Concordia researchers receive more than $7 million in federal funding

"The new NSERC Discovery Grant I received to support my research in the optimization of design and operation strategies of sustainable buildings has a strong symbolic value — behind the good financial support, of course!” he says. “It was awarded through a severe evaluation process by colleagues in my own discipline from Canada and abroad.”

John Capobianco, a professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry heads the Lanthanide Research Group. He was awarded a Discovery Grant which increased his NSERC funding by 33 per cent. "This will lead to a greater numbers of graduate students being trained at the highest level in the field of nano-biomedicine and other innovative nanotechnologies at the forefront of research today," he says.

Pascale Biron, a professor in the Department of Geography, Planning and Environment, was awarded $35,000 per year for five years to support her study of river dynamics and resilience of fluvial systems in perturbed environments. She says NSERC Discovery Grants are hugely important for her work, as they are one of the very few sources of funding for fundamental research.

“It provides freedom to explore new ideas, without having specific project deliverables. These new ideas can then be integrated into more applied research projects," she says. "It is also great for training graduate students as we can use these grants not only to provide stipends, but also to cover travel expenses for conferences. This is often not allowed with other sources of funding.”

Biron also points out that since Discovery Grants are for five years, which is longer than many other grants, "they help us make longer-term commitments for students, particularly at the PhD level.”

Suong Van Hoa, a professor in the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, obtained a $125,300 NSERC Tools and Instrument grant, which he'll use to acquire a drop weight impact testing machine.

"The work is for the study of the dynamic behaviour of composite structures by the group of researchers which includes myself, Catharine Marsden, Mehdi Hojjati, and Rajamohan Ganesan." says Van Hoa.

"Concordia has never had a strong impact testing machine before. Its acquisition will help us take on many projects that are important for the aerospace, as well as automotive, industries."

A foundation for innovation and sustainability

Also included in the funding is $465,500 for research projects led by doctoral students, which will help advance important studies led by talented emerging researchers in Building, Civil and Environmental Engineering; Mechanical and Industrial Engineering; and Biology.

"Discoveries build the necessary foundation for an innovative, prosperous and sustainable society,” says B. Mario Pinto, president of NSERC.

“A diversified and high-quality research base requires us to provide equality of opportunity across gender and culture. Bringing together multiple points of view strengthens our science, technology and innovation ecosystem and extends its many benefits more equally.” 

Find out more about research at Concordia.

For a complete list of Concordia's newly funded projects, consult the NSERC website.