UNews - Chair Research

Spencer returning as Canada Research Chair

trevor.kenney — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 15:30:41 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge's first graduate in the Earth, Space and Physical Science PhD program is coming back to the U of L through the Canada Research Chairs program.

Astrophysicist Dr. Locke Spencer, who has been working at Cardiff ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ in Wales, is receiving $500,000 in funding over the next five years as a Tier II Canada Research Chair in Experimental Astrophysics.

The funding will support the development of instruments that will provide new insights and improved understanding of our universe. The focus of Spencer's research program will include the development of instrumentation unique within Canada, as well as the creation of new observation and data processing techniques that will be used for future large-scale international projects.

"I am very excited to continue research in this field and to start a new chapter of it at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge," says Spencer, a former Calgarian who attended the U of L for his masters and doctoral studies.

"My U of L graduate training has opened many doors for me and I am truly humbled at the prospect of embarking through this one. Through conducting research in Cardiff I have extended my skills and network to include a variety of leading international projects and collaborations. This CRC funding/position provides the opportunity to bring this experience to Canada and continue to build on the strong international reputation which we have."

During his initial time at the U of L, Spencer worked closely with graduate supervisor Dr. David Naylor in the development and eventual deployment of Spectral and Photometric Imaging Receiver (SPIRE), an instrument on the Herschel space telescope. SPIRE picked up heat signals that are not visible by optical telescopes, and will help to answer the age-old question astronomers have been asking for centuries: "What's out there?"

Spencer continued his involvement with the Herschel/SPIRE project while extending his research towards other projects including working with the Planck space telescope as a post-doctoral researcher at Cardiff.

Naylor says space astronomy projects typically have a cradle to grave lifespan of around two decades from concept studies, through engineering models to flight instrumentation, and the operation and post operation phases.

He adds Canada has rightly earned international recognition for its contributions to several space astronomy missions.

"With a number of far infrared space astronomy missions under development it is essential that Canada builds research capacity to exploit these emerging opportunities if it is to remain at the forefront of the field," says Naylor. "The U of L has recognized the long term nature of these opportunities and has made a strategic investment in the astronomical instrumentation group. Having spent the last years working with scientists on the Planck space project, Dr. Spencer brings a depth of expertise and a network of collaborators which will allow the U of L to further build upon its reputation."

Spencer's studies will advance the understanding of the evolution of the Universe through next-generation far-infrared space-based astrophysical instrumentation and will position Canada as a significant contributor to international research projects.

U of L Vice-President (Research) Dan Weeks says Spencer's research will build capacity in an area of research strength at the U of L.

"Through the efforts of researchers like Dr. Naylor and Dr. Spencer, the U of L has become an international leader in building instrumentation that provides our world with the tools to better understand our universe," says Weeks. "An example of this leadership is the fact that the U of L hosted the first and only SPIRE consortium meeting to be held in Canada last year."

The Canada Research Chairs program stands at the centre of a national strategy to make Canada one of the world's top countries in research and development.

In 2000, the Government of Canada created a permanent program to establish 2000 research professorships – Canada Research Chairs – in eligible degree-granting institutions across the country. The Canada Research Chairs program invests $300 million per year to attract and retain some of the world's most accomplished and promising minds.

"Our government is committed to attracting and retaining the world's best and brightest researchers, supporting innovation, creating jobs, and strengthening our economy," says Canada's Minister of State Gary Goodyear. "By investing in programs such as the Canada Research Chairs, we are fostering cutting-edge research and the generation of new innovations for the marketplace, for the benefit of Canadians."

The U of L is a comprehensive academic and research university as mandated by the Government of Alberta. Last year the U of L was named by Research Infosource as Canada's Research ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of the Year – Undergraduate Category.

New Chair in Aquatic Health Appointed

trevor.kenney — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 23:05:57 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge has added to its internationally recognized expertise in water research with the addition of a new Chair in Aquatic Health, Dr. Greg Pyle.

