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Research Excellence Award Results

The Research Excellence Awards (REA) are prestigious awards granted annually to recognize up to three tenured and/or tenure track faculty members for their outstanding contributions and achievements in research while at Ontario Tech University. Administered by the Office of the Vice-President, Research and Innovation, the prestigious awards honor exceptional knowledge creation, innovation and community impact.

2026 Research Excellence Award Results

For the 2026 round, there were 11 REA applicants and the award recipients for each category are as follows:

  • Emerging Researcher: Faculty within the first six (6) years of their first independent academic appointment and are pre-tenured. This award recognizes both early excellence in research and future promise.
    • Award Recipient: Li Yang, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Business and Information Technology
  • Mid-career Researcher: Faculty who are between the seventh and twelfth (7-12) years of their first independent academic appointment. This award recognizes recently established research programs that are opening up new fields or insights of inquiry.
    • Award Recipient: Denina Simmons, Associate Professor, Faculty of Science
  • Established Researcher: Faculty who are beyond the twelfth (12) year of their first independent academic appointment (i.e. 13th year and beyond). These awards recognize recent national and/or international leadership in research in the last 6 years.
    • Award Recipient: Barbara Perry, Professor, Faculty of Social Science and Humanities

2025 Research Excellence Award Results

For the 2025 round, there were 14 REA applicants and the award recipients for each category are as follows:

  • Emerging Researcher: Faculty within the first six (6) years of their first independent academic appointment and are pre-tenured. This award recognizes both early excellence in research and future promise.
  • Mid-career Researcher: Faculty who are between the seventh and twelfth (7-12) years of their first independent academic appointment. This award recognizes recently established research programs that are opening up new fields or insights of inquiry.
    • Award Recipient: Dr. Peter Lewis, Associate Professor, Faculty of Business and Information Technology
  • Established Researcher: Faculty who are beyond the twelfth (12) year of their first independent academic appointment (i.e. 13th year and beyond). These awards recognize recent national and/or international leadership in research in the last 6 years.
    • Award Recipient: Dr. Atef Mohany, Professor, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science

2024 Research Excellence Award Results

For the 2024 round, there were 16 REA applicants and the award recipients for each category are as follows:

  • Emerging Researcher: Faculty within the first six (6) years of their first independent academic appointment and are pre-tenured. This award recognizes both early excellence in research and future promise.
  • Mid-career Researcher: Faculty who are between the seventh and twelfth (7-12) years of their first independent academic appointment. This award recognizes recently established research programs that are opening up new fields or insights of inquiry.
  • Established Researcher: Faculty who are beyond the twelfth (12) year of their first independent academic appointment (i.e. 13th year and beyond). These awards recognize recent national and/or international leadership in research in the last 6 years.
    • Award Recipient: Dr. Bill Kapralos, Associate Professor, Faculty of Business and Information Technology

2023 Research Excellence Awards Results