Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council Awards
The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) is a federal agency that funds research in the natural sciences and engineering (NSE). Through its grants and awards programs, NSERC supports discovery research, innovation through collaboration and research that delivers meaningful societal benefits.
Among its top honours, the Synergy Award celebrates outstanding research partnerships, while the Donna Strickland Prize recognizes research that has made a lasting difference to Canadian society.
Donna Strickland Prize for Societal Impact
Named after Nobel Laureate Dr. Donna Strickland, this prize honours researchers or teams whose work in the NSE has led to exceptional societal, environmental or economic impact in Canada. The award underscores the importance of connecting research with public good.
Award highlights:
- Open to individual researchers or teams.
- Recipients receive up to $250,000 in research funding over three years.
- Recognizes research that influences policy, improves quality of life, advances sustainability or delivers broad public benefit.
Donna Strickland Prize 2025
Dr. Beth Parker
School of Engineering
College of Engineering (COE)
Synergy Awards for Innovation
The NSERC Synergy Awards for Innovation recognize outstanding partnerships between Canadian postsecondary institutions and non-academic partners such as industry, government or community organizations. These awards celebrate collaborations that turn research into real-world solutions with tangible economic, environmental or societal benefits.
Award highlights:
- Up to three university and one college partnerships are recognized annually.
- Winning teams receive a $200,000 research grant.
- Partner organizations receive a $50,000 voucher for future collaborations with Canadian colleges or universities.
Synergy Awards 2025
Drs. Mike Dixon, Youbin Zheng and Thomas Graham
School of Environmental Sciences
Ontario Agricultural College (OAC)
Synergy Awards 2023
Dr. Beth Parker
School of Engineering
College of Engineering (COE)
Dr. Parker is leading a groundbreaking partnership with the City of Guelph and environmental engineering firms to protect one of Canada’s largest and most complex groundwater sources. Her team is developing advanced monitoring and forecasting tools to safeguard the city’s drinking water aquifer, an essential but vulnerable dolomite bedrock system, against contamination, climate change and growing demand. By transforming Guelph into a real-world groundwater research lab, Dr. Parker’s work is helping ensure long-term water security, saving millions in infrastructure costs and advancing global best practices for managing fractured bedrock aquifers.
Synergy Awards 2021
Dr. Bonnie Mallard
Department of Pathobiology Faculty
Ontario Veterinary College (OVC)
Dr. Mallard developed a world-first immunogenetic technology that helps reduce antibiotic use in livestock while improving animal health and food safety. Her High Immune Response (HIR ™) tool identifies animals with naturally robust immune systems, enabling producers to breed healthier herds with fewer disease risks. In partnership with Semex, Canada’s largest dairy genetics company, Mallard’s research has transformed herd management practices globally. Now marketed as Immunity+ in over 80 countries, this innovation supports sustainable agriculture and combats antimicrobial resistance, one of the most pressing challenges in animal and human health.
Synergy Awards 2018
Dr. Amar Mohanty
Department of Plant Agriculture
Ontario Agricultural College (OAC)
Dr. Mohanty partnered with Ontario-based companies to develop biodegradable alternatives to petroleum-based plastics using agricultural waste and non-food biomass. His team’s biocomposite materials have had a global reach, including use in single-serve coffee pods by McDonald’s and Club Coffee to reduce plastic waste in the food industry. Dr. Mohanty’s research also supported the development of lightweight, durable bio-based materials for automotive and consumer products, advancing sustainability across sectors while maintaining the strength and performance of conventional plastics.
Synergy Awards 2014
Dr. Nicholas Bernier
Department of Integrative Biology
College of Biological Science (CBS)
Dr. Bernier was part of a national research team that helped transform salmon farming into a more sustainable and profitable industry. In collaboration with Yellow Island Aquaculture Ltd. (YIAL) and researchers from four other universities, Dr. Bernier contributed to a 20-year effort to improve rearing techniques and develop a framework for antibiotic-free, organic Chinook salmon production. The partnership led YIAL to become Canada’s first commercial salmon farm to fully adopt organic practices, increasing revenues and reducing environmental impact. The team’s work advanced aquaculture science, trained students and supported the long-term conservation of native salmon species.
