026 Conference Schedule

The Summer Undergraduate Research Conference, hosted by the Faculty of Science (FSc) at 91亚色, is an annual showcase of research excellence where undergraduate students present their summer research projects and compete for awards recognizing outstanding achievement. The event highlights student recipients of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada's (NSERC) Undergraduate Student Research Awards (USRAs), as well the Earle Nestmann Undergraduate Research Awards (ENURAs), the Ace Acumen Heights Research Scholarships, the 91亚色 Science Scholar Awards (YSSAs), the Helen Freedhoff First Year Award, the Professor Diethard Bohme Undergraduate Research Award and the Professor John Goodings Undergraduate Research Award.

Presentations span a wide range of scientific disciplines, enabling students to communicate their research findings through oral and poster presentations, network with faculty and receive feedback from their academic community.

FSc invites undergraduate research award recipients to showcase their discoveries and celebrate their research achievements at this year's conference that will be held on:

Tuesday August 18, 2026

in the Life Sciences Building (LSB) Lobby

To register and submit your abstract, please complete the form below no later than Tuesday July 21 by 4:00 p.m.

Decisions on whether you have been given an oral or poster presentation will be communicated by Tuesday July 28.

NOTE: If you want to retain and edit your registration/abstract, be sure to click the 'Save and edit later' button after submitting your Registration and Abstract Submission form. If you miss it, you will not be able to change anything you submitted, even if you refresh the page. For further information, see "Instructions for Submitting Registration and Abstract Form"

NSERC USRAs

16

weeks of funding

20

NSERC USRAs available for FSc students

2

Additional NSERC USRAs available for self-identified Black FSc students

$9,856

in total value - $6,000 paid by NSERC, $3,856 paid by FSc supervisor

ENURAs

16

weeks of funding

12

ENURAs available for FSc students

$9,856

in total value - $6,000 paid by Earle Nestmann, $3,856 paid by FSc supervisor

Ace Acumen Heights Research Scholarships

16

weeks of funding

2

scholarships available for FSc International students

$12,000

in total value - $6,000 paid by Ace Acumen Heights, $6,000 paid by FSc supervisor

Information Sessions and Resources

The FSc USRA Summer 2026 Info Session and Q&A was hosted by FSc Research Services and held on zoom on Wednesday January 28, 2026 from 1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.

View 2026 Info Session Slides | (Zoom sign-in required)

Award Information

Please note, all applicants will follow the same procedure. Students must identify at least one and up to a maximum of 2 supervisors willing to support their application. The supervisor(s) must explicitly agree to this support. This applies in the case of both supervisor of first choice and supervisor of second choice.

IMPORTANT: Application is a 2 step process. It consists of obtaining and filling out NSERC forms via NSERC's online portal and then saving and uploading a copy of these forms and other required documents to the To be clear, accessing the NSERC portal is done only to allow you to access the forms. You must NOT submit your filled out Form 202 on the NSERC Portal. At this stage, the FSc Machform and the FSc Machform only constitutes submission. If you are chosen to receive an award, you will be contacted with further instructions and then asked to submit materials on the NSERC portal as appropriate at a later date.

The following application materials are required and need to be completed by the student and their first choice supervisor:

STUDENTS

  • Fill out  
  • Forward Reference Number to first choice supervisor only
  • In a separate document, provide a one page Research Interest Statement describing your research interests, academic background (lab or course-related) and skills being brought to the project, knowledge and benefits that you hope to gain from the USRA experience and how the training environment aligns with your career goals and academic interests.
  • 91亚色 students do not need to upload their transcripts at this time. If your application is succesful in the competition, you will be contacted with instructions.
  • DO NOT press "submit" on the NSERC portal. Simply save a copy of PART I of Form 202 to your computer and upload the filled out version to the FSc Machform when you are ready to apply.

SUPERVISORS

  • Each supervisor can host up to a maximum of 2 students in Summer 2026
  • Fill out
  • Use the Reference Number forwarded from student. 
  • Describe a proposal that is unique to the student. This proposal must match the mandate of the funding agency (NSERC) (max. 1800 characters).
  • Provide a description of student鈥檚 role (max. 500 characters).
  • As per the guidelines, the quality of the training environment will be used to assess the application. Please include a brief training plan, either in the research proposal or student鈥檚 role section, that describes the proposed training including the type and extent of supervision and mentorship, the activities the student will participate in, the skills and other outcomes they will gain. Note that the inclusion of EDI considerations in research design makes research more ethically sound, rigorous and useful. Describe how these aspects will be addressed in research design if applicable.  
  • Indicate within the quality of the training and mentorship details that you have sufficient funds to support your portion of the student鈥檚 stipend and their consumable costs. For the USRAs and ENURAs, this year the supervisor鈥檚 contribution is $3856 per student over the 16 weeks. If a student is selected from another university to hold their award at 91亚色, the supervisor will be responsible for paying 4% vacation pay and 10% for benefits in addition to the $3856.
  • NOTE: For the Ace Acumen Heights Research Scholarships only, the supervisor's contribution is $6000. Ace Acumen Heights Research Scholarship student applicants must be from 91亚色 and must be international students enrolled in an FSc program. Supervisors must consider if they are willing to provide support at this level. If this is not possible, supervisors must inform student applicants they will not be accepting Ace Acumen Heights Research Scholarship applicants.
  • The research subject code must be chosen from this .
  • DO NOT press "submit" on the NSERC portal. Simply save a copy of PART II of Form 202 to your computer and send it to the student applicant so they can upload the filled out version to the FSc Machform when they are ready to apply.

IMPORTANT: Once all documents above (obtained through the NSERC online system) are complete, an electronic copy of the same must be submitted to the . The forms will be used by your Department to review and rank applications internally.

In order to apply, you must meet the following eligibility criteria: 

  • You are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada. NOTE: International students cannot hold NSERC USRAs but CAN hold ENURAs or Ace Acumen Heights Research Scholarhips.
  • You are registered (at the time you apply) in a bachelor鈥檚 degree program at an eligible university.
  • You have obtained, over the previous year(s) of study, a cumulative average of at least 鈥淏鈥. 
  • At the start of the award, you have completed the requirements for your first year of university study (two academic terms).

You are not eligible if:

  • You have previously received a total of three NSERC USRAs.
  • You are currently enrolled in an undergraduate professional degree program in the health sciences (e.g., MD, DDS, BScN).
Program LaunchJanuary 16, 2026
Information and Q&A SessionJanuary 28, 2026
Application Deadline for StudentsFebruary 16, 2026
Award AnnouncementEnd of March - Early April 2026
Award DurationApril 27, 2026 to August 14, 2026
Research ConferenceTBD (August 13 or 14, 2026)
ValueNSERC USRAs and ENURAs: $9,856 ($6,000 from NSERC + $3,856 from your supervisor)
Ace Acumen Heights Research Scholarships: $12,000 ($6,000 from Ace Acumen Heights + $6,000 from your supervisor)
Duration4 months (must be a consecutive 16-week period of full-time employment at 35h/week )

In Science, each department prepares their student rankings based on:

  • 60% Academic Excellence
    • Academic Record (transcript)
    • Scholarships and Awards
    • Duration of Studies (year of study)
    • Course Load
  • 30% Research Potential (Research Interest Statement provided by student)
    • Why is the student interested in applying for the USRA?
    • How will this award support their future career goals?
    • What relevant research related experience will support this award, if applicable?
  • 10% Quality of Training and Mentorship (Training and Mentorship Plan provided by supervisor using Form 202)
    • What mentoring and training plans are in place to ensure the success and enhanced learning of the student?

It is essential that departments ensure that students are qualified to apply for the awards. The departments must disclose the names of faculty members that ranked the applications. Faculty members that have agreed to supervise a student should not be on the departmental ranking committee. There is a maximum of two students per supervisor.

In addition:

  • Each department ranks the USRA applications they receive.
  • Due to increased tri-agency (NSERC, SSHRC and CIHR) support for under-represented groups, there will be 2 NSERC USRA awards, above the institutional limit, geared for Black student researchers. Self-identified Black student applicants in the Faculty of Science will be adjudicated by the Faculty of Science Research and Awards Committee.
  • Indigenous applicants (self identified) who meet eligibility requirements will be recommended for an award.

PLEASE NOTE: All documentation must be submitted by students internally by February 16, 2026 for adjudication by each Department using the .

Projects

In progress; 2026 projects will be added on an incoming basis.

PLEASE NOTE: These are just some of the projects that are available. It is recommended that as a student, you be proactive in reaching out directly supervisors that you are interested in working with as soon as possible to see if they are accepting USRA students. In order to apply, you must have agreed with a potential supervisor on a proposed project.

Project Title: Conserved regulation of divergent plant metabolic defenses

Supervisor: Nik Kovinich

Lab Website:

Contact Info: kovinich@yorku.ca

Project Description: Plants biosynthesize defense metabolites (i.e. phytoalexins) in response to pathogen attack. These metabolites, are diverse in chemical structure and biosynthetic origin among plant species and include the phenylalanine-derived glyceollins from soybean, the phenylpropanoid-derived stilbenes from grapevine, and the tyrosine-derived camalexins from the model plant Arabidopsis. All of these phytoalexins have unconventional anticancer activities that render them desirable for pharmaceutical development. Plants are the most economical source of many phytoalexins but biosynthesize them only transiently and in low amounts, limiting their commercial accessibility.

Despite that phytoalexins are biosynthesized from diverse biosynthetic pathways in different plant lineages, we have discovered that their biosynthesis is regulated by a conserved group of transcription factors. Now we aim to understand the mechanism, first by testing whether the conserved transcription factors directly bind and regulate the cis-acting elements of lineage-specific phytoalexin biosynthetic genes.

We currently have funding from an NSERC Discovery Grant for this USRA position.

Student Responsibilities: The student's role will be to identify gene targets of the transcription factors by conducting promoter-luciferase reporter assays and by assisting with chromatin-immunoprecipitation quantitative polymerase chain reaction (ChIP-qPCR).

Desired Background/Skills: The student will learn how to present scientific information through mentoring and by participating in weekly lab meetings. (S)he will receive one-on-one lab training from NSERC PGS-D student Ivan Monsalvo and from the Principle Investigator.

Project Title: Characterizing hormonal regulators and their signaling cascades in insect excretory organs

Supervisor: Jean-Paul Paluzzi

Lab Website:

Contact Info: paluzzi@yorku.ca

Project Description: Neuropeptides and their receptors play a central role in the regulation of most physiological processes in animals. Research in my laboratory is mainly focused on investigating the function of neuropeptides and their receptors in insects. To understand the role and importance of distinct neuropeptide systems, we combine in vitro, in vivo and heterologous high-throughput techniques. Recent evidence of successful implementation of these methods includes our studies on CAPA peptides, which we found activate their cognate receptor forming an essential anti-diuretic regulatory system in mosquitoes (Sajadi et al., 2018 J. Exp. Biol; Sajadi et al., 2020 Sci. Reports). Our latest advances in this area link anti-diuretic hormone control of the renal organs to inhibition of the V-type ATPase (known also as the proton pump), which drives secondary active transport along with osmotically obliged water (Sajadi et al., 2023 PNAS). This current project expands upon related hormones and their signaling cascades using a model organism, namely the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster. With the powerful genetic tools available, this study in the fly will examine the signaling cascade linking hormonal control of the renal organs. Specifically, given that most diuretic and anti-diuretic hormones signal via G protein-coupled receptors, we will use reverse genetics to identify downstream targets including a soluble guanylate cyclase (the enzyme responsible to increasing cGMP levels) and protein kinase G (kinase dependent upon cGMP) that are both critical for inhibition of the renal organs. This NSERC USRA project will include molecular, genetic, behavioural and physiological investigations of the above-mentioned and other regulators of the excretory system in insects.

Student Responsibilities: Student will help characterize key components involved in anti-diuretic hormone control of the insect renal organs. Student will rear insects for research by maintaining fly stocks, setting up crosses for experiments including reverse genetic screens, conduct physiological and behavioural bioassays to validate the role of critical enzymes and signaling molecules in control of the insect excretory system. Finally, student will collect and analyze data and present results during weekly meetings.

Desired Background/Skills: Currently enrolled in or previously completed animal physiology, genetics and molecular biology (or equivalent) courses with grades of >80% is preferred. Students with previous laboratory experience (practicum, RAY or other opportunity) is a bonus.

Project Title: Protein Motions in Cancer and Neurodegenerative Disease

Supervisor: Derek Wilson

Lab Website: 

Contact Info: dkwilson@yorku.ca

Project Description:

Our lab uses home-build devices combined with cutting edge bioanalytical mass spectrometry platforms to study the rapid - and sometimes dangerous - motions undergo as they carry out their biological roles (or go rogue and cause disease) in the cell. Our undergraduate projects will have you working with Tau protein - one of the two proteins that misfolds and clumps together in Alzheimer's disease - studying how phosphorylation by different enzymes causes it to shift it's 'conformational bias' from the 'safe' form you have in your brain right now to the 'dangerous' form that starts 'clumping' and neurodegeneration.

Student Responsibilities:

Students will: Learn to express and purify Tau protein; Learn to characterize Tau using 'native' mass spectrometry; Learn to conduct millisecond H/D exchange experiments to explore Tau conformational dynamics; Learn to phosphorylate Tau; Present their work at group meetings and conferences; Write up any novel / impactful findings!

Desired Background/Skills:

You'll need: To be an independent learner/thinker, ready to (eventually) work independently in the lab and read relevant background papers on your own; To be able to work as part of a team; To be ready to make the best of the opportunities working on a real-world, high level research project affords you! Some skills in biochemistry lab would be nice, but the ability to learn hands-on skills quickly and effectively is more important than pre-existing knowledge! Some knowledge of molecular-level biochemistry / structural biology would be nice, but the ability to quickly and holistically learn the biological background is more important!

