Students

The annual awards recognize achievements by outstanding scholars and students in research, research training, knowledge mobilization and outreach activities funded by SSHRC, and are considered Canada's highest honours in social sciences and humanities research.

The finalists for the 2024 SSHRC Impact Awards from U of T are:

Professor Lynette Ong (department of political science, Faculty of Arts & Science and Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy) – Insight Award
Professor Peter Newman (Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work) – Partnership Award
Louis Busch (PhD candidate, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education) – Talent Award

The winners in each of the award categories will be announced on Nov. 25, 2024.

Athanasios Litsios and Lucie Wolf receive Donnelly Centre’s Research Excellence Awards

rahul.kalvapalle — Wed, 11 Sep 2024 14:51:45 +0000

Athanasios Litsios and Lucie Wolf receive Donnelly Centre’s Research Excellence Awards

Research & Innovation

Community

rahul.kalvapalle Wed, 09/11/2024 - 10:51

Students

St. George

Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomedical Research

Donnelly Centre Research Excellence Awards

Temerty Faculty of Medicine

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Athanasios Litsios (L) and Lucie Wolf (supplied images)

Athanasios Litsios and Lucie Wolf, postdoctoral fellows in the Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research at the Temerty Faculty of Medicine, have been recognized with 2024 Research Excellence Awards.

The awards support researchers who are collaborating across disciplinary boundaries to advance innovations in health and medicine.

Litsios, who is conducting his research under the supervision of Brenda Andrews, University Professor in the department of molecular genetics, led a collaborative effort that generated the first genome-scale characterization of protein movement within the cell throughout the cell cycle.

Wolf, who received the 2023 Charles H. Best Fellowship, was recognized for her work identifying proteins that could function as regulators of the Wnt signalling pathway to target cancer cells – research conducted under the supervision of Stephane Angers, a professor in the departments of biochemistry and pharmaceutical sciences at Temerty Medicine.

“Athanasios Litsios and Lucie Wolf are integral members of the Donnelly Centre community,” said Angers, who is director of the Donnelly Centre. “They have contributed enormously to their respective labs and research fields, while simultaneously working to improve scientific engagement and community building through outreach.

"Both postdoctoral fellows have demonstrated leadership and initiative during their time at the Donnelly Centre.”

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Janna Shapiro receives Alice Wilson Award from Royal Society of Canada

rahul.kalvapalle — Tue, 10 Sep 2024 18:07:54 +0000

Janna Shapiro receives Alice Wilson Award from Royal Society of Canada

Research & Innovation

rahul.kalvapalle Tue, 09/10/2024 - 14:07

Students

St. George

Alice Wilson Award

Dalla Lana School of Public Health

Royal Society of Canada

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Janna Shapiro (supplied image)

Janna Shapiro, a post-doctoral fellow in the Centre for Vaccine Preventable Diseases (CVPD) at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health, has received the Alice Wilson Award from the Royal Society of Canada.

The annual award recognizes three women who have demonstrated excellence while entering a career in scholarship or research at the postdoctoral level. It is named for Alice Wilson, a world-renowned paleontologist and geologist who studied at the ��Ƶ and, in 1938, became the first woman elected to the Royal Society of Canada.

Shapiro's research explores ways to protect children with leukemia – a disease that requires treatments that suppress the immune system – from vaccine-preventable diseases like measles. She has also researched how vaccines can protect older adults and pregnant women.

“I was so surprised and honoured to win this award," Shapiro says. "Trailblazers like Alice Wilson have paved the way for researchers like myself to pursue and excel in the sciences. This award feels extra special as a chance to honour her legacy and the role of women in science in Canada."

Read about Janna Shapiro's research at CVPD

Read about the Royal Society of Canada award winners

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PhD student Alex Gabbey recognized by Women Chemists Committee

rahul.kalvapalle — Wed, 04 Sep 2024 16:45:10 +0000

PhD student Alex Gabbey recognized by Women Chemists Committee

Research & Innovation

rahul.kalvapalle Wed, 09/04/2024 - 12:45

Students

St. George

Department of Chemistry

Faculty of Arts & Science

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Alex Gabbey (supplied image)

Alex Gabbey, a PhD student in the research group of Professor Sophie Rousseaux in the department of chemistry at the Faculty of Arts & Science, has received the Merck Research Award from the Women Chemists Committee.

