York University awarded NSERC Discovery Grants for wide range of research projects

York University researchers have been awarded 48 Discovery Grants by the Natural Sciences & Engineering Research Council (NSERC) to pursue promising research in the fields of science, engineering, health and more.

NSERC’s investment of almost $8.5 million in York University research through the Discovery Grants program will provide operating funds to support research with long-term goals, rather than single short-term projects.

The 2019 competition results for NSERC’s Discovery Grants and other programs were announced Tuesday by the federal Minister of Science and Sport, Kirsty Duncan.

Examples of the research programs that will be supported at York include:

  • Investigating Atmospheric Volatiles on Planets in our Solar System and Beyond;
  • Adaptive Online Mining of Big Data Streams; and
  • Effects of Curiosity on Learning and Memory among Younger and Older Adults.

“York University’s researchers are making important contributions to scientific, engineering and technological discoveries in Canada and abroad as reflected by NSERC’s investment in York’s research programs,” said Rui Wang, York’s interim vice-president research and innovation.

Twelve of the 48 Discovery Grants awarded to York were awarded to early career researchers.

The Discovery Grants program was established to promote a diversified base of high-quality research capability in the natural sciences and engineering in Canadian universities, to encourage research excellence and to provide a stimulating environment for research training.

NSERC’s Discovery Grants program assists in promoting and maintaining a diversified base of high-quality research capability in the natural sciences and engineering in Canadian universities, fostering research excellence and providing a stimulating environment for research training. It supports ongoing programs of research with long-term goals rather than a single short-term project or collection of projects. These grants recognize the creativity and innovation that are at the heart of all research advances.