Four Cape Breton University researchers recently received Natural Science Engineering Research Council (NSERC) Discovery Grants to continue and expand important research projects.
Dr. Martin Mkandawrire received $140,000 for his work on Tunable Nanocomposites for Smart Materials and a Technology Platform; Dr. Stephanie Macquarie received $120,000 for her work, Incorporating Molecular Diversity into BioChar for Further Synthetic Modification and Enhanced Applications; Dr. Scott Rodney received $80,000 for his work on Degenerate Elliptic Equations: Regularity of Weak Solutions with Applications; and Dr. Vielka Salazar received $30,000 for her research, Neuroendocrine Regulation and Molecular Mechanisms underlying Socially Driven Communication Plasticity.
“This type of funding speaks to the high-calibre of researchers at CBU and the truly innovative work that is being done here,” says Tanya Brann-Barrett, Dean of Research, Teaching & Graduate Studies. “The NSERC Discovery Grant allows our researchers to build and grow their work in a way that might not otherwise be possible. Their work is changing the world, so we’re delighted to have received these grants.”
The announcement came on October 9, when the Honourable Kirsty Duncan, Minister of Science and Sport, announced more than $558 million in discovery research funding, as part of the Government of Canada’s plan to attract global talent, promote diversity, and provide nearly 4,300 researchers and students with the means to pursue world-leading discovery work.