Public health professor named University Research Chair

Dr. Sharon Kirkpatrick, a professor in the School of Public Health Sciences, was recently named University of Waterloo Research Chair, along with six other professors across campus. The seven-year appointment began July 1, 2023.

Kirkpatrick joined the University in 2013 and is a registered dietitian whose research aims to foster robust evidence on how dietary patterns influence human and planetary health and how we can support healthier and more sustainable dietary patterns among populations. 

"Methods for measuring what people eat and drink with reasonable accuracy and reliability are the cornerstone of much nutrition research," Kirkpatrick said. "It is gratifying to have my efforts toward creating, improving, evaluating and disseminating such methods recognized through the University Research Chair."

Kirkpatrick has made the Clarivate Highly Cited Researcher list for several years, placing her among the top one per cent of highly cited researchers in the world. The global analytics firm uses both quantitative and qualitative analysis to identify individuals who have demonstrated significant and broad influence in their chosen fields of research.

The University Research Chair designation, which has been awarded since 2004 by the Office of the Vice-President, Academic and Provost, recognizes exceptional achievement and pre-eminence in a particular field of knowledge.