Project Title: Characterizing intramolecular interactions in molecules of astrochemical or atmospheric interest

Supervisor: Jennifer van Wijngaarden

Lab Website: /vanwijng/

Contact Info: vanwijng@yorku.ca

Number of positions: 1

Project Description:

The conformer geometries and relative energy ordering of ethers and thioethers changes depending on the identity of the chalcogen bridge atom (O versus S) and the nature of the organic side chains. These geometric preferences reveal a great deal about the underlying intramolecular interactions that stabilize the molecular shapes. Fourier transform microwave (FTMW) spectroscopy is an excellent tool for probing mixtures of conformers as the molecules are probed in a solvent-free environment allowing bond lengths and angles to be extracted with great precision. In particular, this project will build on recent progress the group has made in studying such compounds to now explore the role of chalcogen atom in directing the positioning of amine or epoxide groups. This project will involve the measurement and analysis of the rotational spectra of these compounds and their minor isotopologues using two state-of-the-art spectrometers at 91亚色. The experimental results will be complemented with a computational study involving molecular dynamics and quantum chemical calculations to identify potential stable forms and their relative energies. The goal of the analysis is to derive accurate experimental geometries for each observed conformer and to use the computed electronic structure to rationalize the underlying reasons for stability. This project will extend our current knowledge of the forces that govern the potential energy landscape of organic ether and thioethers.

Student responsibilities:

The student will learn to use computational tools from Compute Canada to predict conformer structures and energies as well as their corresponding patterns of rotational transitions before using custom spectrometers to collect the experimental spectrum for comparison. Once the spectrum is collected (over several weeks), it will be fit and analyzed. Through this project, the student will be trained to use modern spectrometers (vacuum system, gas mixtures, electronics) and software and will gain an in-depth understanding of the underlying theory of rotational spectroscopy and its connection to molecular geometry.

Desired background/skills:

To get the most of this experience, the student should have successfully completed a course in quantum mechanics such as CHEM3010 or the PHYS equivalent.

Project Title: Efficiency of Bonus-Malus-System for Experience Rating

Supervisor: Jingyi Cao

Contact Info: jingyic@yorku.ca

Project Description: The Bonus-Malus System (BMS) is a mechanism used by insurance companies to adjust premiums based on an insured individual's claim history. Policyholders incur surcharges (maluses) if they file one or more claims, while they receive discounts (bonuses) if they remain claim-free.
This project evaluates the efficiency of the BMS from two perspectives:

  1. Adaptation to Risk Profile Changes 鈥 Examining whether the BMS fairly adjusts premiums in proportion to the actual risk each policyholder represents. The student will assess fairness using Loimaranta efficiency and De Pril efficiency.
  2. Optimal Policyholder Retention 鈥 Addressing the ex-ante moral hazard in rating systems, where policyholders may strategically decide whether to report small claims to avoid future premium increases. Recent studies by Cao, Li, Young, and Zou (2023, 2024) have analyzed optimal reporting strategies for both full and deductible insurance. The student will apply the classical Lemaire algorithm to determine the optimal retention level and explore potential extensions of these reporting strategies.

Student Responsibilities:

  1. Review the provided readings to gain an understanding of the modelling of the BMS.
  2. Apply the Loimoranta efficiency and De Pril efficiency calculations to analyze a given BMS.
  3. Conduct a literature review on the phenomenon of bonus hunger and reporting strategy, exploring both empirical evidence and theoretical framework.
  4. Implement the Lemaire algorithm to determine the optimal retention level.
  5. Investigate extensions of BMS that incorporate claim sizes.

Desired Background/Skills: Students should have completed MATH 2030, 2131, 2280. Preference will be given to students that have also completed MATH 4280 and MATH 4430.

Project Title: Social Homophily, Behavioural Dynamics, and Infectious Disease Transmission

Supervisor: Seyed Moghadas

Lab Website: /science/research/abm-lab/

Contact Info: moghadas@yorku.ca

Number of positions: 1 to 2

Project Description: Human behaviour plays a critical role in shaping the spread of communicable diseases. Beyond biological factors, patterns of social interaction such as who interacts with whom, and how individuals influence one another鈥檚 beliefs can substantially alter epidemic outcomes. This project focuses on the role of homophily (i.e., the tendency of individuals to preferentially interact with others who share similar attitudes or behaviours, and how such social clustering affects disease transmission and control. The student(s) will work on a mathematical and computational modelling project that extends classical epidemic models to incorporate attitude-driven contact patterns and behavioural change. The population is divided into groups based on vaccination attitudes, and disease transmission occurs through physical contacts structured by homophily. In addition, the model allows for attitude change through social influence, including both physical interactions and virtual exposure (e.g., social media). The project will explore how these interacting processes can lead to non-intuitive outcomes, such as large outbreaks occurring despite high overall vaccination coverage, or abrupt shifts in epidemic risk driven by social polarization. The student will contribute to developing and analyzing a system of differential equation models, implementing simulations and fitting to social data collected during the COVID-19 pandemic, and exploring how epidemic outcomes depend on key parameters such as the strength of homophily, contact rates, and persuasion probabilities. Emphasis will be placed on understanding mechanisms, not just producing simulations: why certain social structures amplify risk, how clustering redistributes infections across groups, and when simplifying assumptions (such as random mixing) break down. Expected outcomes include: (i) A working computational implementation of a homophily-based epidemic model; (ii) Quantitative results showing how social structure affects outbreak size and infection risk; (iii) Visualizations suitable for academic presentations and reports; (iv) A short written summary of findings, potentially contributing to a future manuscript or Summer Undergraduate Research Conference presentation. The project provides training at the interface of mathematics, data science, and public health, and is well suited for students interested in applied mathematics, epidemiology, computational modelling, or complex systems.

Student responsibilities: The undergraduate student(s) will work within a collaborative environment at the ABM-Lab to support ongoing research on behavioural and social drivers of infectious disease transmission. Specific responsibilities will include: (i) Learning and understanding compartmental epidemic models (e.g., SIR-type models) and their extensions to include behavioural and social processes; (ii) Assisting in the formulation and interpretation of models that incorporate homophily and attitude change; (iii) Implementing and modifying simulation code (e.g., using MATLAB, Julia, or Python) to explore model behaviour under different parameter settings; (iv) Fitting data and running numerical experiments to assess the impact of social clustering, vaccination attitudes, and behavioural feedback on epidemic outcomes; (v) Producing clear figures and plots that summarize simulation results and illustrate key mechanisms; (vi) Participating in regular weekly meetings at the ABM-Lab to discuss progress, challenges, and interpretation of results; and (vii) Maintaining organized code, documentation, and notes to ensure reproducibility. The student(s) will be encouraged to think critically about modelling assumptions, ask questions about interpretation, and contribute ideas for extensions or alternative scenarios. Depending on progress and interest, the student(s) may also assist with drafting short summaries of results or preparing materials for journal publications. The emphasis throughout will be on skill development, conceptual understanding, and exposure to real-world research problems.

Desired background/skills: Applicants should be undergraduate students enrolled in FSc programs (e.g., Applied, Mathematics, Statistics, Data Science) having strong interest in mathematical modelling or computational approaches to real-world problems. Desired background and skills include: (i) knowledge of differential equations or dynamical systems; (ii) Some experience with programming (e.g., MATLAB, Julia, Python, R, or similar); (iii) Comfort working with equations, simulations, and data analysis/visualization; and (iv) Willingness to learn new concepts in epidemiology and social dynamics. Prior experience with epidemic models, network theory, or agent-based modelling is an asset but not required. Strong analytical thinking, curiosity, and the ability to work independently with guidance are more important than specific technical expertise.

Project Title: Euclidean Ramsey Theory

Supervisor: Mohamed Omar

Contact Info: omarmo@yorku.ca

Project Description: Euclidean Ramsey Theory is a branch of extremal combinatorics that asks extremal questions about forced geometric configurations in prescribed point sets in Euclidean spaces. This project aims to use state-of-the-art techniques in extremal combinatorics, particularly the slice-rank and partition-rank polynomial methods, to improve state-of-the-art bounds in the area.

Student Responsibilities: 

  • A thorough literature review of recent techniques using slice-rank and partition-rank methods in Euclidean Ramsey Theory;
  • Using software to test the viability of these methods on various problems in the research field;
  • A thorough journal documenting the research process, written in latex
  • A draft of an article with all findings from the summer

Desired Background/Skills: Student should have taken Algebra I and Algebra II. At least one of Graph Theory or Combinatorics is recommended.

Project Title: Precision Metrology with Homebuilt Laser Systems

Supervisor: Ananthraman Kumarakrishnan

Lab Website: 

Contact Info: akumar@yorku.ca

Project Description:

My group has developed a new class of low cost, homebuilt, vacuum-sealed, auto- locking laser systems that can be frequency stabilized with respect to atomic, molecular, and temperature tunable solid state frequency markers without human intervention.
Summer research projects will focus on the applications of these laser systems in several exciting experiments that include:

  1. Ultra cold atom sensors that measure gravitational acceleration with high precision
  2. Optical lattices that can realize the most accurate measurement of a diffusion coefficient-a parameter that is required to model the performance of the most sensitive magnetometers
  3. Coherent transient experiments that are capable of realizing the most precise measurements of atomic lifetimes
  4. Free space optical tweezers that trap dielectric particles, and rapidly determine their masses by investigating kinematics on fast time scales

Student Responsibilities:

Development of individual research projects, assistance to graduate students

Desired Background/Skills:

Aptitude for experimental physics, willingness to take on challenging problems, hands on skills, computer interfacing.

Project Title: Analysis of exceptional quasar outflows

Supervisor: Patrick Hall

Lab Website:  phall@yorku.ca

Contact Info: /phall/HOME/astro.html

Project Description:

Quasars are disks of matter around supermassive black holes in galaxy cores which host inflows through the disk and outflows above and below the disk. My research group has access to a large database of spectroscopy and photometry of quasars from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. We have found quasars with exceptional emission and absorption properties related to outflows of matter from the quasars. We are modelling those properties to compare to the predictions of models of disks and their outflows. The specific quasar(s) to be studied in the project will be determined during the application project.

Student Responsibilities:

The student will learn about quasars through textbooks and lectures both online and in person. The student will work with Prof. Hall and his group on scientific programming for astronomy data analysis using python, MATLAB, etc., and is expected to contribute significantly to analyzing spectra and photometry and to writing up scientific results for publication in a peer-reviewed journal.

Desired Background/Skills:

High marks in all courses, especially in astronomy courses and in computational courses involving python (at minimum EECS 1541 or equivalent, and preferably PHYS 2030 or equivalent).

Project Title: Biophotonics measurements and modulation of living system

Supervisor: Ozzy Mermut

Lab Website: 

Contact Info: omermut@yorku.ca

Project Description: How do we manipulate bioluminescence? Pyrocystis fusiformis is bioluminescent alga found in coastal waters. The species is known for emitting a beautiful blue light when mechanically disturbed by its water environment and predators. This bioluminescence is produced by a chemical reaction involving luciferin-luciferase catalysis within scintillon organelles in the cell鈥檚 cytoplasm. This reaction is triggered by mechanical stress on the cell, however, the complete signaling mechanism is not well understood. What if we can control these organism鈥檚 bioluminescence behaviour with light stimulus? Thus, the goal of this project is to study the time-resolved bioluminescence behavior under different stimulator conditions with our novel fast an ultra-sensitive home-built photon-counting device. Ultimately, we aim to incorporate molecular optical photoswitches to photonically biomodulate the photosynthetic and bioluminescent behaviour of these fascinating single cell organisms.

Student Responsibilities: In this highly trans-disciplinary project, conducted collaboration with Chemistry and Physics collaborators, the biophysicist will learn development of biophotonics single photon counting setup to measure bioluminescence kinetics. The student will prepare and integrate optical photo-switching chromophores (azobenzenes) into the dinoflagellates and conduct biomodulation experiments with pump-probe spectroscopy, determining the energetic and kinetic properties.

Desired Background/Skills: The received training will be in biophysics, physics, photonics, and molecular time-domain spectroscopy instrumentation in a highly interdisciplinary team of physicists, chemists, computational scientists, and opto-electronic engineers. The student is expected to present at group meetings throughout the project for training and development of scientific communication skills. Students will be supported by the supervisor through weekly meetings.

Project Title: Studying Fast Radio Bursts with CHIME

Supervisor: Paul Scholz

Contact Info: pscholz@yorku.ca

Project Description: The Canadian Hydrogen Intensity Mapping Experiment (CHIME) is a revolutionary radio telescope, located in British Columbia. In its first five years of operation, CHIME has discovered hundreds of new Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs), and this discovery rate is expected to keep course if not further increase. FRBs are millisecond-long pulses of radio waves from far outside of our Galaxy of unknown origin. CHIME has brought about a new landscape in the FRB field; for the first time we are able to study FRB as a population. There are several potential projects using CHIME/FRB data including software and signal processing pipelines, data analysis and visualization. The student will have opportunities to develop skills in radio signal processing, Python programming, statistics, simulations, and machine learning.

Student Responsibilities: The student will work with Prof. Scholz and the wider CHIME/FRB team analyzing CHIME/FRB data and helping to develop/improve CHIME/FRB software pipelines using Python. Students will work in a collaborative and vibrant research environment through interactions with CHIME/FRB members at several other institutions. The student will give presentations and share results with the team.

Desired Background/Skills: Interest in astrophysics. Experience with programming, particularly in Python.

Project Title: Production of new dark forces at particle accelerators

Supervisor: Sean Tulin

Contact Info: stulin@yorku.ca

Project Description: Dark matter constitutes the most abundant form of matter in the Universe, shaping the evolution of cosmic structures through its gravitational influence. However, its fundamental nature remains elusive, as it cannot be explained within the current framework of fundamental physics. A key open question is whether dark matter interacts solely via gravity or if it experiences additional fundamental forces, analogous to electromagnetism and the nuclear interactions of ordinary matter. If dark matter possesses new fundamental forces, dark force bosons may be discovered in particle accelerator facilities, opening a window toward exploring dark matter physics in the laboratory.

Student Responsibilities: This research will employ theoretical modeling, data analysis, and numerical simulations to predict experimental signatures of novel dark force bosons. Student tasks will include: (1) learning particle physics models of dark matter and dark forces, (2) performing numerical fits to experimental data to determine key inputs needed to calculate the dark force production rate, and (3) performing numerical Monte Carlo simulations to model experimental signatures and detection rates for new physics signals at accelerator facilities.

