Fourteen UBC researchers announced as new and renewed Canada Research Chairs

May 13, 2026

The Government of Canada has announced nearly $140 million to support 165 new and renewed Canada Research Chairs across Canada.

Fourteen UBC researchers were announced as new and renewed Canada Research Chairs in this latest round of appointments, representing an investment of $10.7 million. 

The Canada Research Chairs Program enables Canadian universities to attract and retain a diverse cadre of world-class researchers and reinforce academic research and training excellence. Chairholders improve our depth of knowledge and quality of life, strengthen Canada's international competitiveness and help train the next generation of highly skilled people through student supervision, teaching and the coordination of other researchers' work.

These appointments were announced by Karim Bardeesy, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Industry, on behalf of the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions. The appointments are part of the Government of Canada's investment of more than $168 million in Canada's research ecosystem, which also includes additional support for new Canada Research Chairs through the Canada Foundation for Innovation, and funding through the New Frontiers in Research Fund (NFRF) - Exploration competition. Twelve projects led by UBC researchers were awarded funding through the 2025 NFRF - Exploration competition.

Read the Government of Canada's announcement 

UBC links and features

 New Chairs at UBC

  • Kiana Amini (Materials Engineering) Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Electrochemical Systems for Energy Storage and Carbon Capture
  • Ben Britton (Materials Engineering) Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Multiscale Correlative Electron Microscopy
  • Jessica Chan (Okanagan School of Education) Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Language, Literacy, and Early Learning
  • Jillianne Code (Curriculum & Pedagogy) Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Learner Agency
  • Ashley Dalrymple (Physical Therapy) Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Spinal Cord Neuromodulation
  • Nadena Doharty (Educational Studies) Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Black Experiences in and through Education
  • Rachel Germain (Zoology) Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Biodiversity Science
  • Farinaz Havaei (Nursing) Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Strengthening the Health System
  • Yanpu He (School of Biomedical Engineering) Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Immuno-Bioengineering
  • Lele Wang (Electrical and Computer Engineering) Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Trustworthy Information Systems
  • Mi Zhou (Sauder School of Business) Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Information Systems

Renewed Chairs at UBC

  • Anne Gadermann (School of Population and Public Health) Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Bio-Eco-Social Determinants of Child and Youth Mental Health
  • Tarek Sayed (Civil Engineering) Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Transportation Safety and Advanced Mobility
  • Stuart Turvey (Pediatrics) Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Pediatric Precision Health

See all new and renewed chairs 


Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) Awards Funding to Newly Appointed Canada Research Chairs

The CFI is awarding funding of over $5.8 million through its John R. Evans Leaders Fund (JELF), in partnership with the Canada Research Chairs (CRC) Program, to support 25 Canada Research Chairs across the country. The JELF funding allows universities to recruit and retain exceptional researchers by investing in the cutting-edge research infrastructure they need to advance their work. 

UBC Canada Research Chairs Lele Wang, Ashley Dalrymple and Yanpu He were awarded a combined total of $375k in JELF funding. 

Read CFI's announcement 


First Nations land acknowledegement

We acknowledge that UBC’s two main campuses are situated within the ancestral and unceded territory of the Musqueam people, and in the traditional, ancestral, unceded territory of the Syilx Okanagan Nation and their peoples.



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