Two UCalgary scholars recognized with Canada’s top academic honour

Research to improve the lives of cancer patients by addressing the disease’s emotional and social dynamics, and a life’s work making plastics safer and more useful, were honoured as two University of Calgary scholars named Fellows of the Royal Society of Canada (RSC) 

Dr. Linda Carlson, a professor in the Department of Oncology at the Cumming School of Medicine, has been elected an RSC Fellow in recognition of her distinguished contributions to psychosocial and integrative oncology.

Dr. Uttandaraman Sundararaj, PhD, a professor in the Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering at the Schulich School of Engineering, has been elected a Fellow to the RSC posthumously for his significant contributions to polymer engineering.

RSC Fellows are elected by their peers and are recognized for making remarkable contributions in the arts, humanities, social sciences and sciences, as well as in Canadian public life.

Learn more about the RSC Fellows

Transforming supportive cancer care

Dr. Linda Carlson, BSc’91, PhD, is a leading global researcher in psychosocial and integrative oncology whose work has transformed supportive cancer care in Canada and internationally. Her research focuses on the psychological, social and emotional dimensions of cancer and evidence-based approaches that help people manage the challenges of cancer and its treatment. 

“Dr. Carlson’s election as a Fellow of the RSC is a tremendous recognition of the excellence and influence of her work and commitment to improving the lives of people affected by cancer,” says Dr. Ed McCauley, PhD, president and vice-chancellor of the UCalgary, who is also a Fellow of the RSC. “UCalgary is pleased to congratulate her for this well-deserved honour.”

Among the first to adapt, develop and test mindfulness-based interventions for people with cancer, Carlson showed that mindfulness meditation and yoga can improve stress, mood and symptoms, while influencing biological markers such as inflammation, stress hormones and blood pressure. These findings have helped inform major mainstream clinical-practice guidelines that now recommend mindfulness-based interventions and other mind-body therapies as part of supportive cancer care. 

Beyond clinical research, her work has made mindfulness-based cancer recovery more accessible through books, online programs, app- and virtual reality-guided approaches and a facilitator training program. She has published more than 300 research papers and book chapters and has attracted more than $23 million in research funding.  

Carlson holds the Enbridge Research Chair in Psychosocial Oncology and is the director of the Alberta Complementary Therapy and Integrative Oncology (ACTION) Centre. She also serves as an academic co-lead for UCalgary’s Institutes for Transdisciplinary Scholarship and is past president of the international Society for Integrative Oncology.

Her honours include the Bernard Fox Memorial Award from the International Psycho-Oncology Society, the Distinguished Scientist Award from the Society of Behavioral Medicine, and the Dr. Rogers Prize for Excellence in Complementary and Alternative Medicine.  

Carlson is also a member of the Arnie Charbonneau Cancer Institute at the Cumming School of Medicine and adjunct professor in the Department of Psychology at the Faculty of Arts.

A lasting legacy

Dr. Uttandaraman (U.T.) Sundararaj, PhD, was an internationally recognized researcher and educator whose work helped make everyday materials safer, more sustainable and more useful. His research explored new ways to create, process and recycle polymers — materials found in everyday products such as automotive parts and household appliances. 

One of Sundararaj's key discoveries helped change the understanding of how different plastics mix. He showed that stability in polymer blends results from a protective shielding effect, not from reducing forces between materials as previously thought. This insight, cited more than 1,100 times, has improved the safety and reliability of plastic product design worldwide.

“Dr. Sundararaj’s election as RSC Fellow honours a remarkable legacy of discovery, innovation, teaching and mentorship, whose work has made a lasting impact at UCalgary, in Canada and around the world,” says McCauley. “It is deeply meaningful to see his contributions recognized posthumously with this honour, and I send my thoughts and my thanks to Dr. Sundararaj’s family and colleagues who continue his legacy.”

Working with Alberta-based manufacturers, Sundararaj helped create fire-resistant flooring products, improving building safety. In collaboration with Calgary developers, he advanced chemical recycling processes that convert electronic waste into reusable materials, supporting a circular plastics economy and reducing landfill waste.

A dedicated educator and mentor, Sundararaj supported and inspired numerous graduate students and postdoctoral fellows. He trained more than 150 highly qualified personnel, many of whom went on to become leaders in research and innovation, making meaningful contributions in Alberta and around the world.

Sundararaj was the recipient of several national and international honours, including the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta (APEGA) Research Excellence Award, the Chemical Institute of Canada’s (CIC) Macromolecular Science and Engineering Award, and the R.S. Jane Memorial Award. He was named a Fellow of both the Canadian Academy of Engineering and Engineers Canada.

His teaching was also recognized through the APEGA Excellence in Education Award, the Chemical Institute of Canada (CIC) Award for Chemistry Education and the 3M National Teaching Fellowship, Canada’s highest post-secondary award for excellence in teaching and educational leadership.

Sundararaj passed away on March 24, 2026.