September 13, 2006 Source: :
http://qnc.queensu.ca/story_loader.php?id=45083b0ce305a Science/engineering researchers receive $23.4 million Professors and students at Queen's University doing research ranging from speech perception and "spintronics" to how we age, less stressful MRI scanners, preserving modern works of art, and preventng injuries at work will receive a total of $23.4 million from Science and Engineering Research Canada (NSERC). The new funding support includes 68 Discovery grants to support ongoing research (worth $11.1 million), one-time grants for research equipment and specific research projects, as well as scholarships to post-doctoral, graduate and undergraduate students. "Queen's researchers continue to shine in the NSERC competitions," says Vice-Principal (Research) Kerry Rowe. "Spanning an impressive range of disciplines from fine art to leading-edge physics, with applications from advancing human health to the development of innovative materials and pioneering nanotechnologies, they continue to advance the university's growing reputation for outstanding research with one of the highest institutional success rates in the NSERC Discovery grants competition." Of 77 Discovery grant applications from Queen's, 68 - or 88 per cent - have received funding. In announcing the 2006 funding, NSERC president and former Queen's Vice-Principal Suzanne Fortier said, "NSERC is extremely pleased to support the talent and creativity found in universities across Canada. We take great pride in the contributions university researchers have made to Canada's prosperity, and we have every reason to expect even greater things from them in the future." A total of $383.4-million Discovery grants and $118.7-million in student research funding has been awarded to universities across the country. Among 11 first-time Queen's Discovery grant recipients are: Ingrid Johnsrude, Psychology ($32,585/year over five years), who is studying how humans learn to comprehend different styles, accents and rates of speech. This research will inform our understanding of speech perception and may eventually provide new insights into age-related changes in perceptual learning of speech. David Steinsaltz, Mathemtatics & Statistics ($21,200/year over five years), is developing new mathematical models to explain the mechanisms and population effects of aging. This work may help biologists explore the aging process, health scientists to find targets for future anti-aging treatments, and economists to predict the demographic structure of aging populations. Fifteen Queen's researchers in 11 departments gained at least 20 per cent over their previous grant in the grant renewal process, including: Chris Mechefske, Mechanical and Materials Engineering ($44,000/year over five years), who is developing active vibration and noise control systems for use with existing or new Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scanners. These systems are expected to help reduce patient anxiety and to improve image quality due to reduced vibration and noise. Alison Murray, Art ($27,580/year over five years), is working at the intersection of fine arts and science to identify conservation methods that will help to clean, preserve and protect modern works of art created and/or treated with synthetic materials, such as acrylic paints. Also included are two new faculty members, joining Queen's from overseas: Jean-Michele Nunzi, Physics ($44,170/year over five years) from France, who is developing new chiral organic materials for a wide range of applications including medical diagnostics, the creation of pharmaceuticals with fewer negative side-effects, and the development of innovative materials for plastic electronics and photonics. James Stotz Physics ($42,795/year over five years) from Germany is advancing the field of spintronics - an emerging field of physics with exciting implications for quantum computing. Among his projects is the production of a high frequency single photon emitter, which could be used in new technologies for secure communications. NSERC is a federal agency that supports 22,000 university students and postdoctoral fellows and more than 10,000 university professors every year. It also fosters innovation by encouraging Canadian companies to participate and invest in university research projects. To learn more about Research at Queen's ... Contacts: Nancy Dorrance, Queen's News & Media Services, 613.533.2869
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