Pyle is the first of four new research Chairs being added to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ this year as part of the Government of Alberta's Campus Alberta Innovation Program (CAIP) Chairs plan. The government is contributing $1-million for four Chairs, over the course of seven years, for a total investment of $7 million.

"It's exciting to be able to bring in an outstanding research talent such as Dr. Pyle," says Dr. Dan Weeks, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's vice-president (research). "His established expertise in the effects of environmental contaminants on the chemical communication systems in aquatic animals will greatly add to the already comprehensive research portfolio that has been established by our researchers in the Water Institute for Sustainable Environments (WISE)."

Pyle comes to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ after spending the previous five years as head of the Aquatic Biotechnology and Ecotoxicology Laboratory at Lakehead ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ in Thunder Bay, Ont. His research program is considered unique because he is able to study several aquatic species, including both vertebrate and invertebrate animals, representing different positions within a typical freshwater food web and thereby better understanding the subtle effects of environmental contamination.

"The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge has been building a strong reputation in research over the past several years, especially in the aquatic sciences," says Pyle. "I am thrilled to be part of that growing research culture, and excited by the prospects afforded by the university and surrounding region."

Prior to taking up a Canada Research Chair in Environmental Biotechnology and Ecotoxicology at Lakehead, Pyle helped establish and build the Department of Biology at Nipissing ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ. He earned both his bachelor and master's degrees from Laurentian ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ and received his PhD from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Saskatchewan.

The CAIP Chairs plan is part of the Government of Alberta's Campus Alberta collaborative initiative and will provide research Chairs to Alberta's four Comprehensive Academic and Research Intensive (CARI) institutions: the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, Athabasca ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Alberta and the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Calgary.

The U of L will also welcome CAIP Chairs in the areas of brain health and dementia, synthetic biology, and terrestrial ecosystems and remote sensing later this year. Pyle's appointment at the U of L is funded for seven years.

"The program is designed to recruit new research leaders to Alberta in specific areas of study," says Weeks. "Not only do these areas align with the Government of Alberta's strategic priorities, but they also reflect the core strengths of our institution."

5 Questions with Dr. Claudia Gonzalez

trevor.kenney — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 21:36:24 +0000

Dr. Claudia Gonzalez (MSc '00, PhD '04) is a Canada Research Chair in the Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education. Born and raised in Mexico, she earned her bachelor's degree in psychology from the National Autonomous ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Mexico before continuing her education at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge where she earned both her master's and PhD degrees in neuroscience. She has taught and researched at the U of L since August 2009, and is funded by the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) and the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI).

What first piqued your interest in your research discipline?

Ever since I can remember, I was interested in science. I was, and still am, fascinated by animal behaviour, particularly human. In middle school, I remember spending hours simply watching people. Later on it became a habit to observe people's actions and to wonder what led those people to act in a certain way. I decided to take psychology in university and it became clear that if I wanted to understand behaviour I had to first understand the brain. I pursued a career in neuroscience and I continue to be baffled by how the brain – a mere three pounds of mush – determines the complexity of our thoughts and actions. My research looks at multi-sensory integration like eye-hand coordination and sensory and cognitive interactions such as visuospatial abilities.

Dr. Claudia Gonzalez looks to unlock the mysteries of how the brain controls movement.

How is your research applicable in "the real world"?

I often tell my students that I do science for the love of science. My research is motivated by the big question of how the brain works to produce behaviour. In the lab we ask questions such as how does the brain compute the location, size and orientation of an object so that every morning you can pick up your cup of coffee with remarkable ease. We use cutting-edge technology that allows us to break down a hand or an eye movement into hundreds of components so that we can take a really good look at how it is executed. In addition, we look at how these visuomotor interactions are modulated or affected by cognitive functions such as attention and spatial abilities. We are starting to conduct research in neurological populations (i.e.: stroke patients) hoping to gain some further insight into the neural mechanisms underlying visuomotor and visuospatial functions. At the end of the day we hope to understand how the brain integrates sensory, motor and cognitive information. With this knowledge we can begin to develop strategies that translate into better outcomes for patients suffering from neurological conditions.

