UNews - Speaker Research Award

Neuroscience pioneer Dr. Robert McDonald earns ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Speaker Research Award

trevor.kenney — Wed, 07 May 2025 17:57:11 +0000

A trailblazer in behavioural neuroscience, Dr. Robert McDonald (BSc '89) is internationally recognized for his pioneering research into memory systems, neuroplasticity and Alzheimer’s disease, and has been named the 2025 winner of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge’s Speaker Research Award.

“The Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience has gained its reputation as a world-leading neuroscience hub because of researchers such as Dr. McDonald,” says Dr. Dena McMartin, ULethbridge vice-president (research). “His work does not build off others’ previous work rather he changed the way the neuroscience world approached the study of learning and memory. An exceptional teacher, Dr. McDonald’s contribution to his field have led to significant advances in the study of Alzhemier’s, aging and psychiatric disorders. His positive influence on public health and some of today’s most pressing health issues make him a very deserving recipient of the Speaker Research Award.”

Dr. Robert McDonald is internationally recognized for his work on memory systems, neuroplasticity and Alzheimer's disease.

The Speaker Research Award recognizes the importance of research, scholarship and performance to the philosophy and goals of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ.

McDonald will be presented with the Speaker Research Award at Spring 2025 Convocation, Ceremony I, on Thursday, May 29, 2023, at 9 a.m. in the Centre for Sport and Wellness gymnasium.

Dr. Robert McDonald

Professor Dr. Robert McDonald is a world-renowned neuroscientist whose research has fundamentally reshaped our understanding of learning and memory. Since joining the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge in 2004, he has developed a program of research that advances scientific theory and contributes directly to clinical applications in neurodegenerative diseases, mental health and cognitive disorders.

McDonald’s early work provided groundbreaking evidence that memory is not a unitary process but consists of multiple interacting systems. His seminal 1993 paper on triple dissociations in memory systems continues to be widely cited and has served as a cornerstone for subsequent research in behavioural neuroscience. By designing experiments that isolated specific memory processes and mapped them to neural circuits, McDonald helped establish a systems-based framework for understanding cognition. This approach, once considered outside the mainstream, has now become a central paradigm in the field.

Through more than three decades of continuous research funding — including prestigious grants from NSERC, CIHR and the Alzheimer Society of Canada — McDonald has led a highly productive lab investigating the biological foundations of memory, the effects of neurodevelopmental stressors, and novel models of Alzheimer’s disease. His recent work includes translational research on the sporadic form of Alzheimer’s, exploring how circadian disruption, the gut microbiome and early cannabinoid exposure affect cognitive health.

McDonald’s program is defined by its significant scientific impact and integrative, collaborative nature. His lab has worked alongside experts in biochemistry, imaging, genetics and computational neuroscience to test innovative hypotheses. He has co-authored more than 150 publications — several in high-impact journals — and has been invited to present at international conferences and contribute to leading academic journals. His influence also extends to clinical and public health circles, where his work has shaped thinking on Alzheimer’s, aging and psychiatric disorders.

Equity, diversity and inclusion are at the heart of McDonald’s research and mentoring philosophy. Over his career, he has trained nearly 200 students, many from underrepresented groups, and has created an inclusive lab environment with flexible supports tailored to individual needs. Numerous trainees have gone on to successful careers in academia, medicine and industry, including at institutions such as McGill ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Calgary and Washington ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ in St. Louis.

McDonald is also an exceptional teacher and campus citizen. He regularly teaches foundational courses in behavioural neuroscience and has served on departmental and national committees, including CIHR and NSERC grant panels. His contributions have brought significant distinction to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge and have solidified its reputation as a leader in neuroscience research. His commitment to excellence, mentorship and advancing human knowledge makes him a most deserving recipient of the Speaker Research Medal.

Internationally recognized inorganic chemist, Dr. René Boeré, earns 2024 Speaker Research Award

trevor.kenney — Wed, 15 May 2024 19:35:01 +0000

An internationally recognized inorganic chemist and leader in his field of chemistry, Professor Emeritus Dr. René Boeré has been named the 2024 winner of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge’s Speaker Research Award.

Boeré has inspired his fellow scientists within the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry at ULethbridge since he became a faculty member in 1988. In addition, his work has spawned collaborations with scientists at universities across the globe, all while leading a highly productive research program that has been continuously funded for more than 30 years.

Dr. René Boeré will be presented with the Speaker Research Award at Spring 2024 Convocation, Ceremony I.

