Trent University Makes the Winners’ Circle Twice in Annual Research Ranking
Success in federal research funding showcased in special research income spotlight
Research and Innovation at Trent was in the spotlight in this year’s Research Infosource university rankings, making the top ten and landing in the Winners’ Circle for success in attracting funding.
Trent is ranked among the top 10 undergraduate universities in all of Canada in the five-year National Research Granting Council Income Performance spotlight, a special feature of the 2022 ranking:
- #7 in Canada (#3 in Ontario) for Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) Research Income as a Percentage of Total University Research Income
- #10 in Canada (#5 in Ontario) for SSHRC Research Income Overall
- #10 in Canada (#4 in Ontario) for Canadian Foundation for Innovation (CFI) Research Income Overall
- #10 in Canada (#6 in Ontario) for Natural Science and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) Research Income Overall
Trent was also showcased in the Winners’ Circle for top undergraduate universities in Canada in two categories:
- #2 in Canada (#2 in Ontario) for NSERC Research Income as a Percentage of Total Income
- #5 in Canada (#2 in Ontario) for CFI Research Income as a Percentage of Total Income
“Trent’s position in the Winners’ Circle for Canadian federal research funding complements our standing in the Winners’ Circles last year for growth in funding sources through corporate and not-for-profit collaborations,” said Dr. Cathy Bruce, vice president of Research & Innovation at Trent University. “This level of stretch and diversity across types of funded research is essential to our overall excellence in research activity and intensity. Combined with our top-ten performances in a few other national categories for undergraduate universities this year, these indicators favourably reflect Trent’s contributions to research and innovation locally, nationally, and globally.”
The research community at Trent has been successful in drawing attention and financial support from a range of sources. Examples from NSERC include: grants to study the redistribution of wildlife species and species-at-risk; investments in COVID-19 testing methods; funding for a Ph.D. research internship at Harvard; and undergraduate research awards.
Trent faculty researchers have also received extensive support through the CFI John R. Evans Leaders Fund (JELF), an initiative focused on providing funding for infrastructure required to perform innovative research. CFI-JELF grants to Trent researchers have supported initiatives such as developing experimental chemistry labs, studies on shorebirds in the Canadian Arctic, the development of quantum-enabled nanosensors, and support for the leading-edge work of Trent’s Canada Research Chairs.
Trent University’s strengths in social sciences and humanities research is reflected in its success in attracting SSHRC funding. Projects that have received funding through various SSHRC programs include: an examination of how the pandemic changed the practice of banks; a study into the depictions of nursing homes; the creation of a virtual interdisciplinary museum on the Spanish Civil War; and looking into the rights for neurodivergent youth in the justice system.
Only the top 50 universities in Canada are included in the Infosource Rankings. Across all funding categories, Trent maintained its position at #43 in the Top 50 Research Universities 2022.