Tag: VP Research and Innovation

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York’s community of changemakers recognized for prestigious research and impact 

Books and an iPad in the classroom

The York University Research Awards Celebration, which took place April 19, recognized the contributions of researchers from all Faculties and schools, and in areas including Indigenous knowledge, Black scholarship, global health, vision science, and space exploration, among others.

Researchers were recognized for their prominent role in better understanding the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, while York’s community of creators and scholars were praised for their contributions to art and for mobilizing research to effect change in their communities. 

“The role of universities in nurturing creativity, supporting research, and facilitating collaboration, has continued to intensify over time in response to the increasing complexity of global issues facing society today, including political polarization, climate change, inequities and discrimination, and public health crises such as the pandemic,” says President and Vice-Chancellor Rhonda Lenton. “Through the discovery, application, and translation of new knowledge, York researchers are seeking out shared understandings and potential solutions that secure our social, economic and environmental future. The 2022 Research Award Celebration is our opportunity to recognize those who are advancing excellence in research, policy and practice, and driving positive change locally and globally.” 

“York University has experienced tremendous success and growth in the past year, a testament to the exceptional calibre of our researchers and scholars,” says Amir Asif, vice-president, research & innovation. “The 2022 York University Research Awards Celebration provides an opportunity to celebrate faculty members and staff who have demonstrated excellence, creativity and ingenuity in conducting purposeful research that advances knowledge and creates positive change. Their contributions not only benefit the University, but their communities.” 

The President’s Research Awards were announced at the live-streamed event, which can be watched here. The awards recognize outstanding achievements among York’s community of researchers and celebrate emerging scholars, senior scholars and highly impactful research. 

The recipients of the 2022 President’s Research Awards are: 

Seyed Moghadas, Faculty of Science is recognized with the President’s Research Impact Award (PRIA). Moghadas is a global leader in the use of mathematical and computational models of disease epidemics and vaccination. His research is advancing public health capacity to detect and manage emerging Canadian and global health crises. He has achieved a stellar reputation in his field and is making exceptional contributions to York’s research culture and beyond. 

Seyed Moghadas
Seyed Moghadas

During the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, his expertise has been in high demand and has been instrumental in setting and improving health policies both in Canada and the U.S. Moghadas served in an advisory role to the Public Health Agency of Canada as an expert on modelling approaches and to the Science Advisor of Canada as part of the COVID-19 Modelling Expert Group. He is also a member of the research team established by the Commonwealth Fund, which provides regular updates on the impact of COVID-19 interventions to the U.S. Administration and the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention. Over the past several years, Moghadas has held contracts with, or consulted for, additional national and international agencies: the National Collaborating Centre for Infectious Diseases, the Manitoba Health Pandemic Influenza Advisory Committee, Sanofi Pasteur Canada and Pfizer Global. His findings have influenced both provincial and federal government health policies and have been applied globally by international corporations. Moghadas is the founding director of the Agent-Based Modelling Laboratory at York under the auspices of the Canadian Foundation for Innovation. 

Through his extensive knowledge of mathematics and biology, and his capacity for innovative thinking, Moghadas has pioneered exciting research paths in disease modelling and has applied his research findings directly to public health issues and policies, which has enhanced York’s research reputation. His evidence-based research has been published in tier-one journals of the National Academy of Sciences, Nature Communications, and The Lancet series, among many other high-impact publications. 

John Moores, Lassonde School of Engineering, was recognized with the President’s Emerging Research Leadership Award (PERLA) Cluster 1. Moores’ impactful ideas about organic chemistry, volatile ices, geomorphology and atmospheric processes on other planets have changed the way experts in the field think about these subjects. His work has been published in numerous impactful journals such as Science and Nature.

John Edward Moores
John Moores

He has received over $3 million in research funds to support this work. In addition to participating in science and operations teams of five international space missions, he is working with two companies to develop instruments to fly in space. This includes a novel extreme ultraviolet camera that can detect ice on the moon in shadow by looking for reflected starlight and a sensitive methane spectrometer that has the potential to revolutionize our understanding of trace gasses in Mars’ atmosphere and the planet’s potential for life. These instruments could fly before the decade is out, carrying the banner of York far beyond the campus boundaries. 

Moores has built a diverse and inclusive research group, always seeking out opportunities to uplift his trainees. Over his time at York, members of his group have been awarded the NASA Group Achievement Award 16 times. 

Moores’ accomplishments have been recognized in his election to the Royal Society of Canada (College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists) in 2018, the awarding of a York Research Chair in Space Exploration in 2019, and his appointment as associate dean of research and graduate studies in the Lassonde School of Engineering in 2020. 

Amy Muise, Faculty of Health, is recognized with the President’s Emerging Research Leadership Award (PERLA) Cluster 2 for demonstrating research excellence and innovation. Muise’s research focuses on the successful maintenance of romantic relationships, which is a key contributor to overall health and well-being. Her work uses diverse methods to best approximate couples’ daily experiences and relationship trajectories over time, including dyadic, daily experience and longitudinal methods, and focuses on diverse populations, including long-term couples, new parents, clinical populations, and people in intercultural relationships. She is a Tier 2 Early Career York Research Chair in Relationships and Sexuality. 

