Three Carleton University researchers will be receiving more than $335,000 in funding from the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) as part of The John R Evans Leaders Opportunity Fund, designed to help universities attract and retain the best researchers at a time of intense international competition.

The money will support innovative research on permafrost and global warming, chronic pain and people who live purposeful lives.

“Our government believes significant investments made in Canadian research are essential to sparking innovation, economic prosperity and to improving the lives of Canadians,” said the Honourable Greg Rickford, minister of state (Science and Technology). “Supporting Canada’s universities, colleges and research hospitals will bring more innovative ideas to market and strengthen the economy of our country.”

Carleton researchers who will receive funding include:

Stephen Gruber, associate professor, Department of Geography and Environmental Studies

Gruber’s research will establish infrastructure necessary to understand and measure permafrost thaw. This is important and timely because large areas of permafrost are thawing and established measurement systems are not able to provide us with the information Canada needs to adapt.

Michael Hildebrand, assistant professor, Department of Neuroscience

Hildebrand’s research investigates the difficulty of effectively treating and managing chronic pain. This issue is one of the major public health challenges facing Canada today. With one in five Canadians experiencing chronic pain, the issue costs the Canadian economy billions.

His research will explore how the balance between triggers for both increases and decreases in pain shift during states of chronic pain. The ultimate goal is to partner with pharmaceutical companies and translate his findings into more effective analgesics for millions suffering from chronic pain.

Patrick Hill, assistant professor, Department of Psychology

Hill is investigating individuals who set long-term goals and are driven toward success and achievement, characteristics that define living a purposeful and conscientious life. His work will advance the ability to direct individuals toward finding a purpose, and encourage them to be more conscientious in their daily lives.

“In the workplace, in relationships, and in school, certain individuals thrive in life,” said Hill. “Though a number of variables influence success, research suggests that these individuals are often more purposeful and conscientious. In other words, they have clear life goals and are more consistently hardworking and organized.”

The funded research will focus on understanding the daily lives of these unique individuals, from identifying their daily behaviours to considering their thought processes and going into the field to understand how they function. By acquiring this information, we can better understand how to promote purpose and conscientiousness, and ultimately develop interventions focused on such aims.

About the Canada Foundation for Innovation
The Canada Foundation for Innovation gives researchers the tools they need to think big and innovate. By investing in state-of-the-art facilities and equipment in Canada’s universities, colleges, research hospitals and non-profit research institutions, the CFI is helping to attract and retain the world’s top talent, to train the next generation of researchers, to support private-sector innovation and to create high-quality jobs that strengthen the economy and improve the quality of life for all Canadians. For more information, visit innovation.ca.

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For more information
Steven Reid
Media Relations Officer
Carleton University
(613) 520-2600, ext. 8718
(613) 265-6613
Steven_Reid3@Carleton.ca 

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