Dr. David Asner

Ontario is positioning itself to be a world leader in fundamental physics research. Dr. David Asner, an assistant professor of physics at Carleton University, is building on the province’s reputation in the field by conducting a feasibility study and then developing a conceptual design for a new luminosity particle collider, which will enable significant advances in the area of particle physics.

Dr. Steven Cooke

Each year many people go fishing in Ontario - and they not only catch fish, they release them on the premise that they’ll survive to be caught again. Research being conducted by Dr. Steven Cooke, an assistant professor of biology and environmental science, is focusing on understanding the fate of fish released by anglers with a view to developing strategies that reduce their injury, stress and death. The ultimate goal is to ensure the sustainability of Ontario’s recreational fisheries.

Dr. Shelley Hepworth

Flower farming is big business in Ontario and there is huge potential for growth, particularly through advances in science and technology. Research being done by Dr. Shelley Hepworth, an assistant professor in biology at Carleton University, is discovering more about the genes responsible for plant organs and how they contribute to diversity in plants. Her work will help floriculturists, people who cultivate flowering and ornamental plants, breed new varieties and generate technology transfer to Ontario’s agricultural biotech sector. 

Dr. Banu Ormeci

Safe and efficient wastewater treatment is a necessity for cities and towns across Ontario. Wastewater contains disease producing agents called pathogens that can potentially pose a serious threat to public health if not treated properly. Dr. Banu Ormeci, an assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering at Carleton University, is focusing on understanding the processes involved in removing pathogens, with the goal of improving existing and emerging disinfection and solids treatment processes. This research could lead to the development of alternative and sustainable treatments that are simple, energy efficient, environmentally friendly and applicable in cold climates.

Dr. Pat Morin

Statistical data depth is a branch of statistics that has applications in any field where massive amounts of data are being studied. This includes medicine, computing, physical sciences, social sciences, life sciences and economics. Dr. Pat Morin, an associate professor in the School of Computer Science at Carleton University, is developing efficient sets of rules for solving problems in a finite number of steps called algorithms, to be used to solve problems that involve massive amounts of data. These algorithms will make it feasible to perform analyses that were not possible until now and have the potential to lead to many new scientific discoveries.

Dr. Brett Stevens

For software and hardware developers, bringing new products to the marketplace error-free is critical to success and companies spend a great deal of time and money on testing. Dr. Brett Stevens, an associate professor with the School of Mathematics and Statistics at Carleton University, is developing powerful new mathematical software that will improve the speed and efficiency of testing.  Not only will this mathematical software give Ontario companies an economic advantage, it will also be incorporated into international standards - and that will help keep Ontario at the leading edge.

Dr Jeff Dilworth

Duchenne muscular dystrophy is characterized by progressive muscle weakness and wasting of muscle tissue that eventually ends in death. Dr. Jeffrey Dilworth, a scientist in the Molecular Medicine Program at the Ottawa Health Research Institute, is working to develop an effective treatment by getting a better understanding of how muscle tissue is established in the body and how it could be reproduced using stem cells, a population of immature cells that can be grown and transformed into all the different cell types within the body.

Dr. David Doloreux

How does innovation affect industry competitiveness? That is the question Dr. David Doloreux, Research Chair in Canadian Francophonie in Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Regional Development at the University of Ottawa, hopes to answer. Dr. Doloreux is linking regions and regional clustering of industries to examine the links between innovation processes, economic development and the role of supporting organizations in enhancing regional industrial competitiveness. The results will contribute to increased economic growth as well as to develop policy-oriented objectives for implementing regional and sectoral innovation strategies in Ontario.

Dr. Daniel Figeys

Most diseases lack simple and efficient tests for diagnosis and prognosis, as well as tests to evaluate the drugs developed to treat them. Tests using blood and plasma, known to carry special protein biomarkers or “tags” for certain diseases, pose problems because the tags are present only at trace levels, making them difficult to identify. Dr. Daniel Figeys, a professor of biochemistry, microbiology and immunology at the University of Ottawa, is developing a technology that will find and identify these tags in plasma. His research could result in the ability to provide tests for a wide range of diseases that will save time, money, and lives.

