Creating more sustainable materials, predicting infectious disease outbreaks, developing green wastewater technologies and protecting against cyberattacks are the goals of two new and two renewed Canada Research Chairs (CRC) for University of Guelph researchers.
This investment is part of more than $308 million in federal funding, $153 million of which will support 179 new and renewed CRCs. The announcement was made by François-Philippe Champagne, minister of innovation, science and industry.
As a partner of the Canada Research Chairs Program, the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) also announced a commitment of nearly $4.3 million through its John R. Evans Leaders Fund (JELF) to support 17 research infrastructure projects at 12 institutions.
U of G’s four awardees are:
- Dr. Anand Yethiraj will hold a new Tier 1 Chair in Experimental Physics. With this CRC, Yethiraj will also receive $250,000 in joint funding from CFI JELF. Yethiraj will join the University as a professor in the Department of Physics, College of Engineering and Physical Sciences (CEPS) in May 2025.
- Dr. Korryn Bodner, Department of Population Medicine, Ontario Veterinary College (OVC), will hold a new Tier 2 Chair in Advanced Epidemiology and Disease Modelling.
- Dr. Aicheng Chen, Department of Chemistry, College of Engineering and Physical Sciences (CEPS), will receive renewed support for his existing Tier 1 Chair in Electrochemistry and Nanoscience.
- Dr. Ali Dehghantanha, School of Computer Science, College of Engineering and Physical Sciences (CEPS) will receive renewed support for his existing Tier 2 Chair in Cyber Security and Threat Intelligence.
“This funding from the federal government empowers our researchers to embark on transformative projects that will drive significant advancements in their respective fields,” says Dr. Shayan Sharif, interim vice-president, research and innovation. “This support not only enhances U of G’s research capabilities but also strengthens our position as a leader in research excellence and innovation.”
Tier 1 Chairs, recognized as global leaders in their fields, receive $200,000 annually for seven years. Tier 2 Chairs, recognized as exceptional emerging leaders in their fields, receive $120,000 annually for five years. Most of the funding supports the chair and chairholder’s research.
The CRC program assists Canadian postsecondary institutions to attract and retain outstanding researchers in various fields, fostering institutional excellence in research and training.
Dr. Anand Yethiraj, CRC in Experimental Physics
Yethiraj uses experimental techniques to deepen our understanding of non-equilibrium systems and leverages this knowledge to create innovative materials for food, medicines and sustainable construction.
Non-equilibrium systems are physical systems that aren’t fixed and stable. For example, living organisms are out of equilibrium because they are continuously consuming food and energy, expelling waste and responding to external stimuli. Many kinds of food and building materials are also out of equilibrium: salad dressing separates over time, and even the properties of cement change over time, which is why controlling its strength is a major challenge for material scientists.
The goals of this project are to drive systems out of equilibrium and employ a variety of experimental techniques to learn more about their resulting properties. An ideal outcome is the creation of synthetic materials that can respond to stimuli, as living organisms do. The insights gained will have widespread applications in society, and the novel materials discovered will help create better and more sustainable products for consumers.
Dr. Korryn Bodner, CRC in Advanced Epidemiology and Disease Modelling
Bodner is exploring how forecasting models can be used to predict infectious disease risks and in turn, prevent or reduce their spread.
Emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases such as Lyme disease, highly pathogenic avian influenza (“bird flu”) and others pose a significant global threat to human and animal health.
In this project, Bodner and her research team will use data and advanced forecasting techniques to make short-term predictions about future disease outbreaks – including their location, timing and intensity – and assess the expected impact of intervention strategies such as vaccination or quarantine protocols.
These forecasts will provide ongoing surveillance of future disease risks, serve as a warning signal for future outbreaks and enhance our understanding of the factors that cause infectious diseases to emerge and spread.