Concordia celebrates 9 researchers at the forefront of their fields

Concordia is recognizing nine distinguished faculty members for their research excellence. The honourees’ outstanding accomplishments will be celebrated through Concordia’s University Research Awards and the Petro-Canada Young Innovator Awards this fall.

“These distinctions are our way of underlining the excellent work of our research leaders and the emerging faculty members who are on the vanguard of advancing knowledge and training at Concordia,” says Dominique Bérubé, vice-president of research and graduate studies. “They embody Concordia’s commitment to meeting the most pressing needs of society.”

Concordia’s University Research Award recipients are selected for their exceptional achievements and for increasing the university’s visibility as a research institution. Each recipient is awarded $5,000 and holds the title of Concordia University Research Fellow for one year.

The Petro-Canada Young Innovator Awards recognize outstanding young faculty members who are pursuing innovative research, which must strengthen the learning environment within their department and be of potential significance to society. The award, which is made possible by a generous endowment from Suncor Energy, comes with a $10,000 research grant.

Beginning in 2023–2024, the University Research Awards will be replaced by the Research Impact Awards. This change will broaden the criteria of what is deemed “research success.”

“We will consider factors such as open science, community engagement, policy influence and addressing pressing societal issues,” says Monica Mulrennan, associate vice-president of research, development and outreach.

“Concordia recognizes the immense value in this shift and is pleased to promote it within our community through the Research Impact Award.”

University Research Award winners

Simone Brugiapaglia

Assistant Professor, Department of Mathematics and Statistics
Faculty of Arts and Science

Simone Brugiapaglia specializes in numerical methods for partial differential equations (PDEs). PDEs are used in mathematics to describe physical systems such as sound waves and heat propagation, or the motion of fluid. Moreover, his research lies at the intersection of scientific computing, machine learning, mathematics of data science and approximation theory.

Farnoosh Naderkhani

Associate Professor, Concordia Institute for Information Systems Engineering
Gina Cody School of Engineering and Computer Science

Farnoosh Naderkhani carries out influential research in developing new and inventive inspection and control systems. These systems seek to prevent defects in emerging information technology fields with significant applications in a variety of industrial sectors, including aerospace, manufacturing, energy and transportation.

Mojtaba Kheiri

Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical, Industrial and Aerospace Engineering
Gina Cody School of Engineering and Computer Science

Mojtaba Kheiri is an expert in fluid-structure interactions, aeroelasticity, aerodynamics, wind energy and energy harvesting. His research contribution is mainly focused on the development of wind harvesting technologies that will have a significant impact on remote communities and society at large.

Kelly Jazvac

Associate Professor, Department of Studio Arts
Faculty of Fine Arts

Kelly Jazvac researches the cultural and environmental impacts of plastic waste. Jazvac uses art’s potential as a green vehicle for communicating these concerns sustainably, poetically and inclusively. She is part of a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC)-funded plastic pollution research team called the Synthetic Collective, which includes scientists, artists and writers.

Jean-Philippe Warren

Professor, Department of Sociology and Anthropology
Faculty of Arts and Science

Jean-Philippe Warren's research and public engagement has built the field of Quebec studies at Concordia by using theory and methods that allow him to move back and forth between local culture and its place in international history, between past and present and between the fictional and the real. Warren has consistently won national and international research grants and produced high-level publications in conjunction with his large network of collaborators.

Mamoun Medraj

Professor, Department of Mechanical, Industrial and Aerospace Engineering
Gina Cody School of Engineering and Computer Science

Mamoun Medraj researches the understanding of existing materials using computational thermodynamic modeling and experimental investigation of phase equilibria; new material development and characterization; and materials processing, with a focus on additive manufacturing to engineer alloys. He was instrumental in designing a preeminent water erosion test rig. This invention attracts highly qualified students who wish to pursue their research in his lab.

Petro Canada Young Innovator Awards winners

Sharlene He

Associate Professor, Marketing
John Molson School of Business

Sharlene He’s project seeks to understand how algorithmic recommendations (AR) shape decision-making. In particular, she studies how overreliance on algorithms may make people vulnerable to them, and, conversely, how appropriately utilizing AR could result in better decision outcomes.

Suryadipta Majumdar

Associate Professor, Concordia Institute for Information Systems Engineering
Gina Cody School of Engineering and Computer Science

Suryadipta Majumdar seeks to defend against cyberthreats by building proactive security auditing solutions that can be applied to cloud systems. This research project will help advance the fields of cybersecurity and emerging technologies. It will also protect Canadian industry against newer and stronger threats.

Lilia Mestre

Assistant Professor, Department of Contemporary Dance
Faculty of Fine Arts

Lilia Mestre cultivates choreography as a tool that can activate our sense of belonging and our cultural backgrounds to address environmental issues and human resilience. Her project investigates the performative aspects of materialities, bodies and words and invites experts to weigh in. She also includes Concordia dance and theatre students and faculty to join her, eventually culminating in a research-creation performance.

Learn more about research at Concordia.