The Speaker Research Award recognizes the importance of research, scholarship and performance to the philosophy and goals of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ.

Boeré will be presented with the Speaker Research Award at Spring 2024 Convocation, Ceremony I, on Thursday, May 30, 2024, at 9:30 a.m. in the 1st Choice Savings Centre gymnasium.

René Boeré

Professor Emeritus Dr. René Boeré has had a major impact on the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, where he served as Chair for a decade and was an active proponent for a new science building. He devoted countless hours to propelling the department forward and procuring specialized state-of-the-art equipment such as X-ray diffractometers and spectrometers. He has been continuously funded by Discovery Grants from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) for more than three decades.

Boeré has also been at the forefront of his field, developing and employing new concepts and techniques and sharing them with colleagues and students at other universities. His broad-ranging expertise includes electrochemistry, X-ray crystallography, sulfur-nitrogen chemistry and he is a leader in a technique called electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy. His unique skill set has earned him recognition around the world. Other chemists seek him for possible collaborations, and he has also been an external examiner for several PhD defences. Boeré has mentored many students at all levels as well as post-doctoral fellows.

After earning an honours Bachelor of Science from Dalhousie ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ in 1979, Boeré then completed a PhD in inorganic chemistry at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Western Ontario in 1984. Following an NSERC post-doctoral fellowship at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Guelph, he received a Humboldt Research Fellowship, a prestigious fellowship for researchers with above-average qualifications, at the Free ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Berlin. Boeré joined the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge in 1988. While he faced many challenges in establishing his research program at the start, he persevered and has since succeeded in creating a program that rivals those found in larger chemistry departments. For evidence of his research productivity, one need not look further than his publication record, which includes more than 160 manuscripts in peer-reviewed journals, five reviews and book chapters and his work has been showcased in more than 120 conference presentations. He has involved undergraduate students in research and 45 publications have co-authorships with undergrads. Boeré has also mentored 10 master’s and six PhD students and trained three post-doctoral fellows and research associates. In addition to teaching at ULethbridge, Boeré has been a visiting professor and Humboldt Scholar in Germany, Brazil, Australia, Japan, Finland and France. He has extensive teaching experience in general and inorganic chemistry, solid-state chemistry, organic chemistry, analytical chemistry and aspects of physical chemistry.

Boeré has lent his expertise to organizations and committees within the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ and outside organizations. He served as Chair for the NSERC Scholarship Selection and General Grant Distribution and the Canadian Council of ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Chemistry Chairpersons. He was a member of the Canadian Society for Chemistry’s Degree Accreditation Committee from 2008 to 2014. Closer to home, Boeré was part of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Library Committee and contributed to obtaining Canadian Society for Chemistry accreditation for the Bachelor of Science major. He also led efforts to obtain specialized scientific equipment.

Leader in RNA and protein biophysics research earns ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge 2023 Speaker Research Award

trevor.kenney — Wed, 24 May 2023 17:10:31 +0000

A research leader in RNA and protein biophysics who regularly uses his expertise to engage in science outreach and communication activities, Dr. Trushar Patel has been named the 2023 winner of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge’s Speaker Research Award.

Patel’s research on how RNA interacts with proteins and how proteins interact with other proteins, has made a substantial contribution to the overarching goal of uncovering events at the heart of diseases such as viral infections, covering everything from Hepatitis B to COVID-19.

Dr. Trushar Patel has made a substantial contribution to the overarching goal of uncovering events at the heart of diseases such as viral infections.

“The quality and impact of work from Dr. Patel since arriving at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge is exceptional. He consistently demonstrates leadership in his field of study, as evidenced by the many awards with which he has been recognized and peer reviewed publications he and his team have produced,” says Dr. Dena McMartin, ULethbridge vice-president (research). “In addition to the valuable research his lab undertakes, Trushar continues to utilize his expertise as an engaging science and policy communicator and champion of outreach initiatives that inspire the next generation of scientists. He’s richly deserving of this award.”

The Speaker Research Award recognizes the importance of research, scholarship and performance to the philosophy and goals of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ.

Patel will be presented with the Speaker Research Award at Spring 2023 Convocation, Ceremony I, on Thursday, June 1, 2023, at 9:30 a.m. in the 1st Choice Savings Centre gymnasium.

Dr. Trushar Patel

Globally, viral infections and associated cancers are responsible for millions of deaths and impose a severe financial burden on health-care systems. Dr. Trushar Patel, a professor in the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, heads a multidisciplinary program aimed at providing critical insight into the host protein-viral nucleic acid interactions that are of fundamental importance for viral replication.

