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CFI Awards Transformative for Faculty
June 18, 2009
Solar energy, nuclear safety, antimatter, automotive and biomedical research in the Faculty of Engineering have been given a tremendous boost thanks to funding announced June 18 by the Canada Foundation for Innovation.
Three proposals led by the Faculty of Engineering were accepted and received virtually all the $16.6 million in funding requested. The Faculty also participated in two other successful proposals, one led through the Faculty of Science and the other by the University of Waterloo.
“This is a truly remarkable result,” commented David Wilkinson, Dean, Faculty of Engineering. “It will have a transformative impact on the Faculty’s ability to provide solutions to some of the most pressing issues of the day. All those involved in preparing the proposals are to be commended on the high quality of their submissions.”
The three Faculty of Engineering led projects are:
Centre for Advanced Nuclear Systems – John Luxat, professor of engineering physics and NSERC/UNENE Industrial Research Chair in Nuclear Safety Analysis, is the principal investigator for this initiative, which is receiving $9,172,600 through the New Initiatives Fund. The Centre will focus on materials, safety and medical applications of nuclear technology.
Laboratory for Advanced Photovoltaic Research – Rafael Kleiman, professor of engineering physics and Canada Research Chair in MicroElectroMechanical Systems, is the principal investigator for this initiative, which is receiving $5,123,758 through the Leading Edge Fund to further work in developing a clean, sustainable energy supply for Canada, particularly exploring the conversion of solar energy directly to electricity.
McMaster Intense Positron Beam Facility – Peter Mascher, professor of engineering physics and the William Sinclair Chair in Optoelectronics, is the principal investigator for this initiative, which is receiving $2,326,166 from the New Initiatives Fund. This will be a unique facility in Canada and one of only a few facilities operating worldwide to combine extensive materials research capabilities with fundamental studies of antimatter atoms and molecules.
Four Engineering professors are involved with the formation of a Biointerfaces Institute, which received $7.2 million through the New Initiatives Fund. Led by John Brennan, professor of chemistry, the institute aims to understand how biological systems interact with various materials. Engineering faculty involved are: John Brash, director of the McMaster School of Biomedical Engineering; Raja Ghosh, associate professor of chemical engineering; Robert Pelton, professor of chemical engineering; and, Heather Sheardown, professor of chemical engineering.
The Faculty is also part of research in Materials and Manufacturing for Light Weight Automotive Structures and Advanced Occupant Protection, a $3.7 million initiative being led through the University of Waterloo. Joe McDermid, associate professor of mechanical engineering, is the lead investigator for the Faculty.
More information about the Canada Foundation for Innovation can be found at: www.innovation.ca