What is the greatest honour you have received in your career?

I guess that was when I overheard one of my supervisors say: "she will do fine" when discussing my future in science. Really, as a scientist I am very proud when my work is published, cited or funded. Also, it is always a pleasure and an honour to receive inquires from students who want to know about the work that I do and whether they can volunteer or work in my lab.

How important are students to your research endeavours?

Students are the heart and soul of my research program. Students' curiosity and excitement about learning and discovery is the best motivating force in the lab. Students don't only carry out the experiments but they help in the design and interpretation of them. It is often in the latter that students' contributions are invaluable; they bring a fresh and unbiased perspective to science and research.

If you had unlimited funds, which areas of research would you invest?

Two: Early education and translation. "Scientia potentia est" which commonly translates from the Latin as "knowledge is power". So I would invest in teaching children from an early age about their brain and how to take care of it. I think that if children learned some general principles of brain function early in their life, they would be less likely to engage in activities that would endanger their brains such as drug use, or checking from behind in a hockey game.

With respect to translation, I recently spoke to a medical doctor from a different country who told me that she goes to international conferences and brings back with her what she has learned to apply it directly into her patient population. Her story got me thinking that perhaps we don't do enough of that. As a basic scientist I would like to see that more of our findings could be put into practice, which is ultimately where it matters most.

Each month, the Legend will present 5 Questions With . . . one of our researchers. For a look at the entire catalog of 5 Questions With . . . features, check out the Office of Research and Innovation Services website at www.uleth.ca/research/research_profiles. If you'd like to be profiled, contact Penny Pickles at pickpj@uleth.ca

This story first appeared in the November 2012 issue of the Legend. To view the full issue in a flipbook format, follow this link.

Research dollars continue to flow

trevor.kenney — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 23:15:12 +0000

The business of research at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge keeps growing and, like any other business, needs people and resources to keep the wheels of innovation turning.
Recent rankings which place the U of L's research efforts at the top and near to the top of influential listings of Canadian research universities, show and tell the U of L's research achievements based on numbers.

But there are more than numbers to this success – there are people who, through very diverse projects, demonstrate the unique ways in which the U of L is, as described by the editors at Maclean's magazine, "…Alberta's rising research star."

Dr. Paul Hayes is part of a team of U of L researchers to receive significant funding from the Canada Foundation for Innovation.

Recent funding announcements by the Canada Foundation for Innovation and the Canada Research Chair program have brought to the U of L new or renewed funding in excess of $2.4 million. Many of the funding awards are eligible for matching funds, or can be used to lever additional resources which further advance the U of L's research agenda. As more research funding is confirmed, other U of L researchers will be profiled.

Dr. Andrew Iwaniuk

Dr. Andrew Iwaniuk, a researcher at the Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience who studies the development of avian brains, will use his Canada Foundation for Innovation funding to purchase a sophisticated slide scanner, microscope and related equipment which will allow his research team to create what are known as virtual slides. ($131,000)

From these virtual slides, he will be able to perform a myriad of measurements and analyses to better understand how the brain is organized and how brain damage arising from exposure to environmental toxins occurs in various bird species. In addition to these direct research uses, Iwaniuk has amassed the largest collection of bird brains in the world, which at present includes over 500 specimens representing more than 150 different species from North America, Australia, Africa, Australia and Europe.

One of his aims over the next several years will be to digitize this entire brain collection and make it available to researchers, educators and students worldwide. By creating a virtual museum within which anyone will be able to look at virtual slides and photos of entire brains, researchers from around the world can more readily collaborate and provide information to educators and the general public on how the brain has evolved among birds.

