The Government of Ontario is investing $567,089 across four research projects at Trent University through the Ontario Research Fund for Small Infrastructure to advance sustainable food systems, improve health care, and build our knowledge of Ontario’s heritage.

Today, Ontario’s Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade Vic Fedeli visited Trent’s Biophotonics Lab lead by one of the grant recipients, Dr. Aaron Slepkov, to announce the funding for research infrastructure from the province.

Acquiring new and improved research equipment is critical to the success of Trent University’s researchers and its students, and new investments in facilities will help advance progress in science.

“Investments in research infrastructure are invaluable to universities and the scientists who all rely on the performance of equipment to deliver quality scientific results,” said Dr. Neil Emery, vice president of Research & Innovation at Trent. “Trent University is so grateful for the support from the province, which will be helping four researchers in Physics, Forensics, Agriculture, and Archeology modernize their laboratories to a world-class level enabling innovations in materials science, bioanalytical chemistry, soil health enhancement and aquatic environmental assessments. The grants to Trent University also help enhance the learning experience for our student researchers as they gain hands-on experience with new technology that is also used outside of academia.”

Today’s announcement is part of a larger allocation of nearly $41 million from the province for 174 projects in Ontario.

“Ontario is open for business and open for jobs, and research leads to new knowledge that can help our businesses and improve quality of life for our families,” said Minister Fedeli. “Supporting our researchers today is an investment in a bright future of health care advances, new technology, new companies and jobs.”

Projects at Trent University receiving funding from the Ontario Research Fund – Small Infrastructure are:

Agricultural Soil Health Laboratory, Dr. Karen Thompson – This $163,779 investment will be used to purchase advanced molecular equipment for metagenomics and stable isotope approaches to characterize the impacts of agri-food production systems on soil health in east central Ontario.

Slepkov Biophotonics Lab, Dr. Aaron Slepkov – This $158,579 investment will contribute to the purchase of a new ultrafast laser system that will be the primary light source for a multimodal label-free nonlinear microscopy system. This new microscope will enable a better understanding of the makeup of living and renewable materials.

Maritime Archaeology Research Infrastructure Project, Dr. James Conolly – This $158,414 investment will purchase new advanced remote sensing instruments for underwater surveying. It will enhance Trent’s capabilities in underwater archaeology, and help enable the mapping, characterization and protection of marine landscapes and underwater heritage in Ontario.

Centre for Biomedical Research and Biosensing, Dr. Sanela Martic – This $86,317 investment will be used to purchase new lab instruments for cutting-edge biomedical and biosensor research that will contribute to the development of biomedical tools and methods that will help reduce health care costs and improve health outcomes.

Grants awarded through the Ontario Research Fund for Small Infrastructure match funding contributed by the Canada Foundation for Innovation through its John R. Evans Leaders Fund, for a total of $1,134,178 in new grant funding to Trent University.