U of G Receives $1.4 Million via CRC Renewal
November 29, 2007 - News Release
The University of Guelph will receive $1.4 million over the next seven years from Industry Canada through the renewal of a prestigious Tier 1 Canada Research Chair (CRC) in Electrochemistry, it was announced today.
Prof. Jacek Lipkowski of the Department of Chemistry has been holding the Tier 1 chair since 2001, using the funding to support his research on developing sensors and biosensors and new electrodes for fuel cells. Tier 1 chairs are acknowledged as international leaders in their fields and are awarded $200,000 a year for seven years. Lipkowski was one of Guelph's first two CRCs.
"Jacek should be seen as one of the 'gold standards' for success in the CRC program," said Prof. Alan Wildeman, vice-president (research). "He has continued to do extraordinary research and has increasingly gained international recognition from his peers."
Earlier this year, Lipkowski also received a prestigious Killam Research Fellowship, a $140,000 award that allows him to devote himself to research full time over the next two years. In 2004, he was elected to the Royal Society of Canada, considered Canada's senior academic accolade.
A graduate of the University of Warsaw and a faculty member at Guelph since 1983, he is renowned for his groundbreaking research conducted over the past 30 years. He is currently co-ordinating research on proteins and peptides through the Guelph-based Advanced Foods and Materials Network, which involves scientists from across Canada.
Lipkowski is also leading a research team that received $2.7 million from the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) in 2006 to conduct leading-edge life science and soft materials research involving biomolecules, cells and bacteria. This project involves 24 investigators at U of G and more than 100 post-doctoral researchers and students.
Ottawa established the CRC program in 2000 to help attract and retain excellent faculty. It is governed by a steering committee made up of the presidents of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council, CFI, Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council and Canadian Institutes of Health Research, as well as the deputy minister of Industry Canada.
U of G currently has 28 CRC's.
For media questions, contact Communications and Public Affairs: Lori Bona Hunt, 519-824-4120, Ext. 53338, l.hunt@exec.uoguelph.ca or Deirdre Healey, Ext. 56982, d.healey@exec.uoguelph.ca