Dr. Louise Barrett

Dr. Louise Barrett studies the social processes and behaviour of people and primates. Her research will determine how social functioning can be improved by examining connections between social environment and the development of interpersonal skills. Barrett, a Canada Research Chair in Cognition, Evolution and Behaviour, is aiming to discover how the actions of others help shape our social worlds – and therefore our psychology. She's doing so by studying the social behaviour and cognition of both humans and our primate cousins in Canada and South Africa. ($1.4 million/seven years)

Primates are known for their intense sociability, which is thought to have shaped the ways in which we think about the world. Research in this field has usually considered that social information is processed solely inside the head. However, Barrett is emphasizing how physical or bodily engagement with the world – and with other individuals – can and should be recognized as part of our psychology. In that respect, cognitive processes can be considered as both visible and social, and not just invisible and private.
In addition, Barrett is studying how various types of 'social niches' help shape psychology from infancy to adulthood, and how language and culture influence generate differences between humans and primates.

By challenging long-held beliefs about the way primates think and socialize, Barrett's work is paving the way for new forms of psychology that could improve people's social experiences by increasing the understanding of the social skills they need in a complex society.

Dr. Stacey Wetmore

Dr. Stacey Wetmore, Canada Research Chair in Computational Chemistry was recently renewed as a Tier 2 Canada Research Chair ($500,000/five years).

Wetmore uses computers to explore the reactions between DNA and various harmful chemicals in order to understand how DNA gets damaged. And in order to clarify how nature affects repairs, she studies how enzymes in our body repair our DNA by chemically removing the damaged sections of DNA.

Computers help Wetmore examine molecules that are difficult or impossible to learn about using traditional experiments. For example, it is difficult to study some molecules experimentally because they live for such a short time; using computers, however, speeds up the process so she can investigate their properties thoroughly.

Computer simulations are the tool of choice that not only allow Wetmore to study molecules quickly and cheaply but also allow her to study chemically modified DNA pieces that have applications as drugs or tools for biotechnology.

Drs. Paul Hazendonk, Michael Gerken and Paul Hayes

The trio of chemistry researchers has received substantial funding from the Canada Foundation for Innovation ($400,000) to purchase a significantly more powerful NMR system, which will allow the researchers – who envision collaboration with researchers working on wide-ranging projects from the oil and gas, agriculture and pharmaceutical industries – to more accurately measure the structure of various solid and liquid compounds down to the atomic level of accuracy.

Their research – and the current NMR facility, which is also in the process of receiving a significant upgrade – is already attracting worldwide attention. With the addition of the new equipment, they expect to expand their programs, ability to work with graduate and undergraduate students, and enhance their relationships with a wide variety of collaborators. The facility is expected to take about a year to fully commission.

This story first appeared in the November 2012 issue of the Legend. To view the full issue in a flipbook format, follow this link.

5 Questions With Dr. Henning Bjornlund

trevor.kenney — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 21:53:12 +0000

Dr. Henning Bjornlund is a Canada Research Chair in Water Policy and Management at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge and a professor at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of South Australia. He has researched water policy and management issues in Australia since 1993 and in Canada since 2005. He recently served on the Ministers Advisory Group on Water Allocation and Management in Alberta, and has written widely about water policy and management issues with more than 275 publications and presentations.

What first piqued your interest in your research discipline?

Prior to starting my first academic degree in 1990, I was the managing director for a company operating tropical plantations in South and Central America, the Caribbean and the South Pacific. As part of this work, I bought properties and negotiated access rights to water to grow bananas, citrus, rice and other tropical crops highly dependent on water.

While studying for my bachelor's degree I had to do a third-year research project and chose to concentrate on the impact of water policy on rural land values. This required a careful study of the literature on water markets and water rights. I continued this theme through both my master's and PhD studies.

Dr. Henning Bjornlund is one of the foremost experts in water policy and management issues.

How is your research applicable in "the real world"?