Desired Background/Skills: Completion of PHYS 2030 or equivalent familiarity in Python.

Project Title: Studying Neutrino Interactions

Supervisor: Deborah Harris

Contact Info: deborahh@yorku.ca

Lab Web Site: /professor/deborahharris/

Number of positions: 1

Project Description: This job will involve analysis of data that was recorded by the MINERvA detector which operated at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory in Batavia, Illinois. The MINERvA experiment is designed to study the interactions of neutrinos in a variety of different nuclei in order to understand those interactions and how the nuclear environment modifies the particles that emerge from those interactions. This understanding is critical for neutrino experiments like DUNE and T2K, which measure the probability of neutrinos changing from one kind to another over time. Those measurements require experiments to simulate how neutrino energy is translated into energy that can be measured in a detector, since "time" for a particle changes depending on that particle's energy (known as "time dilation" in special relativity).

Student responsibilities: Part of the work will involve developing new analysis code to extract measurements of the probability that neutrinos interact as a function of the momentum of the outgoing particles from the interaction. Since neutrinos are neutral they leave no trace in the detector until they interact with a nucleus (or electron) in the detector to create or boost charged particles which then leave signals as they cross different detector elements. Another part of this job involves contributing to the efforts of the collaboration to run simulations of the experiment which allow uncertainties on the measurements to be evaluated. Those simulations are often more CPU time-consuming than analyzing data because the experiment relies on simulations that are many times the statistics of the data samples. The job will also involve preparing or improving documentation on how to use the collaboration's computing infrasturcture, and possibly documentation for undergraduates on how the MINERvA detector and associated neutrino beamline works.

Desired background/skills: The successful applicant will be able to program in C++, Python, and ROOT (or be willing to develop their skills with online tutorials), and will be able to work effectively in a linux environment. The job will involve using the software infrastructure that is being written by the collaboration, and contributing to that infrastructure. The successful applicant will be able to work independently, and to present their results clearly at occasional meetings with the MINERvA and DUNE Collaborations. Since many presentations will have to be through zoom, the successful applicant will also have access to reasonably good internet to allow effective communication through online platforms (mostly by being on the 91亚色 campus but some amount of remote work is also an option depending on the independence and coding skill of the successful applicant).

Contacts by Department

Nicole NivillacUndergraduate Program Directorupdbiol@yorku.ca
 Derek JacksonUndergraduate Program Directorchemupd@yorku.ca

Ada Sze Sze ChanAssociate Professorssachan@yorku.ca

Patrick HallUndergraduate Program Directorphasupd@yorku.ca

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]]> Balzan Prizes /science/py-community-area/science-awards-in-ontario/balzan-prizes/ Sun, 22 Feb 2026 06:34:37 +0000 /science/?page_id=42230 Details Award Name Balzan Prizes Agency International Balzan Prize Foundation听 Value 750,000 Swiss Francs ($1.3M CDN) Deadlines Notice of interest to SIRI (by email to aimee19@yorku.ca) 02-23-2026 Draft materials for SIRI review and VPRI nomination letter 03-02-2026 Final SIRI Technical Review 03-10-2026 Application due at agency  03-13-2026 Background The four Balzan Prizes are awarded to […]

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Details
Award NameBalzan Prizes
AgencyInternational Balzan Prize Foundation听
Value750,000 Swiss Francs ($1.3M CDN)
Deadlines
Notice of interest to SIRI (by email to aimee19@yorku.ca)02-23-2026
Draft materials for SIRI review and VPRI nomination letter03-02-2026
Final SIRI Technical Review03-10-2026
Application due at agency 03-13-2026
Background

The four Balzan Prizes are awarded to scholars, artists, and scientists who have distinguished themselves in their fields on an international level. The General Prize Committee announced that the 2026 Balzan Prizes will be awarded in the following categories:

  • The Social Science of Digital Technology
  • Jewish Studies
  • Biodegradable Polymers from Renewable Sources
  • Molecular Evolution: Decoding Patterns of Genomic Change

Prize winners must designate half of their awards for research projects conducted, preferably, by emerging humanists and scientists.
Prizes may be awarded to individuals or to small working teams who have produced results jointly. More than one candidate may be nominated for each prize subject. Self-nominations are not accepted.

Required Materials
  • a report (maximum two pages) on the reasons for which the nomination is being submitted (in Italian, French, English or German), in which three of the candidate鈥檚 unique aspects that have had the greatest scientific impact on the subject area of the award must be illustrated;
  • a list of the candidate鈥檚 five most significant publications;
  • a complete and detailed bibliography of the candidate, including any translations;
  • a curriculum vitae specifying, among other things, the position currently held, the main academic activities carried out, place and date of birth, nationality, residence and address;
  • a recent photograph (in high resolution, jpg), complete with copyright where applicable;

For candidates in the physical, mathematical, natural sciences and medicine:

  • a report (maximum 2 pages) on the reasons for which the nomination is being submitted (in Italian, French, English or German);
  • a brief description (one paragraph, in non-specialist language/terms) of the most significant results obtained by the candidate with reference to the subject area of the award;
  • a list of the ten most important publications (complete with bibliographical citations): one or two should be highlighted as recommended reading for non-specialists;
  • a curriculum vitae specifying, among other things, the position currently held, the main academic activities carried out, place and date of birth, nationality, residence and address;
  • a recent photograph (in high resolution, jpg), complete with copyright where applicable.
How to Apply

Any nominee who would like to be put forward by 91亚色 must contact the Strategic and Institutional Research Initiatives (SIRI) team to develop the nominations.
Interested nominees are asked to notify Aim茅e Mitchell (by email to aimee19@yorku.ca) by February 23, 2026.

91亚色 researchers are reminded that all applications for external research funding, including Letters of Intent, must be reviewed and approved by the Office of Research Services before they are submitted to the granting agency.  For internal approval, the application must be accompanied by a completed ORS Checklist, which requires the Dean鈥檚 signature.  Please send the complete application, with the finalized budget and a completed  to sciapps@yorku.ca, five days prior to agency deadline.

ORS is accepting electronic applications 鈥 the process is outlined .

For specific questions, please contact FSc Research Services at sciapps@yorku.ca

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]]> StrokeGoRed听Clinical and Research Training Award /science/py-community-area/science-awards-in-ontario/strokegored-clinical-and-research-training-award/ Tue, 17 Feb 2026 01:13:07 +0000 /science/?page_id=42117 Details Award Name Clinical and Research Training Award Agency StrokeGoRed Value Salary support of $30,000 Overhead Ineligible Duration 1 year Deadlines Application and fully signed ORS checklist due to听FSc RO at听sciapps@yorku.ca听蹿辞谤听optional听full review 03-19-2026 Application and fully signed ORS checklist due to FSc RO at sciapps@yorku.ca for mandatory review 03-26-2026 Final application & ORS checklist due to ORS 03-31-2026, by 9:00AM […]

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Details
Award Name
AgencyStrokeGoRed
ValueSalary support of $30,000
OverheadIneligible
Duration1 year
Deadlines
Application and fully signed ORS checklist due to听FSc RO at听sciapps@yorku.ca听蹿辞谤听optional听full review03-19-2026
Application and fully signed ORS checklist due to FSc RO at sciapps@yorku.ca for mandatory review03-26-2026
Final application & ORS checklist due to ORS03-31-2026, by 9:00AM
Full proposal due at agency04-02-2026

Please contact your Faculty Research Office for information on their internal deadlines.

Scope

To support the training of future experts in neurovascular medicine in Canada whose scholarly work focuses on sex-and gender-based analysis (SGBA) in stroke diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation.

Eligibility

  • Must have been accepted into a recognized Canadian Stroke Fellowship Program, Canadian Stroke Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Fellowship Program, or a research Post-Doctoral Fellowship position in a Canadian institution, with a start date before December 31, 2026.
  • Must not simultaneously receive another full salary award from a national or provincial funding agency or a non-profit organization (鈥渇ull鈥 representing 90% or more of the fellow鈥檚 salary).
  • Must have at least 30% protected research time with a written commitment by their supervisor/institution.
  • Must be a Canadian resident or permanent resident or hold a valid Canadian work permit or student visa. Must be engaged in scholarly work focused on sex- and gender- based-analysis (SGBA) in stroke diagnosis, treatment, or rehabilitation during their training. This may take the form of a research project (clinical, epidemiological, or basic science), a robust quality-improvement project, or the development of educational tools and platforms.
How to Apply

For post-doctoral applications, please contact Kim McIntyre, post-doctoral services coordinator, at kimmcint@yorku.ca.

91亚色 researchers are reminded that all applications for external research funding, including Letters of Intent, must be reviewed and approved by the Office of Research Services before they are submitted to the granting agency.  For internal approval, the application must be accompanied by a completed ORS Checklist, which requires the Dean鈥檚 signature.  Please send the complete application, with the finalized budget and a completed  to sciapps@yorku.ca, five days prior to agency deadline.

ORS is accepting electronic applications 鈥 the process is outlined .

For specific questions, please contact FSc Research Services at sciapps@yorku.ca

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]]> NSERC USRA, ENURA & Ace Acumen Heights Research Scholarships 鈥 Summer 2026 /science/research/nserc-usras-enuras-summer-2026/ Mon, 12 Jan 2026 18:52:46 +0000 /science/?page_id=41359 NSERC USRA Program Website 2025 Summer Undergraduate Research Conference Booklet The Faculty of Science (FSc) at 91亚色 is inviting undergraduate students to apply for the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council's (NSERC) Undergraduate Student Research Awards (USRAs) for Summer 2026. NSERC USRAs are meant to nurture your interest and fully develop your potential for […]

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2025 Summer Undergraduate Research Conference Booklet

The Faculty of Science (FSc) at 91亚色 is inviting undergraduate students to apply for the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council's (NSERC) Undergraduate Student Research Awards (USRAs) for Summer 2026.

NSERC USRAs are meant to nurture your interest and fully develop your potential for a research career in the Natural Sciences and Engineering (NSE) disciplines. They are also meant to encourage you to undertake graduate studies in these fields by providing research work experience that complements your studies in an academic setting. For Summer 2026, FSc has been allotted 20 NSERC USRAs + 2 NSERC USRAS for self-identified Black students.

In addition to the NSERC USRAs, FSc will be providing 12 awards known as the Earle Nestmann Undergraduate Research Awards (ENURAs). These have been made possible in part through a generous donation from FSc Alumnus, Earle Nestmann and FSc.

Note that for the first time this year, FSc will also be offering 2 Undergraduate Research Awards for International students only. These are sponsored jointly through a contribution from co-educational institution, Ace Acumen Heights and an FSc supervisor. These are called the Ace Acumen Heights Research Scholarships. To apply for these scholarships, you must be an FSc International student who has obtained the agreement of their prospective supervisor indicating that the supervisor is able and willing to make the required matching $6,000 contribution. Applicants must note on the FSc Machform that they are specifically applying for the Ace Acumen Heights Research Scholarship with the expressed agreement and permission of their prospective supervisor.

NSERC and FSc encourage qualified Indigenous and Black students to apply for all of the above summer research awards.

NSERC USRAs

16

weeks of funding

20

NSERC USRAs available for FSc students

2

Additional NSERC USRAs available for self-identified Black FSc students

$9,856

in total value - $6,000 paid by NSERC, $3,856 paid by FSc supervisor

ENURAs

16

weeks of funding

12

ENURAs available for FSc students

$9,856

in total value - $6,000 paid by Earle Nestmann, $3,856 paid by FSc supervisor

Ace Acumen Heights Research Scholarships

16

weeks of funding

2

scholarships available for FSc International students

$12,000

in total value - $6,000 paid by Ace Acumen Heights, $6,000 paid by FSc supervisor

Information Sessions and Resources

The FSc USRA Summer 2026 Info Session and Q&A was hosted by FSc Research Services and held on zoom on Wednesday January 28, 2026 from 1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.

View 2026 Info Session Slides | (Zoom sign-in required)

Award Information

Please note, all applicants will follow the same procedure. Students must identify at least one and up to a maximum of 2 supervisors willing to support their application. The supervisor(s) must explicitly agree to this support. This applies in the case of both supervisor of first choice and supervisor of second choice.

IMPORTANT: Application is a 2 step process. It consists of obtaining and filling out NSERC forms via NSERC's online portal and then saving and uploading a copy of these forms and other required documents to the To be clear, accessing the NSERC portal is done only to allow you to access the forms. You must NOT submit your filled out Form 202 on the NSERC Portal. At this stage, the FSc Machform and the FSc Machform only constitutes submission. If you are chosen to receive an award, you will be contacted with further instructions and then asked to submit materials on the NSERC portal as appropriate at a later date.

The following application materials are required and need to be completed by the student and their first choice supervisor:

STUDENTS

  • Fill out  
  • Forward Reference Number to first choice supervisor only
  • In a separate document, provide a one page Research Interest Statement describing your research interests, academic background (lab or course-related) and skills being brought to the project, knowledge and benefits that you hope to gain from the USRA experience and how the training environment aligns with your career goals and academic interests.
  • 91亚色 students do not need to upload their transcripts at this time. If your application is succesful in the competition, you will be contacted with instructions.
  • DO NOT press "submit" on the NSERC portal. Simply save a copy of PART I of Form 202 to your computer and upload the filled out version to the FSc Machform when you are ready to apply.

