Hugh MacIsaacHugh MacIsaac of the Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research has been awarded $275,000 over five years under the Natural Sciences and Environmental Research Council of Canada’s Discovery grant program to assess interacting stressors in lakes.

Professors receive more than $4.1 million for scientific and engineering research

Twenty-five UWindsor professors in the faculties of science, engineering, and human kinetics have been awarded a total of more than $4.1 million in federal grants to fund their research for the next five years or outfit their labs with new equipment.

The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) is funding 20 new projects at the University, including research into agricultural crop growth, autonomous vehicles, the health of our lakes, and the structural integrity of bridges. In addition to those grants of $40,000 to $119,500 per year, another five professors will receive a total of more than $569,000 to buy research tools and instruments.

NSERC funding is vitally important to research at the University of Windsor, said K.W. Michael Siu, vice-president, research and innovation.

“This federal research program supports our researchers in creating an environment of excellence,” Dr. Siu said. “It allows our faculty members to make discoveries while at the same time train the next generation of scientists and engineers.”

This new funding through NSERC’s suite of Discovery grant programs brings the federal government’s total investment to $560 million, said François-Philippe Champagne, federal minister of innovation, science and industry, and Mona Fortier, president of the Treasury Board. Much of that funding is going to five-year projects that began in previous years.

“Discovery is the foundation of all advancements,” Champagne said. “Through this major investment in some of Canada’s most promising and innovative researchers we are supporting scientists and students to become global leaders in their field. By helping to expand the frontiers of science, we are investing in a better society and a brighter future for Canadians.”

In addition to having their projects funded, six newer faculty members — Sara Scharoun Benson and Francesco Biondi in kinesiology, Catherine Febria from the Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research, Cameron Proctor from the School of the Environment, Ahmed Sakr from electrical and computer engineering, and Pooya Moradian Zadeh in computer science — are receiving additional grants of $12,500 each. Awarded to faculty in the first five years of academic appointments, the grants help new professors launch their research careers.

“At NSERC, we dedicate significant resources to our Discovery research programs precisely because we cannot predict where successes will occur,” said Alejandro Adem, NSERC president.

“We foster excellence by providing thousands of exceptional researchers at various stages in their careers with the stable foundation needed to lead thriving research programs and create unparalleled training opportunities for the next generation of scientists and engineers.”

—Sarah Sacheli

Shahida NurullahJazz singer Shahida Nurullah will perform with accompanist Mike Karloff in a free lunchtime concert Wednesday, Aug. 17.

Music faculty to take to campus stage

Two UWindsor music instructors will share their talents with the campus community in a free noontime performance Wednesday, Aug. 17.

Jazz vocalist Shahida Nurullah will be accompanied by pianist Mike Karloff for the third installment of the President’s Concert Series. Sponsored by the Office of the President, the series is intended to bring together faculty, staff, and students in an informal setting.

Bring a lawn chair or blanket at noon to the grassy area between Assumption Hall and Assumption Church — in the event of inclement weather, the concert will relocate to the student centre Commons. In addition to music, the event promises attendees a free serving of gelato.

Nurullah is a voice instructor and Karloff teaches jazz-pop piano and arranging in the School of Creative Arts.

file folders marked "funding," "grants"Register to attend the free webinar “You won a grant! Now what?” on Friday, Aug. 19.

Managing research grants subject of workshop

For early career and established researchers alike, navigating the steps between receiving a grant and starting your research can be challenging. How do you access funds and hire research assistance? Where do you start with getting clearance from Research Ethics? And what are your financial responsibilities?

Researchers at all career stages have a chance to learn these processes from the experts in a lunchtime webinar on Friday, Aug. 19. Presented by the Office of Research and Innovation Services together with the Office of the Vice-President, Research and Innovation; the Office of Research Ethics; Human Resources; and Research Finance; this session will help you get from a successful grant proposal to a successful research project and equip you with the knowledge to navigate the many systems supporting researchers at the University of Windsor.

The workshop, entitled “You won a grant! Now what?” promises information on getting a new research project off the ground.

Presenters include:

  • Kate Rosser-Davies, research systems and metrics co-ordinator;
  • Amy Taylor, executive assistant to the vice-president, research and innovation;
  • Paige Sowerby, manager of restricted funds;
  • Harmony Peach, manager, Office of Research Ethics;
  • and a representative of Human Resources to be announced.

The session will run 12 to 1:30 p.m. over Microsoft Teams and include time to ask your most pressing questions and get the right answers quickly. Registration in advance is free but required to attend.

Job shadow program issues call for in-person or virtual hosts

Career Development & Experiential Learning (CDEL) is looking for professionals to host students for the upcoming Fall Job Shadow Experience. For the first time, CDEL is offering both virtual and in-person shadowing options.

“We had to adapt the program to be fully virtual in the past couple of years,” explains Kerri Zold, manager of CDEL. “But we realized that the virtual aspect actually opened the program up to more diverse hosts and made it more accessible for some students.”

This term, hosts and students can choose to have a virtual or in-person experience to best fit their needs. Hosts will spend a couple of hours online or in-person with a student, providing valuable insights and guidance while answering the student’s questions about their industries and career paths. This helps UWindsor students better understand how to connect their studies to the workplace, allowing them to gain a clearer picture of their goals after graduation.

Lisa Wacheski, curator and manager of education at the Canadian Transportation Museum and Heritage Village, enjoyed participating as a host in the Winter term.

“Participating in the University of Windsor’s Virtual Job Shadow Experience was very rewarding,” she says. “Helping students determine which direction to turn toward achieving a successful transition to a career that they are passionate about strengthens our communities. Looking forward to the next time.”

Ashwin Mohan, a project engineer at Hetek Solutions, also found the experience to be rewarding: “It was a mutually beneficial process and laudable by the University of Windsor to initiate this program.”

CDEL encourages hosts — especially UWindsor alumni — from diverse sectors and locations to register.

Virtual Job Shadow Experience is set for the University’s reading week, Oct. 11 to 14.

If you or someone you know are looking to exercise leadership and mentorship qualities by sharing insights about career paths and opportunities with talented and motivated UWindsor students, find out more and register by Sept. 1 on the Job Shadow Experience host page.

For more information, contact career consultant Farrah Francis at Farrah.Francis@uwindsor.ca, or career advisor Stephanie Dupley at Stephanie.Dupley@uwindsor.ca.