exterior photo of a builiding

Contact Us

Research and Innovation

The Office of the Vice-President, Research and Innovation is located on the first floor of the Joyce Entrepreneurship Centre. The Joyce Entrepreneurship Centre is located on Wyandotte Street West between Sunset Avenue and California Avenue.

Visitor Parking is available in the parking structure located directly behind the Joyce Entrepreneurship Centre.

Office of the Vice-President, Research and Innovation
Room 150, Joyce Entrepreneurship Centre

The Office of Research and Integrity Services at the University of Windsor administers research grants and contracts and is the point of contact for the federal granting councils (NSERC, SSHRC, CIHR, CFI), government ministries, industry, associations and foundations which typically provide financial support for the university scholarship research and creative activities. Research is a significant component of the mission of the University of Windsor and our office is dedicated to supporting our research enterprise.

Our focus is on supporting and promoting research at the University of Windsor, in all faculties, schools, and research centres and institutes. Office of Research and Integrity Services staff members provide services in:

  • Identifying funding sources and research opportunities for faculty
  • Providing information about funding sources, programs, deadlines, application material, regulations and policies
  • Acting as liaison with funding agencies on behalf of researchers
  • Reviewing applications for research grants to ensure consistency with the agency’s conditions and the University’s policies
  • Assisting in the development, submission and tracking of grant proposals and contracts
  • Providing assistance to faculty in structuring budgets
  • Establishing research accounts
  • Administration of internal competition for research support
  • Organizing and conducting workshops to assist in writing and preparing proposals
  • Ensure ethical considerations are addressed and certification provided as required
  • Compiling University research reports
  • Maintenance of statistics on research funding at the University of Windsor
  • Publicizing opportunities and research-related events to the University research community
  • Management of responsible conduct of research processes.

The Office of Research and Integrity Services is located in the Joyce Entrepreneurship Centre, Room 218. Office hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (closed for lunch between noon and 1 p.m.) Monday through Friday (excluding holidays).

In order to best serve our research community, appointments are encouraged. Please contact your Research Coordinator by email or via Teams before visiting to ensure their availability.

Send an email to ORIS

The University of Windsor's Office of Innovation, Partnerships, and Entrepreneurship is dedicated to transforming groundbreaking ideas into real-world impact by connecting researchers, industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and community partners to drive innovation, foster collaboration, and accelerate economic growth. Through strategic partnerships, funding opportunities, and commercialization support, we help turn research discoveries into market-ready solutions. Whether you're an innovator seeking resources, a business looking for cutting-edge expertise, or an entrepreneur ready to launch your next venture, our office is here to support your journey.

For more information visit Research Partnerships

Research Integrity

The Office of Research Ethics (ORE) supports the work of the Research Ethics Boards (REB) and their responsibility for reviewing and clearing research projects for their ethical acceptability in accordance with the most current Tri-Council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans (TCPS 2), regardless of where the research takes place or whether the project has funding. The ORE also supports researchers by ensuring research applications are ready for review, delivers education and training to researchers, and provides ongoing communication to researchers about the progress and/or status of their applications.

The University of Windsor has two Full Research Ethics Boards, one Socio-behavioural and one Biomedical, which handle REB review for projects which involve risks that are considered more than minimal, or projects which are precedent or policy setting. Each of the Full Boards has a delegated review committee which reviews projects that are no more than minimal risk. The REB also has additional specialized review committees including the Indigenous Review Committee and the Scholarship of Teaching, Learning and Education Committee which review minimal risk research. Executive and Administrative reviews complete the compliment of REB review levels.

The Office of Research Ethics also works closely with the Research Safety Committee and the Animal Care Committee regarding any overlapping human participants’ research that falls under the auspices of both departments. When research projects are funded, the Office of Research and Innovation Services (ORIS) and the ORE work to release funding in line with REB clearances. 

Office of Research Ethics
University of Windsor
401 Sunset Avenue, 2146 Chrysler Hall North
Windsor, ON N9B 3P4
(519) 253-3000 Ext 3948
Send an email to Research Ethics

The Animal Care Committee (ACC) is the University of Windsor's oversight body for animal research. It reports directly to the Vice-President, Research & Innovation, and includes expert researchers, veterinarians, animal care staff, and community representatives who have received rigorous training.

The committee is responsible for:

  • Reviewing and approving all Animal Use Protocols.
  • Providing mandatory changes to protocols to adhere with leading regulations involving use of animals in research.
  • Ensuring that animals are housed and cared for in compliance with federal and provincial regulations, including the Canadian Council on Animal Care (CCAC) guidelines and Ontario's Animals for Research Act.
  • Monitoring ongoing projects and approving any modifications.

