U of T researchers awarded 20 new and renewed Canada Research Chairs

From neuroimaging of aging to Indigenous methodologies with youth and communities, the University of Toronto’s 20 new and renewed Canada Research Chairs are working to address key global challenges and advance knowledge across a wide range of fields.

Among the nine new chairs at U of T are Elizabeth Buckner, an assistant professor at U of T’s Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE). As tier two chair in higher education for sustainable development, Buckner is focused on examining how post-secondary institutions can promote sustainable development by integrating the concept into the fabric of universities. Her findings are expected to inform governments, NGOs and the post-secondary sector. (See the full list of new and renewed Canada Research Chairs at U of T)

Chloe Hamza, also of OISE, was named a tier two chair in stress and coping in post-secondary contexts. The assistant professor of applied psychology, who studies the development of mental health and wellbeing in children and young adults, aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the processes through which university students cope with distress.

In the realm of public health, Amaya Perez-Brumer, an assistant professor at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health, was named a tier two chair in global health intervention justice. Perez-Brumer studies how infectious disease prevention efforts and clinical trials are executed to gauge their impact on marginalized communities and improve public trust.

“My warmest congratulations go out to all U of T researchers who were named Canada Research Chairs, or who had their chair renewed, in the latest round,” said Leah Cowen, vice-president, research and innovation, and strategic initiatives.

“Through the Canada Research Chair program, the federal government is supporting U of T researchers who are investigating some of the grand challenges the world faces and are shaping the innovations of tomorrow.”  

Established in 2000, the Canada Research Chair program represents an investment of roughly $310 million per year to attract and retain top talent in disciplines spanning engineering, the natural sciences, health sciences, humanities and social sciences. 

Here are the new and renewed Canada Research Chairs at U of T:

New Canada Research Chairs

•  Elizabeth Buckner in the in the department of leadership, higher and adult education in the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, tier two in higher education for sustainable global development.
• James Ellis in the department of molecular genetics in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine and the Hospital for Sick Children, tier one in stem cells models of childhood disease.
• Astrid Guttmann in the department of paediatrics in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine and the Hospital for Sick Children, tier one in applied child health services and policy.
• Chloe Hamza in the department of applied psychology and human development in the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, tier two in stress and coping in post-secondary contexts.
• Donald Mabbott in the department of psychology in the Faculty of Arts & Science and the Hospital for Sick Children, tier one in white matter plasticity and cognitive development.
• Tatyana Mollayeva in the Dalla Lana School of Public Health and University Health Network, tier two in Neurological Disorders and Brain Health.
• Amaya Perez-Brumer in the Dalla Lana School of Public Health, tier two in global health intervention justice.
• Micheal Shier, in the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, tier two in social innovation and social entrepreneurship in the human services.
• John Sled in the department of medical biophysics in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine and the Hospital for Sick Children, tier one in biomedical imaging.
• Carolyn Steele Gray at the Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation in the Dalla Lana School of Public Health and Sinai Health, tier two in implementing digital health innovation.
• Kim Tsoi, in the department of surgery in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine and Sinai Health, tier two in translational sarcoma research.

Renewed Canada Research Chairs

• Jean Chen in the department of medical biophysics in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine and Baycrest Hospital, tier two chair in neuroimaging of aging.
• Rodrigo Fernandez-Gonzalez, in the Institute of Biomedical Engineering in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering, tier two chair in quantitative cell biology and morphogenesis.
• Ran Kafri, in the department of molecular genetics in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine and the Hospital for Sick Children, tier two chair in quantitative cell biology.
• Kagan Kerman in the department of physical and environmental sciences at U of T Scarborough, tier two in bioelectrochemistry of proteins.
• Joel Levine in the department of biology at U of T Mississauga, tier one chair biological determinants of social networks.
• Rhonda McEwen in the Institute of Communication, Culture, Information and Technology at U of T Mississauga, tier two chair in tactile interfaces, communication and cognition.
• Jeehye Park in the department of molecular genetics in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine and the Hospital for Sick Children, tier two chair in molecular genetics and neurodegenerative diseases.
• Peter Roy in the department of molecular genetics in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine, tier one chair in chemical genetics.
• Eve Tuck in the department of social justice education at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, tier two in Indigenous methodologies with youth and communities.