Water is probably the most important and valuable resource in the world. All human activity depends on it in one form or another. It is available in a finite quantity and has a finite ability to assimilate waste. Most human and economic activity in some way impacts on water quality and the availability of water. Human activities have had a serious impact on water bodies and the ecosystems dependent on them. Policy makers around the world are trying to come to terms with how to reverse this trend of environmental degradation, how to continue our human activities while minimizing our impact on the environment, how to use less water and be more efficient, how to produce more from less and how to share our limited resources. All of these issues are central to my research.

What is the greatest honour you have received in your career?

The greatest honour and privilege that I can receive as an academic is an invitation to contribute to policy making, the development of professional standards or to public debate and awareness. Hence, invitations to serve on entities such as the Ministers Advisory Group on a new Water Management and Allocation framework for Alberta, to produce a policy commentary to contribute to the debate on water management and policy in Alberta, or help write a policy document for the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) in London on the implications of changing water policies for property professionals are among the greatest honours I have received.

How important are students to your research endeavours?

Student participation is an integral part of my research program. I currently have seven PhD students and five master's students in Canada and Australia working on various issues related to water policy and management. Apart from answering pressing questions about how to resolve the world's growing water problems, a very important task is the building of human capacity to deal with these issues. Student training in this area is very important.

If you had unlimited funds, which areas of research would you invest?

How to share limited resources is one of the most challenging issues facing policy makers and water managers. This is a very complicated issue in that those who currently have the right to use water have invested a lot of time and money to be able to do so. Hence, any change in the way water is allocated can potentially have significant socio-economic impact on the current generation of water users, not the least of which are irrigators and the communities that currently depend on water use as the economic engine of their community. If I had unlimited funds I would like to conduct a Canada wide investigation of how people perceive a reallocation should take place, how such perception varies across Canada and what causes the variation. Such insight would assist the development of a national water plan or policy, as well as the development of provincial water policy plans.

Each month, the Legend will present 5 Questions With . . . one of our researchers. For a look at the entire catalog of 5 Questions With . . . features, check out the Office of Research and Innovation Services website at www.uleth.ca/research/research_profiles. If you'd like to be profiled, contact Penny Pickles at pickpj@uleth.ca

This story first appeared in the October 2012 issue of the Legend. To see the full issue in a flipbook format, follow this link.

Alumna of the Year Preuss realizes destiny

trevor.kenney — Fri, 12 Oct 2012 22:24:20 +0000

Do scientists believe in fate? If you talk to Dr. Kathryn Preuss (BSc '95) about her academic life and professional career, you'll notice a string of coincidences and happenings that seem to have set her on a path that's led Preuss to her current position as an associate professor at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Guelph and a Tier II Canada Research Chair in the Chemistry of Molecular Materials.

It started when Preuss was a school kid, and her father, Dr. Peter Preuss, taught philosophy at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge.

"I remember going to the Christmas parties, running around and having fun on campus as a child," recalls Preuss. "The U of L has always been a positive environment for me."

Preuss values the research opportunities she enjoyed as an undergraduate student at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge.

Attending the U of L was therefore pretty much in the cards for Preuss from the beginning. She knew the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ well and was aware of its great undergrad reputation across the country. Preuss enrolled at the U of L with the intention of taking her talent for science into the field of medicine. But as it happened, fate once again played its hand.

"When you're a girl and you're good at science, everybody tells you that you should become a doctor, so that's what I assumed I'd be," says Preuss. "But then I met professor René Boeré."

In 1992, Preuss had earned the highest marks among all first-year chemistry students. At the end of the year, Boeré approached Preuss about accepting a summer job in his lab and she jumped at the opportunity. In need of a job, the idea of getting paid to do something she was genuinely interested in was too enticing to pass up.

Preuss spent that summer conducting experiments on inorganic synthesis and doing all sorts of exciting things that very few first-year undergrad students ever have the chance to do.

"It was eye opening," recalls Preuss. "I couldn't believe I was getting paid to do all that cool stuff and was building my academic credentials at the same time. Suddenly I realized that it was possible to be a professional chemist, to do research and actually make a living at it."

