Research Chairs
Our research chairs are internationally renowned scholars who help to improve the depth of knowledge and quality of life for Canadians, strengthen our conty's international competitiveness and help train the next generation of highly-skilled experts.
Canada Research Chairs
The Canada Research Chairs (CRC) program aims to make Canada one of the world's top countries in research and development. The number of chairs held by an institution is determined by their share of annual Tri-Agency funding. Chairholders aim to achieve research excellence in engineering and the natural sciences, health sciences, humanities, and social sciences. They improve our depth of knowledge and quality of life, strengthen Canada's international competitiveness, and help train the next generation of highly-skilled people through student supervision, teaching and the coordination of partnerships and collaborations.
Ontario Tech has ten Canada Research Chairs. (six active; four in development)

Adam Dubrowski, PhD
Faculty of Health Sciences
Horia Hangan, PhD
Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Adaptive Aerodynamics
Faculty of Engineering and Applied Sciencehoria.hangan@ontariotechu.ca
905.721.8668

Khalid Elgazzar, PhD
Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in the Internet of Things (IoT)
Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science905.721.8668 ext. 7365

Peter Lewis, PhD
Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Trustworthy Artificial Intelligence
Faculty of Business and Information Technology
Kanika Samuels-Wortley, PhD
Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Systemic Racism, Technology and Criminal Justice
Faculty of Social Science and Humanities
Denina Simmons, PhD
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Former Canada Research Chairs
- Carolyn McGregor, PhD - Tier 2 CRC in Health Informatics (Faculty of Business and Information Technology)
- Christopher Collins, PhD - Tier 2 CRC in Linguistics Information Visualization
- Dan Zhang, PhD - Tier 2 CRC in Advanced Robotics and Automation (Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science)
- Douglas Holdway, PhD - Tier 1 CRC in Aquatic Toxicology (Faculty of Science)
- Greg Naterer, PhD - Tier 1 CRC in Advanced Energy Systems (Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science)
- Isabel Pedersen, PhD - Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Digital Life, Media and Culture
- Janette Hughes, PhD - Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Technology and Pedagogy (Faculty of Education)
- Markus Piro, PhD - Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Nuclear Fuel and Materials
- Pierre Côté, PhD - Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation (Faculty of Health Sciences)
- Shari Forbes, PhD - Tier 2 CRC in Decomposition Chemistry (Faculty of Science)
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Endowed, Sponsored and Honorific Research Chairs
- Carolyn McGregor, PhD - Research Chair in Artificial Intelligence for Health and Wellness, Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences
- Daniel Hoornweg, PhD - Richard Marceau Chair (Faculty of Energy Systems and Nuclear Science)
- David Rudoler, PhD - Research in Population Health and Innovation in Mental Health, Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences
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Former Industrial Research Chairs
- Christopher Collins,
PhD , Shared Hierarchical Academic Research Computing Network Research Chair in Information Visualization (Faculty of Science) - Brian Ikeda,
PhD , Cameco Research Chair in Nuclear Fuel (Faculty of Energy Systems and Nuclear Science) - Scott Nokleby,
PhD , Associate Cameco Research Chair in Nuclear Fuel (Faculty of Energy Systems and Nuclear Science) - Remon Pop-Iliev,
PhD , Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC)-OPG Chair in Innovative Design Engineering (Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science) - Vijay Sood,
PhD , NSERC-OPG Associate Chair in Innovative Design Engineering (Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science) - Anthony
Waker ,PhD - Ed Waller, PhD, Senior Chairholders, NSERC/UNENE Industrial Research Chair in Health Physics and Environmental Safety (Faculty of Energy Systems and Nuclear Science)
- Kirk Atkinson, PhD, Associate Chairholders, NSERC/UNENE Industrial Research Chair in Health Physics and Environmental Safety (Faculty of Energy Systems and Nuclear Science)
- Christopher Collins,
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Ontario Tech University Research Excellence Chairs
Ontario Tech University has established a Research Excellence Chairs Program to recognize and reward the high-quality research and scholarly achievements of Ontario Tech faculty members. The program is designed to enable accomplished scholars to complete a major research program or project. Further, the program is meant to emphasize the importance of research at Ontario Tech in strategic areas, while highlighting and promoting the outstanding achievements of our scholars and the university’s commitment to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI). Award decisions were made by a multi‐disciplinary Selection Committee formed by the Vice-President, Research and Innovation.
View the Research Excellence Chairs Program Results -
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Chair in Hate Studies
Dr. Barbara Perry, Professor, Faculty of Social Science and Humanities (FSSH), is a recognized global authority on hate crime and the primary national authority on right-wing extremism in Canada. She holds a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Chair in Hate Studies.
She is a well-known expert among media outlets including The Agenda, CBC, The Current, The Globe and Mail and The New York Times. Dr. Perry is a regular consultant with Justice Canada, Public Safety Canada, The RCMP, Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network and local social justice organizations.
Her work extends to policing diverse communities, building resilience among marginalized communities and broadly, issues of diversity and justice. Dr. Perry is helping to frame the field and foster global education and support for victims of hate-fueled violence.