The University of British Columbia has gained research strength in neuroscience, biotechnology, astronomy, anthropology and climate science with the appointment or renewal of nine UBC scholars as Canada Research Chairs.
The chairs – three new appointments and six renewals – are valued at $9.9 million and bring UBC’s total number of Canada Research Chairs to 186, the second largest complement of CRC appointments at any university in the country.
“The Canada Research Chairs program has helped to transform research at UBC and across Canada,” says John Hepburn, Vice President Research and International at UBC. “The new discoveries and knowledge generated by researchers in this program will improve the quality of life of all Canadians.”
UBC’s chairs are among 132 federally funded research positions awarded or renewed today, representing a total investment of $124.5 million distributed to 36 universities, research institutes and hospitals across Canada.
NEW APPOINTMENTS
Gary Hinshaw, professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy, is the new Canada Research Chair in Observational Cosmology. He is building two new radio observatories to explore the nature of the universe.
Shaylih Muehlmann, assistant professor in the Department of Anthropology, is the new Canada Research Chair in Language, Culture and the Environment. Her research investigates natural resource conflicts in the U.S.-Mexico borderlands.
Christina Laffin, assistant professor in the Department of Asian Studies is the new Canada Research Chair in Premodern Literature and Culture. Her research explores pre-18th Century portrayals of Japanese women.
RENEWED APPOINTMENTS
Lara Boyd, assistant professor in the Department of Physical Therapy, is the Canada Research Chair in the Neurobiology of Motor Learning. Her research investigates how strokes affect the brain and best practices in therapy for recovery.
Roger François, professor in the Department of Earth and Ocean Sciences, has been renewed as the Canada Research Chair in Marine Geochemistry for Global Climate Change. His research seeks to measure and differentiate human-induced climate change from recurring natural climate cycles.
Neil Cashman, professor in the Brain Research Centre, has been renewed as the Canada Research Chair in Neurodegeneration and Protein Misfolding Diseases. His research seeks to advance our understanding of diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
Ann Marie Craig, professor in the Department of Psychiatry, has been renewed as the Canada Research Chain in Neurobiology. Her research explores neurobiological causes of psychiatric disorders such as autism and schizophrenia.
Terrance Snutch, professor in UBC’s Michael Smith Laboratories, has been renewed as the Canada Research Chair in Biotechnology and Genomics – Neurobiology. His research explores migraines, epilepsy, chronic pain, addiction and blindness.
Alejandro Adem, professor in the Department of Mathematics and director of the Pacific Institute for the Mathematical Sciences, has been renewed as the Canada Research Chair in Algebraic Topology. His research uses advanced mathematics to improve our understanding and representations of the physical world.
The federally-funded Canada Research Chair program was launched in 2000 to build Canada’s research capacity. An investment of $900 million supports the establishment of 2,000 Chairs at universities across the country.
Learn more about the Canada Research Chairs program at: http://vpacademic.ubc.ca/canada-research-chairs/
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