Queen’s receives $15.9 million for science/engineering research

Professors and students at Queen’s University involved in research ranging from specialized assisted reproduction technology to motion capture and animate motion perception will receive a total of $15.9 million from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC).

“I am delighted that Queen’s researchers continue to demonstrate strong performance in the highly competitive NSERC competitions,” says Kerry Rowe, Vice-Principal (Research). “The funding will ensure Queen’s capacity to sustain its recognition and reputation for research excellence in a broad range of areas in science and engineering.”

“As outlined in our new Science and Technology Strategy which was released by the Prime Minister on May 17, 2007, this funding is a clear demonstration of the value we place on the ongoing research of Canadian scientists and engineers in creating a knowledge advantage for Canada,” said Parliamentary Secretary Colin Carrie, MP, in making the announcement. “These awards will help ensure that this country’s best and brightest professors and students can continue their work and their contribution to the prosperity and well-being of all Canadians.”

Niko Troje (Psychology), Canada Research Chair in Vision and Behavioural Sciences, has been awarded $250,000 toward his research. His Biomotion Laboratory at Queen’s uses high speed cameras to track the three-dimensional trajectories of small reflective markers attached to the central joints of a person’s body. When the subject moves, these seemingly unstructured white marker dots become organized into meaningful images, from which observers can determine the gender, body build, emotional state, and other attributes.

Richard Oko (Anatomy & Cell Biology) receives $37,000 toward developing a new technique to increase the success rate of Intra-Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI), a specialized assisted reproduction technology employed in cases where male fertility is an issue. This innovative technique may help millions of infertile couples worldwide.

Across Canada, some 3,300 professors from across Canada will receive $458.8 million in Discovery Grants to support their research in the natural sciences and engineering. In addition, 2,402 young university researchers – 2,148 at the graduate level and 254 at the postdoctoral level – will receive $99.2 million to pursue their studies in these fields, while 4,296 undergraduate students will receive Undergraduate Student Research Awards worth a total of $19.3 million to give them hands-on research experience in a laboratory.

This year also sees the introduction of the Discovery Accelerator Supplements, a new NSERC initiative to foster research excellence. With a total of $6 million in new money, this new funding will provide significant supplements to 50 researchers in order to boost their productivity at a critical juncture in their careers.

NSERC is a key federal agency investing in people, discovery and innovation. It supports both basic university research through research grants, and project research through partnerships among universities, governments and the private sector, as well as the advanced training of highly qualified people.