U of L researchers awarded more than $1.8 million in NSERC funding

caroline.zentner — Mon, 22 Jul 2019 16:47:48 +0000

Eleven ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge researchers have been awarded Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) Discovery Grants worth approximately $1.8 million, payable in instalments of anywhere from one to five years.

“��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge researchers were very successful this year, with 11 out of 14 applications being awarded funding,” says Dr. Erasmus Okine, U of L vice-president (Research). “This funding of almost $2 million demonstrates the calibre of research our scientists are engaged in and I congratulate each one of them.”

Dr. Gerlinde Metz, a neuroscience professor, received the U of L’s largest grant worth a total of $510,000. She and her research team will continue exploring early life stress and its effects on brain plasticity. They’ll examine how early life stress alters brain development, connections between neurons, and behaviour. They’ll also look at whether factors such as age and sex determine the response to early life stress and whether early life stress affects subsequent generations.

Dr. Theresa Burg, a biology professor, studies how the evolution of high-latitude species is linked to historical and present-day environmental changes. Examining how landscape features and past climate changes have shaped today’s populations can further the understanding of population dynamics and help predict how these species might respond to future climate change.

Dr. Dmytro Yevtushenko, a professor in the Department of Biology and Research Chair in Potato Science, was awarded an early career researcher supplement in addition to a Discovery Grant. Yevtushenko will conduct research into the natural defense mechanisms of potato plants. His work could lead to higher crop yields, less crop loss, increased food safety and could help point the way to improving disease resistance in other crops.

Dr. Borries Demeler, Canada 150 Research Chair and a professor in the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, is a leading biophysics scientist with expertise in analytical ultracentrifugation (AUC). AUC is used to analyze molecules in solution. He has established the Canadian Center for Hydrodynamics, which is equipped with three unique AUC instruments to accelerate biophysical research in Canada. He hopes to develop new analysis protocols and software tools that will benefit basic research in biochemistry, physics and material science.

Other U of L researchers who received grants include Dr. Jon Doan (kinesiology and physical education), Dr. Stewart Rood (biology), Dr. Lawrence Flanagan (biology), Dr. Anthony Russell (biology), Dr. Hadi Kharaghani (mathematics and computer science), Dr. Matthew Tata (neuroscience) and Dr. Saurya Das (physics and astronomy).

Graduate Studies celebrates student research

trevor.kenney — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 22:38:03 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge's School of Graduate Studies celebrated the achievements of some of its top student researchers at the 10th Annual Celebration of Graduate Students' Research Excellence on Wednesday, Jan. 23.

A total of 33 students were recognized for the outstanding calibre of their research projects, all of which have been granted significant external funding support.

"The evening was a celebration of the excellent research our graduate students continue to be involved in," says School of Graduate Studies Dean, Dr. Robert Wood. "To see major awards from agencies such as the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council, Alberta Innovates – Technology Futures and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council given to our students, demonstrates the work they are doing is of national importance."

Of the awards being recognized at the celebration was a $35,000 Alexander Graham Bell Graduate Doctoral Scholarship NSERC award to Ashley Moore (Biological Sciences), working under the supervision of Dr. Anthony Russell.

Chenyuan Hu (Mathematics and Computer Science, Dr. Hua Li supervisor), Andriy Bilichak (Biological Sciences, Dr. Igor Kovalchuk supervisor), Farhad Faghihi (Chemistry & Biochemistry, Dr. Paul Hazendonk supervisor) and Aki Matsuoka (Biological Sciences, Dr. Igor Kovalchuk supervisor) all received funding in excess of $30,000 from Alberta Innovates – Technology Futures.

"The level of research our graduate students undertake is exceptional, and these awards reflect not only the commitment from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ to continue to build its research portfolio, thereby making it a destination university for graduate students, but the commitment of our faculty to actively engage and support graduate student research opportunities," adds Wood.

The complete awards list can be found here.

UNews - Anthony Russell

U of L researchers awarded more than $1.8 million in NSERC funding

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