Waterloo welcomes inaugural Eddie Goldenberg Research Chairs
Global research leaders choose Waterloo to advance transformative research that supports Canada’s strategic priorities and future prosperity
The University of Waterloo is thrilled to welcome internationally recognized researchers from the U.S. and the U.K. through the Government of Canada’s Eddie Goldenberg Research Chairs of Canada program, reinforcing Canada’s capacity to address complex health, societal and economic challenges through world-leading research.
Dr. Talia Bettcher and Dr. James Wolffsohn will receive long-term funding and institutional support to lead ambitious research programs aligned with Canada’s strategic priorities. Their work will advance gender-based violence prevention and transgender community resilience, as well as innovations in equitable eye care and vision-loss prevention.
The appointments are part of a broader $1.7 billion Government of Canada investment through the Canada Global Impact+ Research Talent Initiative, aimed at strengthening Canada’s research excellence through strategic international recruitment and talent attraction. At the centre of the initiative is the Eddie Goldenberg Research Chairs of Canada program, which will provide up to $1 billion over 12 years to help Canadian post-secondary institutions recruit exceptional international researchers who will inspire the next generation of talented researchers, innovators and leaders.
“At a time when parts of the world are turning away from science, Canada is doubling down,” says the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions. “Attracting top talent will deliver breakthroughs that improve Canadians’ lives and advance Canada’s position as a global leader in science and innovation. By expanding Canada’s talent pipeline and research capacity in areas that are vital to our prosperity and sovereignty, we are helping build the strongest economy in the G7.”
The program honours the late public servant and policy advisor Eddie Goldenberg, whose leadership helped shape Canada’s research and innovation landscape and reflected longstanding belief that attracting exceptional global talent is essential to Canada’s prosperity and competitiveness.
“The Eddie Goldenberg Research Chairs of Canada program represents a generational opportunity to attract world-class researchers to Canadian institutions in order to address critical national and global challenges,” says Dr. Charmaine Dean, Vice-President, Research and International. “At Waterloo, we are thrilled to welcome Dr. Talia Bettcher and Dr. James Wolffsohn to campus. Their selection through this highly competitive process underscores the outstanding quality and impact of their research.”
The program is administered through Canada’s federal granting agencies, including the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) and Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR).
“These exceptional researchers are tackling complex challenges and generating knowledge that will help strengthen communities, inform decision-making and improve the lives of people across Canada,” says Normand Labrie, Interim President, Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada and Chair, Canada Research Coordinating Committee. “I have no doubt the Eddie Goldenberg Research Chairs of Canada and Canada Impact+ Emerging Leaders programs will help cement Canada’s place as a world leader in key research fields — from AI to biotechnology and beyond. We are proud to support these world-class researchers and are confident their innovative work will translate into concrete economic and social benefits for Canadians.”
Waterloo’s success in attracting these researchers reflects its position as a leading global research and innovation hub, where interdisciplinary research, world-leading co-operative education, deep industry connections and robust commercialization pathways help transform ideas into solutions that drive economic and social prosperity.
Supported by Waterloo’s integrated approach to research and teaching excellence, Bettcher and Wolffsohn will lead transformative research programs that move beyond discovery to generate social, economic and policy impacts, working in close collaboration with partners across various sectors in Canada and around the world.
Meet Waterloo’s inaugural Eddie Goldenberg Research Chairs
Dr. Talia Bettcher is the Eddie Goldenberg Research Chair in Gender-Based Violence Prevention and Trans Community Resilience, joining the Faculty of Arts’ new School of Social, Political and Historical Research. An award-winning Professor of philosophy at California State University, Los Angeles, Bettcher is internationally recognized as a foundational figure in trans philosophy, helping shape a field that was once represented by only a handful of scholars.
For more than three decades, her research and community engagement has helped advance trans community resilience through the development and application of “hermeneutic resources” — concepts and frameworks that help people better understand and communicate lived trans experiences while fostering more meaningful dialogue and education. Her scholarship has influenced research, public discourse and policy recommendations across disciplines, including sociology, psychology, public health and computer science.
At Waterloo, Bettcher will lead community-engaged research on gender-based and transphobic violence, working with community partners to develop new frameworks for understanding trans experiences and translating that knowledge into practical tools, policies and interventions. From counselling guidelines and shelter toolkits to educational resources and public-facing platforms, her work aims to further strengthen trans community resilience by equipping service providers, educators and policymakers with evidence-based approaches to prevention, intervention and support.
Dr. James Wolffsohn is the Eddie Goldenberg Research Chair in Health Innovation, joining the Faculty of Science’s School of Optometry and Vision Science. He is a globally recognized optometry researcher whose work focuses on developing equitable, technology-enabled eye-health solutions that move rapidly from discovery to real-world impact.
As a health-care professional, researcher and professor at Aston University, Wolffsohn’s research spans artificial intelligence, preventive eye care and next-generation therapeutics, addressing challenges such as childhood myopia, dry eye disease, retinal conditions and inequitable access to diagnostics and care. Throughout his career, Wolffsohn has helped develop clinically adopted diagnostic tools, internationally used digital platforms and global practice standards, while advancing the commercialization of eye health innovations.
At Waterloo, Wolffsohn will leverage the University’s strengths in commercialization, entrepreneurship and industry partnerships to accelerate innovations in eye care. Through collaborations across the Waterloo Eye Institute and the broader Waterloo innovation ecosystem, he aims to translate research into technologies that improve patient outcomes, reduce preventable vision loss and expand access to equitable eye care in rural and remote areas.
For a full list of recipients and funding amounts, visit the Government of Canada website.