SUPERVISORS

  • Each supervisor can host up to a maximum of 2 students in Summer 2026
  • Fill out
  • Use the Reference Number forwarded from student. 
  • Describe a proposal that is unique to the student. This proposal must match the mandate of the funding agency (NSERC) (max. 1800 characters).
  • Provide a description of student鈥檚 role (max. 500 characters).
  • As per the guidelines, the quality of the training environment will be used to assess the application. Please include a brief training plan, either in the research proposal or student鈥檚 role section, that describes the proposed training including the type and extent of supervision and mentorship, the activities the student will participate in, the skills and other outcomes they will gain. Note that the inclusion of EDI considerations in research design makes research more ethically sound, rigorous and useful. Describe how these aspects will be addressed in research design if applicable.  
  • Indicate within the quality of the training and mentorship details that you have sufficient funds to support your portion of the student鈥檚 stipend and their consumable costs. For the USRAs and ENURAs, this year the supervisor鈥檚 contribution is $3856 per student over the 16 weeks. If a student is selected from another university to hold their award at 91亚色, the supervisor will be responsible for paying 4% vacation pay and 10% for benefits in addition to the $3856.
  • NOTE: For the Ace Acumen Heights Research Scholarships only, the supervisor's contribution is $6000. Ace Acumen Heights Research Scholarship student applicants must be from 91亚色 and must be international students enrolled in an FSc program. Supervisors must consider if they are willing to provide support at this level. If this is not possible, supervisors must inform student applicants they will not be accepting Ace Acumen Heights Research Scholarship applicants.
  • The research subject code must be chosen from this .
  • DO NOT press "submit" on the NSERC portal. Simply save a copy of PART II of Form 202 to your computer and send it to the student applicant so they can upload the filled out version to the FSc Machform when they are ready to apply.

IMPORTANT: Once all documents above (obtained through the NSERC online system) are complete, an electronic copy of the same must be submitted to the . The forms will be used by your Department to review and rank applications internally.

In order to apply, you must meet the following eligibility criteria: 

  • You are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada. NOTE: International students cannot hold NSERC USRAs but CAN hold ENURAs or Ace Acumen Heights Research Scholarhips.
  • You are registered (at the time you apply) in a bachelor鈥檚 degree program at an eligible university.
  • You have obtained, over the previous year(s) of study, a cumulative average of at least 鈥淏鈥. 
  • At the start of the award, you have completed the requirements for your first year of university study (two academic terms).

You are not eligible if:

  • You have previously received a total of three NSERC USRAs.
  • You are currently enrolled in an undergraduate professional degree program in the health sciences (e.g., MD, DDS, BScN).
Program LaunchJanuary 16, 2026
Information and Q&A SessionJanuary 28, 2026
Application Deadline for StudentsFebruary 16, 2026
Award AnnouncementEnd of March - Early April 2026
Award DurationApril 27, 2026 to August 14, 2026
Research ConferenceTBD (August 13 or 14, 2026)
ValueNSERC USRAs and ENURAs: $9,856 ($6,000 from NSERC + $3,856 from your supervisor)
Ace Acumen Heights Research Scholarships: $12,000 ($6,000 from Ace Acumen Heights + $6,000 from your supervisor)
Duration4 months (must be a consecutive 16-week period of full-time employment at 35h/week )

In Science, each department prepares their student rankings based on:

  • 60% Academic Excellence
    • Academic Record (transcript)
    • Scholarships and Awards
    • Duration of Studies (year of study)
    • Course Load
  • 30% Research Potential (Research Interest Statement provided by student)
    • Why is the student interested in applying for the USRA?
    • How will this award support their future career goals?
    • What relevant research related experience will support this award, if applicable?
  • 10% Quality of Training and Mentorship (Training and Mentorship Plan provided by supervisor using Form 202)
    • What mentoring and training plans are in place to ensure the success and enhanced learning of the student?

It is essential that departments ensure that students are qualified to apply for the awards. The departments must disclose the names of faculty members that ranked the applications. Faculty members that have agreed to supervise a student should not be on the departmental ranking committee. There is a maximum of two students per supervisor.

In addition:

  • Each department ranks the USRA applications they receive.
  • Due to increased tri-agency (NSERC, SSHRC and CIHR) support for under-represented groups, there will be 2 NSERC USRA awards, above the institutional limit, geared for Black student researchers. Self-identified Black student applicants in the Faculty of Science will be adjudicated by the Faculty of Science Research and Awards Committee.
  • Indigenous applicants (self identified) who meet eligibility requirements will be recommended for an award.

PLEASE NOTE: All documentation must be submitted by students internally by February 16, 2026 for adjudication by each Department using the .

Projects

In progress; 2026 projects will be added on an incoming basis.

PLEASE NOTE: These are just some of the projects that are available. It is recommended that as a student, you be proactive in reaching out directly supervisors that you are interested in working with as soon as possible to see if they are accepting USRA students. In order to apply, you must have agreed with a potential supervisor on a proposed project.

Project Title: Conserved regulation of divergent plant metabolic defenses

Supervisor: Nik Kovinich

Lab Website:

Contact Info: kovinich@yorku.ca

Project Description: Plants biosynthesize defense metabolites (i.e. phytoalexins) in response to pathogen attack. These metabolites, are diverse in chemical structure and biosynthetic origin among plant species and include the phenylalanine-derived glyceollins from soybean, the phenylpropanoid-derived stilbenes from grapevine, and the tyrosine-derived camalexins from the model plant Arabidopsis. All of these phytoalexins have unconventional anticancer activities that render them desirable for pharmaceutical development. Plants are the most economical source of many phytoalexins but biosynthesize them only transiently and in low amounts, limiting their commercial accessibility.

Despite that phytoalexins are biosynthesized from diverse biosynthetic pathways in different plant lineages, we have discovered that their biosynthesis is regulated by a conserved group of transcription factors. Now we aim to understand the mechanism, first by testing whether the conserved transcription factors directly bind and regulate the cis-acting elements of lineage-specific phytoalexin biosynthetic genes.

We currently have funding from an NSERC Discovery Grant for this USRA position.

Student Responsibilities: The student's role will be to identify gene targets of the transcription factors by conducting promoter-luciferase reporter assays and by assisting with chromatin-immunoprecipitation quantitative polymerase chain reaction (ChIP-qPCR).

Desired Background/Skills: The student will learn how to present scientific information through mentoring and by participating in weekly lab meetings. (S)he will receive one-on-one lab training from NSERC PGS-D student Ivan Monsalvo and from the Principle Investigator.

Project Title: Characterizing hormonal regulators and their signaling cascades in insect excretory organs

Supervisor: Jean-Paul Paluzzi

Lab Website:

Contact Info: paluzzi@yorku.ca

Project Description: Neuropeptides and their receptors play a central role in the regulation of most physiological processes in animals. Research in my laboratory is mainly focused on investigating the function of neuropeptides and their receptors in insects. To understand the role and importance of distinct neuropeptide systems, we combine in vitro, in vivo and heterologous high-throughput techniques. Recent evidence of successful implementation of these methods includes our studies on CAPA peptides, which we found activate their cognate receptor forming an essential anti-diuretic regulatory system in mosquitoes (Sajadi et al., 2018 J. Exp. Biol; Sajadi et al., 2020 Sci. Reports). Our latest advances in this area link anti-diuretic hormone control of the renal organs to inhibition of the V-type ATPase (known also as the proton pump), which drives secondary active transport along with osmotically obliged water (Sajadi et al., 2023 PNAS). This current project expands upon related hormones and their signaling cascades using a model organism, namely the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster. With the powerful genetic tools available, this study in the fly will examine the signaling cascade linking hormonal control of the renal organs. Specifically, given that most diuretic and anti-diuretic hormones signal via G protein-coupled receptors, we will use reverse genetics to identify downstream targets including a soluble guanylate cyclase (the enzyme responsible to increasing cGMP levels) and protein kinase G (kinase dependent upon cGMP) that are both critical for inhibition of the renal organs. This NSERC USRA project will include molecular, genetic, behavioural and physiological investigations of the above-mentioned and other regulators of the excretory system in insects.

Student Responsibilities: Student will help characterize key components involved in anti-diuretic hormone control of the insect renal organs. Student will rear insects for research by maintaining fly stocks, setting up crosses for experiments including reverse genetic screens, conduct physiological and behavioural bioassays to validate the role of critical enzymes and signaling molecules in control of the insect excretory system. Finally, student will collect and analyze data and present results during weekly meetings.

Desired Background/Skills: Currently enrolled in or previously completed animal physiology, genetics and molecular biology (or equivalent) courses with grades of >80% is preferred. Students with previous laboratory experience (practicum, RAY or other opportunity) is a bonus.

Project Title: Protein Motions in Cancer and Neurodegenerative Disease

Supervisor: Derek Wilson

Lab Website: 

Contact Info: dkwilson@yorku.ca

Project Description:

Our lab uses home-build devices combined with cutting edge bioanalytical mass spectrometry platforms to study the rapid - and sometimes dangerous - motions undergo as they carry out their biological roles (or go rogue and cause disease) in the cell. Our undergraduate projects will have you working with Tau protein - one of the two proteins that misfolds and clumps together in Alzheimer's disease - studying how phosphorylation by different enzymes causes it to shift it's 'conformational bias' from the 'safe' form you have in your brain right now to the 'dangerous' form that starts 'clumping' and neurodegeneration.

Student Responsibilities:

Students will: Learn to express and purify Tau protein; Learn to characterize Tau using 'native' mass spectrometry; Learn to conduct millisecond H/D exchange experiments to explore Tau conformational dynamics; Learn to phosphorylate Tau; Present their work at group meetings and conferences; Write up any novel / impactful findings!

Desired Background/Skills:

You'll need: To be an independent learner/thinker, ready to (eventually) work independently in the lab and read relevant background papers on your own; To be able to work as part of a team; To be ready to make the best of the opportunities working on a real-world, high level research project affords you! Some skills in biochemistry lab would be nice, but the ability to learn hands-on skills quickly and effectively is more important than pre-existing knowledge! Some knowledge of molecular-level biochemistry / structural biology would be nice, but the ability to quickly and holistically learn the biological background is more important!

Project Title: Characterizing intramolecular interactions in molecules of astrochemical or atmospheric interest

Supervisor: Jennifer van Wijngaarden

Lab Website: /vanwijng/

Contact Info: vanwijng@yorku.ca

Number of positions: 1

Project Description:

The conformer geometries and relative energy ordering of ethers and thioethers changes depending on the identity of the chalcogen bridge atom (O versus S) and the nature of the organic side chains. These geometric preferences reveal a great deal about the underlying intramolecular interactions that stabilize the molecular shapes. Fourier transform microwave (FTMW) spectroscopy is an excellent tool for probing mixtures of conformers as the molecules are probed in a solvent-free environment allowing bond lengths and angles to be extracted with great precision. In particular, this project will build on recent progress the group has made in studying such compounds to now explore the role of chalcogen atom in directing the positioning of amine or epoxide groups. This project will involve the measurement and analysis of the rotational spectra of these compounds and their minor isotopologues using two state-of-the-art spectrometers at 91亚色. The experimental results will be complemented with a computational study involving molecular dynamics and quantum chemical calculations to identify potential stable forms and their relative energies. The goal of the analysis is to derive accurate experimental geometries for each observed conformer and to use the computed electronic structure to rationalize the underlying reasons for stability. This project will extend our current knowledge of the forces that govern the potential energy landscape of organic ether and thioethers.

Student responsibilities:

The student will learn to use computational tools from Compute Canada to predict conformer structures and energies as well as their corresponding patterns of rotational transitions before using custom spectrometers to collect the experimental spectrum for comparison. Once the spectrum is collected (over several weeks), it will be fit and analyzed. Through this project, the student will be trained to use modern spectrometers (vacuum system, gas mixtures, electronics) and software and will gain an in-depth understanding of the underlying theory of rotational spectroscopy and its connection to molecular geometry.

Desired background/skills:

To get the most of this experience, the student should have successfully completed a course in quantum mechanics such as CHEM3010 or the PHYS equivalent.

Project Title: Efficiency of Bonus-Malus-System for Experience Rating

Supervisor: Jingyi Cao

Contact Info: jingyic@yorku.ca

Project Description: The Bonus-Malus System (BMS) is a mechanism used by insurance companies to adjust premiums based on an insured individual's claim history. Policyholders incur surcharges (maluses) if they file one or more claims, while they receive discounts (bonuses) if they remain claim-free.
This project evaluates the efficiency of the BMS from two perspectives:

  1. Adaptation to Risk Profile Changes 鈥 Examining whether the BMS fairly adjusts premiums in proportion to the actual risk each policyholder represents. The student will assess fairness using Loimaranta efficiency and De Pril efficiency.
  2. Optimal Policyholder Retention 鈥 Addressing the ex-ante moral hazard in rating systems, where policyholders may strategically decide whether to report small claims to avoid future premium increases. Recent studies by Cao, Li, Young, and Zou (2023, 2024) have analyzed optimal reporting strategies for both full and deductible insurance. The student will apply the classical Lemaire algorithm to determine the optimal retention level and explore potential extensions of these reporting strategies.

Student Responsibilities:

  1. Review the provided readings to gain an understanding of the modelling of the BMS.
  2. Apply the Loimoranta efficiency and De Pril efficiency calculations to analyze a given BMS.
  3. Conduct a literature review on the phenomenon of bonus hunger and reporting strategy, exploring both empirical evidence and theoretical framework.
  4. Implement the Lemaire algorithm to determine the optimal retention level.
  5. Investigate extensions of BMS that incorporate claim sizes.

Desired Background/Skills: Students should have completed MATH 2030, 2131, 2280. Preference will be given to students that have also completed MATH 4280 and MATH 4430.

Project Title: Social Homophily, Behavioural Dynamics, and Infectious Disease Transmission

Supervisor: Seyed Moghadas

Lab Website: /science/research/abm-lab/

Contact Info: moghadas@yorku.ca

Number of positions: 1 to 2

Project Description: Human behaviour plays a critical role in shaping the spread of communicable diseases. Beyond biological factors, patterns of social interaction such as who interacts with whom, and how individuals influence one another鈥檚 beliefs can substantially alter epidemic outcomes. This project focuses on the role of homophily (i.e., the tendency of individuals to preferentially interact with others who share similar attitudes or behaviours, and how such social clustering affects disease transmission and control. The student(s) will work on a mathematical and computational modelling project that extends classical epidemic models to incorporate attitude-driven contact patterns and behavioural change. The population is divided into groups based on vaccination attitudes, and disease transmission occurs through physical contacts structured by homophily. In addition, the model allows for attitude change through social influence, including both physical interactions and virtual exposure (e.g., social media). The project will explore how these interacting processes can lead to non-intuitive outcomes, such as large outbreaks occurring despite high overall vaccination coverage, or abrupt shifts in epidemic risk driven by social polarization. The student will contribute to developing and analyzing a system of differential equation models, implementing simulations and fitting to social data collected during the COVID-19 pandemic, and exploring how epidemic outcomes depend on key parameters such as the strength of homophily, contact rates, and persuasion probabilities. Emphasis will be placed on understanding mechanisms, not just producing simulations: why certain social structures amplify risk, how clustering redistributes infections across groups, and when simplifying assumptions (such as random mixing) break down. Expected outcomes include: (i) A working computational implementation of a homophily-based epidemic model; (ii) Quantitative results showing how social structure affects outbreak size and infection risk; (iii) Visualizations suitable for academic presentations and reports; (iv) A short written summary of findings, potentially contributing to a future manuscript or Summer Undergraduate Research Conference presentation. The project provides training at the interface of mathematics, data science, and public health, and is well suited for students interested in applied mathematics, epidemiology, computational modelling, or complex systems.

