On November 16, 2022, the Honorable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, announced an investment of more than $139 million to support 176 new and renewed Canada Research Chairs across 46 institutions in Canada. The announcement was made during his remarks at the Canadian Science Policy Conference in Ottawa, ON.
In this latest cycle, Carolyn Ren, a member of the Microplastics Fingerprinting research team, was named Canada Research Chair in Microfluidic Technologies.
Dr. Carolyn Ren is a Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering and director of Waterloo Microfluidics Laboratory. She was recently named one of WXN Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women (2021). She is also a Member of the Royal Society of Canada College (2018) and a Fellow of the Canadian Society of Mechanical Engineering (2012). She was recognized as one of 20 leading innovators in Women of Innovation: The Impact of Leading Engineers in Canada. Dr. Ren is also an entrepreneur and her microfluidic innovations have spurred the launch of four start-up companies with her students (Advanced Electrophoresis Solutions, Alphaxon, QuantWave Technologies, and Air Mircrofluidics Systems.