Amy Muise SCOOP
Amy Muise

Muise has a thriving lab (the SHaRe lab) in which she investigates three interrelated lines of research on the motivations, perceptions and behaviours that inform how couples can maintain desire and relationship satisfaction and successfully navigate conflicts of interest. This research has resulted in 100 empirical papers and book chapters to date (65 since beginning at York), many in top journals in her field, such as the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology and Psychological Bulletin. Since starting at York, she has been awarded more than $2 million in grant funding, including nine tri-council grants (three as principal investigator or co-principal investigator).  

Muise’s lab has also already produced several excellent trainees: her graduate students and postdoctoral Fellows have been awarded top scholarships and recognitions and have been successful in securing fellowships and academic positions.  

George Zhu, Lassonde School of Engineering, is recognized with the President’s Research Excellence Award (PREA). Zhu has demonstrated outstanding research achievements and leadership as a visionary researcher in the field of space technology. Zhu’s research pushes the boundaries of space technology across multiple frontiers: propellent-less propulsion technologies using electrodynamic tethers and electric solar wind sail, multiphysics modelling and dynamic control of space tether systems, space debris removal for sustainable use of outer space, space robotics, and made-in-space 3D printing technology.

Zheng Hong (George) Zhu
George Zhu

In November 2020, he launched an electrodynamic tether satellite to test his model in space, the first electrodynamic tether mission in Canada. His leadership has shaped and continues to shape the international research agenda in space technology in Canada and internationally and is advancing the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. He is a Tier 1 York Research Chair in Space Technology.

Currently, Zhu is leading a second York satellite mission as principal investigator. This mission is to train a team of interinstitutional undergraduate students to design, build and operate a cube satellite to monitor permafrost thawing in northern Canada from space using a low-cost CubeSat, which will be launched in late 2022. If successful, the technology will lower the access barrier for communities in remote areas to monitor the effects of global climate change on the thaw of permafrost and the associated impact on infrastructure such as roads, bridges, powerlines and buildings in Indigenous communities. Zhu’s research on space technology has been highly regarded by funding agencies nationally and internationally with over $15.2 million in research grants. The most significant one is the $3.6-million grant from Canada Foundation for Innovation for the research of made-in-space by 3D printing technology, the first of its kind in Canada. Zhu is also the recipient of the 2021 W. Angus Medal of Canadian Society for Mechanical Engineering and the 2019 Engineering Medal – Research and Development of Ontario Professional Engineers & Ontario Society of Professional Engineers. 

In addition to the President’s Research Awards, more than 70 researchers and postdoctoral fellows were recognized at the 2022 York University Research Awards Celebration. View the full list of awards. 

To learn more about Research & Innovation at York, follow @YUResearch. 

To watch the event, visit the YouTube page. 

York launches online training hub to support equity, diversity and inclusion in research and search committees

Two students looking at a computer monitor

York University has launched Places of Online Learning for the Adjudication of Researchers Inclusively and Supportively (POLARIS), an online asynchronous education and learning hub to foster equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in the adjudication of professors in research and search committees.

POLARIS is offered through a collaboration of the Offices of the Vice-President Research & Innovation, Vice-President Equity, Peoples and Culture and the Provost’s Office.

POLARIS allows professors to complete six core online modules on EDI for faculty adjudications that can be completed at their own pace. Faculty members who serve on search committees will also be required to submit a pre-module exercise, go through a seventh module on York search procedures and policies, and attend a synchronous online meeting with the Affirmative Action, Equity and Inclusivity Officer Tania Das Gupta and EDI Program Manager Christal Chapman.

This training will not be required by any search committee currently underway; however, it will be required for members of search committees and Vice-President Research & Innovation awards adjudication committees that begin their work after September 2022. Other University committees that adjudicate professors for awards at department, Faculty, or pan-University levels, can also access EDI training with POLARIS for their committee members before taking on their own faculty adjudications.

Rebecca Pillai Riddell
Rebecca Pillai Riddell

“POLARIS was inspired by a need for change by creating a system that invites research excellence from people who are typically overlooked and disadvantaged when it comes to research opportunities in academia,” says Rebecca Pillai Riddell, POLARIS Chair. “This platform creates a user-friendly journey that addresses challenges that adjudicators face when navigating the awards and faculty search process and provides a fulsome approach to hiring and adjudication.”

Certificates will be issued to professors and recorded to confirm their completion. Participants are encouraged to add this training to their CVs. POLARIS is available today for all York faculty and staff involved in research adjudication who would like to upgrade their EDI education right away and be able to pace out the core six modules, approximately two hours in total, over the spring and summer.

Each module is designed to support each step of the adjudication of faculty, from thinking about a unit’s readiness to hire or adjudicate awards from diverse faculty, to evaluating CVs and job interviews, to what needs to be done to build a more inclusive faculty adjudication system. Each module has four parts, including a personal narrative, a guidance video, a conflicts and challenges video, and a downloadable written summary for learners to keep.

“Excellence in research is founded on ideas and knowledge that come from people with diverse backgrounds and lived experiences,” says Sheila Cote-Meek, vice-president People, Equity & Culture. “POLARIS creates a stepping stone for EDI in research hiring and adjudication and will play an important role in supporting the University’s long-term goals and ongoing work in addressing the many forms of bias and discrimination in research and search committees.”

In addition, to help support the EDI practices of faculty, the Diversity Composition Report Generator application can be found on POLARIS site. This application allows faculty to request a report on the diversity of their search committee or adjudication committee, to integrate more tailored inclusivity strategies and consider the overall diversity of their research team or committee. The report is automatically generated through a process that respects the privacy and confidentiality of respondents on committees.

