Two faculty members earn honorific professorships during Spring Convocation

abanerj7 — Wed, 18 Jun 2025 13:57:13 +0000

91��ɫ’s 2025 Spring Convocation will honour two faculty members with Distinguished Research Professor and University Professor recognitions.

The Distinguished Research Professor title is awarded to a faculty member whose research has had a significant and lasting impact, both at 91��ɫ and beyond. It is a recognition of scholarly excellence and leadership that has shaped fields of study and contributed meaningfully to the academic reputation of the University.

The University Professor honour is reserved for those who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to teaching and research, alongside exemplary service to the University community. Recipients are recognized for their broad and sustained influence across all areas of academic life.

University Professorship

Paula Wilson, Faculty of Science

Wilson, a long-serving faculty member in the Department of Biology, has been recognized for her significant contributions to 91��ɫ’s academic mission, governance and community life.

^{Paula Wilson accepting her University Professorship, next to President and Vice-Chancellor Rhonda Lenton, at a June 12 Spring Convocation ceremony.}

Since joining 91��ɫ in 1998, she has held a range of senior administrative roles, including associate dean of student affairs, acting dean of the Faculty of Science, acting associate vice-president international, interim Chair of biology and, most recently, head of Bethune College.

She played a central role in developing undergraduate programs such as the biomedical science stream and the international bachelor of science, both of which have broadened access to science education. As a member of the Markham Campus Planning Group, she also supported the development of new professional graduate programs.

As head of Bethune College, she revitalized its role as an academic and social hub, launched new communications platforms, strengthened ties with the and reimagined Academic Orientation Day to build student belonging.

A passionate educator and mentor, Wilson is a staunch advocate for removing barriers to learning. Her current scholarship, supported by a 91��ɫ Academic Innovation Fund grant, focuses on improving accessibility in undergraduate labs. Her pedagogical expertise and deep commitment to student success have had a lasting impact on the student experience at 91��ɫ.

While Wilson has received other teaching awards – including the Faculty of Science Excellence in Teaching Award and the President’s University-Wide Teaching Award – the University Professorship, she says, stands out.

"Receiving the University Professor recognition is the highest honour I could receive from 91��ɫ, so it means a lot to me and I’m deeply grateful for it. It has special meaning for me too, as a member of the teaching stream, as this honour rarely goes to teaching stream faculty," says Wilson. "I’m especially thankful for my colleagues who prepared the nomination and support letters, as these things take a substantial amount of time and energy – I feel like I am sharing this honour with them.

"Having the privilege to work with so many outstanding colleagues, students and staff members at 91��ɫ has made it both fun and a pleasure to come to work each day and to be honest, anything I have accomplished has been in collaboration with and because of them."

Courtesy of Yfile

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Provincial recognition for 91��ɫ U early-career researchers

abanerj7 — Wed, 21 May 2025 12:51:22 +0000

91��ɫ professors Kohitij Kar has received Ontario’s Early Researcher Award, a competitive provincial honour that supports promising early-career faculty leading innovative research.

The Early Researcher Award recognizes faculty at publicly funded Ontario institutions within their first 10 years of an academic career. It supports advancing knowledge and building strong teams of graduate and undergraduate trainees to develop future research leaders in Ontario.

Kar, a professor of biology in the Faculty of Science and Canada Research Chair in Visual Neuroscience, received the Early Researcher Award for work exploring how the brain might process sensory information differently in autistic adults, focusing on how they see and understand the world.

Kohitij Kar By combining computer simulations with brain activity studies, the team models how changes in specific brain areas might lead to autism-like behaviours, specifically by adding controlled “noise.” The findings aim to enhance diagnosis and develop more effective support strategies, reinforcing Ontario’s investment in autism services and assisting community organizations.

“There is an urgent need to develop testable computational models of the neural basis of autism, particularly the sensory differences,” says Kar. “This award is a critical boost for our project, allowing us to expand our research and accelerate the development of tools that can better understand sensory processing differences in autism. It brings us closer to real-world impact for individuals and families affected by autism.”

Kar’s current project builds on his award-winning work studying visual object processing. His research appears in leading journals including Nature Neuroscience and Science. He leads a research program at 91��ɫ and has earned awards such as the Future Leaders in Canadian Brain Research Award. His combined expertise in neuroscience and artificial intelligence makes him well positioned to lead this innovative effort.

The achievement reflects 91��ɫ’s growing leadership in interdisciplinary research with real-world impact, says Amir Asif, vice-president research and innovation.

Courtesy of YFile