For further information visit Animal Care Committee

The Research Safety Committee is responsible for the oversight of research programs involving laser safety, biohazard safety, and radiation safety and reports to the Vice-President, Research and Innovation. The Committee institutes policies and procedures to assist researchers and teachers in following appropriate safety measures to avoid accidents or potential exposures. 

For more information visit Research Safety Committee

 

Office of the Vice-President, Research and Innovation – May 2026

Scroll horizontally to view the full chart ›

Organizational chart for the Office of the Vice-President, Research and Innovation. Shanthi Johnson serves as Vice-President. Two peer advisors report directly to the VP: Parthiban Natarajan (Research and Innovation Initiatives Officer) and Kamryn Kennedy (Executive Assistant). Five directors and committee chairs report to the VP: Tom Schnekenburger (Director, Innovation, Partnerships and Entrepreneurship), Amy Taylor (Director, Research and Integrity Services), Trevor Pitcher (Chair, Animal Care Committee), Rachel Zand (Chair, Research Ethics Board), and Ken Drouillard (Chair, Research Safety Committee). Each director oversees a team of staff listed below their card. Affiliated research institutes are listed in a sidebar to the right. Use the Tab key to navigate between cards, or scroll horizontally to view the full chart.

Shanthi Johnson
Vice-President, Research and Innovation
Parthiban Natarajan
Research and Innovation Initiatives Officer
Kamryn Kennedy
Executive Assistant to the Vice President, Research & Innovation
Tom Schnekenburger
Director, Innovation, Partnerships & Entrepreneurship
Masoud Akshik
Research Partnership Coordinator
Mary Jane Nohra
Innovation Administration Coordinator
Paul Brereton
Business Development & Research Commercialization Officer
Sydney Thompson
Entrepreneurship Program Coordinator
Vesna Kaps
Contract & Technology Transfer Manager
Research Security Coordinator
(In Progress)
Amy Taylor
Director, Research & Integrity Services
Michelle Nevett
Research Coordinator, Natural Sciences
Natasha Wiebe
Research Coordinator, Social Sciences, Humanities & Health
Nicole Noel
Research Coordinator, Institutional Projects
Nicole Roberge
Research Facilitator/Admin Assistant
Sandy Mehenka
Research Appointments and Operations Assistant
Sara Kenno
Research Coordinator, Engineering
Sarah Sacheli
Research Coordinator, Health
Siu Le
Research Systems & Metrics Coordinator
Salsabeel Ouefelli 
Research Coordinator
Rapita Sood
Research Coordinator, Inclusive Excellence
Youstina Asaad
Research Coordinator, Global Engagement
Large Projects Manager 
(In Progress)
Trevor Pitcher
Chair, Animal Care Committee
Linda Sterling
Operations Manager, Central Animal Care Facility
Cassandra Catalano
Animal Care Coordinator
Aaron Newhook
Full-Time Field & Animal Care Technician
Keira Harshaw
Part-Time Aquatic Animal Care Technician
Deserae Overdulve
Full-Time Animal Care Technician
Melissa Schuit
Full-Time Animal Care Technician
Vicky Root
Part-Time Animal Care Technician
Rebecca Makila
Part-Time Animal Care Technician – Barrier Facility
Natasha Burzynski
Part-Time Cage Washer
Rachel Zand
Chair, Research Ethics Board
Harmony Peach
Manager, Office of Research Ethics
Hannah Sands
Research Ethics Administrative Assistant
Adrian Guta
Delegated Reviewer
Jessica Kichler
Delegated Reviewer
Cheri McGowan
Delegated Reviewer
Katherine Rudzinski
Delegated Reviewer
Anthony Bain
Delegated Reviewer (January 2026)
Ken Drouillard
Chair, Research Safety Committee
Kerri Rice
Research Safety Coordinator
 
Black Scholars Institute
Cross-Border Institute
Fluid Dynamics Research Institute
Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research
WE-Spark Health Institute
50% 75% 100% 125% 150%
 

Office of Vice President of Research and Innovation

  • Aryan Parmar - Digital Project and Communication Assistant
  • Oluwanifemi Koleosho - Digital Project and Communication Assistant

Office of Research and Integrity Services 

  • Sarah Merza - Special Projects Assistant 

Animal Care 

  • Ava Goudie, Animal Care Helper
  • Ella Peters, Animal Care Helper
  • Tyler Sterling, Animal Care Helper

Research Ethics 

  • Sarah Merza - Student Data Entry Support Clerk