Dr. Michael Gollob

Atrial fibrillation is the most common heart arrhythmia affecting humans and a common cause of stroke. Significant amounts of time and money are spent in Ontario each year managing patients with this condition - and as the population ages, we can expect these costs to rise. Current medications are limited and sometimes have undesirable side effects. The Connexin40 gene was identified as a cause of atrial fibrillation in the laboratory of Dr. Michael Gollob, an assistant professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of Ottawa. This new finding provides the opportunity to investigate the molecular mechanisms behind this condition with the goal of developing better medications for its management.

Dr. Jeremy Kerr

Habitat loss and climate change are causing a mass extinction that also imperils human society. Predicting how these changes will proceed is extraordinarily difficult. Using new techniques involving satellite observations and biological modeling, Dr. Jeremy Kerr, an associate professor of biology at the University of Ottawa, is studying advances and retreats in the locations of butterflies, which reflect early impacts of global change. His research is improving forecasts of global change consequences for biodiversity in Canada and around the world.

Dr. Frithjof Lutscher

The health of Ontario’s river ecosystems is critical as they are a source of fresh water, transportation, energy and recreation. Changes such as pollution or foreign species invasion can have a devastating effect on these ecosystem services. Dr. Frithjof Lutscher, as assistant professor in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics at the University of Ottawa, is developing mathematical models to study the biological dynamics of our river ecosystems and to determine how natural and human disturbances affect them over time. His research could be applied to evaluate management strategies and might lead to the development and implementation of new technologies to better conserve our rivers.

Dr. Lora Ramunno

The ability to shape materials on very small length scales is opening new frontiers in science and technology. Dr. Lora Ramunno, an assistant professor of physics at the University of Ottawa, is developing her understanding of how powerful lasers can be used to restructure materials to make microscopic devices. Her research has significant applications for information and communications technology, where it could lead to increasing the functionality of computer technologies, and medicine, where it could lead to advances in areas such as microsurgery.

Dr. Howard Rundle

Why animals select their partners is central to the evolution of biological diversity. Dr. Howard Rundle, an assistant professor in the Department of Biology at the University of Ottawa, is exploring mate preferences with the goal of providing a more comprehensive understanding of why they evolve. Dr. Rundle’s research could have a significant impact on our understanding of the origin of biodiversity.

Dr. Lisheng Wang

Stem cells are special cells that can be grown and transformed into any of the more than 200 cell types of the adult body. They may provide the means for treating, even curing, many currently incurable disorders and diseases. Dr. Lisheng Wang, an assistant professor with the Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Ottawa, is developing a novel technology for generating transplantable stem cells that are compatible with a person’s own immune system. His work will advance the technologies for stem cell-based therapy in Ontario.

Dr. Stewart Whitman

His research centers on heart attacks resulting from atherosclerosis and the inflammation of the walls of the arteries. These are the leading cause of death in Canada. High cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, smoking and obesity all contribute to atherosclerosis. But in almost half of all cases, none of these indicators are present. Dr. Stewart Whitman, an Associate Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the University of Ottawa, is focusing on finding out what role chronic bacterial infections and the immune system play in these cases. His work could lead to development of a practical and cost-effective prevention strategy.

Dr. Zisheng Zhang

Dr. Zisheng Zhang, an associate professor with the Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Ottawa, is developing a technology for the cost-competitive production of phytase with microalgae, sunlight, and carbon dioxide. Phytase is an enzyme that is capable of improving the utilization efficiency of nutrients in animal feeds and reducing environmental pollution by animal wastes. Currently, the enzyme is primarily produced through recombinant yeast fermentation using methanol or glucose as the carbon sources, a more expensive method. This work will bring direct economic and environmental benefits to Ontarians in the areas of animal feed and bioproducts.