A diverse group of York University faculty members were recognized for their academic and creative achievements over the past year at the 2024 Research Awards Celebration.
The annual event, hosted by the Office of the Vice-President Research & Innovation on Sept. 19, celebrated the successes of the University’s research community in 10 categories, including the four winners of the President’s Research Awards.
“York colleagues continue to strengthen our impact on an array of complex, global problems, working across disciplines and countries to create urgently needed space for positive dialogue and the exchange of diverse perspectives, ideas and mutual understanding,” said President and Vice-Chancellor Rhonda Lenton in her address to the honourees. “You are not only enhancing the reputation of York and advancing the goals set out in the University Academic Plan, but you are contributing to a future that is more equitable, innovative and sustainable.”
The 68 faculty members were honoured for a multitude of achievements, including major grant wins, book prizes, or prestigious appointments such as Canada Research Chairs, fellows to the Royal Society of Canada or officers to the Order of Canada.
“As brilliant scholars, artists and innovators, our faculty have all demonstrated a level of excellence and creativity that they should take great pride in,” said Amir Asif, vice-president research and innovation. Speaking at the event, he also told the honourees in attendance: “Your success is the University’s success.”
The President’s Research Award recipients include:
Sheila Colla, an associate professor in the Faculty of Environmental & Urban Change, was recognized with the President’s Research Impact Award (PRIA). The PRIA recognizes full-time, active faculty members whose body of research or scholarship has translated beyond academe into a notable impact on communities, individuals and public policies, including commercial or other applications, while significantly and positively contributing to the University’s research culture and reputation.
Colla is a conservation scientist whose research uses ecological studies and community science programs to better understand species declines and design conversation management plans. Her work specifically focuses on quantifying the decline of wild bees, leading to the rusty-patched bumble bee’s endangered status designation. This has directly influenced government policies in Canada and the U.S. Furthermore, she is a York Research Chair in Interdisciplinary Conservation Science.
Aleksander Czekanski, a professor in the Lassonde School of Engineering, and Gillian Parekh, an associate professor in the Faculty of Education, were recognized with the President’s Emerging Leadership Award (PERLA). The PERLA recognizes two full-time faculty members – one in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, and one in the social sciences, humanities and arts – within 10 years of their first academic appointment, who have had a notable impact on their field and made a contribution to advancing the University’s international reputation for research excellence while significantly and positively contributing to one or more aspects of the York community’s intellectual life.
Czekanski is a mechanical engineer whose research interests include the design optimization and development of lightweight structures for aerospace and automotive systems, material characterization and artificial intelligence. He serves as the co-director of the Manufacturing Technology & Entrepreneurship Centre at York, and previously held the Natural Sciences & Engineering Research Council of Canada Chair in Design Engineering.
Parekh is an educator and Canada Research Chair in Disability Studies in Education. Her work examines how schools construct and respond to disabilities as well as how students are organized across programs and systems. She has conducted extensive system and school-based research in Toronto in the areas of structural equity, special education and academic streaming.
Satinder Brar, a professor in the Lassonde School of Engineering, was recognized with the President’s Research Excellence Award (PREA). The PREA recognizes senior established, full-time, active faculty members at the rank of professor, with distinguished scholarly achievements, who have had a notable impact on their field(s) and made a significant contribution to advancing the University’s international reputation for research excellence while significantly and positively contributing to one or more aspects of the York community’s intellectual life.
Brar is a civil engineer and the James and Joanne Love Chair in Environmental Engineering at York. Her leading expertise is in environmental biotechnology and sustainability, including research on antibiotic resistance, wastewater treatment and waste valorization. Brar’s work with biopesticides and biofertilizer using wastewater has been applied worldwide. She is also the director of OneWATER, one of York’s newest Organized Research Units.
A full list of the 68 honourees can be found on the Research & Innovation website.