Student responsibilities: The undergraduate student(s) will work within a collaborative environment at the ABM-Lab to support ongoing research on behavioural and social drivers of infectious disease transmission. Specific responsibilities will include: (i) Learning and understanding compartmental epidemic models (e.g., SIR-type models) and their extensions to include behavioural and social processes; (ii) Assisting in the formulation and interpretation of models that incorporate homophily and attitude change; (iii) Implementing and modifying simulation code (e.g., using MATLAB, Julia, or Python) to explore model behaviour under different parameter settings; (iv) Fitting data and running numerical experiments to assess the impact of social clustering, vaccination attitudes, and behavioural feedback on epidemic outcomes; (v) Producing clear figures and plots that summarize simulation results and illustrate key mechanisms; (vi) Participating in regular weekly meetings at the ABM-Lab to discuss progress, challenges, and interpretation of results; and (vii) Maintaining organized code, documentation, and notes to ensure reproducibility. The student(s) will be encouraged to think critically about modelling assumptions, ask questions about interpretation, and contribute ideas for extensions or alternative scenarios. Depending on progress and interest, the student(s) may also assist with drafting short summaries of results or preparing materials for journal publications. The emphasis throughout will be on skill development, conceptual understanding, and exposure to real-world research problems.

Desired background/skills: Applicants should be undergraduate students enrolled in FSc programs (e.g., Applied, Mathematics, Statistics, Data Science) having strong interest in mathematical modelling or computational approaches to real-world problems. Desired background and skills include: (i) knowledge of differential equations or dynamical systems; (ii) Some experience with programming (e.g., MATLAB, Julia, Python, R, or similar); (iii) Comfort working with equations, simulations, and data analysis/visualization; and (iv) Willingness to learn new concepts in epidemiology and social dynamics. Prior experience with epidemic models, network theory, or agent-based modelling is an asset but not required. Strong analytical thinking, curiosity, and the ability to work independently with guidance are more important than specific technical expertise.

Project Title: Euclidean Ramsey Theory

Supervisor: Mohamed Omar

Contact Info: omarmo@yorku.ca

Project Description: Euclidean Ramsey Theory is a branch of extremal combinatorics that asks extremal questions about forced geometric configurations in prescribed point sets in Euclidean spaces. This project aims to use state-of-the-art techniques in extremal combinatorics, particularly the slice-rank and partition-rank polynomial methods, to improve state-of-the-art bounds in the area.

Student Responsibilities:听

  • A thorough literature review of recent techniques using slice-rank and partition-rank methods in Euclidean Ramsey Theory;
  • Using software to test the viability of these methods on various problems in the research field;
  • A thorough journal documenting the research process, written in latex
  • A draft of an article with all findings from the summer

Desired Background/Skills: Student should have taken Algebra I and Algebra II. At least one of Graph Theory or Combinatorics is recommended.

Project Title: Precision Metrology with Homebuilt Laser Systems

Supervisor: Ananthraman Kumarakrishnan

Lab Website: 

Contact Info: akumar@yorku.ca

Project Description:

My group has developed a new class of low cost, homebuilt, vacuum-sealed, auto- locking laser systems that can be frequency stabilized with respect to atomic, molecular, and temperature tunable solid state frequency markers without human intervention.
Summer research projects will focus on the applications of these laser systems in several exciting experiments that include:

  1. Ultra cold atom sensors that measure gravitational acceleration with high precision
  2. Optical lattices that can realize the most accurate measurement of a diffusion coefficient-a parameter that is required to model the performance of the most sensitive magnetometers
  3. Coherent transient experiments that are capable of realizing the most precise measurements of atomic lifetimes
  4. Free space optical tweezers that trap dielectric particles, and rapidly determine their masses by investigating kinematics on fast time scales

Student Responsibilities:

Development of individual research projects, assistance to graduate students

Desired Background/Skills:

Aptitude for experimental physics, willingness to take on challenging problems, hands on skills, computer interfacing.

Project Title: Analysis of exceptional quasar outflows

Supervisor: Patrick Hall

Lab Website:  phall@yorku.ca

Contact Info: /phall/HOME/astro.html

Project Description:

Quasars are disks of matter around supermassive black holes in galaxy cores which host inflows through the disk and outflows above and below the disk. My research group has access to a large database of spectroscopy and photometry of quasars from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. We have found quasars with exceptional emission and absorption properties related to outflows of matter from the quasars. We are modelling those properties to compare to the predictions of models of disks and their outflows. The specific quasar(s) to be studied in the project will be determined during the application project.

Student Responsibilities:

The student will learn about quasars through textbooks and lectures both online and in person. The student will work with Prof. Hall and his group on scientific programming for astronomy data analysis using python, MATLAB, etc., and is expected to contribute significantly to analyzing spectra and photometry and to writing up scientific results for publication in a peer-reviewed journal.

Desired Background/Skills:

High marks in all courses, especially in astronomy courses and in computational courses involving python (at minimum EECS 1541 or equivalent, and preferably PHYS 2030 or equivalent).

Project Title: Biophotonics measurements and modulation of living system

Supervisor: Ozzy Mermut

Lab Website: 

Contact Info: omermut@yorku.ca

Project Description: How do we manipulate bioluminescence? Pyrocystis fusiformis is bioluminescent alga found in coastal waters. The species is known for emitting a beautiful blue light when mechanically disturbed by its water environment and predators. This bioluminescence is produced by a chemical reaction involving luciferin-luciferase catalysis within scintillon organelles in the cell鈥檚 cytoplasm. This reaction is triggered by mechanical stress on the cell, however, the complete signaling mechanism is not well understood. What if we can control these organism鈥檚 bioluminescence behaviour with light stimulus? Thus, the goal of this project is to study the time-resolved bioluminescence behavior under different stimulator conditions with our novel fast an ultra-sensitive home-built photon-counting device. Ultimately, we aim to incorporate molecular optical photoswitches to photonically biomodulate the photosynthetic and bioluminescent behaviour of these fascinating single cell organisms.

Student Responsibilities: In this highly trans-disciplinary project, conducted collaboration with Chemistry and Physics collaborators, the biophysicist will learn development of biophotonics single photon counting setup to measure bioluminescence kinetics. The student will prepare and integrate optical photo-switching chromophores (azobenzenes) into the dinoflagellates and conduct biomodulation experiments with pump-probe spectroscopy, determining the energetic and kinetic properties.

Desired Background/Skills: The received training will be in biophysics, physics, photonics, and molecular time-domain spectroscopy instrumentation in a highly interdisciplinary team of physicists, chemists, computational scientists, and opto-electronic engineers. The student is expected to present at group meetings throughout the project for training and development of scientific communication skills. Students will be supported by the supervisor through weekly meetings.

Project Title: Studying Fast Radio Bursts with CHIME

Supervisor: Paul Scholz

Contact Info: pscholz@yorku.ca

Project Description: The Canadian Hydrogen Intensity Mapping Experiment (CHIME) is a revolutionary radio telescope, located in British Columbia. In its first five years of operation, CHIME has discovered hundreds of new Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs), and this discovery rate is expected to keep course if not further increase. FRBs are millisecond-long pulses of radio waves from far outside of our Galaxy of unknown origin. CHIME has brought about a new landscape in the FRB field; for the first time we are able to study FRB as a population. There are several potential projects using CHIME/FRB data including software and signal processing pipelines, data analysis and visualization. The student will have opportunities to develop skills in radio signal processing, Python programming, statistics, simulations, and machine learning.

Student Responsibilities: The student will work with Prof. Scholz and the wider CHIME/FRB team analyzing CHIME/FRB data and helping to develop/improve CHIME/FRB software pipelines using Python. Students will work in a collaborative and vibrant research environment through interactions with CHIME/FRB members at several other institutions. The student will give presentations and share results with the team.

Desired Background/Skills: Interest in astrophysics. Experience with programming, particularly in Python.

Project Title: Production of new dark forces at particle accelerators

Supervisor: Sean Tulin

Contact Info: stulin@yorku.ca

Project Description: Dark matter constitutes the most abundant form of matter in the Universe, shaping the evolution of cosmic structures through its gravitational influence. However, its fundamental nature remains elusive, as it cannot be explained within the current framework of fundamental physics. A key open question is whether dark matter interacts solely via gravity or if it experiences additional fundamental forces, analogous to electromagnetism and the nuclear interactions of ordinary matter. If dark matter possesses new fundamental forces, dark force bosons may be discovered in particle accelerator facilities, opening a window toward exploring dark matter physics in the laboratory.

Student Responsibilities: This research will employ theoretical modeling, data analysis, and numerical simulations to predict experimental signatures of novel dark force bosons. Student tasks will include: (1) learning particle physics models of dark matter and dark forces, (2) performing numerical fits to experimental data to determine key inputs needed to calculate the dark force production rate, and (3) performing numerical Monte Carlo simulations to model experimental signatures and detection rates for new physics signals at accelerator facilities.

Desired Background/Skills: Completion of PHYS 2030 or equivalent familiarity in Python.

Project Title: Studying Neutrino Interactions

Supervisor: Deborah Harris

Contact Info: deborahh@yorku.ca

Lab Web Site: /professor/deborahharris/

Number of positions: 1

Project Description: This job will involve analysis of data that was recorded by the MINERvA detector which operated at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory in Batavia, Illinois. The MINERvA experiment is designed to study the interactions of neutrinos in a variety of different nuclei in order to understand those interactions and how the nuclear environment modifies the particles that emerge from those interactions. This understanding is critical for neutrino experiments like DUNE and T2K, which measure the probability of neutrinos changing from one kind to another over time. Those measurements require experiments to simulate how neutrino energy is translated into energy that can be measured in a detector, since "time" for a particle changes depending on that particle's energy (known as "time dilation" in special relativity).

Student responsibilities: Part of the work will involve developing new analysis code to extract measurements of the probability that neutrinos interact as a function of the momentum of the outgoing particles from the interaction. Since neutrinos are neutral they leave no trace in the detector until they interact with a nucleus (or electron) in the detector to create or boost charged particles which then leave signals as they cross different detector elements. Another part of this job involves contributing to the efforts of the collaboration to run simulations of the experiment which allow uncertainties on the measurements to be evaluated. Those simulations are often more CPU time-consuming than analyzing data because the experiment relies on simulations that are many times the statistics of the data samples. The job will also involve preparing or improving documentation on how to use the collaboration's computing infrasturcture, and possibly documentation for undergraduates on how the MINERvA detector and associated neutrino beamline works.

Desired background/skills: The successful applicant will be able to program in C++, Python, and ROOT (or be willing to develop their skills with online tutorials), and will be able to work effectively in a linux environment. The job will involve using the software infrastructure that is being written by the collaboration, and contributing to that infrastructure. The successful applicant will be able to work independently, and to present their results clearly at occasional meetings with the MINERvA and DUNE Collaborations. Since many presentations will have to be through zoom, the successful applicant will also have access to reasonably good internet to allow effective communication through online platforms (mostly by being on the 91亚色 campus but some amount of remote work is also an option depending on the independence and coding skill of the successful applicant).

Contacts by Department

Nicole NivillacUndergraduate Program Directorupdbiol@yorku.ca
 Derek JacksonUndergraduate Program Directorchemupd@yorku.ca

Ada Sze Sze ChanAssociate Professorssachan@yorku.ca

Patrick HallUndergraduate Program Directorphasupd@yorku.ca

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]]> Heart & Stroke: Research Network of Excellence in Women鈥檚 Heart and/or Brain Health /science/py-community-area/science-awards-in-ontario/heart-stroke-research-network-of-excellence-in-womens-heart-and-or-brain-health/ Fri, 14 Nov 2025 19:52:34 +0000 /science/?page_id=40881 Details Award Name Research Network of Excellence in Women鈥檚 Heart and/or Brain Health program Agency The Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada and Brain Canada Foundation Value Up to $5,000,000 Duration Up to 5 years Deadlines Information webinar 12-02-2025 Pre-proposal and fully signed ORS checklist due to听FSc RO at听sciapps@yorku.ca听蹿辞谤听optional听review 12-30-2025 Pre-proposal and fully signed ORS […]

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Details
Award Name
AgencyThe Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada and Brain Canada Foundation
ValueUp to $5,000,000
DurationUp to 5 years
Deadlines
Information webinar12-02-2025
Pre-proposal and fully signed ORS checklist due to听FSc RO at听sciapps@yorku.ca听蹿辞谤听optional听review12-30-2025
Pre-proposal and fully signed ORS checklist due to听FSc RO at听sciapps@yorku.ca听蹿辞谤听mandatory听review01-07-2026
Pre-proposal & ORS checklist due to SIRI01-12-2026
Pre-proposal due to agency01-15-2026
Application and fully signed ORS checklist due to听FSc RO at听sciapps@yorku.ca听蹿辞谤听optional听review03-24-2026
Application and fully signed ORS checklist due to听FSc RO at听sciapps@yorku.ca听蹿辞谤听mandatory听review03-31-2026
Full proposal & ORS checklist due to SIRI04-03-2026
Full proposal due to SIRI04-09-2026

Application Procedure:
Stage 1: Registration
Stage 2: Full Application (by invitation)

Application Forms and Submission:
Application guides can be found in the听.