Patel came to ULethbridge in 2016 as an independent researcher and earned a Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in RNA and Protein Biophysics in November 2017, which was subsequently renewed in 2022. Patel graduated with BSc (2000) and MSc (2002) degrees in biotechnology from India. He joined the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Nottingham in the United Kingdom for his PhD (2007) and later worked at the Universities of Manitoba and Birmingham.

Patel’s lab, based out of the Alberta RNA Research and Training Institute, has earned extensive funding support as it investigates a variety of viral diseases covering everything from Hepatitis B to COVID-19. His research program has attracted over $8.5 million from provincial, federal and international funding agencies since joining ULethbridge.

The calibre of Patel’s research as a leader in RNA & Protein Biophysics is demonstrated by his early career productivity. He has published 86 peer-reviewed articles in top-tiered international journals, with 23 as the first author and 42 as a senior author, as well as 34 editorials.

Patel has demonstrated scientific leadership and excellence in community engagement. He is co-director of DiscoveryLab, which links companies and investors. He was a participant in the first Science Meets Parliament program, which unites scientists, members of Parliament and senators to discuss science and science policy, and he has played a key role in organizing subsequent meetings. He was co-Chair of the EDI committee for the Canadian Society for Virology. He is an executive member of the Biophysical Society of Canada (BSC), Chair of the Communications and Publications Committee and Councillor at the Canadian Society for Molecular Biosciences (CSMB), and an incoming Chair of the Early Careers Committee of the Biophysical Society (USA).

Patel lent his experience as an informed voice throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and, for his work as a key member of the Return to Campus Committee, was awarded the 2022 ULethbridge Volunteer Award. He has also been recognized with the 2022 BSC Young Investigator Award, the 2022 New Investigator Award from CSMB and the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal. In 2022, he was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry.

Dr. Trevor Harrison, leading researcher in the study of populism, named winner of Speaker Research Award

trevor.kenney — Wed, 11 May 2022 15:31:08 +0000

Recognized as one of Canada’s leading sociologists, Dr. Trevor Harrison is renowned for his interdisciplinary approach to research that delves into many of today’s vital issues related to globalization, populism, immigration and political economy. The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge is proud to name Harrison as the winner of the 2022 Speaker Research Award.

Harrison will be presented with the Speaker Research Award at Spring 2022 Convocation Ceremony IV.

“Dr. Harrison is well known for his work thanks to his unique ability and willingness to share his insights on key societal issues through public platforms including speaking events and media engagement,” says Dr. Dena McMartin, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ’s vice-president (research). “The research he shares in the public spotlight, connecting economics, history, politics and sociology, is unparalleled and sets him apart from his peers. He brings this diligent approach to the classroom and his students, who are encouraged to think deeply and critically about today’s issues.”

Harrison will be presented with the Speaker Research Award at Spring 2022 Convocation Ceremony IV, Thursday, June 2, 2022, at 2:30 p.m. in the 1st Choice Savings Centre for Sport and Wellness.

Dr. Trevor Harrison

While Dr. Trevor Harrison is identified as a sociologist, his interdisciplinary research work displays a remarkable breadth of study that spans many of today’s vital issues related to globalization, populism, nationalism, and political economy.

Harrison grew up in Edmonton but later completed a bachelor of sociology at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Winnipeg. He subsequently earned a masters of sociology at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Calgary before returning to Edmonton for his doctoral studies at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Alberta. His PhD thesis, Of Passionate Intensity: Right Wing Populism and the Reform Party of Canada, was later published by the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Toronto Press and laid the foundation for much of his subsequent work as a leading researcher in the study of populism in Canada and elsewhere.

Harrison was a founding member of the Parkland Institute in 1996, a think tank located at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Alberta that studies public policy in Alberta. He joined the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge as an associate professor in the Department of Sociology in 2002.

In 2007, he was named interim director of the fledgling Prentice Institute for Global Population and Economy, one of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge’s first research institutes, a position he held until 2009. While continuing as a ULethbridge professor, in 2011 he was appointed director of the Parkland Institute, a position he held until 2021.

Harrison’s research connects economics, history, politics, and sociology. He has consistently been at the forefront in identifying societal and political trends. His ability and willingness to share his insights make him a talented educator and much sought-after public speaker and media commentator able to unpack the complexities of today’s most volatile issues for a variety of audiences.

