Laurentian University is delighted to announce another notable success in the latest funding rounds from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) and the New Frontiers in Research Fund (NFRF). These new awards are distinct from the similar NSERC awards that were recently announced. Laurentian researchers have secured over $146,000 in Insight Development Grants (IDGs), over $24,000 in a Connection Grant, and a substantial $250,000 NFRF Exploration Grant. This funding will bolster diverse research projects that deepen our understanding of society and drive innovative, interdisciplinary solutions.
SSHRC Insight Development Grants support research in its initial stages, fostering new research questions, experimental methodologies, and fresh theoretical approaches. As part of SSHRC's broader Insight program, these grants aim to build fundamental knowledge about people, societies, and the world, addressing complex real-world challenges.
SSHRC Insight Development recipients affiliated with Laurentian University include:
- Dr. Lea Tufford: Building Disaster Preparedness Capacity for Rural Service Providers in the Homelessness Sector: A Comparative Case Study of British Columbia and Nova Scotia
- Dr. Émilie Pinard: Au-delà du terrain de jeu : Stratégies architecturales et urbaines contribuant au bien-être des enfants dans les villes de taille moyenne
SSHRC Connection Grants are designed to support events and outreach activities that facilitate knowledge mobilization and exchange within and across disciplines, and between academia and public, private, or not-for-profit sectors. These grants encourage scholarly and intersectoral dialogues, and international research collaborations.
The recipient of a SSHRC Connection Grant is:
- Dr. Louis-Philippe Rochon: Post-Pandemic Inflation and Monetary Policy
The NFRF Exploration Grant champions high-risk, high-reward, interdisciplinary research that pushes intellectual boundaries, challenges existing paradigms, and has the potential for transformative impacts across economic, scientific, cultural, social, and environmental spheres.
In a significant interdisciplinary achievement, a two-year NFRF Exploration Grant has been awarded to:
- Dr. Sujeenthar Tharmalingam (lead applicant)*, Dr. Vasu Appanna, Dr. Kabwe Nkongolo, and Dr. Kalpdrum Passi (co-applicants): Deploying Viruses and Machine Learning for Climate Change Mitigation.
"Laurentian University is immensely proud of our researchers for securing these competitive grants from SSHRC and the New Frontiers in Research Fund," said Dr. Tammy Eger, Laurentian University's Vice-President, Research. "This funding underscores the critical importance of exploring complex human and societal dynamics, fostering community engagement, and supporting bold, interdisciplinary inquiry that transcends traditional boundaries. Our faculty's dedication to impactful research strengthens our communities, informs policy, and expands our collective understanding of the world, nurturing the next generation of innovative thinkers."
"NOSM University is honoured to recognize Dr. Sujeenthar Tharmalingam's success in receiving the highly competitive New Frontiers in Research Fund. His innovative research highlights the strength of collaboration between faculty members of NOSM University and Laurentian University, and reinforces the importance of addressing complex social and health challenges through interdisciplinary perspectives," said Dr. David Marsh, Vice President, Research and Graduate Studies at NOSM University.
"Research is the cornerstone of innovation. When we invest in research, we are investing in our future, and our community. Laurentian University has a rich history of ground-breaking research that addresses many of northern Ontario's most complex challenges. I am proud of our government's commitment to investing in Canadian-made solutions that will have a direct impact on our communities." - Viviane Lapointe, Member of Parliament Sudbury
These investments highlight Laurentian University's growing capacity for research that addresses vital societal questions and pushes the frontiers of knowledge in unique and collaborative ways.
*Dr. Tharmalingam is an Assistant Professor of Molecular Biology at NOSM University. He is cross-appointed to Laurentian University's Faculty of Science, Engineering and Architecture.
