Linda Nazar awarded prestigious Killam NRC Paul Corkum Fellowship

WISE member and esteemed researcher Dr. Linda Nazar, Professor in the Department of Chemistry and Canada Research Chair in Solid State Energy Materials, has been awarded the inaugural Killam NRC Paul Corkum Fellowship for 2025. A global leader in battery technology, Dr. Nazar is widely recognized for her groundbreaking contributions to lithium-sulfur and solid-state battery research.

The Killam NRC Paul Corkum Fellowship supports eminent scholars by providing the opportunity to pursue transformative research in collaboration with National Research Council (NRC) scientists, utilizing NRC resources and facilities. As part of the Fellowship, Dr. Nazar will work closely with Dr. Yaser Abu-Lebdeh of the NRC to accelerate research on innovative and potentially game-changing battery technologies, directly supporting the NRC’s Critical Battery Materials Initiative.

Their collaborative project focuses on overcoming key limitations of current lithium-ion batteries, particularly the reliance on cobalt-based materials, which pose environmental, economic, and ethical challenges. The team aims to develop high-performance, cobalt-free alternatives using nickel-based compounds—though these materials come with their own stability issues.

“Our proposed solution involves using nickel-containing materials blended with other lower-cost alternatives, but stability remains a major challenge,” explains Dr. Nazar. “This Fellowship will allow us to tackle these issues head-on.”

By combining Dr. Nazar’s deep expertise in solid-state electrochemistry with Dr. Abu-Lebdeh’s focus on scalable battery manufacturing, the partnership is poised to make meaningful strides toward more sustainable and commercially viable energy storage solutions. The collaboration will also foster greater alignment between fundamental science and applied research to accelerate technology readiness.

“The Fellowship enables a closer integration of our labs, strengthening our capacity to produce impactful research that supports the transition to electric vehicles and broader energy storage applications,” adds Dr. Nazar.

To be awarded the Killam NRC Paul Corkum Fellowship, recipients must be inclusive collaborators, breakthrough innovators, or leaders in their field. Dr. Nazar embodies all three—making her an exemplary choice for this prestigious inaugural award.