UBC Science boosted its research capacity in biochemical sensing, particle physics and mathematical biology today with the appointment of three new Canada Research Chairs.
The chairs are among 10 new, three renewals and two advancements at UBC, the largest share of the latest round of CRC appointments--135 at 41 post-secondary institutions valued at $109 million. Overall, UBC holds the second largest complement of CRC allocations -- 186 -- at any Canadian university. UBC Science is home to 55 Chairs.
"The Canada Research Chairs program has helped UBC and other Canadian universities recruit and retain bright minds in all disciplines from around the world," says John Hepburn, Vice-President Research and International at UBC.
"We have already seen the scientific and economic impact of their discoveries and this continued support is vital for our future."
The Faculty also saw one renewal in this round of CRC announcements.
"Our government remains committed to attracting and retaining the world’s best researchers, creating jobs and strengthening our economy,” says Greg Rickford, minister of state (science and technology). “Through programs such as the Canada Research Chairs, we are supporting cutting-edge research at Canadian universities and fostering innovation by helping researchers bring their ideas to the marketplace, to benefit Canadians and improve our quality of life."
New UBC Science CRCs
Russ Algar Biochemical Sensing
Algar’s research involves developing nanoparticles as analytical tools, particularly for the optical detection of biological molecules. His research will lead to new methods of diagnosing disease and elucidating how cells function.
Alison Lister Particle Physics
Lister explores the fundamental building blocks of nature to search for signs of new particles of forces. Dr. Lister works on one of the largest international scientific collaborations: The ATLAS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). Her fundamental research will help us understand the nature of fundamental forces and particles.
Juncheng Wei Nonlinear Partial Differential Equations, Concentration Phenomena and Applications
Wei's research aims to develop unified mathematical tools in studying concentration phenomena arising from phase transitions and mathematical biology.
UBC Science Reappointments
Dinesh Pai Sensorimotor Computation
Pai's long-term goal is to create useful computational models of how humans move and physically interact with their environment. By modeling the underlying sensorimotor system itself, as a biological machine, we could achieve good generalization and gain fundamental insights into biological principles. The proposed work will provide key enabling technologies for applications in computer animation, robotics, and human health.