Gabbey's research explores Ni-catalyzed reactions of redox-active esters, as well as the synthesis and functionalization of strained rings. She previously received a number of awards from the department of chemistry including the Adrian Brook Graduate Scholarship in Organic Chemistry and Merck Canada Ltd. Chemistry Conference Award.

"These awards are a testament to what a fantastic research group I’m part of. No one conducts research in a vacuum and I’ve been fortunate to have amazing lab mates to bounce ideas off of and troubleshoot problems with," said Gabbey.

"I’ve also had a phenomenal supervisor in Sophie. She has been incredibly supportive of me from day one, whether it’s applying for scholarships, trying new ideas, applying for conferences – you name it. I couldn’t be more grateful for the research environment and support in the Rousseaux group."

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Daniel Lysak awarded Dean’s Doctoral Excellence Scholarship

rahul.kalvapalle — Tue, 03 Sep 2024 16:25:24 +0000

Daniel Lysak awarded Dean’s Doctoral Excellence Scholarship

Academic Achievement

Community

rahul.kalvapalle Tue, 09/03/2024 - 12:25

Students

Scarborough

Dean's Doctoral Excellence Scholarship

Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences

Faculty of Arts & Science

U of T Scarborough

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(supplied photo)

Daniel Lysak, a PhD student in the department of physical and environmental sciences at U of T Scarborough, has been recognized with a Dean's Doctoral Excellence Scholarship.

The annual prize, valued at $25,000, is awarded by the Faculty of Arts & Science to a PhD student whose academic excellence is matched by their contributions to the community.

Lysak's research involves using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy to study environmental stress at the molecular level. The author of several groundbreaking articles, he has also been a longtime advocate for graduate students.

“Daniel has been working on some of the most challenging interdisciplinary research and his efforts have consistently led to world-class publications,” says his doctoral supervisor, Professor Andre Simpson.

The recipient of numerous academic awards, Lysak says the Dean's Doctoral Excellence Scholarship is particularly meaningful given the often solitary nature of his work. “Graduate school involves a lot of independent work,” he says. “It is often hard to tell if you are doing a good job, which leads to self-doubt and a kind of mental struggle. So an award like this is very encouraging, and it’s truly a great honour."

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Three undergraduate students receive Temerty Faculty of Medicine leadership awards

rahul.kalvapalle — Wed, 28 Aug 2024 14:26:15 +0000

Three undergraduate students receive Temerty Faculty of Medicine leadership awards

Community

rahul.kalvapalle Wed, 08/28/2024 - 10:26

Students

St. George

Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathobiology

Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology

Temerty Faculty of Medicine

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(L-R) Michelle Wang, Lilian Zhai and Alan Zhuang (supplied images)

Three students from the Temerty Faculty of Medicine have received Research and Health Science Education (RHSE) Undergraduate Student Leadership Awards.

The annual awards recognize students in the final year of a basic medical science program who have demonstrated exceptional leadership through academic achievement, service to the university and commitment to the values of Temerty Medicine.

"These exemplary life science undergraduates demonstrate remarkable dedication to their peers, communities and the university through their diverse leadership activities," said Associate Professor Ahlia Khan-Trottier, associate dean of undergraduate education. "Their tireless efforts reflect the core values of Temerty Medicine and serve as an inspiration to us all."

