The University of British Columbia continues to draw top
faculty from around the world as six researchers, including
investigators from Switzerland, Australia and the United States,
join the university as Canada Research Chairs.
Designed to build Canada’s research capacity, the program
of federally funded research positions is now halfway to its
goal of establishing 2,000 Chairs at universities across the
country by 2005. The federal government has invested $900
million to support the program.
“UBC is delighted to mark this milestone by adding
to our growing body of outstanding recruits,” says Barry
McBride, UBC vice-president, Academic and Provost. “To
gain these individuals when top universities around the world
are competing for them is a testament to the academic research
environment in this country and this university.”
The UBC Chairs are among 118 such positions at 37 universities
— representing an investment of $102.2 million — distributed
today across Canada to universities, their affiliated research
institutes and hospitals. UBC has now designated 83 Chairs
of the 155 allocated to the university.
Stephanie Chang, from the University
of Washington, is an expert in natural disasters.
As Canada Research Chair in Urban Sustainability and Disaster
Management, she will study and develop disaster mitigation
programs that have environmental, social and economic goals.
Her work in looking beyond dollar losses to planning for disaster-resilient
cities will help guide effective public spending on disaster
preparedness.
Kathleen Vohs, who comes to UBC from the
University of Utah, is the Canada Research
Chair in Market Research and Consumer Science. She will investigate
the psychological basis for consumer behaviour. Personality
traits, self-image and situational factors that determine
spending patterns and attitudes about material goods will
be the focus of her work.
Vivien Measday is the Canada Research Chair
in Enology / Yeast Genomics. Part of her research involves
identifying genes in yeast that are most important for wine
fermentation, key information for the B.C. wine industry.
In addition, her studies of chromosome segregation in wine
yeast will provide insight into diseases — such as cancer
or Down syndrome — whose hallmark is abnormal chromosome
numbers.
Other chair appointments are:
Geoffrey Wasteneys is from the Australian
National University. As Canada Research Chair in
Plant Cell Biology, he will study how to improve plant cell
walls, information that will help the forestry industry to
improve fibre properties. He will also develop methods for
hybrid seed production in crop species.
Dominik Schötzau, Canada Research
Chair in Numerical Analysis of Multiphysics Problems, is from
the University of Basel, Switzerland. He
is a mathematician who is developing new computational tools
for mechanical engineering and science.
Jeremy Heyl, from Harvard University, is the Canada Research
Chair in Origins. He is a physicist who studies the early
universe and is an expert in neutron stars and black holes.
For more information on Canada Research Chairs, visit www.chairs.gc.ca.
UBC researchers, who conduct more than 5,225 investigations
annually, attracted $377 million in research funding in 2002
/ 2003.
-30-
