The University of British Columbia has received $23.2 million in support of 23 Canada Research Chairs, including new chairs in data science and developmental neurobiology.
The Canada Research Chair program was established in 2000 and helps attract and retain top researchers in Canada. The funding announced Thursday will support 11 new chairs at UBC and will continue to support 12 researchers who had their chairs renewed. UBC’s holds a total of 187 chairs, 44 within the Faculty of Science.
“The Canada Research Chair program strengthens research and helps draw leaders in every field to UBC,” said John Hepburn, vice president Research and International. “Our professors are making new discoveries and developing new ideas that will change our world. We’re grateful for the support of this program.”
UBC’s new chairs work on issues like improving access to medicine for Canadians, using genetic information for personalized medicine, and food security.
The new UBC funding was part of a $139 million investment to support 150 chairs across the country, announced Thursday by the Honourable Ed Holder, Minister of State (Science and Technology). The government funds 1,700 chairs across the country.
New Canada Research Chairs
Kota Mizumoto, Chair in Developmental Neurobiology, Zoology
Mizumoto studies movement and locomotion by studying what happens at the molecular level in neurons and synapses.
Yaniv Plan, Chair in Data Science, Mathematics
Plan’s research involves the theoretical underpinnings of modern signal measurement and inference. It has inspired new methods of magnetic resonance imaging and opened doors to new methods of data collection and analysis.
Renewed Canada Research Chairs
Dolph Schluter, Chair in Evolutionary Biology, Zoology
Schluter’s research is about the rise of ecological diversity. He investigates the origin of genetic differences between organisms, the mechanisms by which new species form, and the role of interactions between species and evolution.
Alex Walls
Media Relations Specialist, UBC Media Relations
alex.walls@ubc.ca
