The Faculty of Science at York University is home to exceptional students, educators and researchers who drive innovation in teaching and discovery.
Through their dedication, they foster inclusive and innovative learning environments, advance cutting-edge research and shape the future of scientific inquiry. Their outstanding contributions are recognized annually through the Faculty’s Excellence Awards.
The 2024 award recipients were announced at the Faculty of Science’s annual Honours & Awards Celebration held Feb. 11, a long-running ceremony that serves as an opportunity for the Faculty to recognize forward-thinking students, researchers and teachers. More than 300 students were also invited and honoured at the ceremony for awards and scholarships that they received in 2023-24.
The event was emceed by Gerald Audette, associate dean of Faculty Affairs, and featured welcome remarks by Rui Wang, dean of the Faculty of Science. A keynote speech was also given by Scott Tanner, winner of a 2024 York U Alumni Award.
The Faculty’s Excellence Awards recipients were celebrated for a range of accomplishments, including efforts to advance decolonizing, equity, diversity and inclusion principles in course development and evidence-based teaching, and research leadership and innovation.
The recipients this year are:
Excellence in Educational Leadership Award – Faculty category
Professor Tamara Kelly, from the Department of Biology, was recognized for championing inclusive teaching practices and systemic change, especially in her role as the inaugural pedagogical innovation Chair in the Faculty of Science. She developed the Faculty of Science Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion course outline template, and spearheaded a multi-person Academic Innovation Fund project to remove accessibility barriers for students in lab environments. She also reshaped first-year biology programming to emphasize equity, and organized the 2023 Faculty of Science Conversations on Science Education Symposium, fostering dialogue on inclusive education.
Excellence in Educational Leadership Award – Graduate category
Master’s of science student Milong Wang, from the Faculty of Health, was a teaching assistant (TA) in the Division of Natural Science in 2021 and 2023. She received the award for how, as a TA for the course NATS 1690: Evolution, she fostered a supportive learning environment, providing timely feedback to students and mentoring other TAs. She was also credited for being instrumental during the implementation of the course NATS 1665: Plants in the City, working closely with faculty to make it the first field course designed for a general education audience a success.
Excellence in Teaching Award - Junior Tenure Stream Faculty category
Assistant Professor Jade Atallah, from the Department of Biology, was recognized for establishing the new biotechnology programs at the Markham Campus while also teaching a variety of courses in biology. Since joining York in 2021, she has positioned herself as an outstanding instructor characterized by an effective and evidence-based teaching style that enables students to develop critical thinking and science literacy. She was praised for how her teaching evaluations are consistently excellent, and colleagues are eager to seek her mentorship to improve and elevate their teaching practices.
Associate Professor Robin Marushia, from the Department of Science, Technology and Society, also received the award for efforts in actively redeveloping and developing new natural science courses that are highly regarded by students. She was also praised for her work on various committees, including as Chair of the Faculty’s Committee on Teaching and Learning. She is described by those she teaches as “attentive and receptive to the different perspectives of students” while encouraging them to “respect and support each other.”
Excellence in Teaching Award – Senior Tenure Stream Faculty category
Associate Professor Hovig Kouyoumdjian, from the Department of Chemistry, was recognized for making notable, innovative teaching contributions, such as championing the innovative use of classroom tools like iClicker and Crowdmark, chemistry simulations, as well as in-class demonstrations. The award is also an acknowledgement of how his teaching evaluations are consistently excellent, and students characterize him as genuinely interested in their success. As associate dean of curriculum and pedagogy, he also initiated the Faculty’s first micro-credential programs, introduced the Faculty of Science Teaching & Learning Bulletin and guided efforts to successfully deploy programs at the new Markham Campus.
The same award was also given to Associate Professor Nicole Nivillac, from the Department of Biology, for her strong commitment to providing an engaging and inquisitive learning environment. Nivillac was recognized, in particular, for using evidence-based teaching techniques and delivers educational activities that foster critical thinking and knowledge application, moving away from just the memorization of concepts in biology. Students described her teaching approach as “transformative” and “innovative” with a “commitment to fostering inclusive dialogue.”
Excellence in Teaching Award – Contract Faculty category
Contract faculty member Angela Cope, from the Department of Science, Technology and Society, was awarded for her work teaching various natural science, as well as science, technology and society courses. She was recognized for being a candid educator who caters to various learning styles and educational backgrounds. Described as an inspirational educator who delivers engaging teaching and learning experiences, Cope was also recognized for actively incorporating decolonizing, equity, diversity and inclusion principles while teaching, as well as for being instrumental in the transformation of the natural science curriculum.
Richard Jarrell Award of Excellence for Teaching Assistants
PhD student Britney Picinic, from the Department of Biology, was recognized by peers and supervisors for being “sympathetic, understanding, approachable and generous.” These qualities, in addition to her ability to communicate effectively, positioned her to take on the roles of lab coordinator and course director for the course BIOL 2030: Animals during the summer of 2024. The award was further inspired by teaching evaluations that are consistently positive, with students describing her as a teaching assistant exhibiting “exceptional teaching skills” and an “evident passion for biology.”
PhD student Emily Anacleto, from the Department of Chemistry, also was given the award by professors for having “exceptional teaching skills” and being committed to continuous learning. She was also praised for exhibiting teaching informed by her personal lived experiences to foster an environment in which all students are provided with equitable opportunities to learn and thrive. Students described her as “the most enthusiastic teaching assistant” and noted that she creates truly “welcoming and inclusive” teaching and learning environments.
Early Career Research Award
Associate Professor Trevor VandenBoer, from the Department of Chemistry, was recognized for his work specializing in atmospheric chemistry and reactive nitrogen species. In his work focused on analytical and environmental chemistry, he has developed several types of advanced instrumentation to study the impacts of reactive nitrogen on indoor and outdoor air quality. The award also acknowledged how VandenBoer has supervised 15 graduate students and postdoctoral researchers, as well as over 30 undergraduate project students. He maintains a prolific and high-impact publication record involving these trainees.
Established Research Award
Distinguished Research Professor Sergey Krylov, from the Department of Chemistry, was given this award for being an internationally recognized leader in the field of biomedical and bioanalytical chemistry. His research aims to foster innovation and create technologies that solve complex scientific problems and improve lives – including those of his students. To date, he has supervised over 70 graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, many of who have gone on to be research leaders throughout the world.
Professor Wendy Taylor, from the Department of Physics and Astronomy, also received the award for being a leader in experimental particle physics whose research is primarily focused on the search for particles, including magnetic monopoles and other long-lived particles. A key member of the ATLAS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider at the European Organization for Nuclear Research, she contributed to the groundbreaking 2012 discovery of a particle believed to be the Higgs boson – a fundamental particle in physics. In addition, her group develops cutting-edge electronics used in particle physics and collaborates globally with partners to create innovative new technologies.
For more details about the awards and a full list of recipients, view the ceremony program booklet.