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Researchers recognized for excellence

University Research Awards were recently presented to outstanding Concordia researchers
June 6, 2012
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Each year, research by Concordia's faculty members is recognized with the presentation of the University Research Awards and the Petro-Canada Young Innovator Award.

On June 5, professors Diane Poulin-Dubois, David Waddington, and Hoi Dick Ng were honoured for their contributions to the advancement of knowledge.

“These research awards recognize outstanding accomplishments in different fields of scholarship. Each year, we measure the achievements of the nominees in terms of the originality of their work, their contributions to training and mentorship of students, research associations and post-doctoral fellows, and the impact of their research,” said Interim Vice-President Research and Graduate Studies Graham Carr, at the event.

From left to right: Diane Poulin-Dubois, David Waddington (back row), Hoi Dick Ng and Graham Carr. | Photo by Concordia University
From left to right: Diane Poulin-Dubois, David Waddington (back row), Hoi Dick Ng and Graham Carr. | Photo by Concordia University

Poulin-Dubois, Waddington, and Ng will each receive a $5,000 prize and hold the title of Concordia University Research Fellow for one year.

The Petro-Canada Young Innovator Award recognizes, promotes and supports outstanding emerging faculty researchers whose academic work is particularly innovative, impacts positively on the learning environment of their department, and has the potential to be of significance to society at large. 

This year, the award was given to Ann-Louise Davidson from the Department of Education, in the Strategic Research Cluster, The Person and Society. She will receive a $10,000 grant.

From left to right: Claudine Gagnon (Team Leader Technical Services at Suncor Energy), Graham Carr (back row) and Ann-Louise Davidson.
From left to right: Claudine Gagnon (Team Leader Technical Services at Suncor Energy), Graham Carr (back row) and Ann-Louise Davidson. | Photo by Concordia University

The award presentations took place during the Concordia Celebration of Excellence – Concordia Research, Academic Distinction and Leadership Awards event on the Loyola Campus, which included a cocktail reception and awards ceremony attended by faculty members and researchers. 

The celebration also included the induction of eight Concordians into the Provost’s Circle of Distinction and the presentation of four new awards by the Centre for Academic Leadership. Look for more stories on these award recipients on the NOW news and events site.

2012 University Research Awards

The Person and Society Established Award
Diane Poulin-Dubois – Faculty of Arts and Science, Department of Psychology

After joining Concordia in 1984, Diane Poulin-Dubois quickly established herself as a leader in the field of early childhood development. Her research examines the earliest emergence of language and cognition in infants, and her work on the development of theory of mind in infancy is widely recognized as being in the forefront of the field.

“This research provides important information about how the young human brain processes information about human behaviour,” says Poulin-Dubois.

Her colleagues praise her creativity, patience and the thoroughness in her research methods. They also point to the broad impact her research paradigm has had on laboratories around the world.

With more than 80 peer-reviewed publications and over 170 conference presentations and more than $3 million in research funding, Poulin-Dubois is internationally recognized as a leader in her field.

Equally important, Poulin-Dubois has shown great dedication to young researchers in the field of infant development. She has supervised 68 students (32 undergraduate and 36 graduate students) and several post-doctoral fellows, and has contributed to Concordia through building research programs and collaborations. She is also a valued member of the Centre for Research in Human Development, which is one of Concordia’s leading research units.

“It is great honour I share with my graduate students,” said Poulin-Dubois. “It gives you a great sense of achievement … to be selected among a large group of equally deserving colleagues. I am very grateful to the selection committees of the psychology department, the Faculty of Arts and Science and the University Research Awards. I will be proud to hold the title of Concordia University Research Fellow for the upcoming year.”

The Person and Society Emerging Award
David Waddington – Faculty of Arts and Science, Department of Education

Assistant Professor David Waddington came to Concordia in 2007 and has already proven himself to be an innovative scholar and superb researcher in the field of educational technologies. His current research focuses on the potential of video games to serve as positive educational tools for good citizenship.

Waddington has attracted more than $200,000 in research funding from both Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) and through the Fonds québécois de recherche Société et culture (FQRSC) Nouveaux Chercheurs program.