A workshop will be hosted and archived in the Research Commons to help professors and research staff learn about how the new training could improve their adjudication processes on May 9 at 2 p.m. Register for the workshop online.

“POLARIS provides a holistic approach to EDI training that is intended to underpin the work of search committees and research award adjudication committees to foster better awareness and education of their role in EDI,” says Amir Asif, vice-president research & innovation. “POLARIS will help initiate large-scale transformative and structural changes to the way York hires and adjudicates research opportunities.”

“York is a leading international teaching and research university, and a driving force for positive change,” says Lisa Philipps, provost and vice-president academic. “Through POLARIS, which offers rich and informative tools and videos, we can better support our faculty and through more inclusive adjudication, and ultimately better serve the York community.”

POLARIS was made possible by an EDI Stipend from the Canada Research Chairs Secretariat and matching funds by York University. It will be maintained by the Offices of the Vice-President, Research & Innovation and the Vice-President, Equity, Peoples & Culture.
Members of the POLARIS Leadership Committee:

  • Rebecca Pillai Riddell, POLARIS director, professor (Faculty of Health) and special advisor to the President for Faculty Relations and Equity
  • Ali Abdul-Sater, assistant professor, Faculty of Health
  • Annette Boodram, EDI program manager, Vice-President Equity, People & Culture
  • Abigail Vogus, strategic and institutional research specialist, Office of the Vice-President Research & Innovation
  • Brad Meisner, associate professor, Faculty of Health
  • Carl James, professor (Faculty of Education), senior advisor on Equity and Representation to the Vice-President Equity Peoples and Culture
  • Denielle A. Elliott, deputy director, Tubman Institute, and associate professor, Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Services
  • Elaine Coburn, director, Centre for Feminist Research and associate professor, Glendon Campus
  • Evan Light, associate professor, Glendon Campus
  • Ethel Tungohan, associate professor, Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies
  • Paulina Karwowska-Desaulniers, director, Research Priorities and Partnerships, Research & Graduate Studies, Lassonde School of Engineering
  • Raymond A. Mar, professor, Faculty of Health
  • Susan Dion, professor (Faculty of Education) and associate vice-president Indigenous Initiatives
  • Alyson Nemeth, POLARIS operations manager

Catalyzing Interdisciplinary Research Clusters initiative invites new applicants

research graphic

The Office of the Vice-President Research & Innovation at York University has announced a second round of funding for the Catalyzing Interdisciplinary Research Clusters (CIRC) initiative. The first successful round of funding, announced in December 2021, resulted in over $3.5 million in research funding support for interdisciplinary research clusters.

The initiative is designed to strengthen interdisciplinary research clusters in areas of strategic importance while enabling impactful contributions towards the University’s Strategic Research Plan, the University Academic Plan, and York’s commitment to supporting the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals.

“Funding from this program will foster interdisciplinary collaboration, global research excellence and support world-class training opportunities for York’s community of changemakers in areas of strategic importance to the University,” says Amir Asif, vice-president research & innovation. “CIRC will support researchers in securing future large-scale follow-on funding through federal, provincial and other external research programs, including the Canada Excellence Research Chairs, the Canada First Research Excellence Fund, and the New Frontiers in Research Fund Transformation stream.”

Available funding and research themes

Selected projects will receive $150,000 per year over three years from the Office of the Vice-President Research & Innovation. Participating Faculties will collectively contribute an additional $25,000 per year (minimum) per project. A total of up to 10 projects are expected to be funded in this round.

Funds are to be used for direct costs of research, with not more than 20 per cent used for equipment. In all cases, the use of funds is to be governed by all relevant York policies.

In alignment with the University Academic Plan, the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will serve as the eligible research themes. Applicants will self-select SDGs which best align with their proposal. There is no predetermined target around the number of funded projects per research theme.

Eligibility

For the purpose of this initiative, an interdisciplinary project is defined as one that crosses the mandate of at least two of the three federal research funding councils –Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) – and includes members from at least two Faculties.

A cluster must include a team of at least five researchers, one of whom must be an early career researcher. Early career researchers are defined as individuals who, as of 2022, have five years or less experience since their first academic appointment, with the exception of career interruptions (e.g., maternity or parental leave, extended sick leave, clinical training and family care) that occurred after their appointment. For all leaves except professional leaves (such as training-related, sabbatical and administrative-related leaves), the five-year window is extended by twice the time interruption taken.

Key dates and contact information

  • The deadline to submit a notice of intent is May 9 by 4:30 p.m.
  • Full proposals (by invitation only based on the review of the notice of intent) are due July 29 by 4:30 p.m.

For more information and to apply, contact Mark Roseman, director, Strategic & Institutional Research Initiatives (SIRI), Office of Research Services, at roseman@yorku.ca.

Join a community consultation on Vaughan Healthcare Centre Precinct and School of Medicine

QandASchoolofMedicine FEATURED

La version française suit la version anglaise.

Rhonda L. Lenton, president and vice-chancellor, Lisa Philipps, provost and vice-president academic, and Amir Asif, vice-president research and innovation, cordially invite you to attend a community consultation on the Vaughan Healthcare Centre Precinct (VHCP) and School of Medicine.

Please join them for a consultation session on the Conceptual Proposal for a York University School of Medicine and broader potential for the Vaughan Healthcare Centre Precinct, where they will:

  • share project information and activities to date;
  • answer questions from community members; and
  • open the floor to feedback, additional ideas, and input to further develop the VCHP and School of Medicine proposals.

