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Laurier researchers awarded more than $1 million in NSERC Discovery Grants

Laurier researchers awarded more than $1 million in NSERC Discovery Grants

June 14, 2024

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Thanks to the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), Wilfrid Laurier University researchers will receive ongoing operating funds toward their long-term research goals. Seven faculty members were successful in NSERC’s Discovery Grants competition for a total of $1.06 million in research funding.

"Programs like Discovery give researchers the flexibility to explore the most promising avenues of research as they emerge to ensure Canada remains a world leader in science and new technologies,” says the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry. “Congratulations to all exceptional researchers receiving support. We look forward to learning of your successes.”

Laurier’s grant recipients include:

Discovery Grants

  • Yuming Chen, professor of Mathematics, was awarded $105,000 for his project “Theory and applications of differential systems.”
  • Mihai Costea, professor of Biology, was awarded $235,000 for his project “Systematics and evolution of parasitic plants.”
  • Kim Roberts, professor of Psychology, was awarded $165,000 for her project “Children’s reasoning about the reliability of online sources of information.”
  • Aiqi Zhang, assistant professor of Operations and Decision Sciences, was awarded $172,500, along with a $12,500 Discovery Launch Supplement, for her project “Sustainable urban stormwater operations management: A robust optimization approach.”
  • Zhongwei Zou, assistant professor of Biology, was awarded $165,000, along with a $12,500 Discovery Launch Supplement, for his project “Deepen our understanding on plant-pathogen interactions in adapt to climate change.”

Discovery Development Grant

  • Chính Hoàng, professor of Computer Science, was awarded $40,000 for his project “Structural graph theory.”

Discovery Research Tools and Instruments Grant

The federal government also announced the results of NSERC’s PromoScience Program, which supports hands-on science and engineering education for young Canadians. Laurier’s Scott Smith, professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry, was awarded $21,000 for his project “Aquatic Science Outreach Network for the Grand.”

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