Six of Waddington’s peer reviewed articles have appeared in first rank journals, and he has co-authored and co-presented at conferences with several PhD and MA students from the Department of Education.

“As far as the award is concerned, I am delighted to be receiving it,” said Waddington.  “I am proud of the work I have done, and I am grateful to my colleagues in the Department of Education who have supported and advised me over the past five years. I would also like to acknowledge the contributions of my co-authors, especially Kevin McDonough, Bruce Maxwell, Vivek Venkatesh, and Ann-Louise Davidson. Without their expertise and inspiration, a lot of these articles would have never been written.”

As an educational philosopher, his level of scholarship combined with a willingness and ability to engage in research dissemination and dialogue has attracted and sustained the interest of researchers outside his field, in addition to policy makers and the general public.

Technology, Industry and Environment Emerging Award

Hoi Dick Ng – Faculty of Engineering and Computer Science, Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering

Associate Professor Hoi Dick Ng joined the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering in 2007. Ng’s research work on the interaction between gas dynamics, compression turbulence and chemistry was critical in the development of industrial safety measures, propulsion concepts and alternative energy systems. He is recognized as one of the emerging leaders in the area of thermo fluids.

Since his start at Concordia, Ng has received many internal, national and international awards including the Petro-Canada Young Innovator Award (2009), the CSME L.W. Smith Award (2009), the Milton Van Dyke Awards from the American Physics Society (2010), the Gallery of Fluid Motion Award, and the Concordia University Outstanding Contribution to Student Life Award (2010).

He has secured numerous major research grants from Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), Discovery grant, 2 RTI grants, and FQRNT (Nouveaux Chercheurs), and was recently awarded an NSERC Engage grant. He has published 29 journal articles and counting, one book chapter, 27 conference proceedings and 22 conference abstracts.

A dedicated mentor to his students, Ng has already co-supervised seven MSc students, several NSERC-USRA undergraduate students and is currently supervising three PhD students.

“It is always special to be recognized by the university and peers,” he says. “This research award not only represents an accomplishment for myself, but at the same time also pushes me to do better and become better in research. The award grant is also useful as well since it supports me to continue to explore different area of my research.

“During the years at Concordia University, my research experience was always rewarding and enjoyable. The Faculty of Engineering and Computer Science has provided me a good place and environment to do my research. I have also encountered many talented students and learned a lot from many great researchers at Concordia. It is really a great honour for me and in fact a good surprise to receive this research award.”

Petro-Canada Young Innovator Award
Ann-Louise Davidson – Faculty of Arts and Science, Department of Education

Assistant Professor Ann-Louise Davidson’s research interests revolve around the changes that information and communications technology (ICT) contribute to society and the educational system.

She uses collaborative-action research methods as a means to understand and explain the relationships between pedagogy and ICT. In non-educational settings, she studies the impact of digital technologies on the social integration of minorities and marginalized populations including individuals with intellectual disabilities.

In the past few years she has been involved with charitable organizations, such as LiveWorkPlay in Ottawa, and governmental service providers such as Pavillon du Parc in the Outaouais, to help intellectually disabled adults who are in a process of community and residential integration.

She has published several refereed articles in scientific journals and participated in numerous international scientific congresses.

This annual award, made possible by Suncor Energy’s generous endowment to Concordia University, is intended to express the joint commitment of Suncor Energy and Concordia to support researchers at the launch of their scholarly careers and allow them to pursue novel projects that nurture innovation.

On receiving the award, Davidson said: “It is a fantastic feeling. I feel that I am being supported to do innovative research and I feel that my work is being recognized in my university. It feels fabulous!”

She will use the $10,000 research grant to hire research assistants, purchase materials to conduct her current study, and to continue to disseminate knowledge.

Related Links:
•  "Baby see, baby do" — NOW December 5, 2011 
•  Diane Poulin-Dubois profile
•  Ann-Louise Davidson profile
•  Hoi Dick Ng profile
•  David Waddington profile

 

 



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