The recipients of the awards are:

Michelle Wang, department of pharmacology and toxicology
Lilian Zhai, department of laboratory medicine and pathobiology
Alan Zhuang, department of pharmacology and toxicology

Three PhD candidates receive 2024 Jennifer Dorrington Graduate Research Awards

rahul.kalvapalle — Tue, 20 Aug 2024 16:19:32 +0000

Three PhD candidates receive 2024 Jennifer Dorrington Graduate Research Awards

Research & Innovation

rahul.kalvapalle Tue, 08/20/2024 - 12:19

Students

St. George

Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomedical Research

Jennifer Dorrington Award

Temerty Faculty of Medicine

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L-R: Heta Lad, Delaram Pouyabahar and Justin Sing (supplied images)

Three PhD candidates in the Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research at the Temerty Faculty of Medicine have been selected to receive Jennifer Dorrington Graduate Research Awards.

Heta Lad, Delaram Pouyabahar and Justin Sing received the award in support of their research in bioengineering muscle tissue to study critical illness myopathy, mapping the liver at single-cell resolution, and improving mass spectrometry data analysis for personalized medicine, respectively.

The award was established in 2006 as a tribute to Jennifer Dorrington, who was a professor in U of T's Banting and Best Department of Medical Research, where she conducted cutting-edge research in reproductive biology and ovarian cancer. It is designed to support outstanding graduate students in achieving their research goals while contributing to the Donnelly Centre's history of excellence in advancing discovery, medicine and health.

“On behalf of everyone on the Jennifer Dorrington Graduate Research Award committee, I would like to offer my congratulations to this year’s winners,” said Gary Bader, professor of molecular genetics and chair of the award selection committee. “Heta Lad, Delaram Pouyabahar and Justin Sing are all exemplary researchers who embody the innovative and collaborative spirit of the Donnelly Centre.”

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Nayani Jensen wins 2024 RBC Bronwen Wallace Award for Emerging Canadian Writers

rahul.kalvapalle — Fri, 02 Aug 2024 16:12:29 +0000

Nayani Jensen wins 2024 RBC Bronwen Wallace Award for Emerging Canadian Writers

Community

rahul.kalvapalle Fri, 08/02/2024 - 12:12

Students

St. George

Faculty of Arts & Science

Institute for the History & Philosophy of Science & Technology

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Nayani Jensen (supplied image)

Nayani Jensen, a PhD candidate in the Institute for the History & Philosophy of Science & Technology (IHPST) at the Faculty of Arts & Science, has been named winner of the short fiction category in the Writers’ Trust of Canada’s 2024 RBC Bronwen Wallace Award for Emerging Canadian Writers.

Jensen was recognized for Like Rabbits, a story about the 17th-century Dutch physician, physiologist and anatomist Regnier de Graaf, who made key discoveries in reproductive biology before dying at the age of 32. Jensen imagined the end of de Graaf’s life based on real historical research and archival work.

The Writers’ Trust short fiction jury said Like Rabbits was “historical fiction at its most intimate,” lauding Jensen for crafting “a timeless story of ambition and a tender portrait of a marriage.”

“I sincerely did not think that I was going to win,” Jensen said. “I was very happy just to have been a finalist, so it was a big surprise, but it was wonderful.”

Little Rabbits is part of a collection of fictional short stories, each grounded in a scientific discovery or debate. “It's big questions about science as well as human questions all looked at through the lens of the short story,” Jensen said.

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Read the Writers' Trust jury citation

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Jade Nixon and kara lynch recognized by Black Research Network

rahul.kalvapalle — Fri, 26 Jul 2024 14:48:44 +0000

Jade Nixon and kara lynch recognized by Black Research Network

Community

rahul.kalvapalle Fri, 07/26/2024 - 10:48

Students

St. George

Black Research Network

Indigenous

Institutional Strategic Initiatives

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L-R: Jade Nixon and kara lynch (supplied image, Melissa Lukenbaugh)

Jade Nixon, a PhD candidate at the ��Ƶ’s Women and Gender Studies Institute, and kara lynch (spelled in lower-case), a New York-based artist and associate professor emerita of video and critical studies at Hampshire College, have been named inaugural Black Indigenous Waterways post-doctoral fellow and artist-in-residence, respectively.

