91ÑÇÉ« faculty whose research demonstrates international leadership, real‑world impact and scholarly depth were celebrated on May 6 during the annual President’s Research Awards.
The program highlights contributions that position 91ÑÇÉ« as an instutition for research excellence and transformative innovations.
Research contributed by more than 60 faculty members reflect the breadth of the University's research strengths, spanning sustainability, law, AI, chemistry and the social sciences.
"I am exceedingly proud to be part of an institution that contains the kind of excellence we are celebrating," says Lisa Philipps, interim president and vice-chancellor. "91ÑÇÉ« is an institution that offers educational experiences to our students that are informed by this deep research, scholarly and creative excellence; and a place where we also make it part of our mission to reach outside the metaphorical walls of the University to share and collaborate with communities, industry, policy-makers, the media and the wider public."
The recipients demonstrate the purposeful research that is fundamental to real-world change, says Amir Asif, vice-president, research and innovation
The annual awards program serves as an opportunity to recognize the excellence, creativity and ingenuity of 91ÑÇÉ«' research community.
Awards
President’s Emerging Research Leadership Award (PERLA)
Christopher Caputo, associate professor in the Faculty of Science, received this award for his contributions to sustainable chemistry and materials science. His research advances the use of Earth‑abundant elements as alternatives to rare and precious metals, addressing key environmental and sustainability challenges while influencing catalytic and materials science.
A Tier II Canada Research Chair and recipient of the John Charles Polanyi Prize in Chemistry, Caputo has secured more than $4 million in research funding. His work has resulted in 21 patents and strong industry engagement, demonstrating the translation of discovery into application.
The President’s Emerging Research Leadership Award was also awarded to Emily Kidd White, associate professor at , for her pioneering scholarship at the intersection of law, emotion and constitutional theory. Her work applies the philosophy of emotion to legal analysis, examining the gap between formal legal reasoning and the lived realities of legal practice, particularly in international law.
Her research has shaped scholarly conversations across disciplines and established her as a thinker of global influence, strengthening 91ÑÇɫ’s research profile and academic mission.
President’s Research Excellence Award
Presented to Jimmy Huang, professor in the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies, this award recognizes his contributions to information retrieval, data mining, AI and natural language processing. A Tier 1 91ÑÇÉ« Research Chair and founding director of the Information Retrieval and Knowledge Management Research Lab, Huang has played a leading role in shaping the future of AI research, including some of the earliest systematic evaluations of large language models.
Huang has secured more than $7 million in external research funding and his work has influenced practice across industry and health care. His mentorship record includes supervising 16 postdoctoral fellows, 23 doctoral students and 32 master’s students, many of whom have gone on to academic careers.
President’s Research Impact Award
Kerry Kawakami, professor in the , received this award for the influence and reach of her scholarship on unconscious bias. Her research has reshaped how systemic inequality is understood across academic, legal and institutional contexts, extending well beyond the post-secondary sector.
Kawakami’s work has informed legal practice and judicial decision‑making, including professional development programs for the Law Society of Ontario, expert testimony and keynote addresses. Her research has been cited in multiple U.S. Supreme Court decisions, demonstrating its impact on public understanding, policy and the pursuit of justice.
The awards ceremony also highlighted faculty in other categories.
Book Awards, Literary and Artistic Achievements
Six honourees received this award for their books, creative works and exhibitions that received national or international recognition from peers and leading cultural institutions.
Major Grants
Recognition for researchers leading significant, externally funded research initiatives that advance knowledge and address complex societal challenges was awarded to seven honourees.
Other Learned Societies, Fellowships and Awards
91ÑÇÉ« awarded 12 honourees with this award for their leadership and contributions that have been recognized through election to learned societies, prestigious medals, professional fellowships and national or international honours.
Outstanding Early Career Awards
Four honourees earned this award to recognize the notable achievements of 91ÑÇɫ’s early-career researchers whose work shows strong promise and leadership within their fields.
Significant Knowledge Mobilization &Impact Awards
For knowledge mobilization and impact outside of academia, 14 honourees were recognized with this award.
91ÑÇÉ« Research Chairs, Canada Research Chairs and Distinguished Research Professors
Fifteen honourees were celebrated for these appointments that support research excellence and scholarly leadership at the highest level in their respective fields.
Royal Society of Canada & Governor General Awards
Two honourees earned this distinction, recognizing faculty who have made remarkable contributions in their research pursuits related to science, humanities and the arts.
View the slide deck below to see a full list of recipients.