Each year, U of G recognizes recently tenured faculty members who have accomplished significant research, training and knowledge mobilization achievements with the U of G Research Excellence Awards.
This year, the seven U of G researchers who received the awards explore a wide variety of topics, from stage design to nanotechnology that detects disease to monitoring forest health.
The awards help raise the profile of these researchers among external funding agencies and shine a spotlight on the fantastic work happening across the University. The $5,000 awards are sponsored by the Office of Research and the Office of the Provost.
“At the University of Guelph, our overarching goal is to have a positive impact on the world,” said Dr. Rene Van Acker, vice-president (research and innovation). “The work these seven exceptional researchers do does that in a myriad of ways, and I look forward to seeing how they improve life as their careers progress.”
Dr. Ben DeVries
Department of Geography
DeVries is a remote-sensing expert who has made a significant impact through his work in Earth observation and environmental monitoring. Through his research, DeVries has collaborated with cross-disciplinary research teams nationally and internationally to monitor forest health, lakes and wetlands, and flood inundation mapping.
Dr. Jennifer Ellis
Department of Animal Biosciences
Ellis is cross-species expert in mathematical modelling, applying mechanistic, statistical and machine learning modelling methodologies, as well as their hybridization, to optimize animal production systems. As one of the few researchers globally with this research focus, Ellis’s work has led to collaborations with the animal nutrition and feed-milling industry where she helps to improve the quality of feed, efficiency and sustainability of animal production systems.
Dr. Rogier Holtermans
Department of Marketing and Consumer Studies
Holtermans is a real estate finance scholar who integrates urban and financial economics with environmental and social sustainability. His research focuses on two areas: the financial implications of climate change risk, energy efficiency, and sustainability on the real estate and financial markets and the return drivers in commercial real estate.
Associate Professor Troy Hourie
School of English & Theatre Studies
Hourie is an acclaimed scenographer and installation artist whose groundbreaking international profile in building performative spaces is driven by a desire to push the boundaries of spectator engagement and intermediality. Hourie has also dedicated his career to building more inclusive arts communities arts and is currently working on two new Indigenous works.
Dr. Huiyan Li
School of Engineering
Li’s research works to develop innovative micro- and nanoscale biosensors and lab-on-a-chip technologies to improve the study of diseases, including cancer. Her multidisciplinary approach integrates biosensing, micro/nanofabrication, bio-optics/electronics and computation tools with biomedicine, contributing to improved diagnostics, prognosis and treatment for patients.
Dr. Rebecca Shapiro
Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology
Shapiro is working to improve human health by understanding the intersection of genetics and fungal pathogens as well as antifungal drug resistance. A particularly innovative pillar of Shapiro’s research is her lab’s development of next-generation CRISPR tools for fungal pathogens.
Dr. Charlotte Winder
Department of Population Medicine
Winder’s work seeks to improve the health and well-being of cattle and small ruminants through applied research focusing on practical questions of use to farmers and their support teams. As a part of her work, she developed a website dedicated to best practices for pain control for disbudding calves.