MONTREAL/April 22, 2005—
Concordia University has been awarded 3 new Canada Research Chairs (CRC) -one Tier-1 level chair and two Tier-2 level chairs. Tier-1 chairs are awarded to well-established researchers and provide them with $200,000 per year over a 7-year period. Tier-2 Chairs are awarded to emerging researchers, and provide $100,000 per year over a 5-year period.
"The Canada Research Chairs Program is a significant gain for universities and colleges across the country," said the Honourable David Emerson, minister of industry and minister responsible for the Canada Research Chairs Program. "It ensures Canadian research excellence for years to come, and gives our students - the next generation of leaders and thinkers - the opportunity to learn from the best and brightest minds in the world."
Concordia's President and Vice-Chancellor Frederick Lowy welcomed the announcement saying, ìThe University's research profile continues to be enhanced by researchers of this caliber and their diverse fields of study.î Today's announcement brings the number of CRC's at Concordia to 18.
Prabir Bhattacharya, CRC in Information Systems Engineering (Tier 1), came to Concordia from the Panasonic Information Technologies Lab and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Now that high-speed internet connectivity is so easily available, Dr. Bhattacharya is helping to develop a biometrics-based system for remote appliance control., in order to operate home appliances remotely and securely by using the internet and mobile communication (such as cell-phones)
Vijaya Kumar Devabhaktuni, CRC in Computer-aided High-frequency Modeling and Design (Tier-2), comes to Concordia from the University of Calgary, where he was an NSERC (Natural Sciences and Engineering Reasearch Council) Post-Doctoral Fellow. His research into the automation of electronic design will help fabricate cheaper yet superior RF/microwave products, foster intellectual talents, and establish Canadian competitiveness in global wireless markets.
Patrik Marier, CRC in Comparative Public Policy (Tier-2) is already at Concordia University in the Political Science Department. His research analyzes the impact of population ageing on public policy in industrialized countries. By studying the ageing programs and policies from ìolderî countries such as Japan and Italy, Dr. Marier is drawing on a wealth of information and solutions. He and his team of graduate students are creating a comparative database on population ageing, accessible via the web, providing new tools for researchers and the government to change the way we conceive and prepare public policies and a basis to compare Canada's performance with that of other countries.
The Canada Research Chairs program was launched in 2000 and helps universities attract and retain the best researchers and achieve research excellence in the natural sciences and engineering, health services, social sciences and the humanities.
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Source :
Tanya Churchmuch
Senior Media Relations Advisor
Concordia University