Scope

The purpose of this new funding opportunity is to enable cutting-edge, interdisciplinary research that addresses urgent research questions and significant gaps in rehabilitation and recovery for women with heart-brain health conditions (i.e. stroke, heart conditions, vascular cognitive impairment, and/or mental health in relation to these conditions). This includes research that addresses neurological or cerebrovascular conditions that impact cardiovascular health, or heart conditions impacting brain health.

The 2026 Research Network of Excellence in Women鈥檚 Heart and/or Brain Health will focus on Rehabilitation and Recovery related to women鈥檚 heart-brain health conditions. The Network is expected to build on pre-existing areas of research where there is a proven track record among the Network members of demonstrated leadership and research excellence in rehabilitation and recovery as it relates to women鈥檚 heart-brain health. This funding opportunity aims to support research that expands upon, utilizes, or explores new directions related to women's heart-brain health, rather than duplicating the two (2) existing Research Networks of Excellence in Women鈥檚 Heart and/or Brain Health grants funded in 2024 activities that focus on Risk Factors and Diagnosis & Treatment, respectively.

The specific objectives of this funding opportunity are to:

  • Drive innovation in research to ensure that new knowledge and data address the critical gaps related to the rehabilitation and recovery of women who are living with heart-brain conditions;
  • Build research capacity across Canada devoted to women鈥檚 heart-brain health research by facilitating a network of researchers, clinicians, collaborators and knowledge users across the country, and supporting research, knowledge mobilization (KM), training and mentorship; and
  • Accelerate KM and translation of sex- and gender- specific research into clinical practice, policies and programs for all women across Canada living with heart-brain health conditions.

Please see the听for further details on the funding program.

A one-hour Applicants Information Webinar听will be presented on Tuesday December 2, 2025 at 1:00 p.m. ET to interested applicants to learn more about the team grants and the application process.听.

How to Apply

The SIRI Unit in the Office of Research Services, in collaboration with the corresponding Faculty Research Office, will support the development of applications selected to go forward.

Any researchers who wish to pursue this opportunity must notify both their Faculty Research Office and Diana Frasca (dfrasca@yorku.ca) as soon as possible about their intention to apply.

91亚色 researchers are reminded that all applications for external research funding, including Letters of Intent, must be reviewed and approved by the Office of Research Services before they are submitted to the granting agency.  For internal approval, the application must be accompanied by a completed ORS Checklist, which requires the Dean鈥檚 signature.  Please send the complete application, with the finalized budget and a completed  to sciapps@yorku.ca, five days prior to agency deadline.

ORS is accepting electronic applications 鈥 the process is outlined .

For specific questions, please contact FSc Research Services at sciapps@yorku.ca

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]]> Gerda Henkel Prize 2026 /science/py-community-area/science-awards-in-ontario/gerda-henkel-prize-2026/ Fri, 07 Nov 2025 17:17:03 +0000 /science/?page_id=40804 Details Award Name Gerda Henkel Prize 2026 Agency The Gerda Henkel Foundation鈥檚 Board of Trustees Value 鈧100,000 Deadlines Last Date to notify Aim茅e Mitchell (aimee19@yorku.ca) 12-12-2025 Application due at agency  01-30-2026 Any nominee who would like to be put forward by 91亚色 must contact the Strategic and Institutional Research Initiatives (SIRI) team to develop […]

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Details
Award NameGerda Henkel Prize 2026
AgencyThe Gerda Henkel Foundation鈥檚 Board of Trustees
Value鈧100,000
Deadlines
Last Date to notify Aim茅e Mitchell (aimee19@yorku.ca)12-12-2025
Application due at agency 01-30-2026

Any nominee who would like to be put forward by 91亚色 must contact the Strategic and Institutional Research Initiatives (SIRI) team to develop the nominations.
Support for non-institutional nominations will be provided on an ad hoc basis if requested.
Interested nominees are asked to notify Aim茅e Mitchell (by email to aimee19@yorku.ca) by December 12, 2025.

Background

The Gerda Henkel Prize was established in 2006 and is awarded every two years to excellent and internationally acclaimed researchers who have demonstrated outstanding scholarly achievement in the following disciplines:

  • Archaeology
  • Art History
  • Historical Islamic Studies
  • History
  • History of Law
  • History of Science
  • Prehistory and Early History

As well, the Foundation will accept nominations of researchers who have demonstrated outstanding scholarly achievement in the disciplines and funding areas supported by the Foundation. These include:

  • Heritage Studies
  • Historical Building Research
  • Cultural Studies
  • Political Science
  • Law
  • Restoration & conservation
  • Social Sciences

See the Foundation鈥檚 for more details on these areas of interest.

Eligibility

Nomination

A complete nomination, to be submitted online, consists of the following documents:

  • A list of the nominee鈥檚 most important academic publications from the last five years (maximum file size 6 MB)
  • The nomination form
  • A detailed letter from the nominator outlining the reasons for nominating the candidate (maximum file size 6 MB)
  • The nominee鈥檚 curriculum vitae (maximum file size 6 MB)

Please see the Gerda Henkel Foundation website for full details on eligibility requirements and the nomination process:听

How to Apply

91亚色 researchers are reminded that all applications for external research funding, including Letters of Intent, must be reviewed and approved by the Office of Research Services before they are submitted to the granting agency.  For internal approval, the application must be accompanied by a completed ORS Checklist, which requires the Dean鈥檚 signature.  Please send the complete application, with the finalized budget and a completed  to sciapps@yorku.ca, five days prior to agency deadline.

ORS is accepting electronic applications 鈥 the process is outlined .

For specific questions, please contact FSc Research Services at sciapps@yorku.ca

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]]> Heart & Stroke: Cardiac Arrest Research Teams Grant /science/py-community-area/science-awards-in-ontario/heart-stroke-cardiac-arrest-research-teams-grant/ Fri, 07 Nov 2025 03:05:38 +0000 /science/?page_id=40795 Details Award Name Cardiac Arrest Research Teams Grant Agency The Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada Value Up to $1,700,000 Duration Up to 5 years Deadlines Information webinar 11-04-2025 Pre-proposal and fully signed ORS checklist due to听FSc RO at听sciapps@yorku.ca听蹿辞谤听mandatory听review 12-09-2025 Pre-proposal & ORS checklist due to SIRI 12-12-2025 Pre-proposal due to agency 12-16-2025 Application and […]

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Details
Award Name
AgencyThe Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada
ValueUp to $1,700,000
DurationUp to 5 years
Deadlines
Information webinar11-04-2025
Pre-proposal and fully signed ORS checklist due to听FSc RO at听sciapps@yorku.ca听蹿辞谤听mandatory听review12-09-2025
Pre-proposal & ORS checklist due to SIRI12-12-2025
Pre-proposal due to agency12-16-2025
Application and fully signed ORS checklist due to听FSc RO at听sciapps@yorku.ca听蹿辞谤听mandatory听review03-04-2026
Full proposal & ORS checklist due to SIRI03-09-2026
Full proposal due to SIRI03-17-2026

Application Procedure:
Stage 1: Pre-Proposal
Stage 2: Full Application (by invitation)

Application Forms and Submission:
Application guides can be found in the .

Scope

The purpose of this funding opportunity is to address the most urgent and emergent questions as well as current evidence gaps in cardiac arrest with the aim of improving prediction and early detection of cardiac arrest, increase survival rates, and optimize survivor health outcomes and quality of life (QoL) outcomes for all affected. To achieve this, the Research Teams will focus on one of three priority research areas:

  1. Prediction and Early Detection of Cardiac Arrest
  2. Accelerate Response and Increase Survival of Cardiac Arrest; or
  3. Optimize Brain Recovery After Cardiac Arrest. 

The specific objectives of this funding opportunity are to:

  • Drive research and innovation to improve the prediction and detection of cardiac arrest.
  • Develop sustainable and effective knowledge mobilization of current evidence and new research results into practice to improve cardiac arrest response and survival rates.
  • Optimize rehabilitation and recovery of cardiac arrest survivors by prioritizing neurological, neurocognitive and/or mental health needs along with physical function using best and wise practices to bridge the gaps between research results, better health outcomes, and equitable access to care.
  • Build, foster and strengthen an equitable, inclusive and diverse health research workforce focused on cardiac arrest through a high-quality, multidisciplinary training, experiential learning, career development and mentoring environments that actively engages trainees and researchers at all career stages and across ethnicities, including Indigenous scholars.

Please see the for further details on the funding program.

A one-hour Applicants Information Webinar will be presented on Tuesday November 4, 2025 at 12:00 p.m. ET to interested applicants to learn more about the team grants and the application process. .

How to Apply

The SIRI Unit in the Office of Research Services, in collaboration with the corresponding Faculty Research Office, will be supporting the development of applications selected to go forward. Diana Frasca (dfrasca@yorku.ca), Strategic and Institutional Research Initiatives Specialist, will be available to assist your office and your faculty members with any questions regarding the internal and external application processes.

Please Note: All researchers should notify both their Faculty and Diana Frasca (dfrasca@yorku.ca) as soon as possible about their intention to apply. Doing so will streamline the process of ensuring that researchers receive adequate support in application preparation.

91亚色 researchers are reminded that all applications for external research funding, including Letters of Intent, must be reviewed and approved by the Office of Research Services before they are submitted to the granting agency.  For internal approval, the application must be accompanied by a completed ORS Checklist, which requires the Dean鈥檚 signature.  Please send the complete application, with the finalized budget and a completed  to sciapps@yorku.ca, five days prior to agency deadline.

ORS is accepting electronic applications 鈥 the process is outlined .

For specific questions, please contact FSc Research Services at sciapps@yorku.ca

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]]> Steacie Prize /science/py-community-area/science-awards-in-ontario/steacie-prize-2/ Fri, 20 Jun 2025 01:26:22 +0000 /science/?page_id=38575 Details Award Name Steacie Prize in the Natural Sciences Agency Steacie Prize Value $10,000 Deadlines Application due to FSc RO at sciapps@yorku.ca for full review 08-18-2025 Application and fully signed ORS checklist due to FSc RO at sciapps@yorku.ca for mandatory review 08-25-2025 Final application and fully signed ORS checklist due at ORS for mandatory review 08-28-2025 Application due at agency  08-31-2025 Background Presented once a year to […]

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Details
Award Name
AgencySteacie Prize
Value$10,000
Deadlines
Application due to FSc RO at sciapps@yorku.ca for full review08-18-2025
Application and fully signed ORS checklist due to FSc RO at sciapps@yorku.ca for mandatory review08-25-2025
Final application and fully signed ORS checklist due at ORS for mandatory review08-28-2025
Application due at agency 08-31-2025
Background

Presented once a year to a scientist or engineer of 40 years of age or less for outstanding scientific research carried out in Canada.

Eligibility

Nominations should be made by a colleague.

Required Materials
  • An introductory letter explaining why the candidate should be considered for the prize (please include the candidate鈥檚 year of birth)
  • A听curriculum vitae听with publication list
  • Letters of evaluation from a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 5 expert and independent external referees
  • Extensions beyond the 40 year age requirement are permitted for official leaves, including parental and sick leave, and must be specified in the nomination letter
How to Apply

Nominations should be sent by e-mail (*.doc and/or *.pdf files please) to PrixSteaciePrize@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca.

91亚色 researchers are reminded that all applications for external research funding, including Letters of Intent, must be reviewed and approved by the Office of Research Services before they are submitted to the granting agency.  For internal approval, the application must be accompanied by a completed ORS Checklist, which requires the Dean鈥檚 signature.  Please send the complete application, with the finalized budget and a completed  to sciapps@yorku.ca, five days prior to agency deadline.

ORS is accepting electronic applications 鈥 the process is outlined .

For specific questions, please contact FSc Research Services at sciapps@yorku.ca

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]]> Health Research Foundation Medal of Honour /science/py-community-area/science-awards-in-ontario/health-research-foundation-medal-of-honour/ Fri, 30 May 2025 17:19:03 +0000 /science/?page_id=38390 Details Award Name Health Research Foundation Medal of Honour Agency Health Research Foundation (HRF) Value $20,000 Deadlines Form due to听FSc RO at听sciapps@yorku.ca听for full optional review 06-30-2025 Form and fully signed ORS checklist due to听FSc RO at听sciapps@yorku.ca听蹿辞谤听mandatory听review 07-08-2025 Final form and fully signed ORS checklist due at听ORS听蹿辞谤听mandatory听review 07-11-2025 , by 9:00AM Nomination form due at agency […]

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Details
Award Name
AgencyHealth Research Foundation (HRF)
Value$20,000
Deadlines
Form due to听FSc RO at听sciapps@yorku.ca听for full optional review06-30-2025
Form and fully signed ORS checklist due to听FSc RO at听sciapps@yorku.ca听蹿辞谤听mandatory听review07-08-2025
Final form and fully signed ORS checklist due at听ORS听蹿辞谤听mandatory听review07-11-2025 , by 9:00AM
Nomination form due at agency 07-15-2025
Introduction

The Medal of Honour is granted by the Health Research Foundation (HRF) of Innovative Medicines Canada on an annual basis. This award recognizes truly outstanding individuals whose research and/or contribution to public policies supportive of research and development in Canada have achieved international recognition. Recipients can originate from a variety of fields and sectors, including patient groups, educators, journalists, industry, and the public and non-profit sectors. The prize money will be invested back into innovative health research at the Canadian academic facility of the recipient鈥檚 choice to promote further life sciences research in Canada

Nominations are accepted from any Canadian individual or organization and is not limited to industry. A secondary nominator is required for the nomination to be considered and cannot originate from a current member of the Medal of Honour Committee. Any nomination submitted may be considered for up to two award cycles. The nominee鈥檚 work/research must have been performed in Canada by a Canadian Resident and have achieved international recognition for its contribution to the advancement of knowledge in the health sciences, health policy and/or the improvement of therapeutics and healthcare.

Application Material

The final application file must consist of the following:

  •  A completed and signed Application Form (attached).
  • Letters of reference from each nominator (two)addressing the selection criteria.
  • A current academic curriculum vitae (CV), including an up-to-date list of publications, and details of any funds/grants received to date.

