WATERLOO, Ont. (Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2011) - Five University of Waterloo graduate students today received Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships, prestigious awards that recognize top academic achievement and leaderships skills.
The national awards, announced during a ceremony at McMaster University, celebrate scholarly accomplishment in the social sciences and humanities, natural sciences and engineering, and health fields. The awards are valued at $50,000 annually for up to three years.
"We are delighted by the success of our students in this prestigious award competition and happy that the government initiated this program to support students as they embark on very promising futures," said Sue Horton, Waterloo's associate provost, graduate studies. "All five Waterloo graduate students exemplify characteristics that underpin the Vanier program, which calls for academic excellence, research potential and leadership skills."
Four Waterloo students received the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship awarded by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), while one Waterloo student received the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship awarded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR).
The five Waterloo students are:
* Nadia Charania is the first Waterloo doctoral student to win a CIHR Vanier award. She completed her undergraduate studies at Queen's University, obtained a professional qualification at the Michener Institute and is completing her master's in the faculty of environment at the University of Waterloo. Her doctoral work, supervised by professor Len Tsuji, will focus on pandemic planning in remote First Nations communities, particularly the James Bay area of Northern Ontario. Charania’s background includes experience as a medical professional (respiratory therapist), an accomplished athlete (an elite figure skater) and athletic coach. Her referees commented on the quality of her research and community engagement in the James Bay area, and her ability to earn the respect of the communities.
* Hoan Dang completed his undergraduate degree at the California Institute of Technology. During his master's study, Dang moved from Princeton University to the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics and the University of Waterloo to follow his supervisor, professor Christopher Fuchs. Dang works on difficult foundational problems in quantum mechanics. He has already contributed significant work to two separate scientific papers to be submitted to Physical Review Letters, a premier journal. He takes a leadership role academically, organizing meetings and collaborations with colleagues. As well, he is an accomplished pianist, a marathon runner, and previously founded a college karate club. He received a Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship awarded by NSERC.
* Ryan Henry is beginning his PhD in computer science, supervised by professor Ian Goldberg, in the Centre for Applied Cryptographic Research. The research is vital to maintain the security and integrity of data in an era where electronic data can be readily transmitted and intercepted. Henry has already published a paper at the 10th Privacy Enhancing Technology Symposium, and has four other technical reports in preparation. He serves as a mentor for new graduate students in the David R. Cheriton School of Computer Science. As an undergraduate student, Henry led several research initiatives at a custom software company in Manitoba. He received a Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship awarded by NSERC.
* Colleen Merrifield is pursuing her PhD under the supervision of psychology professor James Danckert, in the area of cognitive neuroscience. She has an outstanding publication record for a doctoral student, having published her undergraduate honours thesis in cognitive neuroscience and submitted her Waterloo master’s thesis for publication. Although early in her career, Merrifield has already supervised four undergraduate research assistants and is assisting Danckert with the supervision of two honours students. Her PhD focuses on psycho-physiological aspects of boredom, looking at its effect on heart rate, cortisol levels and other variables, using MRI methods as well as examination of neurological patients. She received a Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship awarded by NSERC.
* Kurt Schreiter is starting his PhD in physics and astronomy, supervised by professor Kevin Resch in the experimental quantum optics group. After beginning undergraduate studies at Waterloo in 1996, Schreiter left to work in computer programming and automation. Ten years later, he completed his bachelor's and proceeded to a master's degree. His research involves "chirped-pulse interferometry," a Waterloo-developed innovation, for non-invasive biomedical imaging. Schreiter served as vice-president, internal, for Waterloo’s Federation of Students and was responsible for such key services as a crisis hotline, legal aid and the foodbank. He volunteers at the Institute for Quantum Computing, leading tours for scientists and children. He received a Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship awarded by NSERC.