From there, Preuss's path took a turn. She focused on obtaining a degree in chemistry and continued to work in various professors' labs between semesters. Preuss furthered her experiments in inorganic synthesis and later expanded her research to the areas of organic synthesis, thermodynamics and photochemistry.

By the time Preuss had finished her undergraduate studies, she had no fewer than seven published papers to her name – more than most PhD students tend to have on their CVs. Preuss graduated with distinction from the U of L, was awarded the Faculty of Arts & Science Gold Medal (Science) for her achievements and went on to complete a PhD in inorganic chemistry at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Waterloo.

Today, Preuss is a leading expert in the field of materials science. She has received numerous awards for her work, including the Royal Society of Canada's Alice Wilson Award, the Natural Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada's UFA ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Faculty Award, and the Ontario Government's Early Research Award.

Her research is innovative and influential – the magnitude of which only a chemist can truly appreciate.

"We are attempting to make bifunctional or multifunctional materials, but our design is unique," she explains. "We are the first to actually develop thiazyl radicals as ligands in a rational way, and we have added a new class of radicals. We've taken the entire metal-radical concept a step further than it has every been taken before."

Ask her how she feels the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge prepared her for academic achievement and professional success, and Preuss's response is crystal clear.

"My education at the U of L is directly responsible for where I am today," says Preuss. "If I hadn't gone to the U of L, met professor Boeré and worked in his lab, I wouldn't have become a chemist. None of what I've done would have been accomplished. The U of L gave me the opportunity to do a lot of really significant research and be recognized for it early on. Attending the U of L definitely gave me a head start and got me going in the right direction, academically and professionally."

It might be hard to prove, but scientists may just believe in fate after all.

GET THE FACTS

· After completing her PhD in 2000, Preuss held post-doctoral positions at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Colorado and North Carolina State ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ. She returned to Canada in 2002

· Her current research has implications in the areas of low-power data storage, sensors and other adaptive technologies

· In addition to her teaching and research commitments, Preuss is an avid sailor and tries to spend some time each summer on Georgian Bay (Lake Huron) with her young family. She is married to Joel and has two children, Genevive (3) and Marco (1)

This story first appeared in the October 2012 issue of the Legend. To read the full issue in a flipbook format, follow this link.

CCBN renovation creates enhanced research area

trevor.kenney — Thu, 27 Sep 2012 22:42:32 +0000

The Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience (CCBN) has undergone some major renovations in the past few months to improve the space where world-renowned research is being conducted.

The former in situ lab at the CCBN was quickly outgrowing the needs of the expanding Polaris Brain Dynamics Research Group at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge. But thanks to funding from the Canada Foundation for Innovation, a new, larger lab and animal facility – an addition of 224-square metres – has been built to better suit researchers' needs.

The new lab is a modern space with the capacity to operate multiple workstations simultaneously. Previously, researchers would have to travel from room to room to gather supplies or use a particular piece of equipment, while changing lab coats and other protective gear between rooms.

Research technician Aubrey Demchuk prepares an experiment in the CCBN's new in situ lab that offers much more space than the previous lab.

Research technicians Valérie Lapointe and Aubrey Demchuk, who help to manage the lab and assist undergraduate and graduate students, post-doctoral fellows and principal investigators with their research, say the extra space has greatly improved their working conditions.

"The room where we were doing the experiments before was very tiny. We could only work with a few people at a time, and we'd kind of walk on one another," says Lapointe, who was part of the planning and design process for the new in situ lab. "It's nice that it is bigger and that everything is here in one room."

"We're really lucky to have as much space as we have now," says Demchuk.

Dr. Bruce McNaughton, Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research (AHFMR) Polaris Research Chair, says many projects were put on hold until the new lab could be built.

"We now have an outstanding neural imaging facility for both live animal imaging and quantitative microscopy. As well as an integrated center for neuroscience data analysis, with workstations connected to our parallel supercomputing facility," he says. "These new facilities will enable a big increase in lab productivity and the output of high quality basic and preclinical neuroscience."