Harrison has contributed extensively to the sociological, political, and public policy literature. Besides five co-edited books, he has written three solo books and co-written, with John Friesen, a fourth, Canadian Society in the 21st Century: A Historical Sociological Approach, now in its fourth edition.

Philosophy professor Brown named 2020 Speaker Research Award winner

trevor.kenney — Tue, 20 Oct 2020 19:57:28 +0000

Recognized as one of the world’s most influential contributors to paraconsistent (inconsistency-tolerant) logic, Dr. Bryson Brown has been named the winner of the 2020 ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Speaker Research Award.

Dr. Bryson Brown is regarded as a key contributor to an area of logic called paraconsistent logic.

Brown, professor and Chair in the Department of Philosophy, is regarded as a key contributor to an area of logic called paraconsistent logic, which allows non-trivial reasoning from inconsistent premises; he has also made influential contributions to the application of such logics in the history and philosophy of science.

His contributions to research are manyfold, displaying breadth across areas including philosophy of ecology, the theory of evolution and early (“old”) quantum theory. Brown is a co-author or co-editor of six volumes of scholarly papers and has published 53 research papers in refereed journals and scholarly anthologies — an impressive record for a humanities professor publishing in journals that accept less than 10 per cent of submissions. Brown’s research has also garnered the attention and support of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) as he has received five Regular Research Grants over the course of his career, an exceptional accomplishment in the humanities.

Born in Niagara Falls, Ont., Brown earned his BA in Philosophy at Trent ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ before studying at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Pittsburgh, where he earned an MA and PhD in philosophy. His first academic appointment was at Rice ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ in Houston, Tex., followed by two years as a research assistant and teacher at Dalhousie ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ before joining the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, in 1986. At the U of L, he has taught courses in history and philosophy of science, logic, metaphysics, epistemology and philosophy of language.

Brown has a passion for philosophy of science, including the roles of science in understanding our world and as a critical tool for survival in today’s world. A teacher of his, Wilfrid Sellars, described the aim of philosophy as “to understand how things in the broadest possible sense of the term hang together in the broadest possible sense of the term”; Brown hopes that his work has contributed and will continue to contribute to that project.

Understanding our world is essential to coping with critical issues today, including climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic. Brown’s work on paraconsistent logics has explored how logicians and scientists have coped with the inconsistencies that paradoxes and the natural world sometimes seem to impose on us, and developed new ways to carry on constructively.

Brown is being presented with the Speaker Research Award as part of this week’s 2020 Fall Convocation online celebrations.

Dr. Olga Kovalchuk to be awarded 2019 ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Speaker Research Award

trevor.kenney — Wed, 22 May 2019 20:47:38 +0000

Recognized as a pioneer in the study of radiation biology, cancer and epigenetics, Dr. Olga Kovalchuk has been named the winner of the 2019 ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Speaker Research Award.

Kovalchuk, a professor in the Department of Biological Sciences, Board of Governors Chair in Epigenetics of Health and Disease, and Canadian Institute of Health Research Chair in Gender and Health, has created one of the most robust research programs in the world. She is respected internationally for her groundbreaking discoveries, her volume of research and her proficiency at translating that research into community impact.

“Dr. Kovalchuk is an outstanding researcher on many levels,” says Dr. Claudia Malacrida, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ’s associate vice-president (research). “Her productivity is remarkable and she is one of our best at identifying interdisciplinary collaborations with colleagues from across campus, such as in neuroscience and biochemistry. She truly is at the leading edge of her field and her ability to translate that research into clinical and industrial directions is impressive.”

Kovalchuk’s groundbreaking work discovered that males and females respond differently to radiation, with females exhibiting more radiation effects. Further, Kovalchuk analyzed the effects of chemotherapy on the brain and discovered the existence and molecular nature of what is called chemo-brain and tumor brain phenomena. These findings have serious repercussions for the development of sex-specific radiation diagnostic and treatment plans, as well as sex-specific strategies to prevent and mitigate cancer treatment side effects on the brain.

Most recently, Kovalchuk led the first-ever study using big data to dissect the effects of smoking on biological aging.

She will be presented with the Speaker Research Award at the 2019 Spring Convocation Ceremony I at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, May 30, 2019 in the 1st Choice Savings Centre gymnasium.

UNews - Speaker Research Award

Neuroscience pioneer Dr. Robert McDonald earns ��Ѹ�����Դ���߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Speaker Research Award

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