Additionally, the applicant will need to submit a signed听听and completed applications to听sciapps@yorku.ca听by 9am on July 11, 2025.

How to Apply

The SIRI team can provide advice and can help to coordinate submission. Please contact Diana Frasca, SIRI Specialist, at dfrasca@yorku.ca as soon as possible if interested. For internal approval, the application must be accompanied by a completed ORS Checklist, which requires the Dean鈥檚 signature.  Please send the complete application, with the finalized budget and a completed  to sciapps@yorku.ca, five days prior to agency deadline.

For specific questions, please contact FSc Research Services at sciapps@yorku.ca

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]]> 2024 Annual Review /science/about/annual-reviews/2024-annual-review/ Thu, 10 Apr 2025 20:09:11 +0000 /science/?page_id=37474 JUMP TO: 91亚色 Science Highlights By the Numbers Honours & Awards Research Funding Research Spotlights Teaching & Learning Students Community & Alumni A Message from Dean Rui Wang In 2024, we accomplished incredible achievements that I am proud to celebrate in this Annual Review.  Our researchers received nearly $23 million in funding to pursue innovative […]

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91亚色 Science Highlights

By the Numbers

Honours & Awards

Research Funding

Research Spotlights

Teaching & Learning

Students

Community & Alumni

Download PDF Version

A Message from Dean Rui Wang

In 2024, we accomplished incredible achievements that I am proud to celebrate in this Annual Review. 

Our researchers received nearly $23 million in funding to pursue innovative research projects, and made transformative discoveries that will improve lives and enhance our understanding of our world and our universe. We continued to build powerful and productive research clusters in disease modelling; health emergency and risk transformation; vision and neuroscience; technology enhanced drug development and manufacturing, and bees and genomics. 

Our teaching and learning experts furthered their work to improve student learning experiences and ensure that decolonization, equity, diversity, and inclusion (DEDI) and accessibility are at the core of every classroom and laboratory. 

The Faculty鈥檚 philanthropic efforts generated high-impact donations, including funds to support the construction of our 3,843-square-foot Taihua Wang Science Student Success Centre, a new hub for student advising and support. More than $250,000 in new scholarships were created, allowing more undergraduate and graduate students to receive hands-on research experience, including the new Helen Freedhoff Memorial Fund supporting students in our Department of Physics & Astronomy.  

We built out our co-op offerings, increasing our programming and placement rates, and expanding co-op to the majority of Science programs, enabling our students to receive work experience that will benefit them as they embark on careers in their chosen fields. 

And our outreach efforts through the Allan I. Carswell Observatory and our Science Engagement Programs forged new connections and learning among our community at 91亚色 and beyond, including at-risk youth, girls, and gender-diverse students, reaching more members of our broader community and inspiring passion for STEM and the next generation of Canadian scientists. 
 
I feel immense pride for everything we have accomplished together in 2024, and I am incredibly grateful to our community of faculty, staff, and students for their contributions in making the Faculty of Science at 91亚色鈥痑 great place to learn, research and work. Congratulations to our entire community. 

YORK SCIENCE HIGHLIGHTS

Updates from our Department Chairs

Robert Tsushima

The Department of Biology proudly welcomed Professor Mahmoud Sirdat through the International Scholars at Risk program. More than 400 undergraduate and graduate Biology students graduated, including 18 MSc and four PhD candidates. At the June convocation ceremony, undergraduate students Karina Kofman and Claire del Zotto were honoured with the Faculty of Science Gold and Silver Medals, respectively; Jennifer Porat received the esteemed Governor General鈥檚 Gold Medal and the Faculty of Graduate Studies Thesis Dissertation Prize, recognizing her exceptional academic and research accomplishments. 

At the Faculty of Science Honours & Awards Celebration, our faculty and instructors received the following awards: Professor Tamara Kelly, Excellence in Educational Leadership Award (Faculty category); Professor Nicole Nivillac, Excellence in Teaching Award (Senior Tenure Stream Faculty category); Professor Jade Atallah, Excellence in Teaching Award (Junior Tenure Stream Faculty category); and PhD student Britney Picinic, Richard Jarrell Award of Excellence for Teaching Assistants. 

Professors Jade Atallah and Luz Puentes J谩come launched the innovative Master鈥檚 in Biotechnology Management, Graduate Diploma in Biotechnology, and micro-credential in Vaccine Production and Quality Assurance at the new Markham Campus. 

Matteo Dunnhofer from the University of Udine (Italy) was awarded the prestigious Marie Sk艂odowska-Curie Actions Postdoctoral Global Fellowship to conduct research under the supervision of Professor Kohitij Kar. 

Our faculty members secured over $1.3 million in operating grants from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, including Discovery Grants and Discovery Launch Supplements to support Professors Gordon Fitch, Kohitij Kar, and Eryn McFarlane. 

Professor Jeffrey Schall was appointed as a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Translating Neuroscience, and Professor Steven Connor renewed his Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in the Synaptic Basis of Neurodevelopmental Disorders. University Professor Dawn Bazely was the recipient of the prestigious 2024-25 Fulbright Canada Distinguished Visiting Professorship. 

Professor Sapna Sharma, the inaugural Director of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) Global Water Academy, organized a total of 21 UNITAR workshops and online sessions that were attended by more than 7,000 participants from 147 countries. 

鈥 Professor Robert Tsushima, Chair of the Department of Biology

The department welcomed Professor Bruce Howard as a new faculty member, jointly appointed at Fermilab. 

Professors Nikita Blinov, Charles-Edouard Boukar茅, Deborah Harris, Eric Hessels, Matthew Johnson, Rahul Kannan, Randy Lewis, Adam Muzzin, Paul Scholz and Adjunct Graduate Program Member Scott Beattie were successful with research grant applications.  

Alumni Itay and Mina Yavin donated $200,000 in honour of late Professor Helen Freedhoff to create a memorial fund that supports research in the atomic physics laboratory of Professor Anantharaman Kumarakrishnan and the Helen Freedhoff First Year Award for undergraduate students. And, thanks to a generous donation from the late Al Stauffer and his wife Josie, the department created the Allan D. & Josie A. Stauffer Scholarship in Theoretical Physics. 

Professors Eric Hessels and Wendy Taylor were named Fellows of the Canadian Association of Physicists (CAP). Professor Taylor was also appointed vice-president-elect of the CAP and will be a member of the presidential line for four years. To cap it off, she received the Faculty of Science Established Researcher Award. 

Five undergraduate students, supervised by Professor Sean Tulin and international colleagues, joined a prestigious international summer research program at Goethe University in Germany.  

The Allan I. Carswell Observatory (AICO), directed by Professor Elaina Hyde, marked the (partial) solar eclipse on April 8 by setting up telescopes atop the Arboretum Parking Garage and handing out solar glasses to more than 300 faculty, students and staff. And, past AICO director and Professor Emeritus Paul Delaney got an asteroid named after him. 

Another milestone was the rebranding of our Biophysics program as Biomedical Physics. Professor Ozzy Mermut embarked on a local public high school tour to promote biomedical physics, physics, and astronomy at 91亚色.  

As well, we hosted a public ceremony in June to mark the planting of seedlings that are direct descendants of Sir Isaac Newton鈥檚 famous apple tree.  

Last but not least, I would like to thank Professor Patrick Hall for his service for more than four years as Department Chair, which concluded at the end of 2024.

鈥 Professor Tom Kirchner, Chair of the Department of Physics & Astronomy

Robin Metcalfe

Research highlights for the Department of Science, Technology & Society (ST&S) include Professor Kean Birch becoming the first Ontario Research Chair in Science Policy and being added to Stanford's World's Top 2% Scientists List. After being selected to co-lead a Canadian Institute for Advanced Research program titled 鈥淔uture Flourishing,鈥 Professor H茅l猫ne Mialet won a 91亚色 Research Award. Professor Daniela Monaldi co-edited 鈥淲omen in the History of Quantum Mechanics鈥 (Cambridge University Press). Professor Jesse Rogerson co-authored 鈥淒aydreaming in the Solar System鈥 (MIT Press), taking readers on adventures amidst our planetary neighbours. And the late Professor Richard Jarrell lives on in his research: his unpublished pre-2013 research and interviews of thirty astronomers appeared in Jasper Wall and Elizabeth Griffin's "Radio Astronomy in Canada" (Springer, 2024).  

ST&S, which houses the Division of Natural Science (NATS), continues to serve as a centre of teaching excellence. Four of our faculty were nominated for FSc Excellence in Teaching Awards and two were award recipients: Professor Angela Cope in the Contract Faculty category and Professor Robin Marushia in the Junior Faculty category. NATS continues to grow its suite of new, topical three-credit courses and is excited to be offering three new courses in 2025-26: 鈥淗uman Spaceflight,鈥 by Professor Jeremy Webb; 鈥淎stronomy across Cultures,鈥 by Professor Parandis Tajbakhsh; and 鈥淪ustainable Energy鈥 by Professor Banafsheh Hashemi-Pour. In summer 2024, NATS participated in the Visions of Science program, which seeks to create pathways in STEM careers for racialized youth. As part of this program, two of our faculty (Professors Carly Rozins and Jeremy Webb) supervised high school interns in astronomy- and mathematics-themed projects. 

鈥 Professor James Elwick, Chair of the Department of Science, Technology & Society
鈥 Professor Robin Metcalfe, Director of the Division of Natural Science

Michael Haslam

In 2024, the Department of Mathematics and Statistics welcomed three new full-time faculty members: Professors Tianyu Guan, Yi Liu and Divya Sharma. The Department now has 53 full-time professors, 23 part-time faculty, 25 post-doctoral fellows, and many visiting graduate students and professors. It is the fifth largest department at 91亚色. 

In partnership with the Faculty of Science, the Department launched a new 3+1+1 program, which is designed to attract high-caliber international students and foster academic collaboration and global engagement in graduate education. Students may be admitted to the program after completing three years of undergraduate study at their home institution. The fourth year of the program is conducted at 91亚色, focusing on bridging courses, research methodologies, and language proficiency; students then receive undergraduate degrees from their home institutions. In the fifth year, students are advanced to the MA program in Mathematics and Statistics and, upon successful completion, receive their graduate degrees from 91亚色. We were pleased to sign the first partnership agreement for this program with Jiangnan University in 2024. 

Last year, our faculty members contributed to internationally recognized research funded by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) in the areas of industrial mathematics, mathematical finance, scientific computing, mathematical biology, disease modeling, vaccine mathematics, actuarial science, data science, biostatistics, statistical machine learning, statistical methodology and theory, algebraic combinatorics, analysis, number theory, probability theory, set theory, and the scholarship of teaching and learning.

鈥 Professor Michael Haslam, Chair of the Department of Mathematics & Statistics

Jennifer van Wijngaarden

The Department of Chemistry continues to thrive thanks to the dedication and talents of our faculty, staff and students. In 2024, undergraduate students Samantha Galea and Sebastian Marmorato were awarded silver medals from the Canadian Society for Chemistry (CSC) for achieving high academic standing in the chemistry and biochemistry programs, respectively. Graduate students were recognized on the national level, including Emily Anacleto, Emma McLay and Taylor Cosby, who received competitive graduate fellowships from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), and Irina Nistorescu and Lisa Azzarello, who were honoured with Chemical Institute of Canada awards at the national chemistry meeting in Winnipeg.  

In 2024, we welcomed a new member of our technical staff, Charlie Haedicke, and bid farewell to retiring Professors Michael Hempstead and Robert McLaren. Professors Sergey Krylov and Derek Wilson were recipients of a prestigious 2024 NSERC Synergy Award for Innovation in recognition of their transformative research collaboration with industrial partner Sanofi, while Professor Tao (Toby) Zeng received the 2024 Tom Ziegler Award of the CSC awarded for his outstanding early-career contribution to theoretical and computational chemistry. Professor Thomas Baumgartner鈥檚 Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Sustainable Organomain Group Materials was renewed, Professor Gerald Audette became president of the American Crystallographic Association, and Professor Christine Le received a travel award from the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry to attend the World Chemistry Congress in Malaysia. 

鈥 Professor Jennifer van Wijngaarden, Chair of the Department of Chemistry

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By the Numbers

Faculty members
(full-time)

Staff members
(full-time)

Undergraduate programs

Graduate programs

Postdoctoral fellows
and visitors

Undergraduate students
64% Canadian
36% International
(full-time and part-time)

Undergraduate students to whom Faculty of Science provides service teaching 

Graduate students
58% Canadian
42% International
(full-time and part-time)    

Division:
Natural Science

Departments:
Biology
Chemistry
Physics & Astronomy
Mathematics & Statistics
Science, Technology & Society

Bethune College-affiliated student clubs

Fellows and College members of Royal Society of Canada  

(current and emeriti) 

million

Total annual budget
(gross revenue)

million

Total research funding revenue

million

Total fundraising amount

Canada Research Chairs, 91亚色 Research Chairs, and Endowed Chairs 

Total partnerships with international institutions for academic and research collaboration   

Organized Research Units based or led by the Faculty of Science:
Centre for Bee Ecology, Evolution and Conservation,
Centre for Research on Biomolecular Interactions
Emergency Mitigation, Engagement, Response, and Governance Institute

Research facilities and equipment centres based in the Faculty of Science:
1 Core Analytical Facility (NMR Spectroscopy, Microscopy, and Mass Spectrometry)
2 Technical Shops
1 Science Store

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More Highlights

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HONOURS & AWARDS

Dawn Bazely

University Professor Dawn Bazely, Department of Biology, has an international reputation for her excellence in teaching, research and science outreach. She was named the 2024-25 Fulbright Canada Distinguished Visiting Professor, a position that is hosted at Yale University and is Fulbright Canada鈥檚 top Research Chair. At Yale, Bazely conducted research and taught a course called Canada鈥檚 Approach to Selected Global Wicked Problems, which covered world issues, including climate change, settler-colonialism, and public health 鈥 as seen through a Canadian lens. 