The Black Indigenous Waterways research opportunity was developed by U of T's Black Research Network and led alongside the Indigenous Research Network, a U of T institutional strategic initiative. It aims to explore the relationships forged between Black and Indigenous peoples through historical encounters across the Americas, focusing on avenues such as place, identity, and environmental justice.

Nixon’s doctoral research aims to centre Black women’s theories of gathering, place-making, and their relations with the Atlantic Ocean. For her research, she will travel to Martinique, an island in the Lesser Antilles of the West Indies, to learn more about the histories of the Arawak Caribs. “What excites me the most is to be able to commune with these lands and waters and talk with people who have in-depth knowledge of the Indigenous history of Martinique,” Nixon said. “I will be able to turn to the people who have lived and place-based expertise that I can learn from and who have the desire to share what they know with me.”

For lynch, the artist-in-residence role offers an opportunity to consider how to push boundaries and broaden resources to maximize learning potential. “After seeing what gets unearthed when students are open to approaching material in an interdisciplinary way, our proposal to students is to consider how to visualize data and information,” lynch says. “That shift is what is necessary in a liberation curriculum.”

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Xatoms startup named Hult Prize finalist, wins three prizes at Startupfest

rahul.kalvapalle — Thu, 25 Jul 2024 15:27:20 +0000

Xatoms startup named Hult Prize finalist, wins three prizes at Startupfest

Community

rahul.kalvapalle Thu, 07/25/2024 - 11:27

Students

St. George

Artificial Intelligence

Entrepreneurship

Undergraduate Students

��Ƶ Entrepreneurship

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Diana Virgovicova and Kerem Topal Ismail Oglou (supplied image)

Xatoms, a startup co-founded by ��Ƶ students Diana Virgovicova and Kerem Topal Ismail Oglou, has been recognized with three prizes at Startupfest 2024.

The company, which uses quantum chemistry and AI to discover molecules that can efficiently purify water, took home the $100,000 Best of the Fest, $100,000 Women in Tech Investment and $50,000 Front Row Ventures Student Entrepreneur prizes. Those prizes will be matched by the Business Development Bank of Canada, bringing Xatoms’s total winnings at Startupfest to $500,000.

Additionally, Xatoms has also been selected among the top 14 out of 9,400 teams for the prestigious Hult Prize, and will compete for the $1-million grand prize in September.

The startup evolved out of a discovery that Virgovicova, its CEO, made at age 17 when she used quantum chemistry software to model a photocatalyst molecule that can eliminate pollutants from water when exposed to sunlight.

Xatoms, which was part of The Bridge accelerator program at U of T Scarborough and is now part of the SpinUp wet lab incubator at U of T Mississauga, builds on that discovery by incorporating AI and machine learning to discover more – and more efficient – materials and molecules.

Students

3 U of T scholars named finalists for 2024 SSHRC Impact Awards

Read more about the SSHRC Impact Awards

Athanasios Litsios and Lucie Wolf receive Donnelly Centre’s Research Excellence Awards

Read the Donnelly Centre story

Janna Shapiro receives Alice Wilson Award from Royal Society of Canada

Read about Janna Shapiro's research at CVPD

Read about the Royal Society of Canada award winners

PhD student Alex Gabbey recognized by Women Chemists Committee

Read the department of chemistry story

Daniel Lysak awarded Dean’s Doctoral Excellence Scholarship

Read the Faculty of Arts & Science story

Three undergraduate students receive Temerty Faculty of Medicine leadership awards

Read more about the 2024 RHSE Student Leadership Awards

Three PhD candidates receive 2024 Jennifer Dorrington Graduate Research Awards

Read the Donnelly Centre story

Nayani Jensen wins 2024 RBC Bronwen Wallace Award for Emerging Canadian Writers

Read the Faculty of Arts & Science story

Read the Writers' Trust jury citation

Jade Nixon and kara lynch recognized by Black Research Network

Read the Black Research Network story

Xatoms startup named Hult Prize finalist, wins three prizes at Startupfest

Read more about Xatoms CEO Diana Virgovicova

Read more about the Hult Prize