The Eddie Goldenberg Research Chairs of Canada program supports institutions in attracting world-leading researchers whose work will help build a stronger, more resilient Canada.
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UBC's Eddie Goldenberg Research Chairs of Canada
Intake One - announced August 27, 2026
UBC is welcoming nine Eddie Goldenberg Research Chairs of Canada through intake one of the program. Chairs will start at UBC throughout the course of the 2026/27 academic year.
Peter Caravan
Eddie Goldenberg Distinguished Research Chair of Canada in Translational Molecular Imaging and Therapy
Dr. Peter Caravan is a world-leading molecular imaging scientist whose work has transformed both the science and clinical practice of targeted imaging and theranostics — an approach that combines diagnostic imaging with targeted treatment. He is internationally recognized as a leading authority on the design of molecular probes for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET), understanding how these probes work in the body, and translating them into tools that can be used in patient care.
Curtis Huttenhower
Eddie Goldenberg Research Chair of Canada in Microbiome Sciences
Dr. Curtis Huttenhower is a global leader in using computational methods to study the functions and biological activities of microbial communities, especially the microbiome — the microorganisms that live in and on the human body. His work has deepened our understanding of microbiome health, as well as fostered the scientific community and tools that now exist to study microbial communities.
Crystal Kolden
Eddie Goldenberg Research Chair of Canada in Wildfire Resilience
Over the last two decades, Dr. Crystal Kolden has become a world-leading scholar in pyrogeography—the study of fire and its relationship to climate, vegetation and human activity. Dr. Kolden’s work is distinguished by her research contributions to wildfire science and by a singular ability to bridge academic discovery, operational fire management, public policy and knowledge mobilization.
Daniel Kreiss
Eddie Goldenberg Research Chair of Canada in Democratic Communication
Dr. Daniel Kreiss is a leading scholar whose research serves the public interest by examining how digital technologies shape political communication, further and undermine public discourse, and threaten the resilience of Western democracies.
His work spans the influence of social media policies on US national politics to research conducted with exceptional access to the companies shaping today’s technology platforms. By bringing his findings to policymakers, industry leaders and the public, Dr. Kreiss’s work has had a transformative impact on the field of political communication.
Brian Kuhlman
Eddie Goldenberg Distinguished Research Chair of Canada in Computational Protein Design
Dr. Brian Kuhlman is internationally recognized as a leading authority in computational protein design — the use of computer modelling to create proteins with specific properties and functions.
His work has been instrumental in transforming the field from a largely theoretical idea into an established scientific discipline capable of designing proteins with new sequences, structures and functions.
Julian Olden
Eddie Goldenberg Research Chair of Canada in Freshwater Ecosystem Sustainability
Dr. Julian Olden is an international authority in freshwater science, generating actionable knowledge to address persistent and emerging challenges in water security.
His research has transformed approaches to ecologically sustainable water management, strengthened the capacity to anticipate and respond to climate-induced changes in freshwater ecosystems, and delivered innovations in big data synthesis and quantitative modeling to inform the conservation of biodiversity.
Kazuhiro Saitou
Eddie Goldenberg Research Chair of Canada in Engineering Design
Dr. Kazuhiro Saitou is a visionary leader in computational design for mechanical products and systems. Combining human creativity with mathematical models, optimization and artificial intelligence (AI), his work advances the science and practice of engineering design, reshaping how the world conceives, optimizes, and manufactures innovative products with meaningful impact for society and humanity.
Dr. Saitou’s expertise in computational design and artificial intelligence, as well as manufacturing and assembly, provides new opportunities for the creation of efficient, lightweight, high-performance and sustainable engineering solutions with broad applications in fields such as aerospace, transportation, biomanufacturing and clean technology.
Jonathan Wakefield
Eddie Goldenberg Research Chair in Bayesian Space Time Modeling for Global Health
Dr. Jonathan Wakefield is an internationally recognized statistician whose work is advancing the pursuit of equitable access to health and resources.
His methodological innovations and global health applications have transformed how countries and multilateral agencies, such as the United Nations (UN) and World Health Organization (WHO), estimate mortality, disease burden and health and demographic indicators, particularly in low and middle-income countries.
Kathryn Whitehead
Eddie Goldenberg Research Chair of Canada in Translational Drug Delivery
Dr. Kathryn Whitehead is a leading figure in lipid nanoparticle drug delivery, a field that has rapidly grown since its use in the delivery of COVID-19 vaccines. Her work has fundamentally advanced the transport of fragile therapeutic molecules are transported into the specific cells and organs where they are needed.
A chemical engineer by training, Dr. Whitehead combines materials synthesis, biology, and high-throughput screening to tackle drug-delivery challenges that have long resisted conventional methods. Her experimental approach speeds up the creation and testing of new materials and has produced state-of-the-art technologies and design principles that are now widely used by researchers and industry.