Monday, March 14, 2022
2 p.m.
Please RSVP by Friday, March 4 to receive a link to join the event:
http://go.yorku.ca/healthcareinfosession

An email with an access link will be sent to all who indicate they plan to attend within 48 hours of the event.

The vision for the VHCP including a potential School of Medicine is to strengthen the health and well-being of individuals and communities in the City of Vaughan and beyond including Northwest Toronto and all of York Region, Simcoe County and Muskoka. The VHCP will achieve this by embedding health education, research and innovation into a multitude of spaces where health professionals are working, health policy is being developed, and care is delivered.

The VHCP provides York with a unique opportunity to further enhance our role in this broad catchment area by establishing a new physical presence that leverages immediate proximity and collaborative opportunities with a state-of-the-art new healthcare facility in the Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital.

Opportunities for collaborative initiatives by co-locating with public agencies, businesses and community organizations at the VHCP and elsewhere in the catchment area could result in a truly unique, distributed ecosystem of research, innovation, learning and service. This cooperation creates favourable conditions to support the development of increasingly innovative teaching and research thereby increasing the scale and impact of York’s many programs that contribute to the education of diverse future health professionals, to the well-being and resilience of surrounding communities, and the dynamism of the region.

A potential School of Medicine focused on training doctors alongside other health care professionals oriented to community-based, holistic and integrated care could be a possible component of the VHCP along with other health professions and programs that contribute to health equity.

Joignez-vous à nous pour une consultation communautaire sur la Cité des soins de santé et l’École de médecine de Vaughan

Rhonda L. Lenton, Présidente et vice-chancelière, Lisa Philipps, Rectrice et vice-présidente aux affaires académiques et Amir Asif, Vice-président de la recherche et de l’innovation, vous invitent cordialement à assister à une consultation communautaire sur la Cité des soins de santé de Vaughan et l’École de médecine.

Joignez-vous à nous pour une séance de consultation sur la proposition conceptuelle d’une École de médecine de l’Université York et sur le potentiel de la Cité des soins de santé de Vaughan (VCHP) qui servira à :

  • Communiquer les informations sur le projet et les activités à ce jour
  • Répondre aux questions des membres de la communauté
  • Ouvrir le débat aux réactions, aux idées supplémentaires et aux contributions afin de développer davantage les propositions du VCHP et de la Faculté de médecine

Le lundi 14 mars 2022
14 h
Veuillez confirmer votre participation avant le vendredi 4 mars
pour recevoir un lien pour rejoindre l’événement.
http://go.yorku.ca/healthcareinfosession

Un courriel contenant un lien d’accès sera envoyé à toutes les personnes ayant indiqué vouloir participer dans les 48 heures avant l’événement.

La vision du VHCP, qui comprend une éventuelle École de médecine, est de renforcer la santé et le bien-être des personnes et des communautés de la ville de Vaughan et au-delà, incluant le nord-ouest de Toronto et toute la région de York, le comté de Simcoe et Muskoka. Le VHCP y parviendra en intégrant l’éducation à la santé, la recherche et l’innovation dans une multitude d’espaces où les professionnels de la santé travaillent, où la politique de santé est élaborée et où les soins sont dispensés.

Le VHCP offre à l’Université York une occasion unique de renforcer son rôle dans cette vaste zone d’attraction en établissant une nouvelle présence qui tire parti de la proximité immédiate et des possibilités de collaboration avec un nouvel établissement de soins de santé ultramoderne, l’hôpital Cortellucci Vaughan.

En s’installant avec des organismes publics, des entreprises et des organisations communautaires sur le site du VHCP et ailleurs dans la zone d’attraction, les possibilités de collaborations pourraient donner lieu à un écosystème de recherche, d’innovation, d’apprentissage et de services véritablement unique. Cette collaboration réunit des conditions favorables pour soutenir le développement d’un enseignement et d’une recherche toujours plus innovants, augmentant ainsi l’ampleur et l’effet des nombreux programmes de York qui contribuent à la formation de futurs professionnels de la santé diversifiés, au bien-être et à la résilience des communautés environnantes et au dynamisme de la région.

Une éventuelle École de médecine, axée sur la formation de médecins aux côtés d’autres professionnels de la santé orientés vers des soins communautaires, holistiques et intégrés, pourrait être une composante du PCHV, aux côtés d’autres professions et programmes de santé qui contribuent à l’équité en matière de santé.

A collaboration with a York researcher is changing the ‘forever’ of tattoos

Faculty of Science Professor Chris Caputo FEATURED image for BRAINSTORM YFile Feb 2022

What is the science behind semi-permanent tattoo technology? Faculty of Science chemistry Professor Chris Caputo’s research is revolutionizing this form of personal expression in new and interesting ways for a Canadian startup.

By Krista Davidson

A York University research team is collaborating with Inkbox, a Toronto-based startup that uses semi-permanent tattoo technology, to better understand the science behind their revolutionary tattoo technology. The science could support the development of semi-permanent tattoos with different colours. Inkbox was acquired by Bic in January 2022 for U.S. $65 million.

Chris Caputo is an assistant professor in the Department of Chemistry and a Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Metal-Free Materials for Catalysis. His research focuses on developing greener and more sustainable chemistry by eliminating the need to use expensive and toxic transition metals.

In 2015, Caputo met the Inkbox CEO and co-founder, Tyler Handley, and later became the company’s director of research and development before joining York University, where he continued to work with the company to develop their technology with the help of York’s Office of the Vice-President Research & Innovation (VPRI).

