Faculty of Health Professor Doug Crawford and Faculty of Science Professor Sapna Sharma have been named recipients of 2018 President’s Research Excellence Awards. Crawford received the 2018 York University President’s Research Excellence Award and Sharma was the recipient fo the 2018 President’s Emerging Research Leadership Award.
“It is my great pleasure to acknowledge these two truly outstanding researchers—Professor Doug Crawford, recipient of the President’s Research Excellence Award, and Professor Sapna Sharma, recipient of the President’s Emerging Research Leadership Award,” said York University President and Vice-Chancellor Rhonda L. Lenton. “Both Doug and Sapna are extremely committed to the University’s mission and vision to advance academic and research excellence for the benefit of all, and at the same time, they are helping to establish York among the country’s leading research-intensive universities through their visionary research, leadership and mentorship.”
Crawford is Distinguished Research Professor in Neuroscience and Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Visual-Motor Neuroscience at York University. He is being honoured for his career contributions toward understanding the neural mechanisms for visual memory and control of eye, head and hand motion.
Crawford is also recognized for his research leadership contributions, in particular, his continuing work as scientific director of the Vision: Science to Applications (VISTA) Program, which was awarded the largest research grant in York’s history. VISTA integrates the biological and computational vision research of five York faculties, seven research centres and more than 50 partners to produce technologies that will help people live healthier, safer and more productive lives.
A Tier 2 York Research Chair in Global Change Biology, Sharma is being recognized for her leadership in understanding the impacts of climate change, invasive species and habitat alteration on lakes. Her research focuses on predicting the effects of environmental stressors on lakes at broad spatial and temporal scales, and improving the scientific approaches used to generate these predictions.
Sharma is also committed to science outreach through her work with the Royal Canadian Institute for Science and is the founder of a science outreach program for refugee families called SEEDS (Science Enrichment and Educational Development for Syrians & Refugees).
“We are deeply committed to supporting and recognizing the success of our researchers and scholars,” said Robert Haché, York University’s vice-president research and innovation. “We wish to extend our warmest congratulations and best wishes to Professors Crawford and Sharma for their continued success.”
The York University President’s Research Excellence Award recognizes senior established, full-time, active faculty members at the rank of professor, with distinguished scholarly achievements who have had a notable impact on their field(s) and made a substantial contribution to advancing the University’s international reputation for research excellence while significantly and positively contributing to one or more aspects of the York community’s intellectual life.
The York University President’s Emerging Research Leadership Award recognizes full-time faculty members within 10 years of their first academic appointment, who have had a notable impact on their field(s) and made a substantial contribution to advancing the University’s international reputation for research excellence while significantly and positively contributing to one or more aspects of the York community’s intellectual life.