Elizabeth Clare

Professor Elizabeth Clare, Department of Biology, was elected to the Royal Society of Canada (RSC) College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists. The RSC College recognizes the emerging generation of Canadian intellectual leadership; members of the College are individuals who are at an early stage in their career and have demonstrated a high level of achievement. Clare was recognized for her global leadership in developing and applying novel technologies to monitor biodiversity. Her research pioneered the use of airborne DNA to study biodiversity at continental scales.  

An asteroid first discovered more than 20 years ago received a new name: Asteroid (700818) Pauldelaney. The naming honoured 91亚色 Professor Emeritus Paul Delaney, Department of Physics & Astronomy, for his outreach activities for the public understanding of astronomy. Delaney was a faculty member for 35 years before retiring in 2021, and his time at 91亚色 including serving as director of the Allan I. Carswell Astronomical Observatory and as the inaugural Carswell Chair for the Public Understanding of Astronomy.  

Eric Hessels

Professors Eric Hessels, Department of Physics & Astronomy, were named Fellows of the Canadian Association of Physicists.

Hessels was recognized for his 鈥渁dvancements in the state of the art for high precision atomic physics measurements and establishment of tests of fundamental physics; and for an outstanding record of mentorship and training.鈥

Wendy Taylor

Professors Wendy Taylor, Department of Physics & Astronomy, were named Fellows of the Canadian Association of Physicists.

Taylor was recognized for her 鈥渙utstanding contributions to particle physics including leading collider searches for magnetic monopoles, B-meson oscillations, and CP violation; and for notable service to the physics community, engaging in physics outreach, and tirelessly promoting equity, diversity, and inclusion in physics.鈥 

Professor Tao (Toby) Zeng, Department of Chemistry, received the 2024 Tom Ziegler Award from the Chemical Institute of Canada, which recognizes scientists residing in Canada who have made an outstanding early-career contribution to theoretical and/or computational chemistry. Zeng鈥檚 current research focuses on developing Hamiltonian formalisms for vibronic interactions and using the formalisms to simulate vibronic and relativistic effects in optoelectronic materials. His goal is to develop a unified Hamiltonian formalism for all symmetry-induced vibronic and relativistic vibronic problems.  

Professor Huaiping Zhu, Department of Mathematics & Statistics, was honoured by the Canadian Applied and Industrial Mathematics Society (CAIMS) with the 2024 CAIMS-Fields Industrial Prize. Zhu is a leader in infectious disease modelling. He directs the Centre for Disease Modelling and Laboratory of Mathematical Parallel Systems at 91亚色, as well as the pan-Canadian One Health Modelling Network for Emerging Infection. Through his work, he has advanced the understanding of pandemic dynamics and provided timely guidance for public health policy. 

Excellence in Educational Leadership Awards鈥&苍产蝉辫;

Faculty category 

As the inaugural Pedagogical Innovation Chair in the Faculty of Science, Professor Tamara Kelly, Department of Biology, championed inclusive teaching practices and systemic change across 91亚色 Science. She developed the Faculty of Science Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion course outline template, and spearheaded a multi-person Academic Innovation Fund project to remove barriers for students in lab environments. She also reshaped first-year biology courses to center equity and organized the 2023 Faculty of Science Conversations on Science Education Symposium, fostering dialogue on inclusive education. 

Graduate category 

Milong Wang was recognized for her work as a teaching assistant (TA) in the Division of Natural Science (NATS) in 2021-2023. As a TA for the course NATS 1690: Evolution, Wang fostered a supportive learning environment in the lab and provided timely feedback to students. She also mentored other TAs new to the course. As well, Wang was instrumental during the implementation of the course NATS 1665: Plants in the City, working closely with faculty to make the first field course designed for a general-education audience a big success.

Excellence in Teaching Awards鈥&苍产蝉辫;

Hovig Kouyoumdjian

Senior Tenure Stream Faculty category 

Professor Hovig Kouyoumdjian, Department of Chemistry, was recognized for making notable, innovative teaching contributions, such as championing the use of iClicker and Crowdmark, chemistry simulations, and in-class demonstrations. His teaching evaluations are consistently excellent, and students characterize him as genuinely interested in their success. As Associate Dean of Curriculum and Pedagogy, he introduced the Faculty of Science Teaching & Learning Bulletin, initiated the Faculty鈥檚 first micro-credential programs, and guided efforts to successfully deploy programs at the new Markham Campus.

Senior Tenure Stream Faculty category 

Professor Nicole Nivillac, Department of Biology, was recognized for her strong commitment to providing an engaging and inquisitive learning environment for students. She uses evidence-based teaching techniques and delivers educational activities that foster critical thinking and knowledge application, moving away from just memorization of concepts in biology. Students describe her teaching approach as 鈥渢ransformative鈥 and 鈥渋nnovative鈥 with a 鈥渃ommitment to fostering inclusive dialogue.鈥   

Junior Tenure Stream Faculty category 

Professor Jade Atallah, Department of Biology, helped establish new biotechnology programs at the Markham Campus while also teaching a variety of courses. Since joining 91亚色 in 2021, Atallah has positioned herself as an outstanding instructor characterized by an effective and evidence-based teaching style that enables students to develop critical thinking and science literacy. Her teaching evaluations are consistently excellent, and colleagues are eager to seek her mentorship to improve and elevate their teaching practices.  

Junior Tenure Stream Faculty category 

Professor Robin Marushia, Department of Science, Technology & Society, has been engaged in actively redeveloping and developing Natural Science courses that are highly regarded by students. Marushia has also served on various committees, including as Chair of the Faculty鈥檚 Committee on Teaching and Learning. She is described by her students as 鈥渁ttentive and receptive to the different perspectives of students鈥 while encouraging students to 鈥渞espect and support each other.鈥 

Contract Faculty category 

Professor Angela Cope, Department of Science, Technology and Society (STS), teaches various Natural Science and STS courses and is recognized for being a candid educator who caters to various learning styles and educational backgrounds. She is described as an inspirational educator who delivers engaging teaching and learning experiences, and she has been instrumental in the transformation of the Natural Science curriculum. Cope actively incorporates Decolonization, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (DEDI) principles while teaching.

Richard Jarrell Award of Excellence for Teaching Assistants 

PhD student Britney Picinic, Department of Biology, is recognized by her peers and supervisors as 鈥渟ympathetic, understanding, approachable and generous.鈥 These qualities, in addition to her ability to communicate effectively, positioned Picinic to take on the roles of lab coordinator and course director for the course, BIOL 2030: Animals, during the summer of 2024. Picinic鈥檚 teaching evaluations are consistently positive. She is described by her students as a teaching assistant exhibiting 鈥渆xceptional teaching skills鈥 and an 鈥渆vident passion for biology.鈥 

Emily Anacleto

Richard Jarrell Award of Excellence for Teaching Assistants 

PhD student Emily Anacleto, Department of Chemistry, is recognized by professors as having 鈥渆xceptional teaching skills鈥 and being committed to continuous learning. Her teaching is informed by her lived experiences to foster an environment in which all students are provided with equitable opportunities to learn and thrive. She is described by students as 鈥渢he most enthusiastic teaching assistant鈥 and that she creates truly 鈥渨elcoming and inclusive鈥 teaching and learning environments. 

Faculty of Science Excellence in Research Awards鈥&苍产蝉辫;

Trevor VandenBoer

Professor Trevor VandenBoer, Department of Chemistry, focuses on analytical and environmental chemistry, specializing in atmospheric chemistry and reactive nitrogen species. He has developed several types of advanced instrumentation to study the impacts of reactive nitrogen on indoor and outdoor air quality. He has already supervised 15 graduate students and post-doctoral researchers, as well as over 30 undergraduate project students. He maintains a prolific and high-impact publication record involving these trainees.

Distinguished Research Professor Sergey Krylov, Department of Chemistry, is an internationally recognized leader in the field of biomedical and bioanalytical chemistry. His research aims to foster innovation and create technologies that solve complex scientific problems and improve lives. His inventions include Kinetic Capillary Electrophoresis, and Accurate Constant by Transient Incomplete Separation. To date, he has supervised more than 70 graduate students and post-doctoral fellows, many of whom have gone on to be research leaders throughout the world.  

Wendy Taylor

Professor Wendy Taylor, Department of Physics & Astronomy, is a leader in experimental particle physics whose research is primarily focused on the search for particles, including magnetic monopoles and other long-lived particles. A key member of the ATLAS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider at the European Organization for Nuclear Research, Taylor contributed to the groundbreaking 2012 discovery of a particle believed to be the Higgs boson. In addition, her group develops cutting-edge electronics used in particle physics and collaborates globally with partners to create innovative new technologies.

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RESEARCH FUNDING

By the Numbers

million

Total funding awarded in 2024

million

Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada

million

Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada

million

Canada Foundation for Innovation, and Ontario Research Fund

million

Canadian Institutes of Health Research

million

Canada Research Chairs

thousand

Mitacs and other fellowships

thousand

Provincial, national and international Agencies

thousand

Foundations, societies, and not-for-profits

thousand

Contracts and industry

thousand

Fields Institute  

Research Funding Highlights

Our researchers and students received a total of $12M in grants and scholarships from NSERC.  A few programs and projects are highlighted below. 

Professor Jianhong Wu, Department of Mathematics & Statistics, and Professors Sergey Krylov and Derek Wilson, Department of Chemistry, received the NSERC Synergy Award for Innovation, which recognizes partnerships in natural sciences and engineering research and development between universities and industry in Canada. The grant is valued at $200K. 

From left to right: Derek Wilson, Sergey Krylov and Jianhong Wu

Wu, Krylov and Wilson received the award in recognition of their pursuit of work addressing challenges in early-stage drug development by providing the health economic data needed for informed decision-making in pharmaceutical markets. In its award announcement, NSERC described their work as being at the forefront of efforts to revolutionize drug and vaccine development and distribution. NSERC also noted that the researchers鈥 collaboration with industry partners, including Sanofi Canada, underscores the value of interdisciplinary partnerships in advancing public health. 

Through the Discovery Grants, Early Career Researcher Supplements, and Sub-atomic Physics Discovery Grants programs, 33 of our researchers received a total of $9.6M. These grants enable them to pursue discovery-driven research programs and conduct innovative research activities.鈥&苍产蝉辫;

Our Discovery Grants recipients included researchers from the Departments of Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics & Statistics, and Physics & Astronomy. They were Professors Andrew Donini, Gordon Fitch, Katalin Hudak, Kohitij Kar, Terrance Kubiseski, Raymond Kwong, John McDermott, Eryn McFarlane, Sandra Rehan, Gary Sweeney, Yongjoo Kim, Arturo Orellana, Derek Wilson, Cora Young, Tao Zeng, Nantel Bergeron, Miles Couchman, Ilijas Farah, Xin Gao, Jane Heffernan, Paul Skoufranis, Jianhong Wu, Kaiqiong Zhao, Scott Beattie, Charles-Eduoard Boukar茅, Eric Hessels, Matthew Johnson, Rahul Kannan, Adam Muzzin, and Paul Scholz. Discovery Launch Supplements were also awarded to Fitch, Kar, McFarlane, Kim, Couchman, Zhao, Beattie, Boukar茅, Kannan, and Scholz. 

Deborah Harris
Deborah Harris

The Sub-atomic Physics Discovery Grant recipients included Professors Nikita Blinov, Deborah Harris, Eric Hessels, and Randy Lewis, all from the Department of Physics & Astronomy. Harris received the largest Discovery Grant in the Faculty with more than $1M for the sub-atomic physics project, 鈥淧aving the way for Neutrino Oscillation Measurements at DUNE.鈥 

Our researchers received a total of $2.1M from CIHR. A few projects are highlighted below.

Professors Mark Bayfield and Gary Sweeney, Department of Biology, each received Project Grants from CIHR that totaled $1.9M.

Mark Bayfield
Mark Bayfield
Gary Sweeney

Bayfield鈥檚 project, 鈥淩egulation of gene expression by the La and La-related proteins,鈥 received $922K. His team will study the process of how genes are translated into proteins, advancing the understanding of the roles these proteins play in causing diseases and how human cells respond to stress.

Sweeney鈥檚 project, 鈥淢echanistic and pre-clinical studies on cardioprotective effects of adiponectin,鈥 received $998K. His research will explore the hormone adiponectin, which is often compromised in people with diabetes and obesity, and the therapeutic potential of adiponectin-based drugs.

Professor Sapna Sharma,Department of Biology, and co-applicants received a $3.1-million grant from the New Frontiers in Research Fund (International stream), which is managed by the Tri-agency Institutional Programs Secretariat housed at SSHRC.

Sapna Sharma

Sharma鈥檚 project is titled 鈥淐limate changed transportation: holistic and Indigenous informed responses to transportation infrastructure, food security and community well-being in the Arctic.鈥 The project will explore the impacts of climate change and the loss of the cryosphere (i.e., sea ice, freshwater ice, snow, permafrost). She and her team will co-develop adaptation measures and technological solutions to decrease the frequency of drownings and accidents in response to hazardous cryospheric conditions for Arctic Indigenous communities, and promote enhanced mobility and food security, in addition to physical and mental health. The main goals of the research team are to map and forecast safe cryospheric conditions across the Arctic and explore observational and modelling tools to enhance Indigenous capacity in stewarding their land.

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RESEARCH SPOTLIGHTS

Mathematical modelling unpacks role of peer influence in teen vaping

Addressing measurements errors to enhance drug discovery

Rare disease drug initiative offers hope for millions

Lake ice quality degrading as planet warms

Uncovering how black holes shape surrounding galaxies

Science students receive awards at summer research conference

Celebrating new and renewed Chair positions

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Teaching and Learning

Making teaching and learning equitable, inclusive and accessible for all

Expanding work-integrated learning opportunities for students

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Students

Undergraduate students receive medals for high achievement

Graduate students receive thesis and dissertation prizes, Governor General Gold Medal

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Community and Alumni

Fostering a passion for the sciences among youth

Top 30 Alumni Under 30

91亚色 U's Top 30 Alumni Under 30

Alumni Awards 2022

Scott D. Tanner receives 91亚色 U Alumni Award

Astronomical Observatory engages community for solar eclipse, launches first podcast

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