Inkbox’s revolutionary technology is different than a normal tattoo because it is a fruit-based extract that stains the epidermis layer of skin instead of being injected into the dermis layer, allowing the dyed skin to slough over time and enable the disappearance of the tattoo.

Faculty of Science Professor Chris Caputo
Faculty of Science chemistry Professor Chris Caputo in his lab

“We really wanted to understand the mechanism of how and why this fruit extract turns your skin dark blue when applied, so we could take that development a step further towards new colours,” says Caputo. “Our research at York has been fundamental to identifying the chemistry behind the process of developing new colours and helping Inkbox expand their R&D pipeline.”

Caputo was able to hire a team of researchers, one of which is now employed at Inkbox, and avail of the University’s state-of-the-art synthetic chemistry wet lab.

“A collaboration with Chris’s group, funded by Mitacs and NSERC (Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada) Collaborative Research & Development grants, has allowed Inkbox to do molecular-level research that would otherwise have been impossible with the budget of a startup company,” said Ian Mallov, manager, Formulation & Regulatory Affairs at Inkbox Tattoos.

“We were dealing with a blank canvas because nobody in the world has ever looked at this challenge before. It’s been a wonderful and exploratory project where we could take the time to refine our hypothesis and reach our goal towards achieving different colours,” said Caputo.

To date, Inkbox has filed several patents on the research undertaken through this collaboration. Caputo continues to collaborate with Inkbox and a small team of researchers, led by Sanjay Manhas, Charley Garrard and Nico Bonanno, who are currently working on projects at York. With the new Bic acquisition, Inkbox can expand its revolutionary technology to broader markets with new offerings.

“Chris has guided this research toward developing new tattoo ink dyes and understanding the mechanism of action of the current active dye. This has contributed significant value in terms of intellectual property for the company,” said Mallov.

Caputo’s research, which includes developing efficient synthetic strategies, is supporting sustainability for Inkbox by finding ways to significantly reduce waste materials and energy needed to produce new dyes. This work supports the University’s goals in elevating York’s contributions to the United Nation’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically SDG 12 which calls for sustainably managing natural resources, reducing and managing waste better, and promoting sustainable lifestyles and company practices.

The experience has been particularly eye-opening for Caputo and his team about the possibility of modifying molecules and manipulating dyes to support sustainability for other commercial products.

“We’ve potentially unlocked new properties for a natural product by taking a systematic synthetic chemistry approach. It has made me think about what other naturally occurring feedstocks we can apply this to for the generation of more sustainable dyes in the future,” said Caputo.

York University researcher wins prestigious E.W.R. Steacie Memorial Fellowship for work with bees

Two honey bees on lavender plants

Wild bees have a critical role to play in climate change resilience, which makes finding out why they are declining more important. As the recipient of the NSERC E.W.R. Steacie Memorial Fellowship, Associate Professor Sandra Rehan is tackling this issue through her work in bee genomics, molecular ecology and behavioural genetics.

The Steacie Fellowships are awarded annually to early-stage academic researchers in natural sciences and engineering through the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC). The prestigious two-year fellowship comes with $250,000 towards research support.

Sandra Rehan
Sandra Rehan

The Fellowship will help Rehan expand her research on novel genomic methods to help identify challenges and opportunities to conserve and increase diverse bee populations in cities. Rehan is a leader in research areas, including the nutritional and habitat needs of wild bees, how land use changes affect their habitats, the important of urban planning approaches, the diversity of their microbiomes, and the role of disease and pathogens.

“This award is a terrific recognition of Sandra’s trailblazing research into the genetics and ecology of wild bees, all to understand how to protect them. She is most deserving of this award,” said Rui Wang, dean of the Faculty of Science.

An international leader in the behavioural genetics and molecular ecology of bees, Rehan, who is with the Department of Biology in York University’s Faculty of Science, is advancing several long-standing questions about wild bee health and to develop new policies to help protect them.

“The Steacie Memorial Fellowship is a wonderful opportunity, and I am very excited about the additional resources to expand the scope and impact of my research,” said Rehan. “Not only does the Fellowship elevate the profile of this critical research, but it also increases the ability to expand my team, train additional postdocs and students, and develop new collaborations. This award will also help in my work as an advocate for woman in science and advancing wild bee conservation.”

Previous research has yielded several important discoveries. Rehan’s study of social behaviour in bees found that it evolved from an accumulation of pro-social traits starting in solitary bees. It began first as bees took care of their young and evolved to include group associations and social life. Her team has also led bee genomic studies including advances in wild bee metagenomics and microbiome research.

Rehan also identified the core genes underlying bee aggression through a comprehensive cross-species comparison and is advancing functional genomics to understand key candidate genes for aggression and maternal care. Her work on North American small carpenter bee, Ceratina calcarata, is now used widely in the study of social insects. Her team has produced numerous genomic tools and cutting-edge experiments to elevate this as a model system for the study of social evolution and pollinator health.

In addition, she is an international leader in the field of maternal manipulation of worker-like daughter bees. Through her work varying the amount of pollen these daughter bees are fed, she has developed a model for studying maternal investment, sex allocation and inclusive fitness of worker production.

To date, Rehan has authored more than 80 publications in journals such as Nature Communications, PNAS and Molecular Ecology.

An update on provincial reopening plan

Students walk through the centre of the Keele Campus

York will continue to abide by public health guidelines as the University moves toward full reopening and primarily in-person instruction for the winter term. The University’s strong vaccine mandate and the co-operation received from the community in observing health and safety measures while on campus, has allowed York to plan the return of most classes for the Winter 2022 term. 

