Carleton University Announces Three Canada Research Chairs in Engineering and Political Science

By Jena Lynde-Smith

Three Carleton University researchers Cati Coe, Leila Mostaço-Guidolin and Jennifer Drake have been announced as Canada Research Chairs (CRC). Their ground-breaking research will advance flood infrastructure, fibrosis treatment and services for aging migrants.

“Carleton attracts outstanding academics,” said Rafik Goubran, Vice-President (Research and International).

“They bolster our leadership position in sustainability, health and social sciences. Congratulations to our newest CRCs who are making significant strides in addressing real-world issues.”

CRCs aim to achieve research excellence in engineering and the natural sciences, health sciences, humanities and social sciences. They improve Canada’s depth of knowledge and quality of life, strengthen the country’s international competitiveness, and help train the next generation of highly skilled people through student supervision, teaching and co-ordinating other researchers’ work.

Cati Coe, Migration and Care (Tier I)

Coe, a researcher in Carleton’s Department of Political Science and the new CRC in Migration and Care (Tier I), is researching issues that aging migrants face when it comes to care. Aging migrants from the Global South to the Global North attain the right to social protections from their host country on the basis of living and working there for decades. However, they risk losing some of those protections for a number of reasons – from returning to their country of origin due to an illness, to social protections not being available across borders.

Coe’s research aims to explore how migrants navigate these dilemmas as they age. Her work will expand and inform our understanding of how and why aging migrants make decisions about their care and will highlight the needed services, policies, and interventions.

Leila Mostaço-Guidolin, Imaging Biomaterials and Characterization (Tier II)

Mostaço-Guidolin, a researcher in Carleton’s Department of Systems and Computer Engineering and the new CRC in Imaging Biomaterials and Characterization (Tier II), is looking to find a cure for fibrosis. Fibrosis, which is the thickening and scarring of tissue, can occur in the lungs, liver, heart, and brain. It is a hallmark of several diseases including certain types of cancer and asthma.

Mostaço-Guidolin is combining tissue engineering with high-resolution imaging to design artificial tissues that mimic airway injury and repair. Her ambitious work will be able to look at lung fibers with an unprecedented level of detail and will eventually inform the development of new medications for asthma and other incurable fibrotic diseases.

Jennifer Drake, Stormwater and Low Impact Development (Tier II)

Drake, a researcher in Carleton’s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and the new CRC in Stormwater and Low Impact Development (Tier II) is addressing urban flooding. A multi-billion-dollar challenge for Canadians, urban flooding is caused by an increased area of hard surfaces due to urbanization, outdated and undersized stormwater infrastructure, and increased extreme weather associated with climate change.

Drake’s research will focus on the development and improvement of stormwater infrastructure through low impact development (LID) – a technique that mimics the natural environment and allows rainwater to be absorbed where it falls. Her work will advance current LID technologies, ensuring that stormwater systems are well designed, constructed, and maintained to address the global climate crisis and increasing risk of urban floods.

Find out more about Carleton’s CRCs here.

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Carleton Newsroom

Tuesday, August 29, 2023 in Campus News
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