University names 15 new research excellence chairs across seven disciplines

From social work and chemistry to paediatrics and anthropology, the University of Calgary is excited to announce the appointment of 15 new UCalgary Research Excellence Chairs (UCREC), recognizing accomplished scholars with exceptional promise in their research and creative work. 

These researchers join 37 colleagues with the distinction, expanding the university’s strategic and transdisciplinary research initiatives across campus. 

New for 2026, the top-ranked candidates in the UCREC program received UCalgary’s most prestigious research chairs — the Killam Memorial Chair and Killam Memorial Emerging Leader Chair. UCalgary will announce these recipients at the Killam Awards Celebration on Oct. 7.

“The UCREC awards are one of the highest honours bestowed by the University of Calgary,” says Dr. William Ghali, MD’90, vice-president (research). “The competition for these Chairs is very stiff, and all nominees were absolutely outstanding.” 

“The awardees are all truly remarkable scholars, and the awards should be broadly celebrated.”

2026 UCalgary Research Excellence Chairs

• Dr. Suzette Mayr, BA’90, PhD, professor, Department of English, Faculty of Arts
• Dr. Amanda Melin, BA’03, MA’06, PhD’11, professor, Department of Anthropology and Archaeology, Faculty of Arts
• Dr. Stephen Freedman, MD, professor, departments of Pediatrics and Emergency Medicine, Cumming School of Medicine; child health and wellness researcher, Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute
• Dr. Deborah Kurrasch, PhD, professor, departments of Medical Genetics and Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Cumming School of Medicine; member of the Hotchkiss Brain Institute and the Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute
• Dr. Gilaad Kaplan, MD’00, professor, departments of Medicine and Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine; member of The Calvin, Phoebe and Joan Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases and the O’Brien Institute for Public Health
• Dr. Kirsten Fiest, BSc’08, PhD’14, professor, Department of Critical Care Medicine, Cumming School of Medicine; scientific director, O’Brien Institute of Public Health; member of the Hotchkiss Brain Institute and The Mathison Centre for Mental Health Research and Education; child health and wellness researcher, Children’s Hospital Research Institute
• Dr. Andrew Hayes, PhD, professor, Organizational Behaviour and Human Resources, Haskayne School of Business
• Dr. Md Golam Kibria, PhD, associate professor, Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, Schulich School of Engineering
• Dr. Peng Seng (Benjamin) Tan, PhD, associate professor, Department of Electrical and Software Engineering, Schulich School of Engineering
• Dr. Joe Harrison, BSc’02, BSc’03, PhD’08, professor, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science; member of The Calvin, Phoebe and Joan Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases
• Dr. George Shimizu, PhD, professor, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science
• Dr. Jonathan Smirl, PhD, associate professor, Faculty of Kinesiology; member of the Hotchkiss Brain Institute and the Libin Cardiovascular Institute; child health and wellness researcher with the Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute
• Dr. Patricia Johnston, PhD, assistant professor, Faculty of Social Work
• Dr. Tamara Bodnar, PhD, assistant professor and Azrieli Accelerator Assistant Professor in Transdisciplinary Neurodevelopment Research, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science; child health and wellness researcher, Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Owerko Centre; member, The Calvin, Phoebe and Joan Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases
• Dr. Amy Metcalfe, PhD’12, professor, departments of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Medicine, and Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine; Maternal & Child Health Program director, Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute; child health and wellness researcher, Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Owerko Centre; One Child Every Child Better Beginnings co-lead; member, Libin Cardiovascular Institute