The University of Waterloo has secured more than $7.7 million in federal funding through the latest round of the Canada Research Chairs (CRC) Program, recognizing eight researchers with new or renewed chair appointments. The appointments span all six faculties and support research excellence in environmental sustainability, public policy, Indigenous water governance, health, quantum computing, mathematics and advanced engineering.
Highlights include new Tier 1 Canada Research Chairs for Amelia Clarke, whose work supports municipalities in achieving greenhouse-gas reduction goals; Helen Jarvie, whose research advances freshwater ecosystem health; and Marina Mourtzakis, whose work explores muscle health through nutrition, exercise and medical imaging. The competition also recognized Sophie Spirkl with a new Tier 2 Canada Research Chair for her internationally recognized research in structural graph theory, which helps scientists better understand complex networks and develop more efficient algorithms. Additional appointments honour the contributions of Alana Cattapan, Kelsey Leonard, Crystal Senko and Zhou Wang, whose research addresses issues ranging from reproductive autonomy and Indigenous-led water stewardship to quantum technologies and digital media quality.
Together, these appointments reinforce Waterloo’s position as a leading research-intensive university and strengthen Canada’s capacity for innovation, collaboration and evidence-based solutions to emerging global challenges.