When it came to building the lab, most of the work was in the details, says project manager Brad Robinson.

"You can see, the counters are just full of lab equipment, so I had to do elevation views of each wall and know where each piece of equipment was going, where the plug was going, where the data plug was going, where the light switches were going, where the thermostats were going and so on. I had to know where everything needed to be logistically to create a well-organized, functioning lab," he says.

The rodent research facility at CCBN also received an overhaul. It now features 45 animal experiment/research rooms, six surgery suites, a quarantine room, seven animal housing rooms, an MRI room, an MPE (multiphoton electron) microscope room and an optical imaging room equipped with specialized LED surgical lights and Nederman gas extractor arms that can be placed almost anywhere near a surgery table to exhaust vapours.

Making renovations to the CCBN's animal facility wasn't without its challenges. Construction work can severely impact research. Simply drilling a hole into the drywall contaminates a room. The preparation and planning to shut down an area of the facility can take longer than the actual construction work, but if the proper precautions are not taken, the entire animal facility could be contaminated and thousands of hours of research work would be lost.

"Shutting down parts of the building to tie the new infrastructure into the existing infrastructure was a real team effort," says Robinson.

This story first appeared in the September 2012 issue of the Legend. For a look at the full issue in a flipbook format, follow this link.

Rasmussen's contributions earn Ingrid Speaker Medal

trevor.kenney — Mon, 07 May 2012 20:40:30 +0000

Professor of biological sciences Dr. Joseph Rasmussen has made outstanding contributions in fisheries and aquatic biology for three decades.

For his distinguished record of achievement and enduring contributions to these areas of study, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge has named Rasmussen as the recipient of the 2012 Ingrid Speaker Medal for Distinguished Research, Scholarship, or Performance.

Dr. Joseph Rasmussen continues to earn accolades for his aquatic research projects.

A Tier 1 Canada Research Chair, Rasmussen is the director of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge's Water Institute for Sustainable Environments (WISE). His research papers have been published in several elite science journals, including Nature, the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Ecology Letters, Ecological Monographs and the Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, the latter of which is the leading international journal for aquatic sciences.

Some of Rasmussen's work has resulted in crucial research advances. He is a pioneer in using stable isotopes to characterize food web systems, and his work has had major impacts on biomagnification, toxic substances and studies of the invasion by exotic species. His expertise in aquatic ecology led to his appointment to Environment Canada's National Oilsands Review Panel. In 2010, the Society of Canadian Limnologists awarded him the Frank H. Rigler Memorial Award, the society's highest honour.

"It was very gratifying to receive an award that has been given to many excellent scientists over the years, and to have my name associated with that of professor Rigler, who had such a profound impact on limnology and aquatic science in general," says Rasmussen of the honour.

His work has had significant scholarly impact as well. Rasmussen's cumulative citation record is impressive, with over 7,000 citations on the Web of Science, and over 9,000 on Google Scholar, showing that his research papers are very influential in advancing the field of ecology.

This story first appeared in the May issue of the Legend. For a look at the full issue in a flipbook format, follow this link.

Saucier to leave U of L for dean appointment

trevor.kenney — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 21:25:54 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge's Dr. Deborah Saucier, professor and Chair, Department of Neuroscience, will be leaving the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ next year after accepting the position of Dean of Science at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT).

Saucier has been at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ since 2006, joining the U of L as a Canada Research Chair and associate professor. She then progressed to the position of professor and then Chair of the department in 2009. Her appointment at UOIT begins July 1, 2011.

"On behalf of her many colleagues on campus, I would like to congratulate Dr. Saucier on her prospective appointment and wish her the best for her family and her future career in this new role," says Dr. Chris Nicol, dean of the Faculty of Arts and Science.

Nicol says Saucier has been an outstanding colleague since joining the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ.