La version française suit la version anglaise.

Dear York Community, 

As President Lenton discussed at Friday’s town hall, the Ontario Government announced plans to further reopen the province over the next five months and manage COVID-19 for the long-term. As mentioned late last month, this does not impact York’s Vaccination Mandate policy, including the requirement for community members to be fully vaccinated, or have an approved exemption in order to come to our campuses. 

For the remainder of the fall term, York plans to continue with the public health measures that are currently in place, including all of the requirements outlined in the community of care commitment. All community members must wear a mask or face covering in indoor spaces and continue physical distancing where possible. In addition, please continue submitting daily COVID-19 screening through YU Screen and confirm this has been done with a manager or designate, where required to do so.  

We will also continue to abide by public health guidelines as the University moves toward full reopening and primarily in-person instruction for the winter term. Our strong vaccine mandate, and the co-operation we have received from our community in observing health and safety measures while on campus, has allowed us to plan the return of most of our classes this coming Winter 2022. 

Here are some important reminders related to York’s health and safety plans:  

  • The University remains in Level 2 on the Welcoming YU Back Roadmap for the fall term.  
  • York’s Vaccination Mandate, mask/face covering protocol and required daily screening will remain in place into the winter term. 
  • As announced, all students must disclose their vaccination status no later than Nov. 8, regardless of whether or not they will access campus in person. For the winter term, students may not be enrolled in any course if they have not disclosed their vaccination status (whether fully vaccinated, partially vaccinated, or unvaccinated). 
  • In order to attend campuses in person in January for any purpose, students must upload proof of vaccination to YU Screen no later than Dec. 1. The University will continue supporting arriving international students to quarantine and to access approved vaccines where needed.   
  • To make rapid testing even easier and more convenient for the York University community, students, staff, faculty and instructors can participate in York’s at-home rapid antigen testing program free of charge.   

Thank you again for your ongoing commitment to upholding a community of care while on York’s campuses, and for continuing to screen for COVID-19 symptoms daily using  YU Screen. Please continue to visit the Better Together website for the latest updates. We look forward to seeing more of the community on campus safely this winter.  

Sincerely,  

Lisa Philipps 
Provost & Vice-President Academic  

Amir Asif
Vice-President, Research & Innovation

Mise à jour sur le plan provincial de réouverture

Chers membres de la communauté de York, 

Comme la présidente Lenton l’a évoqué lors de la conversation communautaire de vendredi dernier, le gouvernement de l’Ontario a annoncé son intention de rouvrir davantage la province au cours des cinq prochains mois et de gérer la COVID-19 à long terme. Comme mentionné à la fin du mois dernier, cette annonce n’a aucune incidence sur la Politique de vaccination de l’Université York, notamment l’obligation pour les membres de la communauté d’être entièrement vaccinés ou d’avoir une exemption approuvée pour venir sur nos campus. 

Pour le reste du trimestre d’automne, York prévoit poursuivre les mesures sanitaires actuellement en place, y compris toutes les exigences décrites dans la Promesse envers le bien-être de la communauté. Tous les membres de la communauté doivent porter un masque ou un couvre-visage dans les espaces intérieurs et continuer à respecter la distanciation physique dans la mesure du possible. Par ailleurs, veuillez continuer à effectuer le dépistage quotidien de la COVID-19 au moyen de l’outil YU Dépistage et confirmez que cela a été fait auprès d’un responsable ou d’une personne désignée lorsque cela est requis.  

Nous continuerons également d’observer les directives sanitaires tandis que l’Université s’apprête à rouvrir complètement ses portes et à offrir des cours en personne pour le trimestre d’hiver. Notre solide politique de vaccination et la collaboration des membres de notre communauté en matière de respect des mesures de santé et de sécurité sur le campus nous ont permis de planifier la reprise de la plupart de nos classes en hiver 2022. 

Voici quelques rappels importants au sujet des plans de santé et de sécurité de York:  

  • L’Université demeure au niveau 2 de son Plan d’action pour le retour sur les campus pour le trimestre d’automne. 
  • La Politique de vaccination de York, le protocole du port de masque et le dépistage quotidien obligatoire resteront en place pendant le trimestre d’hiver. 
  • Comme annoncé, tous les étudiants et étudiantes doivent divulguer leur statut vaccinal au plus tard le 8 novembre 2021, qu’ils accèdent ou non au campus. Pour le trimestre d’hiver, aucun membre de la communauté étudiante ne pourra s’inscrire ou rester inscrit à un cours s’il n’a pas divulgué son statut vaccinal (entièrement vacciné, partiellement vacciné ou non vacciné). 
  • Afin de pouvoir fréquenter le campus en personne en janvier pour une raison quelconque, les étudiants et étudiantes doivent télécharger leur preuve de vaccination dans YU Dépistage au plus tard le 1er décembre 2021. L’Université continuera d’aider les étudiantes et étudiants internationaux qui arrivent à se mettre en quarantaine et à accéder aux vaccins approuvés en cas de besoin.   
  • Afin de rendre le dépistage rapide encore plus facile et plus pratique pour la communauté de York, les étudiants, le personnel, le corps professoral et le corps enseignant peuvent participer gratuitement au Programme de tests antigéniques rapides à domicile de York.   

