Fourteen Trent University professors will share in a total of $2,109,000 in Discovery Grants for 2013, while graduate students will benefit from $308,000 in scholarship and fellowship funding, announced today by the Natural Science and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) at the National Press Theatre in Ottawa.

Grants will provide primary support for exciting research at Trent in departments including Chemistry, Biology, Environmental and Resource Studies, Psychology and Physics & Astronomy. Projects range from linking behavioural and landscape ecology to biochemistry of “Beaver Fever” and measuring metal speciation in the Canadian Arctic.

"Trent faculty continue to demonstrate leadership in their fields,” said Dr. Neil Emery, Trent University vice-president, Research & International. “NSERC funds excellence in research, where the criteria for funding is distinct innovation, a commitment to training new scientists and demonstrated high-level competencies of the researcher. We are extremely pleased with the results of this most recent competition."

Each year thousands of professors from universities across Canada apply to NSERC for Discovery Grants. Trent's success rate in funding for this year was exceptional, as 77.8 per cent of proposals were awarded grants. NSERC granting competitions are extremely competitive – the peer-review assessments are rigorous – and the Discovery Grant program is designed to fund excellence and distinctly innovative work. The announcement is a testament to the high-level quality of scientific research taking place at Trent University. Trent’s 2013 Discovery Grant holders are 14 of 42 faculty members who are currently receiving NSERC Discovery grants. The professors dedicate a large portion of their grant funds to training Canadian undergraduate, graduate and postdoctoral researchers.

In addition, five young Trent University researchers – four graduate students and one at the postdoctoral level – will receive $308,000 in scholarship and fellowship funding to pursue their studies.

Two of Trent’s Canada Research Chairs were awarded Discovery Grants in today’s announcement: Dr. Paul Wilson, Canada Research Chair in DNA Profiling, Forensics and Functional Genomics was awarded for his research on “Population of genomics of rapidly evolving functional gene motifs; and Dr. Celine Gueguen, Canada Research Chair in Aquatic Sciences and Biogeochemistry was awarded for “In situ measurements of metal speciation in the Canadian Arctic”. Dr. Dennis Murray received one of the largest grants for “Spatio-temporal mosaics in cycling populations: the role of species interactions.  Among the array of Trent scientists awarded was Trent luminary and professor in the Department of Biology, Dr. Maggie Xenoupoulos, for “Carbon and ecosystem function in streams.” Professor Xenoupoulos was recently featured in Trent’s Luminary campaign as a “water warrior.”

The full list of Discovery Grant recipients for 2013:

NSERC is a federal agency that helps make Canada a country of discoverers and innovators for all Canadians. The agency supports almost 30,000 post-secondary students and postdoctoral fellows in their advanced studies. NSERC promotes discovery by funding approximately 12,000 professors every year and fosters innovation by encouraging over 2,400 Canadian companies to participate and invest in post-secondary research projects.

One of Canada’s top universities, Trent University is renowned for encouraging the dynamic interplay of research, teaching and learning, which enhance and energize each other in the classroom and beyond. The University is consistently recognized nationally for faculty who maintain a high level of innovative research activity and a commitment to the individual student. Trent distinguishes itself through excellence in the humanities, social sciences and natural sciences as well as professional and graduate programs.

Posted on Tuesday, May 21, 2013.