FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Thursday, September 1, 2011, Peterborough

Trent University researchers from several disciplines across the sciences have received $1,375,000 from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) to further explore a series of dynamic research projects ranging from the role of galaxy-galaxy interactions in galaxy evolution to vulnerability to global change in the arctic-breeding shorebirds.

Officially announced in June 2011, the NSERC funding is part of a $411 million investment in grants and scholarships to over 3,800 scientists, engineers and students at universities across Canada. The funding will support seven researchers at Trent, Drs. Wenying Feng, Julian Aherne, Dave Patton, Doug Evans, Erica Nol, Shaun Watmough and Peter Dillon.

"Investing in scientific research is an important priority identified in the Government of Canada’s Science and Technology strategy," said Dean Del Mastro, MP, Peterborough. "I am very pleased that seven faculty members at Trent, representing a range of research disciplines, have garnered over $1.3 million in NSERC funding."

"We are very pleased by this announcement," said Dr. Neil Emery, vice-president, Research and International at Trent University. This support recognizes the leading-edge nature of the research conducted by our faculty. We are particularly gratified by the recognition of Dr. Shaun Watmough who, in addition to the Discovery Grant, received the Accelerator Grant, one of only 123 granted in this round of funding. Accelerator Grants are only made to faculty deemed to be international leaders in their fields."

Dr. Wenying Feng, a professor in the Department of Computing and Information Systems and the Department of Mathematics will focus on spectral properties and solutions for parameter dependent differential equations. Prof. Feng has been granted $11,000 per year for five years from NSERC.

Dr. Julian Aherne, assistant professor in the Environmental and Resource Studies/Sciences Department will explore the impacts of sulphur and nitrogen disposition on terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Prof. Aherne’s research involves using models to improve our understanding of pollutants in the environment. He has been granted $28,000 per year for five years from NSERC.

Dr. Dave Patton, associate professor and chair of the Physics and Astronomy Department has been granted $28,000 per year for five years to examine the role of galaxy-galaxy interactions in galaxy evolution.

Dr. Doug Evans is a professor in the Environmental and Resource Studies/Science Department with a special interest in geochemical control of trace metals. His grant of $33,000 per year for five years will be spent researching stable isotope studies of the bioavailability of trace metals.

Dr. Erical Nol is a professor of Biology and studies avian conservation biology, avian ecology and forest ecology. Prof. Nol has been granted $40,000 per year for five years to explore vulnerability to global change in the Arctic-breeding shorebirds.

Dr. Shaun Watmough, assistant professor in Trent’s Biology Department will examine the nutrient dynamics in sugar maple forests and the assessment of long-term sensitivity to nitrogen deposition. Prof. Watmough was awarded $41,000 per year for five years from NSERC. In addition, he was also granted another $40,000 per year for three years, as he was awarded NSERC’s prestigious Accelerator Grant.

Dr. Peter Dillon, professor in the Environmental and Resource Studies/Science Department was awarded $70,000 per year for five years to explore the effects of multiple stressors on the biogeochemistry of lakes and their catchments: mass budgets, long-term trends and modeling.

NSERC is a federal agency that helps make Canada a country of discoverers and innovators for all Canadians. The agency supports some 30,000 post-secondary students and postdoctoral fellows in their advanced studies. It promotes discovery by funding more than 12,000 professors every year and fosters innovation by encouraging more than 1,500 Canadian companies to participate and invest in post-secondary research projects.

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Posted on Thursday, September 1, 2011.