Nous vous remercions une fois de plus pour votre engagement continu envers le bien-être de la communauté sur les campus de York et pour votre utilisation quotidienne de l’outil YU Dépistage pour dépister les symptômes de la COVID-19. Veuillez continuer à visiter le site Better Together pour les dernières nouvelles. Nous espérons voir davantage de membres de la communauté sur nos campus cet hiver.  

Sincères salutations,  

Lisa Philipps
Rectrice et vice-présidente aux affaires académiques  

Amir Asif
Vice-président de la recherche et de l’innovation

Call for nominations for the President’s Research Awards

research graphic

The Senate Committee on Awards invites current or emeritus tenure-stream faculty members to nominate colleagues for the President’s Research Excellence Awards.

As introduced in 2018-19, there are two disciplinary clusters for the President’s Emerging Research Leadership Award and the President’s Research Excellence Award: 1) Engineering, Science, Technology, Health and Biomedicine, and 2) Social Sciences, Art & Design, Humanities, Business, Law and Education.

The President’s Emerging Research Leadership Award (PERLA) 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 significant 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 PERLA will be conferred to two researchers, one from each disciplinary cluster.

The President’s Research Impact Award recognizes full-time, active faculty members whose body of research or scholarship has translated into a notable impact on communities, individuals, public policies or practice, or translated successfully into impactful commercial or other applications, while significantly and positively contributing to the University’s research culture and reputation.

The President’s Research Excellence Award (PREA) recognizes senior full-time faculty at the rank of professor, with distinguished scholarly achievements who have had a notable impact on their field(s) and made a significant 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 PREA will be conferred in alternating years between the two disciplinary clusters. This year, the PREA is open to researchers in Cluster 1, Engineering, Science, Technology, Health and Biomedicine.

The criteria and nominations forms can be found on the Senate Committee on Awards webpage. The deadline for receipt of nominations is Friday, Nov. 26, by 4:30 p.m.

York announces launch of Centre for Indigenous Knowledges and Languages

Artwork by Métis (Otipemisiwak) artist Christi Belcourt

York University has launched a new organized research unit (ORU) that is the first at the University to focus on Indigenous and decolonizing scholarship.

The Centre for Indigenous Knowledges and Languages (CIKL) is led by inaugural Director Deborah McGregor, an associate professor at York and the Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Environmental Justice at Osgoode Hall Law School. The new ORU will host Indigenous and non-Indigenous researchers and students engaged in these areas of scholarship, and aims to facilitate knowledge production and dissemination that re-centres Indigenous knowledges, languages, practices and ways of being. Moreover, CIKL will support research involving both traditional and contemporary knowledges, as care-taken, shared and created by Indigenous scholars at the University and from Indigenous knowledge holders in the community.

Deborah McGregor
Deborah McGregor

Cross-appointed between Osgoode Hall Law School and the Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change, McGregor is Anishinaabe from Whitefish River First Nation, Birch Island, Ont. She has an extensive research background focusing on Indigenous knowledge systems and their applications in water and environmental governance, environmental and climate justice, and sustainable self-determined futures.

McGregor notes that “the Centre for Indigenous Knowledges and Languages offers a generative space within and beyond York University to advance Indigenous scholarship, research theories, methodologies and practices that supports a keen understanding of the goals and aspirations of Indigenous Peoples. CIKL will foster collaborations and partnerships with Indigenous Peoples and others that create ethical space for dialogue on how research relationships can be envisioned, negotiated, practised in support of Indigenous futurities. Creating this ethical space in collaboration with Indigenous Peoples and our colleagues across the University also creates opportunities for critical dialogue, reflection and change to take place in addressing some of the world’s most pressing challenges.”

Joining McGregor as a research leader is York University Professor Sean Hillier, who will become CIKL’s associate director. Hillier has recently been appointed a York Research Chair in Indigenous Health Policy & One Health. He is a queer Mi’kmaw scholar from the Qalipu First Nation, and an assistant professor at the School of Health Policy & Management. His collaborative research program spans themes of aging, living with HIV and other infectious diseases, and antimicrobial resistance, all with a focus on policy affecting health-care access for Indigenous Peoples in Canada.

“Having dedicated Indigenous research resources and space, as offered by the new CIKL, which is run by and for Indigenous Peoples on campus, is a critical first step,” says Hillier. “This centre will assist York in becoming a research-intensive institution and serves the principals of the Indigenous Framework and University Academic Plan.”

Amir Asif, York’s vice-president of research and innovation, says, “The establishment of CIKL creates a vital space for Indigenous researchers and all those engaged in decolonizing scholarship at York and beyond. The centre will play an important role in invigorating and disseminating groundbreaking, Indigenous-centred research taking place at and beyond York University.”

Stay tuned for upcoming events and initiatives at CIKL.

An important update on the fall term

Keele Campus Fall image of Stong Pond FEATURED for new YFile

The following is a message to the University community from Provost and Vice-President Academic Lisa Philipps and Vice-President Research and Innovation Amir Asif. This update was first circulated to the community on Friday, Sept. 3.

La version française suit la version anglaise.

Dear York community,

Since the start of the pandemic, the health and well-being of the York community has been our top priority. We continue to work closely with Toronto Public Health, the chief medical officer of health, and the Ministry of Colleges and Universities to ensure that the University follows the latest guidance from public health. 

At the same time, we have taken a cautious approach to planning for Fall 2021, where we have been working steadily to institute a number of initiatives that together will enable a safe and gradual increase to in-person learning and on-campus activities.

