Researchers from Lakehead University are receiving some funds to support their projects.
Nine projects are receiving a total of $1.4 million from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada.
“Our NSERC grant recipients demonstrate the breadth of high-caliber research happening at Lakehead University,” said Vice-President, of Research and Innovation, Dr. Andrew P. Dean. “These researchers are exceptional scientists seizing opportunities to excel in their research and make their mark on the world.”
Eight of the projects are receiving five-year grants and the remaining one is receiving a two-year grant.
Dr. Pedram Fatehi is receiving the most funding to investigate forestry byproduct alternatives to plastics in cosmetic and food packaging.
According to Fatehi, lignin, a renewable, biodegradable by-product of the pulping industry, has promising applications due to its antioxidant, antimicrobial, and high thermal stability nature.
Over the next five years, his research team will chemically create new lignin nanoparticles to explore their potential use in large-scale materials fabrication.
Other programs receiving five-year grants include:
- Dr. Xing Tan, Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer Science – For his research on vehicle routing problems, focusing on complexity analysis and algorithm design – $132,500
- Dr. Mitchell Albert – TBRHRI Chair in Molecular Imaging and Advanced Diagnostics, Department of Chemistry – Hyperpolarized Xenon MRI Biosensors Development Program – $145,000.
- Dr. Ahmed Bediwy, Department of Civil Engineering – An Innovative Housing Solution for Remote Communities Using Waste Mine Tailing in 3D-Printed Green Concrete – $147,500.
- Dr. Oleksandr Bubon, Department of Physics – Solid-state Technology for Organ-targeted Positron Emission Tomography – $137,500.
- Dr. Philip Fralick, Department of Geology – Sedimentological Processes Operating in Deep Time, 1.4 to 3.0 Ga – $150,000.
- Dr. Yurii Shepelytskyi, Department of Chemistry – Advanced Multiferroic Materials for Photoinduced Magnetoelectric Effect Investigation and Medical Application – $157,500.
Dr. Christopher Murrary from the Department of Physics and co-applicants Dr. Ellen Field, and Jacob Kearey-Moreland are receiving $79,800 through a two-year grant.
