Researchers at the University of Guelph have secured more than $22 million in federal funding to tackle some of the planet’s most urgent challenges, from improving human and animal health to building environmental resilience and developing smarter technologies. The investment, part of a $630 million national initiative announced by Minister of Industry Mélanie Joly, aims to turn Canadian discoveries into new technologies, companies, and jobs.
The bulk of the funding, $13.5 million, will support 58 researchers through the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council’s Discovery Grants program. These multi year awards allow scientists to pursue long term, transformative research. Among the recipients, 16 early career researchers will receive an additional $12,500 each through Discovery Launch Supplements, helping them establish their programs. One notable project led by Professor Kari Dunfield of the School of Environmental Sciences will investigate how soil microbes, including bacteria and fungi, interact with plants to drive nutrient cycling, carbon storage, and ecosystem health. With $245,000 over five years, her team will use field research and genomic technologies to study how these microbial communities respond to drought and other environmental stressors. The findings could inform new approaches to climate change mitigation, sustainable land management, and ecosystem restoration.
In a separate allocation, two physicists in the Department of Physics will receive a combined $7.25 million in Subatomic Physics Discovery Grants. Dr. Alexandros Gezerlis will use $500,000 over five years to explore novel states of matter stemming from nuclear forces, while Dr. Carl Svensson will receive $6.75 million over three years for gamma ray spectroscopy work at TRIUMF, Canada’s particle accelerator centre. An additional $1.37 million will go to ten researchers through the Research Tools & Instruments grants program to purchase essential equipment.
“This investment in Guelph scientists supports their essential work and the university’s research excellence,” said Guelph MP Dominique O’Rourke. “It reinforces Guelph’s role as a centre of innovation and economic development.” Dr. Mazyar Fallah, vice-president of research and innovation, expressed gratitude for the federal support, noting it enables researchers to tackle questions whose solutions will improve lives. With this funding, the University of Guelph is poised to advance knowledge that strengthens Canada’s competitive edge and offers hope for a healthier, more resilient future.