This week, the Ministry of Colleges and Universities issued a revised framework for post-secondary institutions that will come into effect on Sept. 7. This new direction allows for flexible capacity limits and requirements for physical distancing in indoor instructional spaces such as classrooms, libraries and lab spaces, in combination with a vaccination requirement.

Fall Term Planning 

As announced earlier this week, with some approved exceptions, in-person classes and on-campus activities will stay remote between Sept. 7 and 12 to afford more time for our community to provide proof of vaccination or apply for an exemption and schedule a COVID-19 test. In-person activities will commence on Sept. 13.

We have importantly made the decision to stay the course with our current plans for in-person teaching, as published in the course calendar. We appreciate that faculty and course directors have prepared for these teaching assignments and our students have signed up for courses and made plans based on this information. In general, classes were capped at 50 students with some exceptions of up to 120 students per classroom, and will be kept at these sizes. Classes have been placed in oversized rooms for the most part and students are encouraged to spread out to give peers and instructors their space.

In collaboration with Faculties, we are continuing to reopen more research facilities in the upcoming term. Beginning on Sept. 13, Faculty approval will no longer be required for on-campus research and scholarly activities; however, the relevant associate dean of research must be kept informed, and health and safety guidelines stipulated by the University must be strictly adhered to. Faculties may require additional health and safety measures depending on the nature of research being conducted, and further updates will be shared in the coming days on community-engaged, human participant-based and off-campus field research along with supports for innovation.

A Safe Plan to Return 

Each part of our multifaceted plan works in tandem to safely welcome the community back and includes the following components:

We anticipate an enriching on-campus experience this fall and look forward to providing you with the latest updates and information on the return-to-campus plan in the coming weeks. For general supports, please see:

Thank you for your continued patience and support of our students.

Sincerely,

Lisa Philipps
Provost & Vice-President Academic 

Amir Asif
Vice-President, Research & Innovation

Mise à jour sur le trimestre d’automne à York

Chers membres de la communauté de York,

Depuis le début de la pandémie, la santé et le bien-être de la communauté de York sont notre priorité absolue. Nous continuons de collaborer étroitement avec le Bureau de santé publique de Toronto, le médecin hygiéniste en chef et le ministère des Collèges et Universités afin de nous assurer que l’Université respecte les directives les plus récentes en matière de santé publique.

Parallèlement, nous avons adopté une approche prudente dans notre planification du trimestre d’automne 2021 et nous avons travaillé sans relâche pour mettre en place un certain nombre d’initiatives qui permettront une augmentation sécuritaire et progressive de l’apprentissage en personne et des activités sur le campus. 

Cette semaine, le ministère des Collèges et Universités a publié un cadre modifié pour les établissements postsecondaires. Ce cadre entrera en vigueur le 7 septembre. La nouvelle orientation permet des limites de capacité et des exigences de distanciation physique flexibles dans les espaces d’enseignement intérieurs, comme les salles de classe, les bibliothèques et les laboratoires qui s’ajoutent à une exigence de vaccination. 

Planification du trimestre d’automne

Comme annoncé en début de semaine, à quelques exceptions près, les cours en présentiel et les activités sur le campus resteront offerts à distance entre le 7 et le 12 septembre afin de laisser plus de temps à notre communauté pour fournir une preuve de vaccination, ou pour demander une exemption et prendre rendez-vous pour un test de dépistage de la COVID-19. Les activités en personne commenceront le 13 septembre.

Nous avons décidé de maintenir nos plans actuels d’enseignement en personne, tels qu’ils ont été publiés dans le calendrier des cours. En effet, le corps professoral et les directeurs de cours se sont préparés à ces missions d’enseignement et nos étudiants et étudiantes se sont inscrits à des cours et ont fait des projets sur la base de ces informations. En règle générale, les classes sont plafonnées à 50 élèves — avec quelques exceptions allant jusqu’à 120 élèves par classe — et ce plafond sera maintenu. Des salles surdimensionnées ont été allouées à la majorité des classes et les membres de la population étudiante sont encouragés à bien s’étaler dans les salles afin de garder leurs distances de leurs pairs et des enseignants.  

En collaboration avec les facultés, nous poursuivrons la réouverture d’autres installations de recherche durant le trimestre. À partir du 13 septembre, l’approbation du corps professoral ne sera plus requise pour les activités de recherche et d’érudition sur le campus, mais le doyen associé de la recherche concerné devra être tenu informé et les directives en matière de santé et de sécurité stipulées par l’Université devront être strictement respectées. Les facultés peuvent exiger des mesures de santé et de sécurité supplémentaires en fonction de la nature de la recherche menée. D’autres mises à jour seront communiquées dans les prochains jours sur la recherche impliquant la communauté, la recherche impliquant des êtres humains et la recherche sur le terrain à l’extérieur du campus, ainsi que sur les soutiens à l’innovation.

Un plan de retour sécuritaire

Toutes les facettes de notre plan fonctionnent en tandem pour accueillir à nouveau la communauté de manière sécuritaire; ce plan comprend les éléments suivants :

Nous prévoyons une expérience enrichissante sur le campus cet automne et nous avons hâte de vous fournir des mises à jour et plus d’information au sujet de notre plan de retour sur les campus dans les semaines à venir. Voici quelques autres ressources de soutien générales :

Merci pour votre patience et votre soutien à la communauté étudiante. 

Sincères salutations,

Lisa Philipps
Rectrice et vice-présidente aux affaires académiques 

Amir Asif
Vice-président de la recherche et de l’innovation