"She has served as director of the Canadian Centre of Behavioural Neuroscience and, more recently, as Chair of the Department of Neuroscience. In addition to a prodigious record of achievement as a scholar and teacher, she also has distinguished herself with recent service to the Faculty Association as Chair of the Academic Welfare Committee. She will be greatly missed on our campus."

Located in Oshawa, Ont. and founded in 2002, UOIT hosts more than 7,500 undergraduate and graduate students on two campuses.

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) is delighted to have Saucier join its team.

"Dr. Saucier has a proven track record of attracting research funding, investing wisely in her department and ensuring its success by providing opportunities for everyone to succeed, regardless of where they are in their career," says Dr. Richard Marceau, UOIT Provost. "We are looking ahead to Dr. Saucier's arrival at UOIT as our second dean of the Faculty of Science."

Saucier is a Tier II Canada Research Chair in Behavioural Neuroscience. She received her PhD in psychology from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Western Ontario (UWO) in London, Ont. and completed a post-doctoral fellowship in Neuropsychology at UWO in 1995.

Saucier spent three years as a faculty member in Psychology at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Regina and then in 1999 she accepted a position at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon where she was an associate professor of Psychology.

Rasmussen a leader in aquatic research

trevor.kenney — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 20:59:37 +0000

Whether we like it or not, Canada's waters are under increasing pressure to support greater economic activity. Be it the energy sector, agriculture, mining or urbanization, our aquatic ecosystems face an uncertain future.

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge biological sciences professor Dr. Joe Rasmussen is a key component in helping people understand the adverse effects that economic activity can have on our waters. One of the country's most recognized water researchers, his peers recognized him when a Canadian professional organization of limnologists (aquatic ecosystem researchers who study lakes and rivers) awarded Rasmussen its highest honour.

Rasmussen, a Canada Research Chair in Aquatic Ecosystems, received the Frank H. Rigler Memorial Award at the joint annual meetings of the Society of Canadian Limnologists and the Canadian Conference for Fisheries Research.

The award recognizes and honours major achievements in the field of limnology by Canadians or those working in Canada. Emphasis in selection is given to established aquatic scientists whose work is recognized for its influence and importance.

Dr. Joe Rasmussen, conducting fieldwork with a group of his students earlier this year.

Rasmussen teaches ecology, aquatic ecosystems and aquatic biology. He has served on a wide range of advisory panels across Canada dealing with water management issues ranging from in-stream flow to water quality criteria, and has done groundbreaking research in a number of key areas relating to the management of water and aquatic resources.

Canada's waters are a valuable resource and as pressure is exerted upon them economically, the role of the aquatic researcher becomes more essential.

"There is also the issue of 'regulated rivers,' which include both reservoirs and their downstream tailwaters. They are and will be an increasing part of the limnological landscape," says Rasmussen.

"Most recently, the research that my laboratory has been in engaged in crosses over from limnology to fisheries research, a process I am encouraging more researchers in both of these disciplines to do. For example, we are examining the scientific criteria used to assess fish habitats under the Fisheries Act, which has become a prominent component of environmental regulation in Canada following the Supreme Court decision on the Oldman River dam during the 1990s."

He says being recognized by his peers is humbling.

"The Rigler award means a great deal to me both personally and professionally. Personally, it is gratifying because so many colleagues and former students from all over Canada belong to the society, and to be honoured by friends with whom I have worked with throughout my career brings back many wonderful memories," says Rasmussen. "It is also very gratifying to receive an award that has been given to many excellent scientists over the years, and to have my name associated with that of professor Rigler, who had such a profound impact on limnology and aquatic science in general."

The award also reaps benefits for the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ and could result in an influx of funding and research opportunities.

"I have already been contacted by a number of people who would like to come to Lethbridge and work in my laboratory," Rasmussen says. "The prestige associated with this award, and others like it, can also make it somewhat easier to obtain grants and other types of funding for research, and this helps keep the wheels turning."

For a look at Rasmussen's involvement with the Oilsands Advisory Panel, follow this link.

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